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Herring Mysteries #4
Herring on the Nile
In an effort to rejuvenate his flagging career, crime novelist Ethelred Tressider decides to set his new book in Egypt and embarks on a 'research trip' with his literary agent, Elsie Thirkettle, in tow. No sooner has their cruise on the Nile begun, however, than an attempt is made on Ethelred's life. When the boat's engine explodes and a passenger is found bloodily murdered, suspicion falls on everyone aboard including a third-rate private eye, two individuals who may or may not be undercover police, and Ethelred himself. As the boat drifts out of control, though, it seems that events are being controlled by a party far more radical than anyone could have guessed. Herring on the Nile is an ingenious mystery, and a darkly funny tribute to Agatha Christie and the golden age of crime fiction.
263 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
25 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
L.C. Tyler
34 books90 followersL. C. Tyler grew up in Essex and studied geography at Jesus College Oxford University and systems analysis at City University in London. During a career with the British Council he lived in Malaysia, Sudan, Thailand and Denmark. More recently he has been based in Islington and West Sussex and is an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, of which he was previously Chief Executive. He is married and has two children and one dog.
Series:
* Elsie and Ethelred Mystery
* John Grey Historical Mystery
Series:
* Elsie and Ethelred Mystery
* John Grey Historical Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 29, 2024
A popular cliché about a football match is that it was a game of two halves; well, it could be said of 'Herring on the Nile' that it was a book of two halves, or more correctly a book of two-thirds and a third. That is because the emphasis of the story changes part way through the book and the concept of what is happening takes on a different aspect - or at least it does for this reader.
The gist of it all is that crime writer (third-rate, according to his agent) Ethelred Tressider wants to set his new novel in Egypt so he books a 'research trip' on the Nile, intending to take with him his lady friend Annabelle. But the latter drops out at the last minute so Ethelred invites his literary agent and confidante Elsie Thirkettle along with him. But when Annabelle turns up unexpectedly part way down the Nile, the atmosphere between these three characters takes an unpleasant turn.
This partnership of Ethelred and Elsie makes for plenty of amusing cross chat as the characters have a rather special relationship. And they are joined on the Khedive paddle steamer by a variety of characters who are so diverse as to create all sorts of tensions between them.
LC Tyler keeps the intrigue going very well in the early part of the book and the reader is left wondering what is going to happen (nothing wrong with that at all). Then when a body is discovered on the boat's deck, all the passengers and the crew are under suspicion. That is when a new element is introduced into the story and it begins to go slightly awry.
Being on the Nile, there is nobody to take direct charge of any investigation but two of the passengers pose as policemen and, although their vocation is doubted by some, they try to take the lead. It is not easy but they do impose their will and Ethelred, who on one sightseeing trip is narrowly missed by some falling masonry - deliberate or accidental it is difficult to ascertain - finds himself in dire trouble.
After much hardship, he does manage to extricate himself but in so doing he puts the Khedive and its passengers at risk of something worse happening. But in the end, in a most surprising turn of events (as the book reverts somewhat to its earlier concept [thank goodness]) everything is resolved satisfactorily. But it is not surprising to hear Ethelred say [on page 273] 'I'm still not sure I understand it all.' I do know what he means!
Early on, 'Herring on the Nile' has the feel of Agatha Christie's 'Death on the Nile' but when the concept of the story changes, it loses some of that nicety. However, it is still quite an enjoyable read.
The gist of it all is that crime writer (third-rate, according to his agent) Ethelred Tressider wants to set his new novel in Egypt so he books a 'research trip' on the Nile, intending to take with him his lady friend Annabelle. But the latter drops out at the last minute so Ethelred invites his literary agent and confidante Elsie Thirkettle along with him. But when Annabelle turns up unexpectedly part way down the Nile, the atmosphere between these three characters takes an unpleasant turn.
This partnership of Ethelred and Elsie makes for plenty of amusing cross chat as the characters have a rather special relationship. And they are joined on the Khedive paddle steamer by a variety of characters who are so diverse as to create all sorts of tensions between them.
LC Tyler keeps the intrigue going very well in the early part of the book and the reader is left wondering what is going to happen (nothing wrong with that at all). Then when a body is discovered on the boat's deck, all the passengers and the crew are under suspicion. That is when a new element is introduced into the story and it begins to go slightly awry.
Being on the Nile, there is nobody to take direct charge of any investigation but two of the passengers pose as policemen and, although their vocation is doubted by some, they try to take the lead. It is not easy but they do impose their will and Ethelred, who on one sightseeing trip is narrowly missed by some falling masonry - deliberate or accidental it is difficult to ascertain - finds himself in dire trouble.
After much hardship, he does manage to extricate himself but in so doing he puts the Khedive and its passengers at risk of something worse happening. But in the end, in a most surprising turn of events (as the book reverts somewhat to its earlier concept [thank goodness]) everything is resolved satisfactorily. But it is not surprising to hear Ethelred say [on page 273] 'I'm still not sure I understand it all.' I do know what he means!
Early on, 'Herring on the Nile' has the feel of Agatha Christie's 'Death on the Nile' but when the concept of the story changes, it loses some of that nicety. However, it is still quite an enjoyable read.
June 12, 2016
easy going read in the series this time based on a boat cruising the nile, based loosely on the christie novel but not as good though
August 6, 2011
In an effort to rejuvenate his flagging career, crime novelist Ethelred Tressider decides to set his new book in Egypt and embarks on a ‘research trip’ with his literary agent, Elsie Thirkettle, in tow. No sooner has their cruise on the Nile begun, however, than an attempt is made on Ethelred’s life.
When the boat’s engine explodes and a passenger is found bloodily murdered, suspicion falls on everyone aboard – including a third-rate private eye, two individuals who may or may not be undercover police, and Ethelred himself. As the boat drifts out of control, though, it seems that events are being controlled by a party far more radical than anyone could have guessed.
Herring on the Nile is an ingenious mystery, and a darkly funny tribute to Agatha Christie and the golden age of crime fiction.
I’ve been looking forward to reading LC Tyler’s Herring on the Nile for some time now and although I’ve had it on the “to be read” shelf for a couple of months or so I decided yesterday was the day - a very hot summer’s day, armed with a glass of chilled white wine (Pouilly-Fumé for those interested in that sort of thing) and a comfortable chair – evoking memories, page by page, of a dusty Egyptian landscape with no possible escape from the harsh sun. It’s the closest I’ll get to Egypt at the moment as I sit precariously perched on a Welsh hillside!
With the obvious comparison to the late great Agatha Christie aside – this is after all an updated version of the classic Death on the Nile”, Tyler has written an incredibly light and entertaining book that not only has that old fashioned feel about it but ingeniously brought bang up to date with the threat to holiday makers in Egypt and the obligatory terrorism angle!
Full review on my blog:- http://www.milorambles.com/2011/06/27...
Herring on the Nile serves as my introduction to the Ethelred Tressider series, a title I found delightfully infectious and entertaining throughout. The humour was as dry as the Saharan desert and frankly just up my street! I couldn’t stop laughing from beginning to end and should I ever get the chance to interview Len Tyler I now have a list of questions I know he’ll be able to answer (reference to the numerous newspaper interviews Ethelred has to endure throughout the book).
The narrative is heavily influenced by dialogue from start to finish and makes for a very quick read and although I would have liked to see a little less dialogue - I can’t unfortunately compare “Nile” to his earlier novels – it was so well written I had to remind myself I wasn’t actually eavesdropping on the Egyptian paddle steamer!
When the boat’s engine explodes and a passenger is found bloodily murdered, suspicion falls on everyone aboard – including a third-rate private eye, two individuals who may or may not be undercover police, and Ethelred himself. As the boat drifts out of control, though, it seems that events are being controlled by a party far more radical than anyone could have guessed.
Herring on the Nile is an ingenious mystery, and a darkly funny tribute to Agatha Christie and the golden age of crime fiction.
I’ve been looking forward to reading LC Tyler’s Herring on the Nile for some time now and although I’ve had it on the “to be read” shelf for a couple of months or so I decided yesterday was the day - a very hot summer’s day, armed with a glass of chilled white wine (Pouilly-Fumé for those interested in that sort of thing) and a comfortable chair – evoking memories, page by page, of a dusty Egyptian landscape with no possible escape from the harsh sun. It’s the closest I’ll get to Egypt at the moment as I sit precariously perched on a Welsh hillside!
With the obvious comparison to the late great Agatha Christie aside – this is after all an updated version of the classic Death on the Nile”, Tyler has written an incredibly light and entertaining book that not only has that old fashioned feel about it but ingeniously brought bang up to date with the threat to holiday makers in Egypt and the obligatory terrorism angle!
Full review on my blog:- http://www.milorambles.com/2011/06/27...
Herring on the Nile serves as my introduction to the Ethelred Tressider series, a title I found delightfully infectious and entertaining throughout. The humour was as dry as the Saharan desert and frankly just up my street! I couldn’t stop laughing from beginning to end and should I ever get the chance to interview Len Tyler I now have a list of questions I know he’ll be able to answer (reference to the numerous newspaper interviews Ethelred has to endure throughout the book).
The narrative is heavily influenced by dialogue from start to finish and makes for a very quick read and although I would have liked to see a little less dialogue - I can’t unfortunately compare “Nile” to his earlier novels – it was so well written I had to remind myself I wasn’t actually eavesdropping on the Egyptian paddle steamer!
August 19, 2022
"Ethelred Tressider's career is not, let's face it, what one might call glittering. In fact, it's barely what one might call capable of paying the gas bill. To be honest, this is not really surprising; Ethelred lost any real interest in writing mystery novels many years ago, and his audience has never been truly excited about reading them. And yet the gas bill must be paid. In a desperate effort to revive his flaccid imagination, Ethelred books a cruise down the Nile -- cradle of civilization, ancient royal rivalries, all that rot. Well, it worked for Agatha Christie.
"It is not, however, working very well for Ethelred. No sooner has he settled into his stateroom -- followed, of course, by his agent, the splendid Elsie -- than dead bodies start littering the premises. There are any number of suspects, but for many of the boat's amateur sleuths, it becomes increasingly apparent that the dastardly murderer is none other than the sweating Ethelred.
~~back cover
Charming and funny as usual, Ethelred and Elsie do their usual sparring and seeing things from completely different viewpoints. Are those two men really Egyptian police? Elsie is sure they are -- Ethelred is sure they're not. And so forth.
It was slightly disconcerting that a major event apparently took place between books: Ethelred inherited a stately mansion. The fly in the ointment is that the Lord's relic, Lady Annabelle Muntham, currently resides in the stately mansion and intends to remain there despite Ethelred's stated intention to sell the pile. This underlying comedy of errors certainly spices up the book.
Of course Ethelred's and Elsie's and Annabelle's trip down the Nile is fractured with murders and potential bombings and the game of Who Exactly Is the Police and Who Isn't? Is Elsie spot on, or is Ethelred? Are Ethelred and Annabelle engaged, or not? It's all very delightful and well worth the read.
"It is not, however, working very well for Ethelred. No sooner has he settled into his stateroom -- followed, of course, by his agent, the splendid Elsie -- than dead bodies start littering the premises. There are any number of suspects, but for many of the boat's amateur sleuths, it becomes increasingly apparent that the dastardly murderer is none other than the sweating Ethelred.
~~back cover
Charming and funny as usual, Ethelred and Elsie do their usual sparring and seeing things from completely different viewpoints. Are those two men really Egyptian police? Elsie is sure they are -- Ethelred is sure they're not. And so forth.
It was slightly disconcerting that a major event apparently took place between books: Ethelred inherited a stately mansion. The fly in the ointment is that the Lord's relic, Lady Annabelle Muntham, currently resides in the stately mansion and intends to remain there despite Ethelred's stated intention to sell the pile. This underlying comedy of errors certainly spices up the book.
Of course Ethelred's and Elsie's and Annabelle's trip down the Nile is fractured with murders and potential bombings and the game of Who Exactly Is the Police and Who Isn't? Is Elsie spot on, or is Ethelred? Are Ethelred and Annabelle engaged, or not? It's all very delightful and well worth the read.
October 8, 2023
Wonderful
April 19, 2016
In this, the fourth, Herring novel, Ethelred and Elsie take a trip down the Nile as research for Ethelred's next novel. It's got some lovely touches reminiscent of Agatha Christies novel which make you want to reread that novel straight away, while having some quirky modern day touches of It's own (terrorism for one). Once again Ethelred is the bungling idiot character who gets totally taken advantage of. I did enjoy this romp along the Nile but has been my least favourite of the four novels I've read so far, mainly because there seemed to be an abundance of characters who constantly got mixed up and the plot did seem to wallow around for awhile getting no where (much like the steamer they were travelling on). Having come to quite a swift denouement when you felt that there wouldn't actually be a satisfactory conclusion I liked the quirky postscript tying it all together in the form of an authors interview.
July 30, 2012
Another great addition to the Ethelred and Elsie series. Elsie, in particular, cracks me up with how she perceives herself versus how others see her. The book made me want to reread Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile.
June 27, 2020
This is a further episode in the adventures of Ethelred and Elsie. Not that it is absolutely necessary to have read the previous novels to enjoy this book; it is a standalone “story of murder, espionage and fish out of water”. Written with humour and clever, cheeky references to other books, this is a murder mystery with lots to recommend it. With a nod to Agatha Christie, this is a book of murder, mystery and mayhem set aboard a paddle steamer on a luxury trip along the Nile. The idea of luxury is especially important to Elsie, a literary agent with an interesting taste in clothes and an obsession with peeled grapes in this novel. Persuaded to go on the trip at the last minute by her author Ethelred, writer of both contemporary crime and historical crime, with a third identity as a romance writer, she has high levels of expectation of the trip. Even she has to acknowledge that Ethelred would struggle to be regarded as a second rate author in terms of sales, while he has decided to quit Britain for a short time “for research”. The boat is half empty, but the small number of passengers are a varied assembly, and suspicions soon abound.
The book opens with a list of questions that Ethelred is trying to answer for favourable publicity in a variety of local papers. He finds that it is not easy, as Elsie has given each paper the impression that Ethelred is a native of the area, and his struggles with the Sunderland paper are especially funny. When Elsie finds out that Ethelred’s friend Annabelle is not accompanying him on his trip to Egypt, she decides that the element of luxury promised is so attractive that she must go. They discover that their fellow passengers are an odd lot, with a pair of American young men, two gentlemen from Britain who speak arabic, a useless private detective that the pair have encountered previously among them. There is a Professor of Egyptology who is strangely reluctant to discuss his subject, and two women travelling alone who share a tendency towards floppy hats. A mysterious man may or may not be an accused murderer, a spy or various other identities. Both Elsie and Ethelred soon develop their own ideas about their fellow passengers, especially as events become more disturbing.The classic incident of a piece of an Egyptian Temple falling too near to two of the party awake more suspicions, and a bloody murder following the sound of a gunshot sets everyone into a state of excitement. Can Ethelred and Elsie discover what is really happening, and indeed can they survive the trials of a Nile cruise?
This is a very enjoyable book full of incident and reflection on who is exactly who among a closed community of passengers. In this book the running joke is the answers to questions that Ethelred is trying to work out for his publicity drive, which get more and more unlikely to reflect his current circumstances, especially when he is asked to describe the room he is writing in. The dialogue is as usual very funny, not only between Ethelred and Elsie, but among all the passengers. Tom and John are very cliched Americans, and overall the conversations that occur between all the passengers as they try to discover the truth are very funny. I recommend this book for its wit and more; it is a very enjoyable read on many levels.
The book opens with a list of questions that Ethelred is trying to answer for favourable publicity in a variety of local papers. He finds that it is not easy, as Elsie has given each paper the impression that Ethelred is a native of the area, and his struggles with the Sunderland paper are especially funny. When Elsie finds out that Ethelred’s friend Annabelle is not accompanying him on his trip to Egypt, she decides that the element of luxury promised is so attractive that she must go. They discover that their fellow passengers are an odd lot, with a pair of American young men, two gentlemen from Britain who speak arabic, a useless private detective that the pair have encountered previously among them. There is a Professor of Egyptology who is strangely reluctant to discuss his subject, and two women travelling alone who share a tendency towards floppy hats. A mysterious man may or may not be an accused murderer, a spy or various other identities. Both Elsie and Ethelred soon develop their own ideas about their fellow passengers, especially as events become more disturbing.The classic incident of a piece of an Egyptian Temple falling too near to two of the party awake more suspicions, and a bloody murder following the sound of a gunshot sets everyone into a state of excitement. Can Ethelred and Elsie discover what is really happening, and indeed can they survive the trials of a Nile cruise?
This is a very enjoyable book full of incident and reflection on who is exactly who among a closed community of passengers. In this book the running joke is the answers to questions that Ethelred is trying to work out for his publicity drive, which get more and more unlikely to reflect his current circumstances, especially when he is asked to describe the room he is writing in. The dialogue is as usual very funny, not only between Ethelred and Elsie, but among all the passengers. Tom and John are very cliched Americans, and overall the conversations that occur between all the passengers as they try to discover the truth are very funny. I recommend this book for its wit and more; it is a very enjoyable read on many levels.
August 1, 2024
2000s - Ägypten
first published 2011
‘The Elsie Thirkettle Literary Agency. How can I help you?’
‘Elsie,’ I said, clutching the phone in one hand and scrolling down the screen with the other. ‘Those interview questions you emailed me. Why are they asking me about Sunderland?’
‘Which interview is that, Ethelred?’
‘The Sunderland Herald, strangely. They seem to think I’m some sort of expert on eating out on Wearside. They want to know my favourite restaurant.’
‘Could be a trick question. Hold on while I Google it . . . no, there really are restaurants in Sunderland.’
Agatha Christie natürlich, nicht nur wegen "Death on the Nile", sondern auch, weil LC Tyler beim Versuch, Spionage-Thriller und Krimi zu mischen, genauso kläglich scheitert wie die Grand Dame of Crime. Immerhin hat er den Humor, dies im Roman selbst anzusprechen... Meta-Meta-Ebene quasi:
‘What will the next one be then?’ I asked. ‘Crime or spies?’
‘Maybe both,’ he said. ‘I think I could probably write something that overlapped the two genres.’
‘It has to be one or the other,’ I said. ‘Anything that mixes up spies and crime will just be a mess.’
Genau. Auch hier.
Trotzdem ein unterhaltsames Buch mit dem üblichen Hickhack zwischen Elsie und Ethelred, aber die früheren haben mir besser gefallen. Täter schnell klar, doch das Motiv ist eine sehr späte Überraschung. Das letzte Drittel wirkt etwas lieblos und wenig humorvoll zusammengezimmert. Das Ende mit der Enthüllung des Mörders kommt dann aber noch einmal gewohnt bissig und komisch daher.
Elsie, who regarded honesty much as she would an expensive pair of shoes: something to be cherished, admired even, but to be used only occasionally and not without some discomfort.
Gestört hat mich das erratische Verhalten von Annabelle; sie scheint eine profillose Spielfigur, die jeweils in die Rolle gepackt wird, die für den weiteren Handlungsverlauf erforderlich ist - da ist kein plausibel entwickelter Charakter dahinter.
Während in den früheren Büchern kleine Auszüge aus Ethelreds "Werken" zwischen den Kapiteln eingestreut wurden, gibt es hier zur Auflockerung Fragebögen von Zeitschriften, die Ethelred in sehr unterhaltsamer Weise beantwortet... die wiederkehrende Frage "Q: Our readers are always interested in how writers work. Describe the room you are writing in now." sorgt dabei für hübsche Überleitungen.
first published 2011
‘The Elsie Thirkettle Literary Agency. How can I help you?’
‘Elsie,’ I said, clutching the phone in one hand and scrolling down the screen with the other. ‘Those interview questions you emailed me. Why are they asking me about Sunderland?’
‘Which interview is that, Ethelred?’
‘The Sunderland Herald, strangely. They seem to think I’m some sort of expert on eating out on Wearside. They want to know my favourite restaurant.’
‘Could be a trick question. Hold on while I Google it . . . no, there really are restaurants in Sunderland.’
Agatha Christie natürlich, nicht nur wegen "Death on the Nile", sondern auch, weil LC Tyler beim Versuch, Spionage-Thriller und Krimi zu mischen, genauso kläglich scheitert wie die Grand Dame of Crime. Immerhin hat er den Humor, dies im Roman selbst anzusprechen... Meta-Meta-Ebene quasi:
‘What will the next one be then?’ I asked. ‘Crime or spies?’
‘Maybe both,’ he said. ‘I think I could probably write something that overlapped the two genres.’
‘It has to be one or the other,’ I said. ‘Anything that mixes up spies and crime will just be a mess.’
Genau. Auch hier.
Trotzdem ein unterhaltsames Buch mit dem üblichen Hickhack zwischen Elsie und Ethelred, aber die früheren haben mir besser gefallen. Täter schnell klar, doch das Motiv ist eine sehr späte Überraschung. Das letzte Drittel wirkt etwas lieblos und wenig humorvoll zusammengezimmert. Das Ende mit der Enthüllung des Mörders kommt dann aber noch einmal gewohnt bissig und komisch daher.
Elsie, who regarded honesty much as she would an expensive pair of shoes: something to be cherished, admired even, but to be used only occasionally and not without some discomfort.
Gestört hat mich das erratische Verhalten von Annabelle; sie scheint eine profillose Spielfigur, die jeweils in die Rolle gepackt wird, die für den weiteren Handlungsverlauf erforderlich ist - da ist kein plausibel entwickelter Charakter dahinter.
Während in den früheren Büchern kleine Auszüge aus Ethelreds "Werken" zwischen den Kapiteln eingestreut wurden, gibt es hier zur Auflockerung Fragebögen von Zeitschriften, die Ethelred in sehr unterhaltsamer Weise beantwortet... die wiederkehrende Frage "Q: Our readers are always interested in how writers work. Describe the room you are writing in now." sorgt dabei für hübsche Überleitungen.
April 21, 2018
2 stars out of 5 - I finished it, for what that's worth. The author has a pleasant enough writing style, and I get that he intended the novel as a bit of a tribute to Agatha Christi, or was at least inspired by her. But that's no excuse for a plot that wanders around in random directions, nor for shallow supporting characters. I was almost swayed enough to give it three stars by how well the final reveal of the killer was done, but I worried that I might later find myself tempted to pick up another of his Herring novels.
April 2, 2022
The ending was a little convoluted but I overall enjoyed the story.
After the last story, Ethelred has decided that he needs a trip to Egypt. Maybe it will help him with his next story (though the only work we see in this book is him answering questions for newspaper articles, most of which have confused him with another more popular writer.)
The noxious Annabelle is no longer with him. Perhaps that is because Ethelred is selling the ancestral home that she wants so badly. But, though wildly romantic, Ethelred is also wildly pragmatic. He believes that Annabelle will stay with him even without the property. He seems to have been wrong because he is now on the cruise with his editor.
And the cruise quickly becomes a sort of locked room mystery with a character from a previous book claiming to be protecting an unknown client. Well, he knows the client's name but not who the client is. When a man is murdered, was it the right person or was it supposed to be Ethelred.
Then the book sort of veers wildly from the classic mystery to a seventies kidnapping mystery and then ends, as I mentioned at the beginning, sort of confusingly. But I did enjoy the ride.
After the last story, Ethelred has decided that he needs a trip to Egypt. Maybe it will help him with his next story (though the only work we see in this book is him answering questions for newspaper articles, most of which have confused him with another more popular writer.)
The noxious Annabelle is no longer with him. Perhaps that is because Ethelred is selling the ancestral home that she wants so badly. But, though wildly romantic, Ethelred is also wildly pragmatic. He believes that Annabelle will stay with him even without the property. He seems to have been wrong because he is now on the cruise with his editor.
And the cruise quickly becomes a sort of locked room mystery with a character from a previous book claiming to be protecting an unknown client. Well, he knows the client's name but not who the client is. When a man is murdered, was it the right person or was it supposed to be Ethelred.
Then the book sort of veers wildly from the classic mystery to a seventies kidnapping mystery and then ends, as I mentioned at the beginning, sort of confusingly. But I did enjoy the ride.
November 27, 2018
I've now read five of L.C Tyler's Ethelred and Elsie books and enjoyed the humour and the interaction between the two key characters. This book, however, had the feeling of it having been written by someone else. Sadly the cleverness wasn't present in this particular story. Thankfully the author got the magic back in his next book.
September 13, 2019
A bit of slapstick, a bit of farce, never too broad to be un-enjoyable. The device of the multitudinous sets of interview questions, which Ethelred fills in with increasing pathos as the book goes on, is a lot of fun!
I do like Ethelred. I really wish I liked Elsie, but she's so insufferable. Only the author's good writing renders her bearable.
I do like Ethelred. I really wish I liked Elsie, but she's so insufferable. Only the author's good writing renders her bearable.
May 24, 2020
I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous 3 instalments. It might just be that I read them at a trot and need a break. But this book felt a bit rushed and mish-mashy.
Also, I'm not sure what's going on with Elsie's little crush on Ethelred anymore. In book 1, it read like she loved him. Now, it's more like she tolerates him with affection...and lusts after "fit" men.
Also, I'm not sure what's going on with Elsie's little crush on Ethelred anymore. In book 1, it read like she loved him. Now, it's more like she tolerates him with affection...and lusts after "fit" men.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2020
Rating between 2.5 & 3
An okay read that I did enjoy slightly more than the last couple.
The plot was actually quite thin and all the better for that. The story references to Agatha Christie were well done I thought and not intrusive.
Despite having read a lot of the series I still do not really like the main characters. At least in this story Elsie was less annoying than prior.
An okay read that I did enjoy slightly more than the last couple.
The plot was actually quite thin and all the better for that. The story references to Agatha Christie were well done I thought and not intrusive.
Despite having read a lot of the series I still do not really like the main characters. At least in this story Elsie was less annoying than prior.
November 28, 2021
This is a most unusual, tongue-in-cheek mystery series, alternately narrated by the two central characters Ethelred Tressider (unremarkable novelist) and his outrageous literary agent Elsie Thirkettle (chocoholic). They set off on a cruise down the Nile River, intending to gather background information for his next book, but adventure follows them here as it does everywhere else. Zany!
October 16, 2017
A great read--Characters are enjoyable, humor is exceptional, storyline superb. A trip down the Nile for Ethelred and Elsie can only mean one is to expect the unexpected. Murder, terrorists, Ethelred kidnapped, Elsie causing mayhem. Love this series. Looking forward to the next book.
September 8, 2018
Yup...It was a good read! After a long time, I read good crime and mystery novel. All characters were defined with the realistic philosophy. A good start and a good end with the twisting events. It was good!
I think you should give it a try!
P.S.It's not a time waste
I think you should give it a try!
P.S.It's not a time waste
July 10, 2021
A fun cosy mystery with some amusing moments. I loved the references to Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile - for example, one character is reading Snow on the Desert's Face by Salome Ottobourne - they were fun to spot and added to my overall enjoyment of the novel. Recommended.
May 16, 2018
Uhhhh.... Yeah.... One star. I got half way through this. Didn't finish it. I wasn't going to torture myself any more. Don't care who the victim(s) were or might be. Dont care who done it. Bye, bye.
June 21, 2018
A modern cozy. Had a bit of A Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie feel but was still it's own book. Didn't realize this book was in a series but that didn't affect me being able to follow the story.
October 30, 2018
I found the humour in this one very engaging but I didn't think the plot worked as well as previous books in the series.
April 16, 2019
An enjoyable pastiche of a romp up the Nile. Recommend to me by a fellow passenger on a v recent trip up the Nile in the same boat as the author travelled in.
May 14, 2019
3.75 stars . I get a kick out of this mystery series.
November 26, 2019
Quite fun, but not as good a pastiche as it thinks it is.
January 10, 2021
Very good
June 23, 2021
A pleasant light read. It's a closed circle whodunit set aboard a Nile riverboat cruise, with some elements of a spy novel.
July 11, 2021
Very entertaining. Well written and funny just the right references to Christine's book
August 28, 2021
While an easy read and the plot being very good, the ending to me feels rushed and unsatisfactory considering how the book started. Enjoyable all the same
April 10, 2022
Entertaining romp along the Nile. Story alternates between Elsie and Ethelred same as the previous books. Enjoyed spotting references to Agatha Christie.
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