Name: Charlotte J. Ruth's review of First Class Murder by Robin Stevens
Item: First Class Murder
Rating: 3.5
Author: Charlotte J. Ruth

Robin Stevens

The third instalment in the bestselling Murder Most Unladylike series; just like the iconic Agatha Christie, Hazel and Daisy have boarded the Orient Express! ----- 'A delight . . . Hazel and Daisy are aboard the Orient Express: cue spies, priceless jewels, a murder and seriously upgraded bun breaks' The Bookseller 'Addictive . . . A rumbustious reworking of Agatha Christie's Orient Express caper' New Statesman ----- Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are taking a holiday on the world-famous Orient Express - and it's clear that each of their fellow first-class passengers has something to hide. Even more intriguing: there is rumour of a spy in their midst. Then, during dinner, there is a scream from inside one of the cabins. When the door is broken down, a passenger is found murdered, her stunning ruby necklace gone. But the killer has vanished - as if into thin air. Daisy and Hazel are faced with their first ever locked-room mystery - and with competition from several other sleuths, who are just as determined to crack the case.

A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery

First Class Murder

Pippa Smith

From the author of Murder Most Unladylike. Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are taking a holiday on the world-famous Orient Express - and it's clear that each of their fellow first-class passengers has something to hide. Even more intriguing: there is rumour of a spy in their midst. Then, during dinner, there is a scream from inside one of the cabins. When the door is broken down, a passenger is found murdered, her stunning ruby necklace gone. But the killer has vanished - as if into thin air. Daisy and Hazel are faced with their first ever locked-room mystery - and with competition from several other sleuths, who are just as determined to crack the case.

Charlotte J. Ruth

fira

mighty dragon 

For once Hazel is in charge. For once I am content and very pleased.

Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are taking a holiday on the famous Orient Express. From the moment the girls step aboard, it's clear that everyone in the first-class carriage has something to hide. Then there is a scream from one of the cabins, and a wealthy heiress is found dead. But the killer has vanished - as if into thin air. Daisy and Hazel are faced with their first locked-room mystery - and with competition from several other sleuths, who are just as determined to crack the case.

Rose Stanley

Believeathon, Book the Third
Prompt: Fly high in the sky/in the clouds you will soar/to worlds unimagined/and lands unexplored (Read a book that is set far away from where you live) (Most of the events in this book take place in what was formerly Yugoslavia, or, as the book has it, Jugo-Slavia)

I'm not going to give spoilers here but I'm pretty sure I know exactly which two Agatha Christie books this one is based on ; ) Also we meet Hazel's dad in this story (and learn her Chinese name) and it's great.

Giulia Pianta

I think this might be the best of this series so far. It is hard to tell because I love these books so much, but just the fact it takes place on the Orient Express makes me so happy.

These books really remind me of a simpler, middle-grade version of Agatha Christie's mysteries. This especially is a big nod to Murder on the Orient Express both because of the setting and because the characters read the book itself and it is helpful for their investigation. But the case was for some aspects so reminiscent of Christie's spy scenarios:


  "I have been given by my contact, someone carrying secrets about Britain’s military capabilities has boarded this train, and will be handing them over to German spies in Belgrade."


I mean, this is so typical! There is also a mention of a "Satterthwaite murder" and I almost screamed at the mention of Satterthwaite from The Mysterious Mr. Quin.

The mystery itself was s much fun too! I think I guessed the culprit towards the end but it was a nice twist and I was left satisfied. 
Hazel's dad was a very good character and I enjoyed seeing the father-daughter relationship change by the end of the book. It also made me really sad to see how they are both treated badly for being Chinese in 1930's Europe.

Just a final thought: Mrs Vitellius. Every single time I would almost laugh at that name (if anyone has that name I am sorry) because in Italian "vitello" means calf and it was so weird to me that she had that surname!

Nia C

This beautiful book, I love it so much. It's another reminder of how powerful middle-grade fiction is.

Vanessa Egger

Salonie Powar

Stefan Ladstätter-Thaa

Perseus Allen

Infamous Millimetre

Amelia Cohen

Kacey Norris

Mara 

On holiday with Hazel's father, Daisy and Hazel secretly investigate a murder on the Orient Express, rushing to solve it before another murder occurs, or someone else finds the killer.

Pippa Smith &
First Class Murder by Robin Stevens

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Pippa Smith &First Class Murder by Robin Stevens

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Pippa Smith &
First Class Murder by Robin Stevens