Herring on The Nile [Kindle Edition]

Embarking on a research trip for his new book to be set in Egypt, writer Ethelred Tressider sets sail up the Nile on the luxury paddle steamer Khedive. His intended companion for the trip was the attractive widow of the late Lord Muntham, but things rarely go according to plan, and so accompanying him is his agent Elsie Thirkettle.

Joining the ship the first passenger Ethelred sets eyes on is inept Private Eye Herbie Proctor, who imparts that he is there to protect his client, but doesn't say who his client is. Conversation with a Mr Pirbright takes an odd turn when it appears he thinks that Ethelred is the Ex-MI5 spy turned author Paul Fielder. The two Egyptians tell Elsie they are undercover detectives chasing two criminals, but they won't say who they are, but to keep it to herself. After overhearing a couple of disjointed conversations, Ethelred and Elsie think all the other passengers also seem a pretty shady bunch.

When the boat's engines fail, and a body is discovered, there is of course no end of suspects. And Ethelred is in the thick of it.

A wonderful tribute to Agatha Christie, and at the risk of being hunted and tortured by Agatha Christie fans far more fun than `Death on the Nile'.

If you haven't read any L C Tyler books before you are in for treat. The whole book is a joy - an intriguing mystery with some great characters. And the last paragraph is an utter delight.
-----
Lizzie Hayes

I anticipated a clever mystery and a fine entertainment, and that's just what I got.

Ethelred is a middle-aged crime writer, scraping a living by writing three different series under three different aliases. Or rather he was. Ethelred has received an unexpected inheritance. He has a new lady friend too. And those facts might just be linked...

He books a Nile cruise: a holiday with his new love and a research trip for a new novel. But then he is jilted.

Elsie, his literary agent, is quick to invite herself along for the trip instead. But it is a decision she lives to regret.

There are threats, murder, kidnapping, and terrorism. There are misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and much confusion. And there are twists aplenty.

Yes, there's plenty of plot. And a fine cast of characters to play it out.

And there's more: intelligence, wit and lovely details. Too many wonderful things to pick out, but I must commend Ethelred for continuing to provide answers to the interview questions from local newspapers at Elsie's behest. They reflected his changing circumstances, they reflected his life as a writer, and they were an absolute joy.

The similarity of the title of this book to a certain novel by Agatha Christie is not a coincidence. There are echoes of that story in this book, but there are differences too. it is a fine tribute, but a fine book in its own right too. Not a pastiche, but a modern novel following in a fine tradition.

I had a lovely time travelling with Ethelred and Elsie, and I'm hoping to meet them again in the future.

This book, the 4th instalment by L.C. Tyler takes the 2 main protagonists, Ethelred the below average crime writer and his overbearing agent Elsie on an Agatha Christie inspired trip down the Nile. There, very much like the other books in the series, they encounter a myriad of characters one or more of whom may or may not have, committed a murder on the boat.

This book like the others sets the 2 sleuths in another similar scenario and is very much an homage to the Christie classic.

Though I did enjoy this book a lot, it was a bit slow, particularly at the start and the murder does not happen until nearly half away through. So you end up with a lot of scene setting and getting to know the characters on the boat, who then have a murder to solve in about 130 pages!!

It's very much based on the Agatha Christie formula and if you love those, there is definitely something here for you. I particularly like the way that even though they are set in the present day, until they mention modern items or objects (iPod's, e-mail, mobiles etc) you feel that this is all going on in the 1930's or 40's!!

This probably isn't as good as his last book ("The Herring in the library"), but even so it has some really good twists and turns and well worth a read for Tyler and Christie fans alike.