nigellicus 's review for:

First Class Murder by Robin Stevens

5.0

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First Class Murder: first class book. Adorable homage to Christie, with a few nods to the spies of pre-war Europe, this takes the redoubtable and dauntless Detective Club on the Orient Express. A cast of shifty and distinctive characters climb aboard the carriage with our heroes, providing a juicy set of suspects and motives and mysteries for Wells and Wong to sort through when one of them gets gruesomely murdered. One problem is that they aren't the only amateur detectives who think they can sort things out on board.

I think more advanced readers will spot the solution to the fiendish puzzle, but the fun lies in watching Daisy and Hazel investigate despite irritating and intractable opposition by grown-ups. When the journey is over, villains unmasked, red-herrings set free and justice is done, one is left eagerly anticipating whatever is next in store for the Detective Society.