I am a huge fan of Hannah's Culver Valley series and I admit to previously feeling rather fed up that she doesn't write novels featuring Charlie and Simon with more frequently - this has changed now that I have discovered what else she has been devoting her time to! I loved Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series as a child and really got into Poirot from the David Suchet TV portrayal and Hannah has really done Christie justice here. Her depiction of Poirot is spot on, her intricate plotting is masterful and Davenport's and their associates are a thoroughly entitled and unlikeable bunch (the perfect cast of murder suspects). I loved this and will be recommending it widely and will definitely seek out Hannah's earlier Poirot mysteries.

Julian Rhind Tutt couldn't have been a more perfect narrator - his range and consistency were just brilliant; Ican't now imagine another actor voicing this series and I have already downloaded the first in Hannah's series that he narrates.

I received a free copy from Harper Collins Audio UK via Netgalley in exchange for my impartial review.

This was an amazing book with an awesome narration by a great narrator, and an immersive plot. I read my first and second Agatha Christie books in June, and Sophie Hannah really did a great job with this extension of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot. This book is part a new series featuring Hercule Poirot after Agatha Christie's death, so I'm definitely checking out more in the series.

In this book, Hercule Poirot is accompanied by Catchpole, and I found it funny how clueless he was. I was able to solve a number of mysteries in the book before he did! Speaking of mysteries, there were quite a lot in this book, and I absolutely loved how they all played out. The author did a great job of tying them all together and there were no loose ends.

The characters were really great, even though the book was more plot driven than character driven. There were some complicated family dynamics, secrets, jealousy, and supressed negative emotions among the Davenports as well as their friends. Of course, there's a lot of murder.

Agatha Christie fans will definitely love this one.

I've been struggling to figure out how I feel about this. I have read the third book in the "New Hercule Poriot" series, The Mystery of Three Quarters, back in 2018 and, while I liked the premise and the first half of the book, I found the second half a real struggle and I found the book was trying too hard to be smarter than the reader. But I want to keep going with the series - I feel that there is potential, hence why I got a cheap eBook edition of Closed Casket and, when I saw this was up for review, I jumped at it.

And yet... while I do think this is so much better than The Mystery of Three Quarters, there's something missing from it.

I think one of the main problem is that this doesn't feel Christie. I know, I know. No one can write an Agatha Christie like Agatha Christie, and you can tell that Sophie Hannah is a huge fan of Christie's work as the little nods to Christie's works shine through - horrible families (Appointment with Death & Hercule Poirot's Christmas), a confession of murder at the start/near start of the novel (The Hollow & After the Funeral), a possible innocent in prison (Sad Cypress), a mystery body in a room (The Body in the Library &, maybe, Evil Under the Sun) and there was a character that reminded me of Miss Marple (Sophie Hannah's nod to Christie other great detective, me thinks?), but there is something labyrinth about the plot/murder that feels very un-Christie. I can't put my finger on what, exactly, but there's something about this plan that feels off.

But there is a strong mystery. It's better than Three Quarters, though the solving of the crime feels a little "Oh! Really?" (Hannah does play fair. She does what Christie did within her novels and give everyone the clues to solve the crime, though we look at them in the same way as Catchpool...), but it does feel a little far-fetched.

Though I got eARC and audiobook via NetGalley, I did audiobook this and I did enjoy myself with it. I liked the narrator - Julian Rhind-Tutt - and I do think audiobook this series might be the way to go for me. Though there were one or two times I wish characters's voices had more difference (though his Poirot is wonderful!).

I did like this and I think I am going to continue with this series (maybe Closed Casket). I just wanted something more from this, which didn't deliver.

A sumptuous who done it, wonderfully narrated. Agatha Christie could have written no better. Outstanding homage of her style and artistry. Loved it!

A classic poirot style mystery and enjoyable too.
I enjoy Sophie Hannah’s take on the Agatha Christie detective and believe she has written a collection of stories that are in honour and homage to the greatness.

The mystery wasn’t the hardest to solve and some of the characters were completely detestable- which is always great! I think the whodunnit was probably the main let down in fact and almost leaves me feeling cheated because it wasn’t a great reveal! Even if Hercule managed to get everyone into the room to lay out the mystery and show off his brilliance.

The narrator for The Killing at Kingfisher Hill is fantastic! His range of accents and ability to portray Poirot is excellent. Julian Rhind-Tutt is an accomplished English actor and brings his experience and skills to this audiobook. I really enjoyed listening to this story and looked forward to my next installment.

I thought the story was written brilliantly and in the style of Hercule Poirot. I haven't yet read any of Agatha Christie's novels but I adore watching the tv adaptations and could visualise The Killings at Kingfisher Hill as a drama. I thought the characters were all fitting for the story. And there was a great amount of humour within the story.
Sophie Hannah has achieved in creating a wonderful whodunit, and who else could solve it?? The 'world's most famous detective' of course.

Sophie Hannah is continuing to prove that Hercule Poirot is in safe hands. This is the fourth of the new mysteries and it feels for me like every novel is a literary love letter to Agatha Christie. The stories are respectful of the legacy but not afraid to branch out a little.

In the spirit of Poirot there has been a heinous crime but somehow it's all still very civilised, just like these books should be. I'm in the minority of people who like the spiced up BBC adaptations (especially when they put Aidan Turner in) but to do that with a book....well it just wouldn't be right. Anyway heinous crime, Poirots on the scene and our narrator Catchpool is there to be his willing foil. The plot is full of red herrings and twists and Catchpool been clueless. Which I find quite endearing.

The narration is brilliant, theres no other word for it. Julian Rhind Tutt is already a favourite on audio for me but he really brings Poirot to life. He's also bloody brilliant at all the other characters but we know it's Poirot that matters and he has him to a tee. It would be fantastic to hear him so the originals as well.

A great addition to the Poirot library, thank you Netgalley for this audiobook ARC.

I’ve read all of Kristin Hannah’s Poirot titles And love them, and this one does not disappoint!

The Killings at Kingfisher Hill is a classic ‘new’ Christie, with Poirot as uniquely quirky as ever, and the cast of characters around him as eccentric as you could ever wish for!

This time the storyline is one of ‘too many murderers’ where two people confess to the same crime, before there’s are second crime committed which none of them could have committed. What is really going at ‘Little Key’?

If I am in a nitpicking mood, I would say that the story has so many layers, so many quirks, so many leads and twists that as a reader you feel constantly spun around. Hannah has certainly plotted the book superbly, and I’m amazed at how she managed to neatly tie up all those lines of inquiry in the end!

If you’re looking for a classics crime whodunnit, a murder mystery to puzzle over, you’ve found your book!

I listened to this story as an audio book (as I have the others) and as usual it was absolutely superb. Julian Rhind-Tutt could not narrate this in a better, more suitable way, it’s pure pleasure throughout.

Thank you Netgalley for the prepublication audio book in return for an honest review. It’s been a pleasure!

As a huge Agatha Christie fan, I was very hesitant to read this book. Was Sophie Hannah able to embody the great detective of all times Hercule Poirot in her books? I know there is/was a lot of backlash from Agatha Christie purists about this matter. Thus when I received this advance copy from NetGalley in the form of audiobook, I reluctantly start to listen.

Let me say that what saved this book (for me) was the narration by Julian Rhind-Tutt , he did an excellent job voicing the different characters. He made listening to this book bearable for me. Would I pick up this book if this is a paperback, in short, only if this book doesn't use the "Hercule Poirot" settings. As a mystery-chrime book, it was decent enough. As a Hercule Poirot book, it was sorely lacking in imagination and the genius of Ms Agatha Christie. I do not care about Inspector Catchpool, he is the poor man's version of Captain Hastings. Where Captain Hastings came across as a lovably clueless, Inspector Catchpool looked like a nincompoop who is lacking any sense of the grey matter ... how on earth he is an Inspector is beyond me!

So once again, if you do decide to read this book just pretend that this is about a no-name detective and not Hercule Poirot. You'll enjoy the book better that way or listen to the audiobook, it is more palatable.

First of all, a confession. I love Agatha Christie novels even though she is today considered somewhat racist, and unkind to persons of color and different faiths.. But the way her mind worked intrigues me, and I consider The Murder of Roger Ackroyd one of the best mysteries ever written. David Suchet's portrayal of Poirot captures the essence of the man - and I must have seen almost all, if not all, of the stories he filmed. So I know my Agatha Christie (AC) and I know my Poirot.

Back in the day when Sophie Hannah wrote the first post AC Poirot "The Monogram Murders" it was not bad. But her characters weren't well fleshed out, and somehow the whole thing felt very modern even though it was set in 1920's. It just didn't have the right taste. This one - more so. Honestly I wish it was different, but for me it just doesn't feel authentic. And that spoils it.

But as flimsy as the plot is, and as skeletal the characters -- the narration is MASTERFUL. Julian Rhind-Tutt is genius and he is one of the very best story tellers I have heard. The accents are perfect, his Poirot even sounds like David Suchet! and his women have a very feminine flair. I am going to hunt for more of his work, because it was sheer delight to listen to.

So while I rate the story as a 1 star - I give the narration 5 stars and would give it more if I could.

The Killings at Kingfisher Hill
(New Hercule Poirot Mystery 4)
Sophie Hannah ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

So I’m finally getting into my audiobook groove! Pre kids I loved nothing more the curling up on the sofa on a ‪Sunday afternoon‬ and watching a Poirot mystery (sad I know!), since that is not likely to happen again for at least the next 10 years I decided to download this audiobook via @netgalley & @harpercollinsuk. I’ve never read any of the original Agatha Christie Poirot books so I have nothing to compare this new mystery to, but I was excited to see if I could “tell the difference”.

The story is told from the viewpoint of Catchpole – the new sidekick of Poirot. The two men are called to Kingfisher Hill by Richard Devonport to solve the mystery of who killed his brother Frank. Richards fiancée Helen has admitted to the murder and is set to go to the gallows but Richard is convinced Helen didn’t do it. Whilst travelling to Kingfisher Hill via coach, several odd things occur that lead us into the mystery.

The story is narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt Julian Rhind-Tuttwho I believe has narrated the other three books in this new series. Whilst David Suchet will always be my Poirot I think Rhind-Tutt does a great job. His accents are great and he really brings Poirot to life. I love any sort of period drama and this story really swept me back in time. As I said I haven’t read any of Agatha Christies original books or Sophie Hannah books so I don’t know if they stick to the original style or are more in Hannah’s style but I really enjoyed this story. I felt like it had the same feel as the tv adaptations and didn’t feel “new”.

I have given it four stars as I felt that it took a while to get going but once it did it really flowed.

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In my youth i was an avid reader of Agatha Christie's murder mystery novels and jumped at the change to try one of Sophie Hannah's audio books featuring the little grey cells of Monsieur Hercule Poirot.

The novel itself is well written and the characters are just as quirky as in one of the original Poirot stories.

The narration was excellent and Julian Rhind-Tutt does a marvellous impersonation of the Belgian detective to rival even the great David Suchet.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audio version of the novel and just like the Agatha Christie novels of old I'm sure it will stand repeated listenings

Ms Hannah has done a very good job of duplicating the style of the original novels such that you forget that you are not reading or listening to one of Agatha's own novels

If you like murder mystery then you'll love this and it is a must for any Christie fans

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC of this audiobook.

Confession time: to my shame I’ve never actually read an Agatha Christie book. I tried to read the Poirot mystery ‘The Third Girl’ once but gave up about 80 pages in because it was really dull at not at all what I expected from a Poirot book. I probably picked it because it’s not one I had seen adapted for TV, so I wouldn’t know the story. However, I’ve since realised that it was one of Christie’s later Poirot books and is not considered to be one of the best, so it’s a shame it put me off reading her other books. I should probably try one of her more popular books.

I decided to try one of Sophie Hannah’s new Hercule Poirot books because the cover is just exquisite and really appealing. The audiobook version of this book was an excellent choice for my reintroduction to world of Agatha Christie. It is expertly read by Julian Rhind-Tutt, his narration is a tour-de-force and probably makes this book twice as enjoyable as it would have been reading the paper version. His accent for Poirot is perfect and conjures up David Suchet’s TV Poirot beautifully. I would definitely search out more audiobooks narrated by him.

I’m less convinced by the actual writing of the book. It’s quite enjoyable and I listened to it In the course of one day, so I definitely found it compelling. However, the mystery itself is a bit flat, the murders are crimes of passion rather than premeditated evil which means Poirot does not have a decent villainous sparring partner to outwit. The conclusion was not very exciting and I don’t think there were enough breadcrumbs to help the reader to become engaged in guessing whodunnit.

The other problem with the writing is that it is almost entirely dialogue and exposition and very little action. I usually prefer books which are mostly dialogue and don’t get bogged down with pages and pages of scene-setting and description, but there is very little drama in this book. It really fails the ‘show don’t tell’ test as it is almost all just people standing around relating events to each other. I assume this must be faithful to Christie’s style and that her books probably also just feature Poirot listening to people telling him what happened and then him telling everyone what actually happened, but it’s not a very sophisticated or pleasing way to convey narrative. I guess I’ve been spoiled by the TV adaptations which able to dramatise the explanations characters are giving to make the story more immersive.

I think Sophie Hannah does a good job with the the language she uses of making you feel like you are genuinely reading a book from Christie’s time, but I definitely need to try another Poirot book actually written by Agatha Christie to see how it compares. I’ll pick up one of her more famous books next time.

I would recommend this audiobook for the excellent narration by Julian Rhind-Tutt which really raises the enjoyment level of the slightly lacklustre story.

My thanks to HarperCollins Audio U.K. for an audiobook edition via NetGalley of ‘The Killings at Kingfisher Hill’ by Sophie Hannah in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fourth in the New Hercule Poirot Mysteries commissioned by the Estate of Agatha Christie. Sophie Hannah captures the essence of the original series with the intricate plots, many suspects, red herrings galore, and of course the famous final denouncement as the murderer is revealed.

The story is narrated by Inspector Edward Catchpole of Scotland Yard. Catchpole is traveling with Poirot by passenger coach to Kingfisher Hill, a luxurious private housing estate in Surrey. Poirot has been invited there by Richard Devonport to prove that his fiancée, Helen, is innocent of the murder of his brother, Frank. Yet strangely Davenport has requested that Poirot conceal his true reason for being there. No further details in order to avoid spoilers but be assured that it’s a very twisty case.

The audiobook is narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt, who has narrated the previous books in the series. I always appreciate it when an audiobook series keeps the same narrator whenever possible for continuity. The running time is 8 hours, 54 minutes at 1x speed.

Julian Rhind-Tutt is a gifted actor with a rich melodious voice. I have enjoyed his narration of a number of titles over the years. He moves smoothly between the characters and captures the various accents with ease.

Certainly an enjoyable mystery and loving homage to Christie’s fussy Belgium detective.

I loved a good murder mystery and there is no better classic detective story than Hercule Poirot. I have really enjoyed all of the audios for these new books, in the tradition of Agatha Christie. Sophie Hannah writes a fantastic whodunnit and is incredibly respectful of the past.

The Killings on Kingfisher Hill is a great edition to the series. Once again it keeps you guessing til the end. Who killed Frank Devonport and why.? Poirot and Catchpole are on the case again, finding the clues and pitting the pieces together. Lovers of crime fiction will love it

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Audio UK for my advanced copy of this book to read.

An enjoyable read. It is always pleasant to spend time with Hercule Poirot and his little grey cells. His new sidekick Catchpole is not quite as clueless as Hastings but that is just as well considering he is from Scotland Yard. A tale with many twists and turns, not quite as sharp as an Agatha Christie plot but still a good murder mystery.