Book review: The Official Agatha Christie Puzzle Book [blog tour]

The cover image for this post showing my book shelves may be a slight indication that I adore Agatha Christie's stories. In recent years, this has translated into hunting down titles I don't yet own in charity shops (and splurging on the gorgeous new hardbacks as they come out) alongside devouring contemporary authors writing similarly gripping whodunnits, such as Anthony Horowitz, Janice Hallett, Robert Thorogood, and Richard Osman. But – of course – nothing can quite beat a "Christie" and I love the gorgeously designed merchandise that is being released: including a brand-new puzzle book. 

About The Official Agatha Christie Puzzle Book

This isn't just any book filled with cryptic clues and brain teasers, this is a murderous puzzle book... Because amidst the wealth of puzzles – from classic crosswords through to very innovative code breakers – there is a case to be solved. 

Each chapter we read a letter from the mysterious Charles, who joins Agatha Christie's former home, Greenway, as the new librarian. However, the current librarian doesn't show up when she's supposed to and Charles finds a stack of puzzles he believes are left for him as they will reveal what happened to her... 

My review

I'm a big fan of Agatha Christie's incredibly clever detective stories, featuring wonderful characters such as the Belgian who employs his little grey cells through to the elderly Miss Marple, who is so often overlooked and underestimated but it far more observant than the often quite dim-witted local police force. At the heart of all of Christie's murder mysteries there is always a puzzle to uncover "whodunnit". More often than not I manage to solve just some of the clues along the way, while hopelessly falling for red herrings in the process and still being utterly flabbergasted at the final reveal. 

The Official Agatha Christie Puzzle Book was a similar experience for me. Its wealth of different brain teasers means there's something that will suit everyone's unique deducting skills. At the same time, it also means that some of them went over my head – and I'll have to return to them to see if I am able to crack the code with fresh eyes. (Thankfully, if I really become at my wit's end, the book does also include the solutions at the every back.)



That said, I really did enjoy employing my own "little grey cells" throughout and discovering so many different types of puzzles I had never come across before. There is such a wonderful variety that if one page doesn't catch a reader's fancy, they can simply flick through to the next for an entirely different experience. And, each is of course peppered with iconic Agatha Christie references, from book titles to characters to locations. A real treat for avid fans of the Queen of Crime. 

The Official Agatha Christie Puzzle Book is the the perfect way to while away some time this festive season – especially that no-man's land between Christmas and New Year's! Yes, it's a wonderful gifting option for any literary and/or crime lovers, but let's be honest: this one you'd really want to treat yourself to. After all, it's better to crack your brain solving some fictional murders on the page, than commit one in real life after one too many games of Monopoly with the family...

The Official Agatha Christie Puzzle Book is published by Laurence King Publishing and you can now buy your copy from your favourite local book shop!

Blog tour stops for The Official Agatha Christie Puzzle Book

This review for The Official Agatha Christie Puzzle Book is part of the blog tour for the launch of the book. Make sure to check out the other stops too!

Disclaimer: This book was gifted to me, but this has not impacted this honest review.