Take a photo of a barcode or cover
juliet13 's review for:
First Class Murder
by Robin Stevens
I think this might be the best of this series so far. It is hard to tell because I love these books so much, but just the fact it takes place on the Orient Express makes me so happy.
These books really remind me of a simpler, middle-grade version of Agatha Christie's mysteries. This especially is a big nod to [b:Murder on the Orient Express|853510|Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486131451l/853510._SY75_.jpg|2285570] both because of the setting and because the characters read the book itself and it is helpful for their investigation. But the case was for some aspects so reminiscent of Christie's spy scenarios:
"I have been given by my contact, someone carrying secrets about Britain’s military capabilities has boarded this train, and will be handing them over to German spies in Belgrade."
I mean, this is so typical! There is also a mention of a "Satterthwaite murder" and I almost screamed at the mention of Satterthwaite from [b:The Mysterious Mr. Quin|16356|The Mysterious Mr. Quin (Harley Quin, #1)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476892657l/16356._SY75_.jpg|18056].
The mystery itself was s much fun too! I think I guessed the culprit towards the end but it was a nice twist and I was left satisfied.
Hazel's dad was a very good character and I enjoyed seeing the father-daughter relationship change by the end of the book. It also made me really sad to see how they are both treated badly for being Chinese in 1930's Europe.
Just a final thought: Mrs Vitellius. Every single time I would almost laugh at that name (if anyone has that name I am sorry) because in Italian "vitello" means calf and it was so weird to me that she had that surname!
These books really remind me of a simpler, middle-grade version of Agatha Christie's mysteries. This especially is a big nod to [b:Murder on the Orient Express|853510|Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486131451l/853510._SY75_.jpg|2285570] both because of the setting and because the characters read the book itself and it is helpful for their investigation. But the case was for some aspects so reminiscent of Christie's spy scenarios:
"I have been given by my contact, someone carrying secrets about Britain’s military capabilities has boarded this train, and will be handing them over to German spies in Belgrade."
I mean, this is so typical! There is also a mention of a "Satterthwaite murder" and I almost screamed at the mention of Satterthwaite from [b:The Mysterious Mr. Quin|16356|The Mysterious Mr. Quin (Harley Quin, #1)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476892657l/16356._SY75_.jpg|18056].
The mystery itself was s much fun too! I think I guessed the culprit towards the end but it was a nice twist and I was left satisfied.
Hazel's dad was a very good character and I enjoyed seeing the father-daughter relationship change by the end of the book. It also made me really sad to see how they are both treated badly for being Chinese in 1930's Europe.
Just a final thought: Mrs Vitellius. Every single time I would almost laugh at that name (if anyone has that name I am sorry) because in Italian "vitello" means calf and it was so weird to me that she had that surname!