Tag: Silent Night

Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night (New Hercule Poirot Mysteries #5) by Sophie Hannah [BOOK REVIEW] #HerculePoirot Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night (New Hercule Poirot Mysteries #5) by Sophie Hannah [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night (New Hercule Poirot Mysteries #5) by Sophie Hannah [BOOK REVIEW]

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Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night (New Hercule Poirot Mysteries #5) by Sophie Hannah [BOOK REVIEW]

If someone told me 10 years ago that an author would continue the Hercule Poirot stories, and I’d love them, I would never have believed them. In fact, all credit to Sophie Hannah, because I would have made a bet that Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night is a mystery written by Agatha Christie herself, if I didn’t know any better. 

Synopsis:

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…

Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night (New Hercule Poirot Mysteries #5) by Sophie Hannah [BOOK REVIEW]

Pages: 360

Genre: Mystery, Crime

Publisher: Harper Collins

Format I read it in: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★★

Thoughts:

The book carries intensity from the very first chapters. Catchpool’s mother, Cynthia, comes to Poirot with a rather urgent request, or dare I say, plea for help. With this also comes a Christmas party invitation, something Catchpool would gladly avoid. But something about the story provokes Poirot’s curiosity, and they’re off to meet Cynthia’s friends and stay at their house.

“Try placing an unmarked page in front of you. Immediately, your mind will produce better ideas.”

I was gripped by the whole atmosphere and the family dynamics.

We find out things as we go, and I try to connect the people we meet and get a feel for their innocence. As is usual with a Poirot mystery, we have a lot of suspects, a lot of possibilities and maybe’s – and the truth kept under wraps (I promise, it’s not a Christmas pun) until the very end. If you are looking for the grand finale of a reveal – Silent Night definitely has it! I had my own theories, and as is the tradition, none of them were even close. But boy, oh boy, did I enjoy this book. Mystery and festivities merged brilliantly, and the perfect length to keep you interested without ever getting boring. 

“The thing about dealing with excessively melancholy people, I have noticed – those who carry clouds of gloom with them everywhere they go – is that one loses the will to cheer them up. In their orbit, one is robbed of the notion that one can do anything to improve one’s own situation or theirs.”

The only thing I was unsure of was that a few parts were left in the open. Some mysterious and secret romances were mentioned, but never resolved. And we never got the other side of the story. The house’s situation wasn’t really discussed further, and it seemed like a crucial part of the story. And two sisters re-kindled way too abruptly in my opinion and without a lot of explanation, that I personally didn’t enjoy. 

“The worst part of any terrible thing, always, is the dread one feels in advance.”

It’s also worth noting that I loved Edgar Albert Guest’s poem section that randomly made its way into the book. There is something precious when one book leads you to the work of another author.

One thing is for certain – I will definitely be looking into the other Poirot books by Sophie Hannah. And if you need a festive mystery recommendation for the winter, let this be the one. Until the next book! x

About The Author:

Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night (New Hercule Poirot Mysteries #5) by Sophie Hannah [BOOK REVIEW]

Sophie Hannah is an internationally bestselling writer of psychological crime fiction, published in 27 countries. In 2013, The Carrier, won the Crime Thriller of the Year Award at the Specsavers National Book Awards. The Point of Rescue and The Other Half Lives, have been adapted for television under the series title Case Sensitive in 2011 and 2012. In 2004, Sophie won first prize in the Daphne Du Maurier Festival Short Story Competition for The Octopus Nest, which is now published in her collection of short stories, The Fantastic Book of Everybody’s Secrets.

Website: https://sophiehannah.com/

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Silent Night by Danielle Steel [BOOK REVIEW] Silent Night by Danielle Steel [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Silent Night by Danielle Steel [BOOK REVIEW]

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Silent Night by Danielle Steel [BOOK REVIEW]

★★★★

It has been a while since I last read a book by Danielle Steel. Silent Night was available as an audiobook from my library, so I gave it a try, and it didn’t disappoint.

Synopsis:

Paige Watts is the ultimate stage mother. The daughter of Hollywood royalty, Paige channels her acting dreams into making her own daughter, Emma, a star. By the age of nine, Emma is playing a central role in a hit TV show. Then everything is shattered by unforeseeable tragedy.

A car accident changes Emma’s world. Her mum is no longer there, and in her place is her aunt Whitney. Unlike Paige, Whitney was always the studious older sister, hating the cult of celebrity that enveloped their childhood. Instead, she is a psychiatrist who lives for her work and enjoys a no-strings-attached love affair with a wealthy venture capitalist. But at a moment’s notice, Whitney drops everything to help her niece.

Once famous, outgoing, and charismatic, Emma is now a shadow of her former self–without speech, without memory, lost and terrified. But with her aunt Whitney’s help, along with a team of caregivers and doctors, Emma begins to find her way, starting her young life all over again–and changing the lives of everyone around her.

My Thoughts:

The synopsis immediately caught my attention, because I love drama. And the scenario is so heartbreaking, that I knew this book would give me all the feels. And it did.

I loved Emma. She was such an amazing character, and a wonderful fighter as well. She goes through a very big trauma, and never stops trying. What I truly loved is the relationship that she develops with her auntie Paige, who gives up her old life to look after Emma. Because there is no one else she has in this world now…

The strength that Whitney carries within her is to be admired.

She is so selfless and caring, not afraid to give Emma all the love in the world, despite the challenges. And especially at the beginning, it’s so hard. It was really hard for me to see Whitney go through rejection, the anger from Emma, not knowing how to process everything that is happening. She had to stay strong, for her and her niece’s sake. To be strong for both of them.

Danielle Steel did a magnificent job trying to show us the reality about people suffering with mental issues and trauma. How hard and frustrating it can be for them, when they can’t express themselves and are not understood. And how hard it is for their loved ones, to come to terms with the “new normal” and adjust, and to provide all the love and support. Recovery is a very slow and painful process, and there are good and bad days. Sometimes you make one step forwards and three steps back, and other times, recovery is not an option at all. And in Silent Night, Danielle Steel perfectly captured these experiences and emotions.

The bond between the niece and auntie is unbreakable, even though it took a long time to build. I loved the slow progress we could see in their relationship, and how they were both slowly healing as time went on. It was also very lovely to see how they both would also speak about Paige and work on healing and forgiving her as well.

I enjoyed the romance that Whitney experiences, and I also loved the fact that she was able to say “no” to a person who couldn’t accept her niece as part of the “deal”. Even though, I also respect his side, and how open he was about expressing his opinion. He was a very selfish person, true, but at least he was honest with her. This actually allowed Whitney to realise he wasn’t the right match for her and she was able to open up her heart to someone more deserving of her.

A very interesting part of this book is Emma’s acting career.

She started off young and her mum organised everything and planned her life. After all, it was her childhood dream that she now re-lived with her daughter. But when the aunt takes care of Emma, she has a completely different mindset, but is also under a lot of pressure from the media and the TV show director. I have to admit, I loved how Whitney handled this part, and ultimately lets Emma make the decision on what she wants to do once she is older.

In conclusion, Silent Night is a very emotional, but beautiful book. I am so glad I read it, and I’m looking forward to reading more books from Danielle Steel in the future.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

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