“Fiendishly well-plotted, hugely entertaining.” –Lucy Foley, bestselling author of The Hunting Party In this classic whodunit filled with red herrings and double-crosses, the Queen of Crime returns in the role of sleuth as she investigates a mysterious death in the Scottish Highlands. Bestselling novelist and part-time undercover sleuth Agatha Christie is looking forward to a bit of … is looking forward to a bit of well-deserved rest and relaxation when her longtime friend John Davison pleads with her to help him protect a retired British agent turned hotelier who has been receiving threatening letters.
Together they travel to Dallach Lodge, a beautiful estate on Scotland’s picturesque Isle of Skye. There they insert themselves among the hotel’s illustrious guests, including members of the owner’s family, a leading lady of the theater, a brilliant botanist, a local doctor, and two sisters who coauthor romance novels. After a pleasant first evening, Agatha thinks it unlikely that any of them are capable of evil, much less murder. But early the next morning, the sound of a gunshot rings out and the hotel owner is found dead in the arms of his nephew. At first, it appears to be a simple hunting accident, but as Agatha digs deeper, she discovers that each and every one of the residents has a reason for wanting the late proprietor dead.
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I Saw Him Die by Andrew Wilson is an old-fashioned British novel, reminiscent of Agatha Christie. The protagonist is Mrs. Christie, herself, several weeks before her marriage to Max Mallowan. Christie has gone to the Isle of Skye with her daughter and several others for a vacation before her wedding. While there is she contacted by the SIS (Secret Intelligence Service) and her old friend, John Davies to assist in investigating threats against a former agent here on Skye, Robin Kinmuir. It quickly becomes pretty much a locked room mystery with Kinmuir’s death. So much for protecting him. Of course, as is tradition, nearly everyone has a motive. The investigation begins, full of left turns and red herrings, Christie and Davies eventually root out the killer, in a most dramatic fashion.
I wanted to love this book but really had problems with it. I can’t put my finger on the problem, suffice it to say, I slogged to the ending. Wilson wrote his characters very well. I could easily picture each of them and I had not problem relating to Christie’s doubts about her upcoming marriage. The plot was a good one, although it was resolved in quite a dramatic fashion, possibly overly so. The investigation was typical of a Christie novel. I may have been me, possibly other readers will fall in love with it, as they should I recommend it with reservations.
I was invited to read a free ARC of I Saw Him Die by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #isawhimdie
As a fan of Agatha Christie this series captured my attention from the first book. Now, with the 4th mystery, Agatha and her friend John Davison travel to the Isle of Skye. There is a lovely estate/hotel called Dallach Lodge and Davison has asked Agatha to help him protect the life of the hotelier. Nothing seems unusual until the next day and the man is found shot to death. Because this is the classic locked room mystery, the list of suspects gives Agatha quite the puzzle to unravel. But, she is, after all, Agatha Christie and she will figure out who the killer is.
Agatha Christie was a fascinating woman, very talented and admired by millions of readers. As a wife and mother, later divorced and re-married, she had many self doubts and these books show the human side of her. I like to think that this series would have pleased her. As an avid mystery reader, this book certainly pleased me. I hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next mystery for Agatha and John to solve.
My thanks to the publisher Washington Square Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Delicious mystery that’s part Agatha Christie and part Clue. So many “who-could-have-done-it” colorful characters that I couldn’t guess who the real killer was. My favorite mystery is the “locked door” type and this one was a very well plotted one. Great read.
Tell me the name Agatha Christie and I am there !!
I Saw Him Die is the 4th in the series (can be read in any order) by Andrew Wilson that stars Agatha Christie.
Andrew Wilson does an exceptional job portraying not only Agatha but the all the other characters.
In I Saw Him Die there is a list of suspects that could have and everyone seems to have a motive to kill the hotel owner former British agent.
I do love a closed room mystery and I Saw Him Die is a perfect example.
Agatha Christie would be proud to read and be a part of I Saw Him Die.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books, Washington Sqaure Press, for allowing me to spend some time with my favourite lady Agatha Christie .
This was a Goodreads Giveaway Prize, which was exciting in itself!!
I have to say I have a mixed opinion about this book. I nearly put it down after the first five pages because it just seemed clunky and a bit like I was meant to have some prior knowledge of the main characters’ relationship. But I pushed through and found myself coming to enjoy the story…which is a murder mystery with Agatha Christie as lead sleuth. The style and situation is very “Christie” in some respects and I think Agatha Christie fans will enjoy this.
Unfortunately, the writing has its flaws. The clues are repeated over and over and over…sometimes within only 10-20 pages you’re reminded about the same five or six clues. Almost every time Christie’s fiancé Max is mentioned, you’re reminded that he’s her fiancé, which just gets annoying. And the Christie character goes into long (LONG) moments of self-evaluation that kill the pace.
Still, it was a good read and the mystery was interesting enough to keep me turning the pages.