Received the audio version so listened rather than read. Not my usual book but I was gripped within 10 minutes. I initially was unaware that this was a Poirot story but was pleasantly surprised and very much enjoyed the mystery.
The narrator was enjoyable to listen to - a good choice! They managed to do the voices of both male and female characters well - making them easy to differentiate, their French accent was also instantly recognisable and enjoyable.
The story starts in a coach where Poirot encounters two seemingly unconnected women both who have mentioned murder. The rest of the story is set at Kingfisher Hill where Poirot was called upon to solve a murder. Two confessions to murder, a board game and several suspects - the perfect scene for a Poirot mystery.
I love the unapologetic arrogance from Poirot as well as his inquisitive mind for solving crime.
I’ve found a new genre to seek out.

Another fun and intriguing Poirot continuation by Sophie Hannah, with excellent narration by Julian Rhind-Tutt. I enjoyed the look at the world of board games, as represented by the fictional game "Peepers".

An intriguing addition to the canon, but I feel like nothing has ever quite captured the brilliance of the very first book in Hannah's new series, 'The Monogram Murders'. The premise was particularly exciting and the first third of the book is its most successful. I didn't guess the ending and it definitely explored some issues that I don't think you would've seen in the original Poirot. Entertaining, but it did drag a bit.

Cause For Consternation…
An engaging mystery with much to like in this reimagining of Hercule Poirot from Sophie Hannah. This is the audiobook version narrated by the very capable Julian Rhind-Tutt. The reading is extremely pleasurable, well nuanced and brings a new dimension to the tale. A luxurious coach trip from London to the Kingfisher Hill Estate gives Poirot more than a little cause for consternation and culminates in murder in this entertaining and nicely crafted mystery with enjoyable characters. I have both read and listened to all in this series and have enjoyed each on their own merit. For me, an ardent Christie fan, nothing can beat the Queen of Crime herself and as such I pick each one up with some considerable trepidation. Rather than make comparisons, however, they are best read or listened to without that in mind and they will consequently be enjoyed more.

Another superb Poirot story where the author really captures the essence of the little Belgian detective and his new side kick. The narration is excellent making this an absolute pleasure to listen to.

I've read Sophie Hannah's Poirot books previously but never on audiobook. I found the story incredibly engaging and really true to the original source whilst still providing a modern, up to date, viewpoint.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I hadn’t read an Agatha Christie novel for a few years before picking this one up and I ended up flying through it! Sophie Hannah has perfectly captured the writing style and essence of Christie’s infamous Hercule Poirot, and the plot of this novel was intricate and intriguing.

I found that the book took a while to start and lulled slightly in the middle, but overall the pacing kept me hooked and the ending was satisfying. I predicted incorrectly throughout the book and the author really kept me guessing until the end.

Overall, this was such an enjoyable read and made me realise how few mysteries I actually read. I would highly recommend this if you want a cosy mystery that will keep you on your toes.

4 out of 5 stars!

This is the first Poirot mystery I have listened to/read by Sophie Hannah and I was really impressed by her ability to channel the spirit of Agatha Christie and recreate all those elements that make it convincingly convoluted and sufficiently swanky. The Belgian detective lives on! There are some things that Hannah has brought to the writing, a tighter plot and better, believable characters. Sophie Hannah has put Poirot and his little grey cells back in the fiction charts where he belongs. Very good audio quality and performance, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the story.

Poirot is on his way to investigate the death of Frank Devonport at the behest of Richard Devonport. He is travelling with his companion and police detective, who is a really good sidekick by the way. Their attention is drawn by the antics of a young woman who seems particularly distressed and also convinced that someone is intent on killing her.

Her behaviour and insistence on swapping seats sets a series of events in motion that garners Poirot's attention and gets the little grey cells bouncing, however he isn't quite prepared for the surprises awaiting him at the esteemed Kingfisher Hill residence. A mystery on the way to solve a mystery - only Poirot can find himself in such a complex situation.

I have to say the more Hannah writes Poirot the more her voice sounds like Christie. Listening to the audiobook actually gives the listener or reader a better feel for said voice, because the narrator has the characters down to a fine art, especially Poirot. Julian Rhind-Tutt is an excellent choice.

I look forward to reading the next in the series and can only hope that eventually someone will revive the series in film or tv format featuring the stories of Christie's famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot with Hannah at the helm of the ship. I miss Suchet and this gives me Suchet-Poirot vibes.

🎧📚THE KILLINGS AT KINGFISHER HILL by Sophie Hannah

Confession time: I have never read a Hercule Poirot novel. I know, I know. I can hear the gasps and feel the glare of disdain from here. (Puts on Cone of Shame). However, I can now say I've listened to one. Over the past few weeks, I've been listening to THE KILLINGS AT KINGFISHER HILL by Sophie Hannah on my lockdown daily exercise. And during this experience I learny a couple of things:

First, Poirot mysteries are not conducive for running; this classic of the mystery genre is more suited to afternoon ramble than daily jog (as my pathetic running record shows this week). But that's not because Hannah hasn't mastered the mystery and the pacing, no, it's more that the narrative is so intricate I can't risk missing bits through my huffing and puffing.

Second, @julianrhindtutt is just the perfect audiobook narrator. His variance of voices as well as delivery is just stunning. (Although, I'm sorry, but @davidsuchet will always be my Poirot.)

Third, @sophiehannahwriter is a genius. Enough said! The mystery kept me guessing as the players set out their stories for Poirot to pick them apart. Sometimes I'm a little sceptical of other authors picking up a well-known character, but Hannah has triumped.

It seems rather fitting that today I finished my latest audiobook as on Wednesday, I'm delighted to be talking all things audio with @monkeynutaudiobooks! So, if you're considering an audio version of your novel, tune in on Wednesday to find out why it could be an asset in your publishing journey! 🎧 See you then!

The audio app,has finally worked, I nearly deleted it and had almost given up when someone else said they had recently re tried and it had worked so I did and it did.

The book was excellent, I had previously listened to the first one in the series , this is the third and so I had the background about Pirot and Cathpole. The narration was excellent also and anyone who has enjoyed Agatha Christie’s original books are sure to enjoy these continuations of murders, grand houses, servants, red herrings and who dun it.

Thank you for the opportunity to read/listen to this book.

When HarperCollins Audio and NetGalley authorised my access to this new Sophie Hannah/Hercule Poirot offering, I was so looking forward to listening to it. I am, you see, an avid Agatha Christie fan and I’ve read everything she wrote so a Poirot story was perfect. I have also read Sophie Hannah books in the past and enjoyed them so surely this would be right up my street. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it so.

Maybe I’m a Christie purist and that accounts for my feelings which aren’t bad but certainly not brilliant towards the story. The plot didn’t feel very Christie-ish and though it rolled out fine throughout the book, it just didn’t do it for me.

Julian Rhind-Tutt was a very good narrator and he told the story superbly so I will look for more audiobooks with him narrating. Even his Poirot accent was excellent and, for me, he was the reason that I kept listening.

I wish to thank HarperCollins Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in order to give my honest opinion.

Im a fan of Sophie Hannah, I love how she writes, so as this was my first audiobook, I thought it would be good place to start.

I was really nervous of the reader, and whether I would “get along”with them. I needn’t have feared it turns out. I really enjoyed listening to him, he really did bring the story to life and brought me into it. I looked forward even more to my lunchtime walk knowing I would get to hear more.

Once again, a wonderful book by Sophie Hannah, and a wonderful reading of it! Thank you.

My thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Audio UK

I would like to thank #NetGalley and #HarperCollins for an advanced audio copy of #TheKillingsatKingfisherHill in exchange for an open and honest review. This audiobook is fourth in the series of New Hercules Poirot Mysteries and is narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt. I loved the narration of this audiobook Julian Rhind-Tutt never disappoints and neither does the author Sophie Hannah. I love the way the author has kept Poirot as originally written and not altered his personality and Inspector Catchpole is so likeable. I loved the plot of this but was surprised to find Poirot taking the coach. I have read the first in this series and will soon be buying the books/audiobooks I have missed. This book comes highly recommended and I hope there are more in this series.

WOW, Sophie Hannah does it again!!! Another Super Poirot Book by her.

I received this book in Audio format and it was a joy to listen too. Having read the previous Poirot novels by Sophie I knew this would be a great listen.

It was a book I had to keep going back to as I wanted to find out what Poirot had worked out and who had caused the Murders at Kingfisher Hill. The Story revolves around the murder of Frank Devenport and it written in the eyes of Inspector Catchpool.

The audio book was brilliantly narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt. He was a great voice artist for the novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC Copy of the Audiobook. My review is my own opinion.

Synopsis

A murder has occurred at Kingfisher Hill. Frank Devonport is dead, and his brother Richard’s fiancé, Helen, has confessed to the crime and faces the death penalty. Having been contacted by Richard Devonport, who doesn’t believe Helen to be guilty, Poirot and Detective Inspector Edward Catchpool embark on a coach journey to the glamourous Kingfisher Hill estate to investigate the crime. However, there’s an usual catch – Poirot and Catchpool must not allow the rest of the Devonport family to know the reason for their visit.

Once on the coach, the mysteries surrounding the Kingfisher Hill estate only deepen. A distressed woman demands that the coach must be stopped, claiming that she has been warned that, if she sits in her specific seat, she will be murdered. Poirot agrees to take her seat, hopefully that the remainder of the journey will be without incident. However, he instead finds himself hearing a murderer’s shocking confession. Disturbed by the events on the coach, Poirot and Catchpool arrive at Kingfisher Hill shaken. However, with another body being found at the Devonport residence, the pair must remain focussed on solving the case – or risk a potentially innocent woman being hanged.

Review

To successfully take on the mantle for Poirot is no mean feat, yet Sophie Hannah has it down to a fine art in this fourth outing of her take on the famous detective. Her writing puts a twist on Christie’s classic and timeless style, making ‘The Killings at Kingfisher Hill’ the perfect fit for the already established canon whilst still ensuring it still feels fresh and original for a modern audience. The plot is highly satisfying, with plenty of twists, red herrings and false confessions that make the mystery one that you can’t wait to see unravelled. Hannah is great at writing distinctive and complex characters whose relationships drive the plot forwards, with my favourite character being the enigmatic Ruby Devonport, and as a result you can’t help but keep listening in order to find out how the complex web of a mystery Hannah spins will finally be resolved.

Hannah’s writing is elevated by Julian Rhind-Tutt’s outstanding performance as the narrator, Inspector Edward Catchpool. He perfectly captures not only a sense of the atmosphere, but also each character, making each one distinctive and recognisable. A particular highlight is his voicing of Poirot – it is, delightfully, exactly how you would imagine Poirot to sound, making the narration highly entertaining and engaging.

My one frustration with the book was the ending, but this was simply because the attitudes expressed by some of the characters, whilst entirely fitting to the time in which the book is set, felt quite jarring from a modern perspective. However, whilst you may also be frustrated by the unexpected ending, it fits well with the rest of the plot and did not detract from my enjoyment of the story overall.

Whilst it’s understandable that many will have reservations about the continuation of Agatha Christie’s work, for anyone on the fence, I highly recommend giving this reimagining of the famous detective a listen. With Sophie Hannah at the reins, it is clear that Agatha Christie’s legacy is in safe hands.

Spinning her imaginative twist on a well known classic, Sophie Hannah takes the much loved character of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot and weaves a new tale of murder and mystery, and you’ll need to use your ‘little grey cells’ to unravel it.

Disclaimer: This is the first of Sophie Hannah’s Poirot novels that I’ve read, but it’s the fourth that she’s written. I followed along just fine, and there is no need to read the others in the series to understand it.

Poirot and his good friend and fellow detective Edward Catchpool are catching a bus to Kingfisher Hill to investigate a murder. A suspect has confessed, but someone doesn’t believe they are telling the truth. While on the bus, however, a young lady claims to have been told she can’t sit in the aisle seat on the seventh row or she’ll be murdered, before disappearing off the coach. Another woman arises suspicion too, as she asks too many questions and makes off with the trip manifesto. Can they all be connected? Catchpool is unconvinced but Poirot has his ideas, and when has he ever been wrong before? Could they truly be related? And how will solving one mystery help Poirot solve the other?

This is the very first audiobook arc I have been approved for on NetGalley and I absolutely LOVE that they have branced out from just e-arcs to audiobooks now too. I have only recently started listening to audiobooks earlier this year, and I was a convert immediately!

This audiobook is no exception! The narrator, Julian Rhind-Tutt, does an amazing Poirot, but his voices and accents don’t stop there, as each character comes to life under his narration. His pacing is on point, his enthusiasm and excitment kept me fully hooked throughout the book, and I’m thrilled to find that he has narrated the other new Poirot books. (I am currently listening to the first of Sophie Hannah’s Poirot books, The Monogram Murders, and the reason that I am listening to it instead of reading it is purely for Julian and his narration!)

Now, I have to say, I haven’t read a lot of the original Poirot books, or a lot of Agahtha Christie’s works in general, but I think she has a distinctive enough voice to recognise it as hers. And I think that Sophie Hannah does actually quite a remarkable job at replicating this. They way Poirot speaks, the tone of the descriptions and narrations, it just screams to me that this could be a real Poirot novel. I was immediately drawn in by the writing style that was Sophie Hannah’s as well as Edward Catchpool’s inner monologue.

Of course, it wasn’t a perfect novel. There were aspects that felt drawn out and reductive, Poirot overexplaining as if we don’t have any little grey cells of our own. Either that, or him jumping to conclusions, which are of course always somehow right, from information that we as readers haven’t been given.

However, having said that, I still really enjoyed the novel as a whole, especially the audiobook aspect of it. So much so, that as I have said above, I’m now delving in to the rest of the series. I think the quirks of Poirot and the mechanics of him solving mysteries are key to the original series and this is obviously something that Sophie Hannah has worked to bring into her modern adaptations, and I think if she had strayed from this then it wouldn’t be the Poirot that we all know and love.

As for the main mystery of the novel itself, I found it compelling and intriguing on the whole. Some aspects seemed slightly far fetched, but again that was the way of Christie and I believe writers of that time. Overall, I found it a very addictive read (or, listen) and am looking forward to making it through the rest of Sophie Hannah’s book. I rated this 4 out of 5 stars and really recommend Julian Rhind-Tutt as an audiobook narrator.

A brilliantly narrated book, keeping the listener engaged from start to finish. The fourth book in Sophie Hannah’s New Hercule Poirot series and it doesn’t disappoint. I love the fact that the author is keeping Poirot’s character in the same vain as he was written, and listening to this I loved that it was like listening to some of the great Poirots we have seen on the television Julian Rhind-Tutt has a good voice to listen to.

The story is as complex and intriguing as Ms Christie’s always we’re keeping the reader guessing who the guilty party is, the usual clues and red herrings were there for the listener to try and pick out. Who killed Frank Davenport? With Poirot and Catchpole on the case the killer is bound to be caught.

Entertaining, engrossing listen I highly recommend this.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #Harper Collins for an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

I’m a great Christie fan, so I leapt at the chance of a new Poirot mystery. Hannah doesn’t do a bad job of recreating the Poirot persona, as long as you obviously bear in mind that she is not Christie and as such her’s will only ever be an impersonation of the ‘real’ Poirot. Also missing was Hastings and instead we were introduced to the somewhat boring sidekick Catchpool. Star off for that! Then there was the mystery itself. Very confusing and convoluted without making an awful lot of sense in the end, in fact very unChristie-like. Another star off for that. I would, however, be interested to have another try at a Hannah Poirot. The narration by Julian Rhind-Tutt was excellent.

I started listening to this with some trepidation. I mean, how can someone other than Agatha Christie write a Poirot novel? However I was very pleasantly surprised. 😀 Sophie Hannah does a fantastic job of recreating Christie's golden age of crime, and her most famous detective is in good hands.

This is a great whodunnit which kept me guessing till the end. Poirot is brilliant as usual and left me (and Poirot's sidekick Catchpool) trailing behind.

The narration by Julian Rhind-Tutt was brilliant. He had all the accents, especially Poirot's, spot on, and totally enhanced my enjoyment of the book.