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trsmit17's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
doobyus's review against another edition
3.0
Most enjoyable country house murder mystery. I’ll read more of his books.
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
I Saw Him Die is the 4th book in the Agatha Christie mysteries by Andrew Wilson. Released 22nd July 2020 by Simon & Schuster on their Atria - Washington Square Press imprint, it's 400 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a beautifully written, entertaining, and engaging mystery - very well plotted and paced. The characters are distinct and follow internal motivations. The dialogue is well done, both subtle and flowing. In checking my notes for this review I couldn't find any negative or comments or notes. I wasn't yanked out of my suspension of disbelief once.
There have been a large crop of "real historical person as amateur sleuth" series and these books (which all work well as standalones) fit right into the group. Die-hard canonical pure Christie fans will probably avoid these titles, but for anyone who has enjoyed the modern day Dickens, Austen, Holmes, Edna Ferber (et. al.) mysteries, this is a top shelf example of the genre.
Four stars. Worth a read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
I Saw Him Die is the 4th book in the Agatha Christie mysteries by Andrew Wilson. Released 22nd July 2020 by Simon & Schuster on their Atria - Washington Square Press imprint, it's 400 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a beautifully written, entertaining, and engaging mystery - very well plotted and paced. The characters are distinct and follow internal motivations. The dialogue is well done, both subtle and flowing. In checking my notes for this review I couldn't find any negative or comments or notes. I wasn't yanked out of my suspension of disbelief once.
There have been a large crop of "real historical person as amateur sleuth" series and these books (which all work well as standalones) fit right into the group. Die-hard canonical pure Christie fans will probably avoid these titles, but for anyone who has enjoyed the modern day Dickens, Austen, Holmes, Edna Ferber (et. al.) mysteries, this is a top shelf example of the genre.
Four stars. Worth a read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
richardmcartney's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mrsreads1's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
5.0
Discover the locations in I Saw Him Die
I really enjoy Andrew's books where he puts Agatha Christie as a lead in crime investigations similar to those she writes about! A genius idea and one that works very well indeed. The style of the writing and the nuances are very Christie-esque. I believe I am reading about the very woman herself and this is how she would have been like.
In this novel, she's due to marry Max and before the wedding, she is invited to go to Orkney to help her policeman friend investigate a crime that has been announced. Not a murder announced as in the real Christie book, but a similar premise. She heads up to the Isle of Skye knowing that someone might get injured or threatened, only to find out that the other members of the gathering have all had letters inviting them to witness something.
The rest of the novel is a locked room kind of mystery as Agatha goes all out to help track the killer. Except they sit in plain sight. Someone admits to an accident but that's just the strange start to this whole affair. The hotel where the novel is set then becomes a court, police station and general public arena for all the dirty washing to be seen. These characters are a funny bunch with more secrets than they care to admit. Add all of these ingredients together and you have a darn good mystery and a denouement that would look good in any Christie novel.
I really think this series needs to get to more people so they can appreciate the joy of such stories with the most famous author of all time at their core. I'd love to see this on TV and I've cast the characters already in my head. It's worked well since book one so if anyone needs suggestions?
sophiemanhol's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
tigeratlas's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
mariasmusings's review against another edition
4.0
I Saw Him Die is the fourth novel in the popular Agatha Christie series by Andrew Wilson. The central protagonist is Christie herself and she acts as the narrator in this mystery. The tale also is similar to those of Christie's in style and tone.
I've read the previous books in the series and was looking forward to this one.
Each book is set within the lifetime of the real Christie and this one in set in 1930, shortly before her marriage to Max Mallowan. Christie was planning to spend a few relaxing days with her daughter, secretary and friend on the Isle of Skye when she is contacted by her good friend, John Davison (of the Secret Intelligence Service), to assist him when a former agent reports that he has received numerous death threats. What follows is a murder mystery in the style of a locked room mystery, with a house-full of suspects, all with reasons to kill the victim. There a the usual red herrings and an a final denudement, that is worthy of Hercule Poirot at his best.
I've read the previous books in the series and was looking forward to this one.
Each book is set within the lifetime of the real Christie and this one in set in 1930, shortly before her marriage to Max Mallowan. Christie was planning to spend a few relaxing days with her daughter, secretary and friend on the Isle of Skye when she is contacted by her good friend, John Davison (of the Secret Intelligence Service), to assist him when a former agent reports that he has received numerous death threats. What follows is a murder mystery in the style of a locked room mystery, with a house-full of suspects, all with reasons to kill the victim. There a the usual red herrings and an a final denudement, that is worthy of Hercule Poirot at his best.