The Golden Age Of Sleuthing

The Cairo Brief by Fiona Veitch Smith is a marvelous good old fashioned historical super sleuthing at its best. It is the fourth book in the Poppy Denby Investigates series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The book opens in 1914 Egypt but is mainly set in 1921 London. The atmosphere of the age has been perfectly captured by Fiona Veitch Smith. The heat of Cairo is stifling, in contrast with the winter weather of London. The reader is in for a real cosmopolitan treat.

With a cast of characters reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel, the reader tries to piece the clues together to work out who dunit? Poppy Denby, a reporter is a modern miss with an eye for a story and a nose for a crime. I loved the eclectic mix of characters – from Lords of the manor to charlatan mediums to real life historical figures, The Cairo Brief has it all.

Historical events and characters blend with fictional details to create a cracking story that keeps the reader on their toes.

The novel would translate perfectly into an afternoon’s television movie. Any producers please take note.

The Cairo Brief was my first foray into the world of Poppy Denby and I loved it. I really want to delve deeper into Poppy Denby’s world and read the other novels in the series.

Fabulously entertaining.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Featured on the Love Reading staff pick up till Wednesday 28th Nov

Short listed for The People’s Book Prize