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oleanderwillow's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jessbianconi's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
annieb123's review
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Body Under the Piano is the first book in a new series for middle grade readers by Marthe Jocelyn. Due out 4th Feb 2020 from Penguin Random House on their Tundra imprint, it's 334 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
This is such an appealing and well written Agatha Christie homage. Agatha "Aggie" Morton is a precocious 12 year old helping to right the wrongs of her Edwardian world along with her friend, young Belgian refugee Hector Perot. She's intelligent and observant, outspoken and loyal. The illustrations by Isabelle Follath add the perfect amount of whimsy and support the story well.
I haven't seen any definite comparisons with the delightful Flavia de Luce novels by Alan Bradley, but this one will appeal to fans of Mr. Bradley's work. It's not quite as wonky and blackly humorous, and it's written for a younger audience, but it rang the same bells for me.
A delightfully diverting read and one which I heartily recommend for everyone, not just younger readers.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
The Body Under the Piano is the first book in a new series for middle grade readers by Marthe Jocelyn. Due out 4th Feb 2020 from Penguin Random House on their Tundra imprint, it's 334 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
This is such an appealing and well written Agatha Christie homage. Agatha "Aggie" Morton is a precocious 12 year old helping to right the wrongs of her Edwardian world along with her friend, young Belgian refugee Hector Perot. She's intelligent and observant, outspoken and loyal. The illustrations by Isabelle Follath add the perfect amount of whimsy and support the story well.
I haven't seen any definite comparisons with the delightful Flavia de Luce novels by Alan Bradley, but this one will appeal to fans of Mr. Bradley's work. It's not quite as wonky and blackly humorous, and it's written for a younger audience, but it rang the same bells for me.
A delightfully diverting read and one which I heartily recommend for everyone, not just younger readers.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
bookishtory2665's review
4.0
Everyone knows Agatha Christie and her fictional detectives, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, right? Her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections that together have sold more than a billion copies. Well, the author of this book, Marthe Jocelyn, an avid reader of her work, wondered what Dame Christie's life must have been like to make her such an expert on betrayal, suspicion and wickedness and, like many good books, this one comes out of her asking that all important question -- 'what if'.
There are some similarities to Agatha Christie's life. Aggie Morton was also born in Torquay, Devon, and too, her father dies while she is quite young, leaving the family in reduced financial circumstances. But that where the author's imagination takes over. A disagreeable woman (the body under the piano) is murdered and suspicion falls on Aggie's dance teacher who is also the woman's sister. Hampered by shyness and a sharp-eyed nursemaid, Aggie decides that the police have it wrong and sets out to solve the crime herself.
I really liked this book but I don't want to give too much away by going into a longer explanation so I'll just say, its worth reading. Delightful characters that are well written and fit into the time period. The Body Under the Piano is the first in a series of four with the latest, The Seaside Corpse (2022), having just won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for best Juvenile Mystery Fiction.
There are some similarities to Agatha Christie's life. Aggie Morton was also born in Torquay, Devon, and too, her father dies while she is quite young, leaving the family in reduced financial circumstances. But that where the author's imagination takes over. A disagreeable woman (the body under the piano) is murdered and suspicion falls on Aggie's dance teacher who is also the woman's sister. Hampered by shyness and a sharp-eyed nursemaid, Aggie decides that the police have it wrong and sets out to solve the crime herself.
I really liked this book but I don't want to give too much away by going into a longer explanation so I'll just say, its worth reading. Delightful characters that are well written and fit into the time period. The Body Under the Piano is the first in a series of four with the latest, The Seaside Corpse (2022), having just won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for best Juvenile Mystery Fiction.
lilac_cottage_library's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Absolutely adorable! Such a fun middle grade story. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
ilovedogs123's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
So good and wholesome and funny!!!! I was so happy when I finished this not because it was over but because it was a very good book that I loved to read.
tamara_joy's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0