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The Murder Mystery Book Club #4
Le club des amateurs de romans policiers - Tome 04 Et ils ne furent plus que neuf
La reine du cosy crime australien est de retour !
Bonne nouvelle pour le Club des amateurs de romans policiers ! Quatre nouveaux membres viennent en effet de rejoindre ses rangs. À cette occasion, Alicia, Lynette et leurs acolytes organisent un séminaire dans un grand lodge isolé au milieu des montagnes. Nos amis ont décidé de partager leurs sentiments sur le célèbre roman d'Agatha Christie, Ils étaient dix. Si celui-ci a tout pour faire l'unanimité, certains pensent néanmoins que l'intrigue n'est pas très originale. La romancière en a effectivement écrit de plus insolites que ces dix personnes enfermées avec un meurtrier dans un lieu retiré. Et pourtant... Nos héros ne savent pas encore à quel point la réalité s'apprête bientôt à rejoindre la fiction. Un meurtre, puis un autre, et le club se retrouve bientôt à devoir mener une enquête d'autant plus passionnante que le coupable est peut-être dans ses rangs !
Vous avez envie de rejoindre les Amateurs de romans policiers ? Vous faites bien ! Quoi de mieux en effet, à l'heure du thé, que des traits d'esprit mémorables, un suspense de tous les instants, des rebondissements en cascade et beaucoup, beaucoup de plaisir ?
384 pages, Paperback
Published August 14, 2024
217 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
C.A. Larmer
25 books244 followersAuthor Christina (C.A.) Larmer was born in remote Papua New Guinea where close encounters with witchdoctors and cannibal progeny (no, really), gave her a morbid taste for mystery that has culminated in more than a dozen crime novels, including four in the Amazon-bestselling Agatha Christie Book Club series, two Posthumous Mysteries, seven Ghostwriter Mysteries, a thriller/suspense, and a stand-alone novel called An Island Lost, which is set in deepest Papua—where else?
When she's not politely bumping people off (they are mostly 'cozies', folks), Christina can be found in the hinterland behind Byron Bay (Aus) where she runs an indie publishing biz, teaches, freelances, and hangs out with her muso hubby, two sons and one very cheeky Blue heeler. For news, views, calarmer.com // https://calarmer.com/blog/
When she's not politely bumping people off (they are mostly 'cozies', folks), Christina can be found in the hinterland behind Byron Bay (Aus) where she runs an indie publishing biz, teaches, freelances, and hangs out with her muso hubby, two sons and one very cheeky Blue heeler. For news, views, calarmer.com // https://calarmer.com/blog/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
November 21, 2020
This series keeps getting better and better. I would love to belong to a book club like this one where its members take off on a holiday together. Maybe not one where so many people die in so many unpleasant ways though.
The mystery was complicated and the number of possibilities for the identity of the murderer seemed endless. I did guess before the end of the book from little things which happened along the way, but I had no idea why said person did it,until the author explained it to me.
I enjoyed the setting and the very realistic bush fire threat which added to the danger the group were already in. The characters are really settling in to their given roles, especially Alicia who acted more maturely and more circumspectly in this book than she has before.
You could easily read this as a stand alone but it is always better to get to know characters from book one. I have read them all in order so far and am now looking forward to book 5.
The mystery was complicated and the number of possibilities for the identity of the murderer seemed endless. I did guess before the end of the book from little things which happened along the way, but I had no idea why said person did it,until the author explained it to me.
I enjoyed the setting and the very realistic bush fire threat which added to the danger the group were already in. The characters are really settling in to their given roles, especially Alicia who acted more maturely and more circumspectly in this book than she has before.
You could easily read this as a stand alone but it is always better to get to know characters from book one. I have read them all in order so far and am now looking forward to book 5.
February 17, 2021
After travelling on the train from Sydney’s Central Station, the Agatha Christie Book Club members were all swept up to the remote Lyle’s Lodge by Mrs Flannagan. Set deep in the beautiful bush somewhere in the Blue Mountains, the ‘old’ members settled in to meet and get to know the four new members. But not everyone was as they seemed…
Their book under discussion was – of course – And Then There Were None – and as they began in the library, with Mrs Flannagan’s delicious nibbles and drinks for consumption, nefarious activities were afoot. When first one body, and then another was found, Alicia and her sister Lynette knew they were set to investigate once again. With the phone lines down (cut?) and no internet connection, it seemed they were very much on their own. And now there was a bushfire heading towards the lodge…
And Then There Were 9 is the 4th in the Agatha Christie Book Club series, and once again I thoroughly enjoyed it. It started off slowly but soon took off and I was rivetted to the pages. Plenty of intrigue, mystery and suspense, murder and mayhem galore – was it the end for the Book Club? A great addition to the series, And Then There Were 9 is one I highly recommend.
Their book under discussion was – of course – And Then There Were None – and as they began in the library, with Mrs Flannagan’s delicious nibbles and drinks for consumption, nefarious activities were afoot. When first one body, and then another was found, Alicia and her sister Lynette knew they were set to investigate once again. With the phone lines down (cut?) and no internet connection, it seemed they were very much on their own. And now there was a bushfire heading towards the lodge…
And Then There Were 9 is the 4th in the Agatha Christie Book Club series, and once again I thoroughly enjoyed it. It started off slowly but soon took off and I was rivetted to the pages. Plenty of intrigue, mystery and suspense, murder and mayhem galore – was it the end for the Book Club? A great addition to the series, And Then There Were 9 is one I highly recommend.
May 25, 2021
And Then There Were 9 is an entertaining closed circle murder mystery, unashamedly inspired by the classic plot of Agatha Christie's masterpiece And Then There Were None.
The existing members of the Agatha Christie Book Club welcome four new members, as they journey to remote Lyle's Lodge for a weekend meeting. The Lodge is located on a mountain, and surrounded by rainforest. It has a long history as a guesthouse, and its faded grandeur seems an appropriately evocative venue for the club's discussion of their current book, you guessed it - And Then There Were None!
Not long after they arrive, members of the group survive a near miss on a forest track, and there's a general air of mystery about the place. Barely started their discussion of the fictional mystery, the group discovers a body, quickly determining that the victim has died under suspicious circumstances. The tension escalates as the group realise that they're isolated at Lyle's Lodge, the phone lines down and the only road in and out blocked by a nearby bushfire. As the characters build allegiances and work to protect themselves from the looming threats - both from the outside world and from within - the group uncovers a tragic incident from Lyle Lodge's past. Do the echoes of that event continue to resonate in the present, especially given the threat of the present fire? Are all the new members really who they say they are? Who has a motive to kill and to what lengths will they go to escape justice?
There are plenty of "Easter Eggs" and homages for observant Agatha Christie fans, but the plot, setting and characters have a distinctly Australian flavour. While the fictional Lyle Lodge is located in rainforest within reach by train from Sydney, as I read And Then There Were 9, I had in mind two real-life settings, both located further north, in the temperate rainforest of the Lamington National Park, southern Queensland. I visited the first, O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat about 30 years ago, and was reminded of its family-based history, stunning but vulnerable mountain-top location, and surroundings of lush forest.
The second, the nearby Binna Burra Lodge, similarly located on an isolated mountain-top, surrounded by forest, was sadly destroyed by bushfire in September 2019.
I consider And Then There Were 9 a solid addition to the cosy mystery genre, and look forward to reading more from the series by C.A. Larmer when I'm in need of a light and quick, yet stimulating, read.
The existing members of the Agatha Christie Book Club welcome four new members, as they journey to remote Lyle's Lodge for a weekend meeting. The Lodge is located on a mountain, and surrounded by rainforest. It has a long history as a guesthouse, and its faded grandeur seems an appropriately evocative venue for the club's discussion of their current book, you guessed it - And Then There Were None!
Not long after they arrive, members of the group survive a near miss on a forest track, and there's a general air of mystery about the place. Barely started their discussion of the fictional mystery, the group discovers a body, quickly determining that the victim has died under suspicious circumstances. The tension escalates as the group realise that they're isolated at Lyle's Lodge, the phone lines down and the only road in and out blocked by a nearby bushfire. As the characters build allegiances and work to protect themselves from the looming threats - both from the outside world and from within - the group uncovers a tragic incident from Lyle Lodge's past. Do the echoes of that event continue to resonate in the present, especially given the threat of the present fire? Are all the new members really who they say they are? Who has a motive to kill and to what lengths will they go to escape justice?
There are plenty of "Easter Eggs" and homages for observant Agatha Christie fans, but the plot, setting and characters have a distinctly Australian flavour. While the fictional Lyle Lodge is located in rainforest within reach by train from Sydney, as I read And Then There Were 9, I had in mind two real-life settings, both located further north, in the temperate rainforest of the Lamington National Park, southern Queensland. I visited the first, O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat about 30 years ago, and was reminded of its family-based history, stunning but vulnerable mountain-top location, and surroundings of lush forest.
The second, the nearby Binna Burra Lodge, similarly located on an isolated mountain-top, surrounded by forest, was sadly destroyed by bushfire in September 2019.
I consider And Then There Were 9 a solid addition to the cosy mystery genre, and look forward to reading more from the series by C.A. Larmer when I'm in need of a light and quick, yet stimulating, read.
December 29, 2025
Honnêtement à ce stade de l’histoire, je ne sais pas pourquoi, je m’évertue à continuer à lire cette histoire. Le plot était décevant, quand j’ai su la vérité, j’étais tellement déçue en plus d’un autre côté, ça sortait tellement de nulle part.
Je ne recommande absolument pas ce livre.
Je ne recommande absolument pas ce livre.
October 6, 2020
Great!
Really enjoyed this book, probably my favourite of the series so far - I do love the original Christie book too
If you love cosy mysteries you'll enjoy this series
Really enjoyed this book, probably my favourite of the series so far - I do love the original Christie book too
If you love cosy mysteries you'll enjoy this series
June 25, 2020
This book was engaging from the start. A fresh premise and well plotted mystery made reading this book in one sitting easy. There was plenty of misdirection to keep me questioning who the murderer was and I really wasn’t sure until almost the end.
The Agatha Christie Book Club is meeting at an inn at a remote location with four new members they hope to get to know better. When the hotel manager and the cook/housekeeper are found dead the club members try to solve The murders before someone else dies.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Agatha Christie Book Club is meeting at an inn at a remote location with four new members they hope to get to know better. When the hotel manager and the cook/housekeeper are found dead the club members try to solve The murders before someone else dies.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 26, 2020
This is only the second book I’ve ever read from this author and it’s the first one I’ve read in this series. The title of the book caught my eye, being a fan of Agatha Christie books, I was immediately drawn to the book. The book plot is skillfully written with lots of red herrings making it a delightful read. It’s a wonderful mystery book and one that is impossible to put down once you have started reading it no matter how many times you promise yourself you’ll take a break at the end of the chapter. Superb.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 31, 2020
As usual, C.A. Larmer has outdone herself again! This is the fourth book in a series about a bookclub that is based on Agatha Christie books. Of course, since I have been an Agatha Christie fan ever since the mid-sixties, so I had to read this series. I love all four, but this one is the best! I really did not guess the ending until I was right up on top of it. That is a real who-done-it...when you can't figure out what's right in front of you.
I must say that this is one author that has been able to keep her own style of writing, yet keep it consistent with Agatha Christie's style in a more modern way. I definitely hope that there will be more in the series!
I must say that this is one author that has been able to keep her own style of writing, yet keep it consistent with Agatha Christie's style in a more modern way. I definitely hope that there will be more in the series!
September 11, 2024
J’aime toujours autant retrouver le club des amateurs de roman policier ! Et cette intrigue, qui se passe loin de chez eux, dans un hôtel coupé du monde à cause d’un incendie, sans nul doute ma préférée jusqu’à présent.
February 13, 2024
Great!! Did have And Then There Were none spoilers, just a warning, but good twist and story, and!! It wasn’t just a copy of Agatha Christie’s which was a relief
July 14, 2024
I thoroughly enjoy this series and it seems each book is better than the last.
October 3, 2020
This next book in a good cozy series has more that one twist and possible red herring before the final clues are revealed to the Agatha Christie book club at their weekend away meeting at a mountain retreat. The members face murders and as well as a growing fire before the end of their stay on the mountain.
September 1, 2020
Wow! Incredible follow up novel
This is book three in the series and by far the best. Number one was good, number two was OK but this one takes the cake! Far more complex mystery and characters are much deeper. Really enjoyed every page and read it way too fast.
Highly recommended!
This is book three in the series and by far the best. Number one was good, number two was OK but this one takes the cake! Far more complex mystery and characters are much deeper. Really enjoyed every page and read it way too fast.
Highly recommended!
December 20, 2020
I always consider it a good sign when you read the fourth in a series and immediately upon finishing set out to buy the first one. This book can be read without reading the earlier volumes but the characters demand that you go back to the beginning to get their background. Since the great Agatha Christie didn't get too deep with her characters it is quite possible to write a satisfying mystery without fully rounded characters. This mystery is satisfying and the characters are quite individual. I really like the way the story is introduced with first person thoughts from the characters. Sometimes the reader is told whose thoughts are are presented but not always thus leaving the reader knowing that something is not right but not what or who is involved.
The book club that the characters belong to is devoted to the novels of Christie and in this one the book under discussion is And Then Then There Were None. The club is meeting at a remote lodge to both discuss the book and introduce a number of new members. Soon the group is confronted with missing staff, a communications blackout and apparent murder. While we never get to 'none' there is a winnowing of the group and an approaching fire to keep nerves on edge. There is also a mystery about a long ago death related to the lodge. Like books by Christie the path through to the solution is as interesting as the solution itself.
Finally,it is nice to read a book set in Australia as opposed to the US or the UK.
The book club that the characters belong to is devoted to the novels of Christie and in this one the book under discussion is And Then Then There Were None. The club is meeting at a remote lodge to both discuss the book and introduce a number of new members. Soon the group is confronted with missing staff, a communications blackout and apparent murder. While we never get to 'none' there is a winnowing of the group and an approaching fire to keep nerves on edge. There is also a mystery about a long ago death related to the lodge. Like books by Christie the path through to the solution is as interesting as the solution itself.
Finally,it is nice to read a book set in Australia as opposed to the US or the UK.
November 7, 2024
Ce 4e tome de la saga « Le Club des amateurs de romans policiers » est un régal pour les amateurs de cosy mysteries et de mystères à la Agatha Christie ! « Et ils ne furent plus que neuf » reprend habilement l’esprit du célèbre « Ils étaient dix » d’AC en plongeant les personnages dans un huis clos palpitant.
Le club, qui accueille de nouveaux membres, se retrouve cette fois-ci au cœur d’une enquête bien construite, avec des rebondissements à la clé même si prévisibles, isolé en plein cœur d’une montagne. Bref, ça se lit sans prise de tête. L’écriture de C.A. Larmer est très fluide et drôle. J’aime beaucoup les clins d’œil à AC dans ses romans. Si vous avez lu « Ils étaient dix », vous ne serez pas surpris de la fin.
À ce stade, le lecteur est attaché aux personnages et il a hâte de poursuivre avec les prochaines aventures ! Le tome 5 est prévu pour l’automne prochain !
Merci Cherchemidiediteur pour ce SP.
Le club, qui accueille de nouveaux membres, se retrouve cette fois-ci au cœur d’une enquête bien construite, avec des rebondissements à la clé même si prévisibles, isolé en plein cœur d’une montagne. Bref, ça se lit sans prise de tête. L’écriture de C.A. Larmer est très fluide et drôle. J’aime beaucoup les clins d’œil à AC dans ses romans. Si vous avez lu « Ils étaient dix », vous ne serez pas surpris de la fin.
À ce stade, le lecteur est attaché aux personnages et il a hâte de poursuivre avec les prochaines aventures ! Le tome 5 est prévu pour l’automne prochain !
Merci Cherchemidiediteur pour ce SP.
December 17, 2020
I wanted to like this...
I love mysteries and Agatha Christie. And who doesn’t love “And then there were none” but once I got a third of the way in I got bored. Not sure if its bc I started with this book so didn’t know the characters but I only kept reading to finish it. Didn’t have quite the drama of Christie’s story and too many two dimensional characters. No one was really ‘bad’ and it read like a Hallmark movie. I feel bad being so harsh. If you like light hearted mysteries this for you but if you like a little more ‘meat’ in your stories and better dialogue give this one a pass.
I love mysteries and Agatha Christie. And who doesn’t love “And then there were none” but once I got a third of the way in I got bored. Not sure if its bc I started with this book so didn’t know the characters but I only kept reading to finish it. Didn’t have quite the drama of Christie’s story and too many two dimensional characters. No one was really ‘bad’ and it read like a Hallmark movie. I feel bad being so harsh. If you like light hearted mysteries this for you but if you like a little more ‘meat’ in your stories and better dialogue give this one a pass.
July 6, 2020
Teriffic
I loved the first three books about the Agatha Christie book club and loved them all. I was wishing for another one when I got notified about " And then there were nine" it was teriffic. I didn't want to stop reading & ended up reading it in one night.
I loved the first three books about the Agatha Christie book club and loved them all. I was wishing for another one when I got notified about " And then there were nine" it was teriffic. I didn't want to stop reading & ended up reading it in one night.
August 9, 2020
Kept me guessing
What begins as a get-to-know-you weekend at an old hunting lodge, turns into a murder mystery for the book club and their new members. Very well written story with lots of suspects and clues that will keep you guessing till the end.
What begins as a get-to-know-you weekend at an old hunting lodge, turns into a murder mystery for the book club and their new members. Very well written story with lots of suspects and clues that will keep you guessing till the end.
October 6, 2024
Un nouveau tome qui m'a fait frissonner du début à la fin. Même si j'ai trouvé qui était l'assassin assez vite, j'ai aimé cherché ses motivations. L'intrigue est très bien menée et j'ai eu du mal à faire des pauses tellement l'histoire est prenante.
August 15, 2025
Another excellent novel featuring the Mystery Novel Club. I love the characters and was delighted to be reunited with them. This time, they all go away for a weekend in a remote hotel in the mountains with four new members to the group, to get to know each other over an Agatha Christie novel. But very quickly, a murder, then a second, and finally a large fire breaks out, and the group finds itself completely isolated.
I'm not a big fan of closed-door settings, so I have to say I enjoyed this novel a little less than the previous three volumes, but it's still an excellent read. The investigation is well-conducted, the author leads us down red herrings, and each chapter ends with a twist that makes it impossible to put down.
I really liked the ending, with the resolution of the investigation, of course, but also the epilogue, where each character makes decisions to change something in their lives, to move forward after the tragic events they've experienced (I'm thinking of Alicia, Lynette, and also Claire).
I can't wait to continue this saga.
I'm not a big fan of closed-door settings, so I have to say I enjoyed this novel a little less than the previous three volumes, but it's still an excellent read. The investigation is well-conducted, the author leads us down red herrings, and each chapter ends with a twist that makes it impossible to put down.
I really liked the ending, with the resolution of the investigation, of course, but also the epilogue, where each character makes decisions to change something in their lives, to move forward after the tragic events they've experienced (I'm thinking of Alicia, Lynette, and also Claire).
I can't wait to continue this saga.
June 28, 2025
Le club des amateurs de romans policiers a recruté de nouveaux membres et afin de mieux faire connaissance, ils se retrouvent pour un week-end en montagne dans un hôtel isolé en pleine forêt. Était-ce vraiment une bonne idée ? Pas vraiment...
Ce fut un plaisir de retrouver la joyeuse bande de Sydney dans un décor un peu différent et avec de nouvelles énigmes à résoudre. Je ne me suis pas ennuyée et j'ai d'ailleurs dévoré l'ouvrage. Ce nouvel opus est, à date, mon préféré de la série
En bref : au top !
Ce fut un plaisir de retrouver la joyeuse bande de Sydney dans un décor un peu différent et avec de nouvelles énigmes à résoudre. Je ne me suis pas ennuyée et j'ai d'ailleurs dévoré l'ouvrage. Ce nouvel opus est, à date, mon préféré de la série
En bref : au top !
November 10, 2020
Lovers of Christie will cheer
This is another winner from clever author, C.A. Slammer. The Agatha Christie book club series takes the essence of a familiar tome from the Grand Dame, bends it to suit a new situation, and then sprinkles it with plausible suspects and motives. Loved this one and didn't guess the identity of the killer. Those won love Christie novels will cheer when they discover this series. Get this one and enjoy.
This is another winner from clever author, C.A. Slammer. The Agatha Christie book club series takes the essence of a familiar tome from the Grand Dame, bends it to suit a new situation, and then sprinkles it with plausible suspects and motives. Loved this one and didn't guess the identity of the killer. Those won love Christie novels will cheer when they discover this series. Get this one and enjoy.
October 9, 2020
A very interesting read.
As I was reading this book I looked on Amazon to see if there were more books in the series. I was shocked to find I already owned all the books. I had bought them many years ago. Now I will go back to the first book and start new. I was totally entertained by this book and I hope all the others are as good!
As I was reading this book I looked on Amazon to see if there were more books in the series. I was shocked to find I already owned all the books. I had bought them many years ago. Now I will go back to the first book and start new. I was totally entertained by this book and I hope all the others are as good!
October 16, 2020
I’m so pleased with this 4th edition in the Agatha Christie Book Club series. Many times an author just rehashes the same story line. I’m happy to say this is not the case here. The basic characters are in place with a few ‘newbies’ And to be honest I struggled to figure out’who done it’!
Congratulations to Ms Larmer.
Congratulations to Ms Larmer.
April 22, 2021
Good Read
This series is a good fun read. The characters develop through the books and become old friends. The writing is is authentic, not contrived, like so much of today’s junk writing. Like a true mystery fan, I always try to guess the ending but this one had me stumped. Makes me look forward to the next one!
This series is a good fun read. The characters develop through the books and become old friends. The writing is is authentic, not contrived, like so much of today’s junk writing. Like a true mystery fan, I always try to guess the ending but this one had me stumped. Makes me look forward to the next one!
September 18, 2022
It was an okay read, I guess. It certainly wasn’t as good as the last book in the series, though. The story contained too many potentials murderers in one chapters to be entertaining. It reminded me of the childish game of fifty-two pick up, where you spill a deck of cards and the other person has to pick up all the cards.
April 19, 2023
When There Were 9 by C.A. Larmer is a cracking cozy mystery - think Agatha Christie at her best!
I actually solved this one, my first success in ten or so attempts at C.A. Larmer novels. But I doubted myself so often, I was still gripped to the end! The red herrings are perfectly balanced - equally as important as the clues. Highly recommended!
I actually solved this one, my first success in ten or so attempts at C.A. Larmer novels. But I doubted myself so often, I was still gripped to the end! The red herrings are perfectly balanced - equally as important as the clues. Highly recommended!
November 5, 2020
My favorite of the 4 Agatha Christie bookclub mysteries.
If you love Agatha Christie mysteries , then you'll probably love this book.
It helps to have read the first 3 books of the Agatha Christie Bookclub, but it is not mandatory.
If you love Agatha Christie mysteries , then you'll probably love this book.
It helps to have read the first 3 books of the Agatha Christie Bookclub, but it is not mandatory.
January 17, 2021
Entertaining like all the books in the series, but the author is good at keeping it fresh, with new characters, and advancement of the personal lives of the regulars. They are not a very bright bunch, which allows the story to move along for a whole novel. ;) I enjoy the Australian settings.
June 28, 2021
4 1/2
I like the concept and wordsmanship here. I got a bit confused about the 12 main characters (9 guests and 3 associated with hotel), the fires and the murders/deaths. I’m not sure I buy the reasons for the deaths from the one that did the killing. Still it drew me in.
I like the concept and wordsmanship here. I got a bit confused about the 12 main characters (9 guests and 3 associated with hotel), the fires and the murders/deaths. I’m not sure I buy the reasons for the deaths from the one that did the killing. Still it drew me in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews