Amazon's Misleading Cover Image, 21 Apr 2008
I would urge buyers who wish a specific version of this book to beware the cover image Amazon display, as this is not the cover image they are supplying. Amazon, despite displaying the black-topped signature edition, substitute the book supplied for a newer version of the cover. For someone collecting a particular version this is a frustrating piece of mis-selling.

Cheating, 31 Oct 2007
This is a very enjoyable read, but has no-one else felt cheated by the revelation of the murderer's identity? Also I have always been less than convinced by the mechanics through which the crime was 'committed', (although the excellent adaptation of this story in the Poirot television series did make it appear more plausible.)

A really good murder mystery, 17 Apr 2007
Agatha Christie has done it again. This is the seventh Poirot book I've read and it's the best one so far. The whole story is really good from beginning to end I couldn't help but to keep on reading it till I completely finished it. The plot is really good and I was totally shocked at the identity of the murderer of Simeon Lee.

If no one has got round to reading Hercule Poirot's Christmas then please consider it as the next book to read. Who knows, but maybe you could be hooked on this book as well.

A cracking Christmas mystery, 05 Feb 2005
Hercule Poirot is spending Christmas in the country with his friend Colonel Johnson, Chief Constable of Middleshire, and suffering terribly from the lack of central heaintg ("Nothing like a wood fire", says Colonel Johnson, but Poirot disagrees). Disagreeable wealthy old tyrant Simeon Lee is bloodily murdered in mysterious circumstances, and Poirot is called in to investigate.

The house is full of Simeon Lee's put-upon sons and their put-upon wives, any one of whom might have had reason to do Simeon in, especially as he had just announced that he was about to change his will to include his beautiful young granddaughter Pilar, just arrived from Spain, whom none of the family had ever set eyes on before. The family are anxious to insist that the murder was an outside job, but Poirot is equally convinced that it was not.

This is one of the best Poirot mysteries, with lots of interesting characters, especially the delightfuly vivacious, high-spirited and unconventional Pilar, and a cunning murderer to unmask. A real Christmas treat.

Agatha Christie's locked room murder mystery., 21 May 2003
Although generally regarded as typifying the cozy murder mystery writer in whose books there is either a murder in a locked room or a murder at a family reunion in a country house, Agatha Christie rarely tried her hand at either of these murder mystery genres. In “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas”, however, she combines both.
The family is the dysfunctional Lee family, summoned to pass Christmas together in the house of old Simeon Lee, the patriarch. During this stressful reunion, a commotion followed by a blood-curdling scream is heard from the room on the first floor occupied by old Simeon. When the locked door is forced open, the furniture is found upended, the safe rifled, and Simeon is found lying dead with his throat cut. The door key is in place, on the inside of the door.

Having depicted how the family members despise, hate, or resent each other up to this point, Agatha Christie next allows the investigations and theories to develop. Poirot is on hand, but she cleverly allows other police inspectors and investigators to do most of the work and make most of the mistakes.

The solution is one you will never forget, but also one that you will probably never arrive at before Poirot reveals all. Agatha Christie is wonderfully clever at laying out all the clues in an arrangement that directs the reader away from the vital ones.

Apart from a few lines of description, almost everything in the text is dialogue. To anyone in the world who has not yet read this 1940 mystery nothing more need be said. To those who are re-reading it, I suggest they notice how cleverly it is plotted and planned.

Say you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand and jellybeans that come in every flavour, including strawberry, curry, grass and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are a wizard yourself! This is exactly what happens to young Harry Potter in J K Rowling's enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. In the non-magical human world--the world of "Muggles"--Harry is a nobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. But in the world of wizards, small, skinny Harry is renowned as a survivor of the wizard who tried to kill him. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoilt, pig-like cousin Dudley.

A mysterious letter, delivered by the friendly giant Hagrid, wrenches Harry from his dreary, Muggle-ridden existence: "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry". Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" Soon enough, however, Harry finds himself at Hogwarts with his owl Hedwig ... and that's where the real adventure--humorous, haunting, and suspenseful--begins.

This magical, gripping, brilliant book--a future classic to be sure--will leave children clamouring for a sequel. (Ages 8-13) --Karin SnelsonJust when it seems that there cannot possibly be another twist to the Harry Potter tale, Stephen Fry dons his haughtiest and naughtiest tones to bring Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to vibrant life on audio.

Harry Potter has spent the first 10 years of his life at the mercy of the dreadful Dursleys--the aunt, uncle and fat, spoilt brat of a cousin who reluctantly gave him a home after the death of his mother and father. But on his 11th birthday Harry discovers that he is no ordinary boy, and despite the best efforts of his hideous relatives he escapes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to begin his new life as a trainee wizard. And the rest, as they say, is history...

As Harry battles against the evils thrown in his path, Stephen Fry injects the proceedings with a wry, dry and extremely contagious humour that perfectly suits the tale, wringing out the best in Harry and his cohorts as they get to grips with their new lives at the sharp end of Hogwarts. Fry's innate upper-class drone is perfectly suited to the telling of this most magical tale, cracking into the high-pitched squawking of Hermione the swat, or the gentle tones of the firm but fair Dumbledore, or the evil sniping of slimey Snape at precisely the right moments, adding further atmosphere and intensity to the story

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a fine story and much has been written about its success but until you have heard Fry's cracking reading of this most magical of stories then you simply haven't lived. As with any audio book, this one is perfect for car journeys and an ideal way of introducing reluctant readers to the magic that is Harry Potter. (Age 9 and over) --Susan Harrison

Amazon's Misleading Cover Image, 21 Apr 2008
I would urge buyers who wish a specific version of this book to beware the cover image Amazon display, as this is not the cover image they are supplying. Amazon, despite displaying the black-topped signature edition, substitute the book supplied for a newer version of the cover. For someone collecting a particular version this is a frustrating piece of mis-selling.

Cheating, 31 Oct 2007
This is a very enjoyable read, but has no-one else felt cheated by the revelation of the murderer's identity? Also I have always been less than convinced by the mechanics through which the crime was 'committed', (although the excellent adaptation of this story in the Poirot television series did make it appear more plausible.)

A really good murder mystery, 17 Apr 2007
Agatha Christie has done it again. This is the seventh Poirot book I've read and it's the best one so far. The whole story is really good from beginning to end I couldn't help but to keep on reading it till I completely finished it. The plot is really good and I was totally shocked at the identity of the murderer of Simeon Lee.

If no one has got round to reading Hercule Poirot's Christmas then please consider it as the next book to read. Who knows, but maybe you could be hooked on this book as well.

A cracking Christmas mystery, 05 Feb 2005
Hercule Poirot is spending Christmas in the country with his friend Colonel Johnson, Chief Constable of Middleshire, and suffering terribly from the lack of central heaintg ("Nothing like a wood fire", says Colonel Johnson, but Poirot disagrees). Disagreeable wealthy old tyrant Simeon Lee is bloodily murdered in mysterious circumstances, and Poirot is called in to investigate.

The house is full of Simeon Lee's put-upon sons and their put-upon wives, any one of whom might have had reason to do Simeon in, especially as he had just announced that he was about to change his will to include his beautiful young granddaughter Pilar, just arrived from Spain, whom none of the family had ever set eyes on before. The family are anxious to insist that the murder was an outside job, but Poirot is equally convinced that it was not.

This is one of the best Poirot mysteries, with lots of interesting characters, especially the delightfuly vivacious, high-spirited and unconventional Pilar, and a cunning murderer to unmask. A real Christmas treat.

Agatha Christie's locked room murder mystery., 21 May 2003
Although generally regarded as typifying the cozy murder mystery writer in whose books there is either a murder in a locked room or a murder at a family reunion in a country house, Agatha Christie rarely tried her hand at either of these murder mystery genres. In “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas”, however, she combines both.
The family is the dysfunctional Lee family, summoned to pass Christmas together in the house of old Simeon Lee, the patriarch. During this stressful reunion, a commotion followed by a blood-curdling scream is heard from the room on the first floor occupied by old Simeon. When the locked door is forced open, the furniture is found upended, the safe rifled, and Simeon is found lying dead with his throat cut. The door key is in place, on the inside of the door.

Having depicted how the family members despise, hate, or resent each other up to this point, Agatha Christie next allows the investigations and theories to develop. Poirot is on hand, but she cleverly allows other police inspectors and investigators to do most of the work and make most of the mistakes.

The solution is one you will never forget, but also one that you will probably never arrive at before Poirot reveals all. Agatha Christie is wonderfully clever at laying out all the clues in an arrangement that directs the reader away from the vital ones.

Apart from a few lines of description, almost everything in the text is dialogue. To anyone in the world who has not yet read this 1940 mystery nothing more need be said. To those who are re-reading it, I suggest they notice how cleverly it is plotted and planned.

Spectacular, 03 Nov 2008
this is only one of the harry potter books.if you liked this you should read the rest.th ewhaole collection is utterly fantastic.brought me into the stoty straight from the start!

And from here it all began ..., 02 Nov 2008
All credit to Joanne Rowling. This is the book that launched a global phenomenon and should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in children's literature or classic stories.

As for the book, yes, it's very good - however, I don't think it's brilliant. Writing your first novel is a mammoth undertaking and in this book JK sets out the parameters for what was to be developed and built upon in the later novels.

This novel probably inspired thousands more to do the same and finally write the book that germinated in their mind for so long. I should know, as I'm one of those people. My first book is now for sale on Amazon etc, and it may not have happened if this book had simply been lost in the slush pile of every major publisher and agent.

Great Book, 17 Oct 2008
I understand that everyone had their own opinion but i do not understand how anyone cannot like the harry potter books! in relation to another review made! Hagrid can do magic in front of the Dursleys because they know about magic! I defo do not believe that these books are just for kids either!

Sets the scene well, 19 Sep 2008
...and is undoubtably well-described, but the actual storyline wasn't quite as exciting as everyone said it would be. Still, I will be reading the next one!

From a Primary Teacher's perspective, 16 Sep 2008
The first in the collection explores a typical plot of an orphan boy who is badly treated by his uncle and auntie, and is suddenly offered a place at Hogwarts, the school for young and aspiring wizards and witches. From the moment young Harry meets Hagrid, the friendly half-giant and groundkeeper of the school, the realm of the magical and mysterious unravels before him, gradually revealing the true past of his dead parents.

Clearly the most predictable choice of all books due to the worldwide interest the series has received, few pupils nowadays would not be able to describe an event, character or plot from Harry Potter. This in itself can be used to create further interest in reading and a whole manner of cross-curricular activities.

Film adaptations have been equally as successful as the books, so there are many avenues in which the teacher can lead them into reading. Ideally this read is for Years 5 & 6, but because of the sheer level of interest it could be argued that Year 2 onwards would be keen to hear readings and therefore give them a clear goal to head towards. And as there are so many facets to the Harry Potter phenomenon as well as a deep passion expressed by many children from across the world, it wouldn't be hard to harness the interest of this book and use it to propel a particular lesson. With links to English, Maths, Science, PE, RE, PSHE and school ethics (i.e. house points and community issues), the opportunity to use Rowling's work as a springboard is endless and is therefore inescapably a must-read for any teacher.

Amazon's Misleading Cover Image, 21 Apr 2008
I would urge buyers who wish a specific version of this book to beware the cover image Amazon display, as this is not the cover image they are supplying. Amazon, despite displaying the black-topped signature edition, substitute the book supplied for a newer version of the cover. For someone collecting a particular version this is a frustrating piece of mis-selling.

Cheating, 31 Oct 2007
This is a very enjoyable read, but has no-one else felt cheated by the revelation of the murderer's identity? Also I have always been less than convinced by the mechanics through which the crime was 'committed', (although the excellent adaptation of this story in the Poirot television series did make it appear more plausible.)

A really good murder mystery, 17 Apr 2007
Agatha Christie has done it again. This is the seventh Poirot book I've read and it's the best one so far. The whole story is really good from beginning to end I couldn't help but to keep on reading it till I completely finished it. The plot is really good and I was totally shocked at the identity of the murderer of Simeon Lee.

If no one has got round to reading Hercule Poirot's Christmas then please consider it as the next book to read. Who knows, but maybe you could be hooked on this book as well.

A cracking Christmas mystery, 05 Feb 2005
Hercule Poirot is spending Christmas in the country with his friend Colonel Johnson, Chief Constable of Middleshire, and suffering terribly from the lack of central heaintg ("Nothing like a wood fire", says Colonel Johnson, but Poirot disagrees). Disagreeable wealthy old tyrant Simeon Lee is bloodily murdered in mysterious circumstances, and Poirot is called in to investigate.

The house is full of Simeon Lee's put-upon sons and their put-upon wives, any one of whom might have had reason to do Simeon in, especially as he had just announced that he was about to change his will to include his beautiful young granddaughter Pilar, just arrived from Spain, whom none of the family had ever set eyes on before. The family are anxious to insist that the murder was an outside job, but Poirot is equally convinced that it was not.

This is one of the best Poirot mysteries, with lots of interesting characters, especially the delightfuly vivacious, high-spirited and unconventional Pilar, and a cunning murderer to unmask. A real Christmas treat.

Agatha Christie's locked room murder mystery., 21 May 2003
Although generally regarded as typifying the cozy murder mystery writer in whose books there is either a murder in a locked room or a murder at a family reunion in a country house, Agatha Christie rarely tried her hand at either of these murder mystery genres. In “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas”, however, she combines both.
The family is the dysfunctional Lee family, summoned to pass Christmas together in the house of old Simeon Lee, the patriarch. During this stressful reunion, a commotion followed by a blood-curdling scream is heard from the room on the first floor occupied by old Simeon. When the locked door is forced open, the furniture is found upended, the safe rifled, and Simeon is found lying dead with his throat cut. The door key is in place, on the inside of the door.

Having depicted how the family members despise, hate, or resent each other up to this point, Agatha Christie next allows the investigations and theories to develop. Poirot is on hand, but she cleverly allows other police inspectors and investigators to do most of the work and make most of the mistakes.

The solution is one you will never forget, but also one that you will probably never arrive at before Poirot reveals all. Agatha Christie is wonderfully clever at laying out all the clues in an arrangement that directs the reader away from the vital ones.

Apart from a few lines of description, almost everything in the text is dialogue. To anyone in the world who has not yet read this 1940 mystery nothing more need be said. To those who are re-reading it, I suggest they notice how cleverly it is plotted and planned.

Spectacular, 03 Nov 2008
this is only one of the harry potter books.if you liked this you should read the rest.th ewhaole collection is utterly fantastic.brought me into the stoty straight from the start!

And from here it all began ..., 02 Nov 2008
All credit to Joanne Rowling. This is the book that launched a global phenomenon and should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in children's literature or classic stories.

As for the book, yes, it's very good - however, I don't think it's brilliant. Writing your first novel is a mammoth undertaking and in this book JK sets out the parameters for what was to be developed and built upon in the later novels.

This novel probably inspired thousands more to do the same and finally write the book that germinated in their mind for so long. I should know, as I'm one of those people. My first book is now for sale on Amazon etc, and it may not have happened if this book had simply been lost in the slush pile of every major publisher and agent.

Great Book, 17 Oct 2008
I understand that everyone had their own opinion but i do not understand how anyone cannot like the harry potter books! in relation to another review made! Hagrid can do magic in front of the Dursleys because they know about magic! I defo do not believe that these books are just for kids either!

Sets the scene well, 19 Sep 2008
...and is undoubtably well-described, but the actual storyline wasn't quite as exciting as everyone said it would be. Still, I will be reading the next one!

From a Primary Teacher's perspective, 16 Sep 2008
The first in the collection explores a typical plot of an orphan boy who is badly treated by his uncle and auntie, and is suddenly offered a place at Hogwarts, the school for young and aspiring wizards and witches. From the moment young Harry meets Hagrid, the friendly half-giant and groundkeeper of the school, the realm of the magical and mysterious unravels before him, gradually revealing the true past of his dead parents.

Clearly the most predictable choice of all books due to the worldwide interest the series has received, few pupils nowadays would not be able to describe an event, character or plot from Harry Potter. This in itself can be used to create further interest in reading and a whole manner of cross-curricular activities.

Film adaptations have been equally as successful as the books, so there are many avenues in which the teacher can lead them into reading. Ideally this read is for Years 5 & 6, but because of the sheer level of interest it could be argued that Year 2 onwards would be keen to hear readings and therefore give them a clear goal to head towards. And as there are so many facets to the Harry Potter phenomenon as well as a deep passion expressed by many children from across the world, it wouldn't be hard to harness the interest of this book and use it to propel a particular lesson. With links to English, Maths, Science, PE, RE, PSHE and school ethics (i.e. house points and community issues), the opportunity to use Rowling's work as a springboard is endless and is therefore inescapably a must-read for any teacher.

Perfect, 28 Apr 2008
I bought this audio book to occupy me during a few days' 'holiday at home' and couldn't have chosen better - it's the perfect relaxation to sit back and have a very vocally talented actor tell such a dark, intriguing story. Although a great Christie fan, this is, amazingly it now seems, a story I've never read, but I shall now buy the book also, because as with all Christie stories, knowing the outcome doesn't detract from the rereading or relistening pleasure. The false leads and red herrings are dropped into the narrative with such skill that although they are small and subtle they still take you along a variety of wrong paths. The final unravelling is, whilst not completely unexpected by that point, satisfyingly dramatic and dark. And even at - almost - the very end, Agatha Christie dares to tempt you with the possibility of a near impossible alternative ending. Brilliant!

Dark, effective chiller from Agatha Christie, 11 May 2004
Quite often in a Christie story there is a sentimental romance
in the background; when the main mystery is cleared up we
frequently find that two of the minor characters end up engaged.
In "Endless Night" the author has become aware of this
little foible and is deliberately exploiting it to her readers'
downfall! The result is shockingly effective.

We are assured at the start that it's a love story, and it is.
There is something terribly wrong, something we dimly sense
from the beginning. The author hints at it throughout the book,
building up the unease imperceptibly, until the truth is so
obvious that our realisation can be taken for granted. What
makes this story memorable is not the plot in itself (ingenious
as usual) but the atmosphere, the manner of the telling. The
most powerful clue to what's really going on is not any
material evidence, but the mind-set of one particular character
. (At the same time there is little violence, and none of the
wallowing in gore which lesser writers rely on.) This
spine-chiller shows the author at the height of her powers.

The story is ably read by Hugh Frazer, who manages to keep
the various voice-accents distinct throughout the extensive
dialogue! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Amazon's Misleading Cover Image, 21 Apr 2008
I would urge buyers who wish a specific version of this book to beware the cover image Amazon display, as this is not the cover image they are supplying. Amazon, despite displaying the black-topped signature edition, substitute the book supplied for a newer version of the cover. For someone collecting a particular version this is a frustrating piece of mis-selling.

Cheating, 31 Oct 2007
This is a very enjoyable read, but has no-one else felt cheated by the revelation of the murderer's identity? Also I have always been less than convinced by the mechanics through which the crime was 'committed', (although the excellent adaptation of this story in the Poirot television series did make it appear more plausible.)

A really good murder mystery, 17 Apr 2007
Agatha Christie has done it again. This is the seventh Poirot book I've read and it's the best one so far. The whole story is really good from beginning to end I couldn't help but to keep on reading it till I completely finished it. The plot is really good and I was totally shocked at the identity of the murderer of Simeon Lee.

If no one has got round to reading Hercule Poirot's Christmas then please consider it as the next book to read. Who knows, but maybe you could be hooked on this book as well.

A cracking Christmas mystery, 05 Feb 2005
Hercule Poirot is spending Christmas in the country with his friend Colonel Johnson, Chief Constable of Middleshire, and suffering terribly from the lack of central heaintg ("Nothing like a wood fire", says Colonel Johnson, but Poirot disagrees). Disagreeable wealthy old tyrant Simeon Lee is bloodily murdered in mysterious circumstances, and Poirot is called in to investigate.

The house is full of Simeon Lee's put-upon sons and their put-upon wives, any one of whom might have had reason to do Simeon in, especially as he had just announced that he was about to change his will to include his beautiful young granddaughter Pilar, just arrived from Spain, whom none of the family had ever set eyes on before. The family are anxious to insist that the murder was an outside job, but Poirot is equally convinced that it was not.

This is one of the best Poirot mysteries, with lots of interesting characters, especially the delightfuly vivacious, high-spirited and unconventional Pilar, and a cunning murderer to unmask. A real Christmas treat.

Agatha Christie's locked room murder mystery., 21 May 2003
Although generally regarded as typifying the cozy murder mystery writer in whose books there is either a murder in a locked room or a murder at a family reunion in a country house, Agatha Christie rarely tried her hand at either of these murder mystery genres. In “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas”, however, she combines both.
The family is the dysfunctional Lee family, summoned to pass Christmas together in the house of old Simeon Lee, the patriarch. During this stressful reunion, a commotion followed by a blood-curdling scream is heard from the room on the first floor occupied by old Simeon. When the locked door is forced open, the furniture is found upended, the safe rifled, and Simeon is found lying dead with his throat cut. The door key is in place, on the inside of the door.

Having depicted how the family members despise, hate, or resent each other up to this point, Agatha Christie next allows the investigations and theories to develop. Poirot is on hand, but she cleverly allows other police inspectors and investigators to do most of the work and make most of the mistakes.

The solution is one you will never forget, but also one that you will probably never arrive at before Poirot reveals all. Agatha Christie is wonderfully clever at laying out all the clues in an arrangement that directs the reader away from the vital ones.

Apart from a few lines of description, almost everything in the text is dialogue. To anyone in the world who has not yet read this 1940 mystery nothing more need be said. To those who are re-reading it, I suggest they notice how cleverly it is plotted and planned.

Spectacular, 03 Nov 2008
this is only one of the harry potter books.if you liked this you should read the rest.th ewhaole collection is utterly fantastic.brought me into the stoty straight from the start!

And from here it all began ..., 02 Nov 2008
All credit to Joanne Rowling. This is the book that launched a global phenomenon and should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in children's literature or classic stories.

As for the book, yes, it's very good - however, I don't think it's brilliant. Writing your first novel is a mammoth undertaking and in this book JK sets out the parameters for what was to be developed and built upon in the later novels.

This novel probably inspired thousands more to do the same and finally write the book that germinated in their mind for so long. I should know, as I'm one of those people. My first book is now for sale on Amazon etc, and it may not have happened if this book had simply been lost in the slush pile of every major publisher and agent.

Great Book, 17 Oct 2008
I understand that everyone had their own opinion but i do not understand how anyone cannot like the harry potter books! in relation to another review made! Hagrid can do magic in front of the Dursleys because they know about magic! I defo do not believe that these books are just for kids either!

Sets the scene well, 19 Sep 2008
...and is undoubtably well-described, but the actual storyline wasn't quite as exciting as everyone said it would be. Still, I will be reading the next one!

From a Primary Teacher's perspective, 16 Sep 2008
The first in the collection explores a typical plot of an orphan boy who is badly treated by his uncle and auntie, and is suddenly offered a place at Hogwarts, the school for young and aspiring wizards and witches. From the moment young Harry meets Hagrid, the friendly half-giant and groundkeeper of the school, the realm of the magical and mysterious unravels before him, gradually revealing the true past of his dead parents.

Clearly the most predictable choice of all books due to the worldwide interest the series has received, few pupils nowadays would not be able to describe an event, character or plot from Harry Potter. This in itself can be used to create further interest in reading and a whole manner of cross-curricular activities.

Film adaptations have been equally as successful as the books, so there are many avenues in which the teacher can lead them into reading. Ideally this read is for Years 5 & 6, but because of the sheer level of interest it could be argued that Year 2 onwards would be keen to hear readings and therefore give them a clear goal to head towards. And as there are so many facets to the Harry Potter phenomenon as well as a deep passion expressed by many children from across the world, it wouldn't be hard to harness the interest of this book and use it to propel a particular lesson. With links to English, Maths, Science, PE, RE, PSHE and school ethics (i.e. house points and community issues), the opportunity to use Rowling's work as a springboard is endless and is therefore inescapably a must-read for any teacher.

Perfect, 28 Apr 2008
I bought this audio book to occupy me during a few days' 'holiday at home' and couldn't have chosen better - it's the perfect relaxation to sit back and have a very vocally talented actor tell such a dark, intriguing story. Although a great Christie fan, this is, amazingly it now seems, a story I've never read, but I shall now buy the book also, because as with all Christie stories, knowing the outcome doesn't detract from the rereading or relistening pleasure. The false leads and red herrings are dropped into the narrative with such skill that although they are small and subtle they still take you along a variety of wrong paths. The final unravelling is, whilst not completely unexpected by that point, satisfyingly dramatic and dark. And even at - almost - the very end, Agatha Christie dares to tempt you with the possibility of a near impossible alternative ending. Brilliant!

Dark, effective chiller from Agatha Christie, 11 May 2004
Quite often in a Christie story there is a sentimental romance
in the background; when the main mystery is cleared up we
frequently find that two of the minor characters end up engaged.
In "Endless Night" the author has become aware of this
little foible and is deliberately exploiting it to her readers'
downfall! The result is shockingly effective.

We are assured at the start that it's a love story, and it is.
There is something terribly wrong, something we dimly sense
from the beginning. The author hints at it throughout the book,
building up the unease imperceptibly, until the truth is so
obvious that our realisation can be taken for granted. What
makes this story memorable is not the plot in itself (ingenious
as usual) but the atmosphere, the manner of the telling. The
most powerful clue to what's really going on is not any
material evidence, but the mind-set of one particular character
. (At the same time there is little violence, and none of the
wallowing in gore which lesser writers rely on.) This
spine-chiller shows the author at the height of her powers.

The story is ably read by Hugh Frazer, who manages to keep
the various voice-accents distinct throughout the extensive
dialogue! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Intriguing ..., 04 Nov 2008
... enough to keep on reading though utterly mind-boggling up to the very end.
It does include a fair amount of Blackadder-like dialogue, as I was hoping for, and a good deal of prep school and college banter. Correct, "No matter how much you shake it, the last drop always runs down you leg" is not Walton's Third Law, I do believe its Newton's Fourth since it has to do with gravity!?
Not an easy read - the upper end of the English language is thoroughly exploited if not directly challenged.
There's quite a lot of "gay stuff" as well. Skirting the invisible boundary Fry manages to stay on the right side of decency. If you are easily offended by sexual innuendo don't even bother.
Through a delicate balance between "funny ha ha" and "funny peculiar" Stephen Fry "lies" his way - in some respects I sincerely hope he does - through a very entertaining story that turns out to be a mystery worthy of Hercule Poirot himself.


Sorry I didn't get it!, 25 Oct 2008
I love Stephen Fry and really enjoyed 'Moab is my Washpot' so I was keen to read 'The Liar'. I was influenced to buy it after reading all the reviews on Amazon - it is this that made me want to provide my own review, as a counter-balance to all those who liked the book.

Firstly, I found the main character, Adrian Healey, utterly unlikeable. I wasn't interested in him, or his bizarre behaviour, so didn't really care what happened to him. I didn't particularly warm to any of the others, either. The humour derived from mocking the snobbery of the public school system is short-lived and not worth the wait.

I didn't see the point of the italicized chapters until towards the end of the book - by which time I was past caring.

The dénouement is very clever but I still felt cheated. I felt the whole thing could have been wrapped up much more quickly and would have made a more concise (and more interesting) short story, rather than a novel. By the end (particularly during the dull as dishwater cricket match) I was skim-reading - yet I still got the plot! Hardly the sign of a good novel.

It's a shame as, if this had been my first Stephen Fry book, I'd never pick up another. I'd recommend 'Moab is my Washpot' to anyone new to Fry's writings.


Almost Interesting..., 22 Oct 2008
I should preface this by saying 'I love Stephen Fry.' Despite being a heterosexual male, I would quite happily marry him just so I could enjoy a lifetime of his mild manners and witty repartees.

This being said, since I discovered Amazon's 'review' function I've tried to dissect books as objectively as possible. Therefore, I have to confess that The Liar was slightly disappointing for me.

Don't get me wrong: It's fantastically written. Fry's mastery of the language is quite simply art in motion, and the insight the work provides into the man himself is fascinating.

However... it's not very good, really.

I'm all for unconventional plot devices and disregarding standard narrative flow, but Fry's attempts at a disjointed style are immensely unsatisfying. Jumping between past and present interrupts the characters' natural development, and makes the story hard to follow. It also makes it hard to keep track of the sheer number of characters that Fry throws in.

Another issue I have is that Fry doesn't utilise his protaganist's compulsive lying tendencies enough. The parts where the character is lying - and is revealed to be as such at the end - are removed from the plot, so when his falsehoods are later revealed it is a massive anti-climax, as they have no bearing on what has actually occured during the novel.

Overall, I feel that this is a weak first attempt. It is certainly worth reading, but Fry has written far superior works to this. Therefore, I can't really recommend it, but will instead advise purchasing 'Moab is my Washpot', which is in essence a more impressive version of this. It also has the advantage of being a true autobiography, instead of vaguely wielding the autobiographical elements that make The Liar appealing. Or, if you'd rather read Fry's best fictional work, go for The Hippopotamus: although a strong stomach is required to get through it.

Weird definitely weird, 14 Apr 2008
After reading this book I felt confused. Yes it was funny in places and Mr Fry's literary style and prowess are undoubted. Why then can't he write a novel that coherently follows a storyline instead of flitting about like a fly on the proverbial griddle. It seems like he has written down all the points he wants to get across then got them to the publishers without sorting them into order as he was running out of time.
If this is his life story as some seem to suspect no wonder he is depressed. I was after reading it!

The journey is more enjoyable than the arrival, 05 Mar 2008
This is beautifully written and bears all the hallmarks of Fry's familiar delivery. I heartily recommend it. I have given just 4 stars out of 5 as I didn't feel particularly satisfied by the ending but I had very much enjoyed getting there. It's the first Fry novel I've read and I am certainly encouraged to read more of them.

Amazon's Misleading Cover Image, 21 Apr 2008
I would urge buyers who wish a specific version of this book to beware the cover image Amazon display, as this is not the cover image they are supplying. Amazon, despite displaying the black-topped signature edition, substitute the book supplied for a newer version of the cover. For someone collecting a particular version this is a frustrating piece of mis-selling.

Cheating, 31 Oct 2007
This is a very enjoyable read, but has no-one else felt cheated by the revelation of the murderer's identity? Also I have always been less than convinced by the mechanics through which the crime was 'committed', (although the excellent adaptation of this story in the Poirot television series did make it appear more plausible.)

A really good murder mystery, 17 Apr 2007
Agatha Christie has done it again. This is the seventh Poirot book I've read and it's the best one so far. The whole story is really good from beginning to end I couldn't help but to keep on reading it till I completely finished it. The plot is really good and I was totally shocked at the identity of the murderer of Simeon Lee.

If no one has got round to reading Hercule Poirot's Christmas then please consider it as the next book to read. Who knows, but maybe you could be hooked on this book as well.

A cracking Christmas mystery, 05 Feb 2005
Hercule Poirot is spending Christmas in the country with his friend Colonel Johnson, Chief Constable of Middleshire, and suffering terribly from the lack of central heaintg ("Nothing like a wood fire", says Colonel Johnson, but Poirot disagrees). Disagreeable wealthy old tyrant Simeon Lee is bloodily murdered in mysterious circumstances, and Poirot is called in to investigate.

The house is full of Simeon Lee's put-upon sons and their put-upon wives, any one of whom might have had reason to do Simeon in, especially as he had just announced that he was about to change his will to include his beautiful young granddaughter Pilar, just arrived from Spain, whom none of the family had ever set eyes on before. The family are anxious to insist that the murder was an outside job, but Poirot is equally convinced that it was not.

This is one of the best Poirot mysteries, with lots of interesting characters, especially the delightfuly vivacious, high-spirited and unconventional Pilar, and a cunning murderer to unmask. A real Christmas treat.

Agatha Christie's locked room murder mystery., 21 May 2003
Although generally regarded as typifying the cozy murder mystery writer in whose books there is either a murder in a locked room or a murder at a family reunion in a country house, Agatha Christie rarely tried her hand at either of these murder mystery genres. In “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas”, however, she combines both.
The family is the dysfunctional Lee family, summoned to pass Christmas together in the house of old Simeon Lee, the patriarch. During this stressful reunion, a commotion followed by a blood-curdling scream is heard from the room on the first floor occupied by old Simeon. When the locked door is forced open, the furniture is found upended, the safe rifled, and Simeon is found lying dead with his throat cut. The door key is in place, on the inside of the door.

Having depicted how the family members despise, hate, or resent each other up to this point, Agatha Christie next allows the investigations and theories to develop. Poirot is on hand, but she cleverly allows other police inspectors and investigators to do most of the work and make most of the mistakes.

The solution is one you will never forget, but also one that you will probably never arrive at before Poirot reveals all. Agatha Christie is wonderfully clever at laying out all the clues in an arrangement that directs the reader away from the vital ones.

Apart from a few lines of description, almost everything in the text is dialogue. To anyone in the world who has not yet read this 1940 mystery nothing more need be said. To those who are re-reading it, I suggest they notice how cleverly it is plotted and planned.

Spectacular, 03 Nov 2008
this is only one of the harry potter books.if you liked this you should read the rest.th ewhaole collection is utterly fantastic.brought me into the stoty straight from the start!

And from here it all began ..., 02 Nov 2008
All credit to Joanne Rowling. This is the book that launched a global phenomenon and should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in children's literature or classic stories.

As for the book, yes, it's very good - however, I don't think it's brilliant. Writing your first novel is a mammoth undertaking and in this book JK sets out the parameters for what was to be developed and built upon in the later novels.

This novel probably inspired thousands more to do the same and finally write the book that germinated in their mind for so long. I should know, as I'm one of those people. My first book is now for sale on Amazon etc, and it may not have happened if this book had simply been lost in the slush pile of every major publisher and agent.

Great Book, 17 Oct 2008
I understand that everyone had their own opinion but i do not understand how anyone cannot like the harry potter books! in relation to another review made! Hagrid can do magic in front of the Dursleys because they know about magic! I defo do not believe that these books are just for kids either!

Sets the scene well, 19 Sep 2008
...and is undoubtably well-described, but the actual storyline wasn't quite as exciting as everyone said it would be. Still, I will be reading the next one!

From a Primary Teacher's perspective, 16 Sep 2008
The first in the collection explores a typical plot of an orphan boy who is badly treated by his uncle and auntie, and is suddenly offered a place at Hogwarts, the school for young and aspiring wizards and witches. From the moment young Harry meets Hagrid, the friendly half-giant and groundkeeper of the school, the realm of the magical and mysterious unravels before him, gradually revealing the true past of his dead parents.

Clearly the most predictable choice of all books due to the worldwide interest the series has received, few pupils nowadays would not be able to describe an event, character or plot from Harry Potter. This in itself can be used to create further interest in reading and a whole manner of cross-curricular activities.

Film adaptations have been equally as successful as the books, so there are many avenues in which the teacher can lead them into reading. Ideally this read is for Years 5 & 6, but because of the sheer level of interest it could be argued that Year 2 onwards would be keen to hear readings and therefore give them a clear goal to head towards. And as there are so many facets to the Harry Potter phenomenon as well as a deep passion expressed by many children from across the world, it wouldn't be hard to harness the interest of this book and use it to propel a particular lesson. With links to English, Maths, Science, PE, RE, PSHE and school ethics (i.e. house points and community issues), the opportunity to use Rowling's work as a springboard is endless and is therefore inescapably a must-read for any teacher.

Perfect, 28 Apr 2008
I bought this audio book to occupy me during a few days' 'holiday at home' and couldn't have chosen better - it's the perfect relaxation to sit back and have a very vocally talented actor tell such a dark, intriguing story. Although a great Christie fan, this is, amazingly it now seems, a story I've never read, but I shall now buy the book also, because as with all Christie stories, knowing the outcome doesn't detract from the rereading or relistening pleasure. The false leads and red herrings are dropped into the narrative with such skill that although they are small and subtle they still take you along a variety of wrong paths. The final unravelling is, whilst not completely unexpected by that point, satisfyingly dramatic and dark. And even at - almost - the very end, Agatha Christie dares to tempt you with the possibility of a near impossible alternative ending. Brilliant!

Dark, effective chiller from Agatha Christie, 11 May 2004
Quite often in a Christie story there is a sentimental romance
in the background; when the main mystery is cleared up we
frequently find that two of the minor characters end up engaged.
In "Endless Night" the author has become aware of this
little foible and is deliberately exploiting it to her readers'
downfall! The result is shockingly effective.

We are assured at the start that it's a love story, and it is.
There is something terribly wrong, something we dimly sense
from the beginning. The author hints at it throughout the book,
building up the unease imperceptibly, until the truth is so
obvious that our realisation can be taken for granted. What
makes this story memorable is not the plot in itself (ingenious
as usual) but the atmosphere, the manner of the telling. The
most powerful clue to what's really going on is not any
material evidence, but the mind-set of one particular character
. (At the same time there is little violence, and none of the
wallowing in gore which lesser writers rely on.) This
spine-chiller shows the author at the height of her powers.

The story is ably read by Hugh Frazer, who manages to keep
the various voice-accents distinct throughout the extensive
dialogue! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Intriguing ..., 04 Nov 2008
... enough to keep on reading though utterly mind-boggling up to the very end.
It does include a fair amount of Blackadder-like dialogue, as I was hoping for, and a good deal of prep school and college banter. Correct, "No matter how much you shake it, the last drop always runs down you leg" is not Walton's Third Law, I do believe its Newton's Fourth since it has to do with gravity!?
Not an easy read - the upper end of the English language is thoroughly exploited if not directly challenged.
There's quite a lot of "gay stuff" as well. Skirting the invisible boundary Fry manages to stay on the right side of decency. If you are easily offended by sexual innuendo don't even bother.
Through a delicate balance between "funny ha ha" and "funny peculiar" Stephen Fry "lies" his way - in some respects I sincerely hope he does - through a very entertaining story that turns out to be a mystery worthy of Hercule Poirot himself.


Sorry I didn't get it!, 25 Oct 2008
I love Stephen Fry and really enjoyed 'Moab is my Washpot' so I was keen to read 'The Liar'. I was influenced to buy it after reading all the reviews on Amazon - it is this that made me want to provide my own review, as a counter-balance to all those who liked the book.

Firstly, I found the main character, Adrian Healey, utterly unlikeable. I wasn't interested in him, or his bizarre behaviour, so didn't really care what happened to him. I didn't particularly warm to any of the others, either. The humour derived from mocking the snobbery of the public school system is short-lived and not worth the wait.

I didn't see the point of the italicized chapters until towards the end of the book - by which time I was past caring.

The dénouement is very clever but I still felt cheated. I felt the whole thing could have been wrapped up much more quickly and would have made a more concise (and more interesting) short story, rather than a novel. By the end (particularly during the dull as dishwater cricket match) I was skim-reading - yet I still got the plot! Hardly the sign of a good novel.

It's a shame as, if this had been my first Stephen Fry book, I'd never pick up another. I'd recommend 'Moab is my Washpot' to anyone new to Fry's writings.


Almost Interesting..., 22 Oct 2008
I should preface this by saying 'I love Stephen Fry.' Despite being a heterosexual male, I would quite happily marry him just so I could enjoy a lifetime of his mild manners and witty repartees.

This being said, since I discovered Amazon's 'review' function I've tried to dissect books as objectively as possible. Therefore, I have to confess that The Liar was slightly disappointing for me.

Don't get me wrong: It's fantastically written. Fry's mastery of the language is quite simply art in motion, and the insight the work provides into the man himself is fascinating.

However... it's not very good, really.

I'm all for unconventional plot devices and disregarding standard narrative flow, but Fry's attempts at a disjointed style are immensely unsatisfying. Jumping between past and present interrupts the characters' natural development, and makes the story hard to follow. It also makes it hard to keep track of the sheer number of characters that Fry throws in.

Another issue I have is that Fry doesn't utilise his protaganist's compulsive lying tendencies enough. The parts where the character is lying - and is revealed to be as such at the end - are removed from the plot, so when his falsehoods are later revealed it is a massive anti-climax, as they have no bearing on what has actually occured during the novel.

Overall, I feel that this is a weak first attempt. It is certainly worth reading, but Fry has written far superior works to this. Therefore, I can't really recommend it, but will instead advise purchasing 'Moab is my Washpot', which is in essence a more impressive version of this. It also has the advantage of being a true autobiography, instead of vaguely wielding the autobiographical elements that make The Liar appealing. Or, if you'd rather read Fry's best fictional work, go for The Hippopotamus: although a strong stomach is required to get through it.

Weird definitely weird, 14 Apr 2008
After reading this book I felt confused. Yes it was funny in places and Mr Fry's literary style and prowess are undoubted. Why then can't he write a novel that coherently follows a storyline instead of flitting about like a fly on the proverbial griddle. It seems like he has written down all the points he wants to get across then got them to the publishers without sorting them into order as he was running out of time.
If this is his life story as some seem to suspect no wonder he is depressed. I was after reading it!

The journey is more enjoyable than the arrival, 05 Mar 2008
This is beautifully written and bears all the hallmarks of Fry's familiar delivery. I heartily recommend it. I have given just 4 stars out of 5 as I didn't feel particularly satisfied by the ending but I had very much enjoyed getting there. It's the first Fry novel I've read and I am certainly encouraged to read more of them.

A Classic Agatha Christie, 18 Nov 2002
Set in an English village, and complete with the stock cast of suspects, the only surprise is that Hercule Poirot, rather then Miss Marple, arrives to solve this mystery.

In a world where dogs and gardening provide the main topics of conversation, the cast of characters is representative of the local gentry: the solicitor; the doctor; the farmer, the whimsical lady spiritualist - only the Rector is missing. The maids have adenoids, the barmaid is brassy, and the local constabulary show a proper respect for "their betters".

But the old order is breaking down in the aftermath of war. The gentry are feeling the pinch and their former benefactor has died, leaving a wealthy widow. She takes up residence among them, with her darkly mysterious brother. But is she his widow? Was she his wife? And is he really her brother? Suspicion naturally falls on the pair of outsiders - he is not a gentleman and she is certainly no lady, even her name is "bogus".

Foul play is committed with hardly any blood and no nasty gory details. And Hercule Poirot arrives, in a cloud of Gallic mist, to tell us "who done it", despite the red herrings that the author strews across his path.

Hugh Fraser's excellent reading evokes a politically incorrect world which has long vanished, if it ever existed. It is thoroughly archaic and utterly enjoyable.

Amazon's Misleading Cover Image, 21 Apr 2008
I would urge buyers who wish a specific version of this book to beware the cover image Amazon display, as this is not the cover image they are supplying. Amazon, despite displaying the black-topped signature edition, substitute the book supplied for a newer version of the cover. For someone collecting a particular version this is a frustrating piece of mis-selling.

Cheating, 31 Oct 2007
This is a very enjoyable read, but has no-one else felt cheated by the revelation of the murderer's identity? Also I have always been less than convinced by the mechanics through which the crime was 'committed', (although the excellent adaptation of this story in the Poirot television series did make it appear more plausible.)

A really good murder mystery, 17 Apr 2007
Agatha Christie has done it again. This is the seventh Poirot book I've read and it's the best one so far. The whole story is really good from beginning to end I couldn't help but to keep on reading it till I completely finished it. The plot is really good and I was totally shocked at the identity of the murderer of Simeon Lee.

If no one has got round to reading Hercule Poirot's Christmas then please consider it as the next book to read. Who knows, but maybe you could be hooked on this book as well.

A cracking Christmas mystery, 05 Feb 2005
Hercule Poirot is spending Christmas in the country with his friend Colonel Johnson, Chief Constable of Middleshire, and suffering terribly from the lack of central heaintg ("Nothing like a wood fire", says Colonel Johnson, but Poirot disagrees). Disagreeable wealthy old tyrant Simeon Lee is bloodily murdered in mysterious circumstances, and Poirot is called in to investigate.

The house is full of Simeon Lee's put-upon sons and their put-upon wives, any one of whom might have had reason to do Simeon in, especially as he had just announced that he was about to change his will to include his beautiful young granddaughter Pilar, just arrived from Spain, whom none of the family had ever set eyes on before. The family are anxious to insist that the murder was an outside job, but Poirot is equally convinced that it was not.

This is one of the best Poirot mysteries, with lots of interesting characters, especially the delightfuly vivacious, high-spirited and unconventional Pilar, and a cunning murderer to unmask. A real Christmas treat.

Agatha Christie's locked room murder mystery., 21 May 2003
Although generally regarded as typifying the cozy murder mystery writer in whose books there is either a murder in a locked room or a murder at a family reunion in a country house, Agatha Christie rarely tried her hand at either of these murder mystery genres. In “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas”, however, she combines both.
The family is the dysfunctional Lee family, summoned to pass Christmas together in the house of old Simeon Lee, the patriarch. During this stressful reunion, a commotion followed by a blood-curdling scream is heard from the room on the first floor occupied by old Simeon. When the locked door is forced open, the furniture is found upended, the safe rifled, and Simeon is found lying dead with his throat cut. The door key is in place, on the inside of the door.

Having depicted how the family members despise, hate, or resent each other up to this point, Agatha Christie next allows the investigations and theories to develop. Poirot is on hand, but she cleverly allows other police inspectors and investigators to do most of the work and make most of the mistakes.

The solution is one you will never forget, but also one that you will probably never arrive at before Poirot reveals all. Agatha Christie is wonderfully clever at laying out all the clues in an arrangement that directs the reader away from the vital ones.

Apart from a few lines of description, almost everything in the text is dialogue. To anyone in the world who has not yet read this 1940 mystery nothing more need be said. To those who are re-reading it, I suggest they notice how cleverly it is plotted and planned.

Spectacular, 03 Nov 2008
this is only one of the harry potter books.if you liked this you should read the rest.th ewhaole collection is utterly fantastic.brought me into the stoty straight from the start!

And from here it all began ..., 02 Nov 2008
All credit to Joanne Rowling. This is the book that launched a global phenomenon and should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in children's literature or classic stories.

As for the book, yes, it's very good - however, I don't think it's brilliant. Writing your first novel is a mammoth undertaking and in this book JK sets out the parameters for what was to be developed and built upon in the later novels.

This novel probably inspired thousands more to do the same and finally write the book that germinated in their mind for so long. I should know, as I'm one of those people. My first book is now for sale on Amazon etc, and it may not have happened if this book had simply been lost in the slush pile of every major publisher and agent.

Great Book, 17 Oct 2008
I understand that everyone had their own opinion but i do not understand how anyone cannot like the harry potter books! in relation to another review made! Hagrid can do magic in front of the Dursleys because they know about magic! I defo do not believe that these books are just for kids either!

Sets the scene well, 19 Sep 2008
...and is undoubtably well-described, but the actual storyline wasn't quite as exciting as everyone said it would be. Still, I will be reading the next one!

From a Primary Teacher's perspective, 16 Sep 2008
The first in the collection explores a typical plot of an orphan boy who is badly treated by his uncle and auntie, and is suddenly offered a place at Hogwarts, the school for young and aspiring wizards and witches. From the moment young Harry meets Hagrid, the friendly half-giant and groundkeeper of the school, the realm of the magical and mysterious unravels before him, gradually revealing the true past of his dead parents.

Clearly the most predictable choice of all books due to the worldwide interest the series has received, few pupils nowadays would not be able to describe an event, character or plot from Harry Potter. This in itself can be used to create further interest in reading and a whole manner of cross-curricular activities.

Film adaptations have been equally as successful as the books, so there are many avenues in which the teacher can lead them into reading. Ideally this read is for Years 5 & 6, but because of the sheer level of interest it could be argued that Year 2 onwards would be keen to hear readings and therefore give them a clear goal to head towards. And as there are so many facets to the Harry Potter phenomenon as well as a deep passion expressed by many children from across the world, it wouldn't be hard to harness the interest of this book and use it to propel a particular lesson. With links to English, Maths, Science, PE, RE, PSHE and school ethics (i.e. house points and community issues), the opportunity to use Rowling's work as a springboard is endless and is therefore inescapably a must-read for any teacher.

Perfect, 28 Apr 2008
I bought this audio book to occupy me during a few days' 'holiday at home' and couldn't have chosen better - it's the perfect relaxation to sit back and have a very vocally talented actor tell such a dark, intriguing story. Although a great Christie fan, this is, amazingly it now seems, a story I've never read, but I shall now buy the book also, because as with all Christie stories, knowing the outcome doesn't detract from the rereading or relistening pleasure. The false leads and red herrings are dropped into the narrative with such skill that although they are small and subtle they still take you along a variety of wrong paths. The final unravelling is, whilst not completely unexpected by that point, satisfyingly dramatic and dark. And even at - almost - the very end, Agatha Christie dares to tempt you with the possibility of a near impossible alternative ending. Brilliant!

Dark, effective chiller from Agatha Christie, 11 May 2004
Quite often in a Christie story there is a sentimental romance
in the background; when the main mystery is cleared up we
frequently find that two of the minor characters end up engaged.
In "Endless Night" the author has become aware of this
little foible and is deliberately exploiting it to her readers'
downfall! The result is shockingly effective.

We are assured at the start that it's a love story, and it is.
There is something terribly wrong, something we dimly sense
from the beginning. The author hints at it throughout the book,
building up the unease imperceptibly, until the truth is so
obvious that our realisation can be taken for granted. What
makes this story memorable is not the plot in itself (ingenious
as usual) but the atmosphere, the manner of the telling. The
most powerful clue to what's really going on is not any
material evidence, but the mind-set of one particular character
. (At the same time there is little violence, and none of the
wallowing in gore which lesser writers rely on.) This
spine-chiller shows the author at the height of her powers.

The story is ably read by Hugh Frazer, who manages to keep
the various voice-accents distinct throughout the extensive
dialogue! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Intriguing ..., 04 Nov 2008
... enough to keep on reading though utterly mind-boggling up to the very end.
It does include a fair amount of Blackadder-like dialogue, as I was hoping for, and a good deal of prep school and college banter. Correct, "No matter how much you shake it, the last drop always runs down you leg" is not Walton's Third Law, I do believe its Newton's Fourth since it has to do with gravity!?
Not an easy read - the upper end of the English language is thoroughly exploited if not directly challenged.
There's quite a lot of "gay stuff" as well. Skirting the invisible boundary Fry manages to stay on the right side of decency. If you are easily offended by sexual innuendo don't even bother.
Through a delicate balance between "funny ha ha" and "funny peculiar" Stephen Fry "lies" his way - in some respects I sincerely hope he does - through a very entertaining story that turns out to be a mystery worthy of Hercule Poirot himself.


Sorry I didn't get it!, 25 Oct 2008
I love Stephen Fry and really enjoyed 'Moab is my Washpot' so I was keen to read 'The Liar'. I was influenced to buy it after reading all the reviews on Amazon - it is this that made me want to provide my own review, as a counter-balance to all those who liked the book.

Firstly, I found the main character, Adrian Healey, utterly unlikeable. I wasn't interested in him, or his bizarre behaviour, so didn't really care what happened to him. I didn't particularly warm to any of the others, either. The humour derived from mocking the snobbery of the public school system is short-lived and not worth the wait.

I didn't see the point of the italicized chapters until towards the end of the book - by which time I was past caring.

The dénouement is very clever but I still felt cheated. I felt the whole thing could have been wrapped up much more quickly and would have made a more concise (and more interesting) short story, rather than a novel. By the end (particularly during the dull as dishwater cricket match) I was skim-reading - yet I still got the plot! Hardly the sign of a good novel.

It's a shame as, if this had been my first Stephen Fry book, I'd never pick up another. I'd recommend 'Moab is my Washpot' to anyone new to Fry's writings.


Almost Interesting..., 22 Oct 2008
I should preface this by saying 'I love Stephen Fry.' Despite being a heterosexual male, I would quite happily marry him just so I could enjoy a lifetime of his mild manners and witty repartees.

This being said, since I discovered Amazon's 'review' function I've tried to dissect books as objectively as possible. Therefore, I have to confess that The Liar was slightly disappointing for me.

Don't get me wrong: It's fantastically written. Fry's mastery of the language is quite simply art in motion, and the insight the work provides into the man himself is fascinating.

However... it's not very good, really.

I'm all for unconventional plot devices and disregarding standard narrative flow, but Fry's attempts at a disjointed style are immensely unsatisfying. Jumping between past and present interrupts the characters' natural development, and makes the story hard to follow. It also makes it hard to keep track of the sheer number of characters that Fry throws in.

Another issue I have is that Fry doesn't utilise his protaganist's compulsive lying tendencies enough. The parts where the character is lying - and is revealed to be as such at the end - are removed from the plot, so when his falsehoods are later revealed it is a massive anti-climax, as they have no bearing on what has actually occured during the novel.

Overall, I feel that this is a weak first attempt. It is certainly worth reading, but Fry has written far superior works to this. Therefore, I can't really recommend it, but will instead advise purchasing 'Moab is my Washpot', which is in essence a more impressive version of this. It also has the advantage of being a true autobiography, instead of vaguely wielding the autobiographical elements that make The Liar appealing. Or, if you'd rather read Fry's best fictional work, go for The Hippopotamus: although a strong stomach is required to get through it.

Weird definitely weird, 14 Apr 2008
After reading this book I felt confused. Yes it was funny in places and Mr Fry's literary style and prowess are undoubted. Why then can't he write a novel that coherently follows a storyline instead of flitting about like a fly on the proverbial griddle. It seems like he has written down all the points he wants to get across then got them to the publishers without sorting them into order as he was running out of time.
If this is his life story as some seem to suspect no wonder he is depressed. I was after reading it!

The journey is more enjoyable than the arrival, 05 Mar 2008
This is beautifully written and bears all the hallmarks of Fry's familiar delivery. I heartily recommend it. I have given just 4 stars out of 5 as I didn't feel particularly satisfied by the ending but I had very much enjoyed getting there. It's the first Fry novel I've read and I am certainly encouraged to read more of them.

A Classic Agatha Christie, 18 Nov 2002
Set in an English village, and complete with the stock cast of suspects, the only surprise is that Hercule Poirot, rather then Miss Marple, arrives to solve this mystery.

In a world where dogs and gardening provide the main topics of conversation, the cast of characters is representative of the local gentry: the solicitor; the doctor; the farmer, the whimsical lady spiritualist - only the Rector is missing. The maids have adenoids, the barmaid is brassy, and the local constabulary show a proper respect for "their betters".

But the old order is breaking down in the aftermath of war. The gentry are feeling the pinch and their former benefactor has died, leaving a wealthy widow. She takes up residence among them, with her darkly mysterious brother. But is she his widow? Was she his wife? And is he really her brother? Suspicion naturally falls on the pair of outsiders - he is not a gentleman and she is certainly no lady, even her name is "bogus".

Foul play is committed with hardly any blood and no nasty gory details. And Hercule Poirot arrives, in a cloud of Gallic mist, to tell us "who done it", despite the red herrings that the author strews across his path.

Hugh Fraser's excellent reading evokes a politically incorrect world which has long vanished, if it ever existed. It is thoroughly archaic and utterly enjoyable.

Words, the Most Dangerous Weapons of All, 06 Nov 2008
"Such a peaceful smiling happy countryside - and down underneath, something evil..."
-- The Moving Finger, p. 28

After a wartime plane crash, Jerry Burton's doctor advises him to find a nice, quiet country village and "live the life of a vegetable" to speed along the recuperation process. Jerry and his sister Joanna settle in Lymstock, an idyllic country town that is three miles from a main road. It is a place where, as an astonished Joanna observes, "People really call - with cards!"

Jerry's peaceful, vegetative life in Lymstock is, however, soon shattered. A few days after their arrival, Jerry receives a malicious anonymous letter. The letter alleges that the Burtons are not brother and sister, but an unmarried couple living in sin. Jerry and Joanna are initially quite amused by the novelty of receiving such a letter, but they soon view the letter as a sign of something much more sinister.

All of Lymstock, it seems, has been receiving these letters. When a woman apparently commits suicide after receiving a letter, the search for the writer intensifies. After another character is murdered, presumably by the anonymous writer, a palpable fear settles over the community. Neighbor suspects neighbor and the whole of Lymstock wonders who amongst them could be capable of such despicable acts.

The indomitable Miss Marple makes her first appearance in the last quarter of the novel. For a less skillful writer than Dame Christie, the lack of the primary character could have made this story very tedious for the reader, but Christie's characters are so well-drawn and compelling that the reader does not notice the loss. The primary sleuthing has been done by Jerry and a few of the other residents of Lymstock, but only Miss Marple is able to connect the myriad of clues and bring the killer to justice.

The Moving Finger was originally published in the United States in 1942. For a novel that is over sixty years old, it has aged incredibly well. Agatha Christie's extraordinary understanding of human nature gives her characters and her stories a timeless quality.

One of my favorite Christie novels, The Moving Finger is a compelling read that will keep you guessing until the end.

Bleak and beautiful, 22 Jan 2008
Agatha Christie is an English prodigy. She is able to transform some banal and particularly obnoxious situation into some kind of normal banality. And Miss Marple is the old spinster she uses most of the time to do this. Urban bleakness will go to Hercule Poirot, the continental and Belgian private eye, the very challenger of Sherlock Holmes. The bleakness of a village where everyone is locked up in set roles they have to play day after day and forever. Let some new character appear and everything is prone to tilt over without even showing what is really happening. Since one cannot get out of his or her role, he or she is going to correct the problem to his or her advantage and without anyone knowing about it. So let's have a smoke screen to cover up in advance what is really happening. Then let's do some surgical operation to get rid of what has to be gotten rid of. And then let's do it and pray for salvation (not to be found out for the criminal, and for that criminal to be sent to the gallows for the reader). Of course Agatha Christie shows how the truth can only be discovered by someone from outside because anyone from inside, including the police, will be blind to small details and will be trapped into blindness by the smoke screen. But the truth can only come from someone who knows exactly what it is to live in a small village. The two people from London cannot discover the truth though they are the only ones to see the real facts. It takes Miss Marple to put the real facts in perspective and then to do the slightly illegal act that will get the wolf out of the wood, using an innocent girl as bait. Miss Marple has a sorry side to her personality: and she is not even sorry about it: "we are not put into this world, Mr Burton, to avoid danger when an innocent fellow-creature's life is at stake". And she forgets that the bait is put in danger by her because the double murderer is quite satisfied by now even if a third person could be sent to the gallows for his crime. And strangely enough she forgets the two young sons of the murderer in the final settlement of the novel. And Agatha Christie adds one charming touch on top of that: she manages to get two marriages arranged in that small village, probably to make us forget that two people were killed there too. And that's the discreet charm of Agatha Christie that is inimitable and will remain so forever I guess.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines


This is a great book, 13 Oct 2007
I really enjoyed this novel, it was a great read. I was certain I had figured out who the murderer was and I hoped I had gotten it wrong because quite often I am able to guess the murderer in Agatha Christie's books, but however this time I was wrong and the true identity was a nice surprise.

Jerry and his sister Joanna move to the countryside for Jerry's health after a serious injury he received during the war. However it seems that this was the wrong place to move to to get a bit of relaxation because when they arrive they discover that a lot of people have been receiving anonymous letters. Soon Mrs Symmington receives an anonymous letter and apparently kills herself as a result. Soon a proper murder occurs and the police find themself in a complicated murder inquiry. It seems the right idea for one of the villagers to call in some help, and Ms Marple comes along. One problem with this book was that Ms Marple only came in in the last few chapters and she is hardly in the chapters that she is in, excluding the chapter where she cleverly reveals all.

This is a highly enjoyable on and I highly reccomend it. One other thing that I might add is that if you like a bit of romance in her books ( agatha christie doesn't usually bother with this in her books ) this book has got some.

Bullseye!, 07 Feb 2006
Agatha Christie's Miss Marple has been tremendously well served by Joan Hickson, first on television and now on CD. This unabridged version of my favourite Marple is excellent; JH makes the most of the various characters and the nuances of the plot. Although 'The Moving Finger', like 'Murder at the Vicarage', has a first person narrator (here the injured pilot Jerry), JH takes this in her stride and really conjures up the atmosphere of the village in the grip of the deadly poison pen. Can Miss Marple intervene to prevent more deaths? Is the Pope a Catholic?

The Moving Finger, 29 Jan 2006
“The Moving Finger” is one of my favourite Agatha Christie books because not only is it a classic whodunit of classic Christie proportions but it’s also an extremely sweet love story with some brilliant characters.

Poor Jerry Burton is a Royal Air Force pilot who has been shot down in action in the Second World War. Ordered to convalesce by his doctor in a quiet countryside backwater he and his sister, Joanna, decide to rent a small cottage in the rural tranquillity of the small village of Lymstock. They soon settle down to the gentle ways of the small village and get to know the local characters; prim and proper Miss Emily Barton (from whom they have rented the cottage) Dr Griffith, shy and devoted to his patients and who seems to have taken a shine to Joanna. Then there’s Dr Griffith’s sister the redoubtable Aimee, hale and hearty and forever trying to organise everyone else. Finally there’s the Symmington family consisting of Richard Symmington the local solicitor, his wife their two sons and their very attractive and young governess Elsie Holland. Mrs Symmington also has a daughter from her first marriage the awkward but somehow charming Megan

All seems to be going well until the Burtons receive a poisonous letter and it would seem that several other of the villagers have also received one or more of these malicious letters. Unfortunately one is sent to Mrs Symmington and it would seem that the contents disturb her so much that shortly after receiving the letter she takes her own life. When shortly after this tragic event the Symmington’s maid is murdered the police are called in and they begin work to find out who is behind the letters.

The local vicar’s wife, Mrs Dane Calthrop also decides to take action and call in an old friend of hers, a petite and frail looking little old lady call Miss Jane Marple.

As I say, not only is the book a classic Christie murder mystery will all the usual ingredients of jealous loves, legacies and social classes but it also has a double love story concerning both Jerry and Joanna Burton. Although the love story seems unlikely and old fashioned when reading it today it still comes over as extremely charming.

Although Miss Marple does appear in the book, she doesn’t pop up until the last couple of chapters so any big fans of hers might be slightly disappointed, but considering the rest of excellent value of the book they have no reason to be so.

Amazon's Misleading Cover Image, 21 Apr 2008
I would urge buyers who wish a specific version of this book to beware the cover image Amazon display, as this is not the cover image they are supplying. Amazon, despite displaying the black-topped signature edition, substitute the book supplied for a newer version of the cover. For someone collecting a particular version this is a frustrating piece of mis-selling.

Cheating, 31 Oct 2007
This is a very enjoyable read, but has no-one else felt cheated by the revelation of the murderer's identity? Also I have always been less than convinced by the mechanics through which the crime was 'committed', (although the excellent adaptation of this story in the Poirot television series did make it appear more plausible.)

A really good murder mystery, 17 Apr 2007
Agatha Christie has done it again. This is the seventh Poirot book I've read and it's the best one so far. The whole story is really good from beginning to end I couldn't help but to keep on reading it till I completely finished it. The plot is really good and I was totally shocked at the identity of the murderer of Simeon Lee.

If no one has got round to reading Hercule Poirot's Christmas then please consider it as the next book to read. Who knows, but maybe you could be hooked on this book as well.

A cracking Christmas mystery, 05 Feb 2005
Hercule Poirot is spending Christmas in the country with his friend Colonel Johnson, Chief Constable of Middleshire, and suffering terribly from the lack of central heaintg ("Nothing like a wood fire", says Colonel Johnson, but Poirot disagrees). Disagreeable wealthy old tyrant Simeon Lee is bloodily murdered in mysterious circumstances, and Poirot is called in to investigate.

The house is full of Simeon Lee's put-upon sons and their put-upon wives, any one of whom might have had reason to do Simeon in, especially as he had just announced that he was about to change his will to include his beautiful young granddaughter Pilar, just arrived from Spain, whom none of the family had ever set eyes on before. The family are anxious to insist that the murder was an outside job, but Poirot is equally convinced that it was not.

This is one of the best Poirot mysteries, with lots of interesting characters, especially the delightfuly vivacious, high-spirited and unconventional Pilar, and a cunning murderer to unmask. A real Christmas treat.

Agatha Christie's locked room murder mystery., 21 May 2003
Although generally regarded as typifying the cozy murder mystery writer in whose books there is either a murder in a locked room or a murder at a family reunion in a country house, Agatha Christie rarely tried her hand at either of these murder mystery genres. In “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas”, however, she combines both.
The family is the dysfunctional Lee family, summoned to pass Christmas together in the house of old Simeon Lee, the patriarch. During this stressful reunion, a commotion followed by a blood-curdling scream is heard from the room on the first floor occupied by old Simeon. When the locked door is forced open, the furniture is found upended, the safe rifled, and Simeon is found lying dead with his throat cut. The door key is in place, on the inside of the door.

Having depicted how the family members despise, hate, or resent each other up to this point, Agatha Christie next allows the investigations and theories to develop. Poirot is on hand, but she cleverly allows other police inspectors and investigators to do most of the work and make most of the mistakes.

The solution is one you will never forget, but also one that you will probably never arrive at before Poirot reveals all. Agatha Christie is wonderfully clever at laying out all the clues in an arrangement that directs the reader away from the vital ones.

Apart from a few lines of description, almost everything in the text is dialogue. To anyone in the world who has not yet read this 1940 mystery nothing more need be said. To those who are re-reading it, I suggest they notice how cleverly it is plotted and planned.

Spectacular, 03 Nov 2008
this is only one of the harry potter books.if you liked this you should read the rest.th ewhaole collection is utterly fantastic.brought me into the stoty straight from the start!

And from here it all began ..., 02 Nov 2008
All credit to Joanne Rowling. This is the book that launched a global phenomenon and should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in children's literature or classic stories.

As for the book, yes, it's very good - however, I don't think it's brilliant. Writing your first novel is a mammoth undertaking and in this book JK sets out the parameters for what was to be developed and built upon in the later novels.

This novel probably inspired thousands more to do the same and finally write the book that germinated in their mind for so long. I should know, as I'm one of those people. My first book is now for sale on Amazon etc, and it may not have happened if this book had simply been lost in the slush pile of every major publisher and agent.

Great Book, 17 Oct 2008
I understand that everyone had their own opinion but i do not understand how anyone cannot like the harry potter books! in relation to another review made! Hagrid can do magic in front of the Dursleys because they know about magic! I defo do not believe that these books are just for kids either!

Sets the scene well, 19 Sep 2008
...and is undoubtably well-described, but the actual storyline wasn't quite as exciting as everyone said it would be. Still, I will be reading the next one!

From a Primary Teacher's perspective, 16 Sep 2008
The first in the collection explores a typical plot of an orphan boy who is badly treated by his uncle and auntie, and is suddenly offered a place at Hogwarts, the school for young and aspiring wizards and witches. From the moment young Harry meets Hagrid, the friendly half-giant and groundkeeper of the school, the realm of the magical and mysterious unravels before him, gradually revealing the true past of his dead parents.

Clearly the most predictable choice of all books due to the worldwide interest the series has received, few pupils nowadays would not be able to describe an event, character or plot from Harry Potter. This in itself can be used to create further interest in reading and a whole manner of cross-curricular activities.

Film adaptations have been equally as successful as the books, so there are many avenues in which the teacher can lead them into reading. Ideally this read is for Years 5 & 6, but because of the sheer level of interest it could be argued that Year 2 onwards would be keen to hear readings and therefore give them a clear goal to head towards. And as there are so many facets to the Harry Potter phenomenon as well as a deep passion expressed by many children from across the world, it wouldn't be hard to harness the interest of this book and use it to propel a particular lesson. With links to English, Maths, Science, PE, RE, PSHE and school ethics (i.e. house points and community issues), the opportunity to use Rowling's work as a springboard is endless and is therefore inescapably a must-read for any teacher.

Perfect, 28 Apr 2008
I bought this audio book to occupy me during a few days' 'holiday at home' and couldn't have chosen bett