Sophie Hannah does such a good job with these Hercule Poirot stories. They are modernised to take out the sometimes jarring historical attitudes and prejudices but still hold dear to the Agatha Christie style of story. A great Christmas read.

This was quite a good mystery featuring Hercule Poirot, although I thought the story was a little drawn out.

Entertaining snd a good Christmas read. Didn't predict the ending and some good characters.
Only thing for me is that it was a bit too long winded and repetitive

An entertaining Christmas mystery for Poirot, my most loved character ever, as we join the Belgian detective and Inspector Catchpool as they are summoned to Norfolk to solve one murder and prevent another before Christmas. There are a host of deliciously awful suspects making things difficult for our hero. Will Poirot make it back to London in time for Christmas Day?

Sophie Hannah nails Poirot perfectly, as she does Christie’s writing style and there are some laugh out loud moments in this, peppered among the murders.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for my review copy.

Perfect for all Agatha fans, it’s very true to her style of writing and Hercule and his little grey cells are hard at work throughout the book. Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing throughout the story with a satisfactory ending, although a bit long winded even for Hercule! Thoroughly recommend

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

A great addition to Poirot's Christmas cases!

I really enjoyed this latest in the series of Sophie Hannah's Poirot series, I've really appreciated feeling like I'm back with the great detective but without the telling period prejudices and biases that are quite prominent in some of Agatha Christie's originals, which can sometimes be there as a hint or an undertone, and sometimes be outright offensive to modern views.

Given that original Christmas cases are very limited in number, I know the stories pretty well, so it is great to have a seasonal murder mystery to cosy up with without returning to the same stories. In this case, Catchpool and Poirot reluctantly accompany Catchpool's overbearing mother to a large country house to solve one murder and try and prevent another. The mental health and family relationship themes were really well done in that they are familiar and sympathetic in a modern sense, but do not detract from the period feel of the narrative voice. I also love a country house setting, isolated and confined and with the stakes high and the pacing set by the approach of Christmas, which both Poirot and Catchpool are determined to spend in the comfort of their own home and company. The mystery is solved mostly through conversations and observations, and the build up is gradual, so those after a mystery thriller with more plot might find this slow, but I was kept engaged throughout, largely because of the limited time frame that the two detectives had.

A great winter read, recommended to Agatha Christie fans.

I was immediately absorbed in this latest Hercule Poirot adventure by Sophie Hannah. The plot was incredibly clever and just like Christie once the culprit was revealed I saw that I'd had the clues all along to solve it myself. Juts like Christie the characters are very well drawn and distinctive. I enjoyed the relationship between Poirot and Carpool very much, the setting at Christmas was a nice touch too. The book has humour, mystery and family drama. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie!

Yet again a refreshing murder/mystery for Hercule Poirot and Edward Catchpool to solve. This time they are dragged into the mystery by Catchpool's insufferable mother who is desperate to spend Christmas with her son. Their lack of a relationship is sad but funny and he is given a different view of her by Vivienne whose husband is dying.
The characters are intriguing, the family relationships sad but interesting and the mystery cleverly laid out as always. Refreshing to have no internet, no mobiles and no video footage. Love the humour! Sophie Hannah captures the Agatha Christie era so well.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Sophie Hannah/HarperCollins UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Hercule Poirot and Inspector Catchpool are persuaded by Catchpool's mother, Cynthia, to visit Norfolk, just before Christmas and investigate the case of a man killed in hospital, partly so that Cynthia can enjoy her son's company at Christmas and partly so that the hosts of the occasion can rest easy, as Arnold is about to be admitted to the very same hospital.
Working against the clock as neither Poirot nor Catchpool wish to stay in the crumbling Norfolk mansion with its difficult inhabitant for the festive period, they must endeavour to solve the crime so they can get back to London.
I am not an Agatha Christie expert but it seems to me that the author has captured the character of Poirot well in this story. He comes across very much as David Suchet plays him on television to my mind or even perhaps more confident of his abilities that ever. Poirot is sure he will successfully solve the crime and along the way Catchpool must endeavour to keep up with his thought processes.
It is a while now since I've read the original Poirot's but I found this book quite slow going. There are some intriguing touches - the bitter family divides, the inedible cooking, the undecorated Christmas trees - but what the reader is really after is the mystery and that was slow to get going, with an even slower reveal at the end.
However, it is well written and a perfectly acceptable cosy crime and I'm sure it will appeal to fans of the original books.
With thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK and HarperFiction for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

'Silent Night' by Sophie Hannah.
Can Hercule Poirot solve a baffling murder mystery in time for Christmas? It's 19 December 1931. Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool are called to investigate the murder of a man in the apparent safe haven of a Norfolk hospital ward. Catchpool's mother, the irrepressible Cynthia, insists that Poirot stays in a crumbling mansion by the coast, so that they can all be together for the festive period while Poirot solves the case. Cynthia's friend Arnold is soon to be admitted to that same hospital and his wife is convinced he will be the killer's next victim, though she refuses to explain why. Poirot has less than a week to solve the crime and prevent more murders, if he is to escape from this nightmare scenario and get home in time for Christmas. Meanwhile, someone else - someone utterly ruthless - also has ideas about what ought to happen to Hercule Poirot...

This is the latest Hercule Poirot book by Sophie Hannah and I couldn't put it down. I think the author has done an amazing job carrying on the Poirot legacy. I didn't even guess who the killer was until Poirot helped piece everything together.
If you havent't read any of the authors other book I would definitely give them a go.
Thankyou to NetGallery UK, the author and the publisher for letting me read a copy in return for an honest review.

New Hercule Poirot Murder Mysteries #5

It's the 19th December 1931. Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool are called to investigate the murder of a man in the apparent safe haven of a Norfolk hospital ward. Catchpool's mother, the irrepressible Cynthia, insists Poirot stays in a crumbling mansion by the coast, so that they can all be together for the festive period while Poirot solves the case. Cynthia's friend, Arnold, is soon admitted to the same hospital and his wife is convinced that he will be the killer's next victim, though she refuses to explain why. Poirot has less than a week to solve a crime and prevent more murders.

Hercule Poirot is once again working alongside Inspector Edward Catchpool. Catchpool's mother, Cynthia, turns up at Poirot's door to summon him to a crumbling mansion. Cynthia wants Poirot and Catchpool to investigate the murder of a man who was in the safe haven of Ward 6 in a Norfolk hospital. Cynthia's friend, Vivienne, is convinced her husband, Arnold, will be the next murder victim. Always up for a challenge, Poirot has less than a week to solve this case. I quite like the way Sophie Hannah is portraying Hercule Poirot. Catchpool is no Hastings, but he is a likable character. There are some clues to find along the way. This is an easy-to-read, cosy murder mystery.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #SophieHannah for my ARC of #HerculePoirotsSilentNight in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie Hannah's Poirot stays true to Christie's portrayal with his finicky ways and self-importance however I felt that some of the other characters weren't quite so well fleshed out. Catchpole takes on Christies Hastings role and needs a little "hand -holding" to reach the same conclusion as Poirot. Catchpole really doesn't to be there but is out manoeuvered by his mother. all in all though it was an enjoyable tale

Murder mysteries is not generally on my genre list, but as a fan of Agatha Christie I thought I would give this a try. I was sadly disappointed as I found it slow and somewhat drawn out in the early stages. Poirot and his sidekick Inspector Catchpool find themselves investigating a murder that happened several months ago and reluctantly spend the days before Christmas with an extended family living in a house on the brink of falling into the sea. To add to Catchpool’s angst, his own mother is also a guest of the household. Possible suspects abound as Poirot undertakes his enquiries both in the family home and at the local hospital where the death occurred. A subsequent death adds fuel to Poirot’s investigations.

Although Poirot is captured well, his sidekick Catchpool isn’t a particularly inspiring character to run with this mystery and the author seems to be trying to mimic Christie. It has the anticipated twists and turns and Poirot’s little grey cells for solving the mystery, with encouragement for the reader to reach their own conclusions - follow the plot carefully and you might find the murderer(s) before Poirot sums up. The novel might make a better film than book. I think I would prefer to stay with Agatha Christie’s writing.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Harper Collins for this ARC.

Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night is another fun story told in the style of Agatha Christie, with Sophie Hannah’s own twist on the character proving a great success yet again.

In this novel, we’re off to stay with Catchpoole’s mother and associates for Christmas as they investigate a murder that took place in a local hospital. We’re soon sucked into a dark, entertaining and perplexing mystery as we are introduced to various characters including the ridiculous local Police Inspector Mackle, who is – of course – no match for Poirot’s brains.

There’s some good twists and surprises to enjoy here, and the setting feels very atmospheric. The plot is well paced and, though there are some dark parts, overall it feels quite festive and good fun! As always, I’m looking forward to future releases in the series.

Honestly, I was struggling to get into this, but on page 229, I was starting to really get into it and enjoy it. The story is a classic murder mystery in classic Hercule Poirot style. I loved following his and Edwards' journey to discover the truth and was pleasantly surprised by the end of who the murderer actually was.

A nice book for lovers of the original Agatha Christie books, as the tone and settings feel authentic. An easy, entertaining read, with humour and depth.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review of the book.

Hercule Poirot's Silent Night- Sophie Hannah

Hercule Poirot and his friend Inspector Catchpool are railroaded by Catchpool's domineering mother into spending time before Christmas at Frellingsloe House to help solve the murder of Stanley Niven who was killed while at St. Walston Cottage Hospital on Ward 6. Arnold Lauriers the owner of Frellingsloe house is due to be admitted to the hospital and will be staying in the room next door to the room the murdered man was in. Arnold is determined to solve the murder before he himself dies much to the consternation of his wife who is convinced he will die prematurely if he goes into the hospital..

Through the interviews and watching the comings and goings at the House Poirot with Catchpool go on to solve the murder or murders as one would expect. Catchpool's mother added a quirky dimension. A good start to the festive seasonal reading.

I have to say I did not work out who did it which is great.

I have read all the previous Sophie Hannah Poirot novels and enjoyed them. They are all quite complex and for me they do resonate with Agatha Christies idea of Poirot and the workings of his little grey cells. I look forward to the next one.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy to review.

Sophie Hannah's latest Poirot mystery is a delightful homage to Agatha Christie's iconic detective. In this enjoyable read, Poirot and the Scotland Yard Detective Catchpool are reluctantly drawn into a Christmas murder mystery, orchestrated by Catchpool's mother. Their mission is to solve a murder and prevent another from happening, set amidst a classic Christie-style backdrop—a grand family estate filled with feuding relatives and unexpected guests.

The story unfolds in true Christie fashion, with a small pool of suspects and a murder in a hospital, leaving Poirot intrigued, especially as the victim had no enemies and the ailing patriarch's life hangs in the balance. While readers may not receive all the necessary information to solve the case or uncover the motive, Sophie Hannah keeps them engaged with a web of false leads and red herrings.

"Hercule Poirot's Silent Night" is a must-read for fans of the original series. Hannah skilfully captures the Christie atmosphere, making this book an engaging and fitting tribute to the beloved detective.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for a copy of “ Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night” for an honest review .

This is my first book on my list for this year’s seasonal reads , and it didn’t disappoint .Just festive enough , but an excellent read at any time of the year.
I’ve not long started reading Sophie Hannah’s books , which means ,happily , I’ve got several to enjoy catching up on.
This book was gripping and enjoyable , with well written characters , and totally in keeping with Agatha Christie’s style of writing..Already ordered a copy for our library users !

Not my sort of book unfortunately. The French speaking was tricky and spoiled it for me. I love Sophie's books usually but, not this one. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.