The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie

In this Agatha Christie masterpiece, first published in 1926, the great detective Poirot has retired to King's Abbot, home of an old friend of his, the wealthy Roger Ackroyd. Despite hoping to remain anonymous, Poirot's peace is shattered when Ackroyd is murdered.

Dr Sheppard was at Ackroyd's house the night of the murder, and over the course of the investigation, he appears as Poirot's sidekick, since Hastings has married and is now living in Argentina.

The narrative is told from Dr Sheppard’s point of view as he documents the investigation, the sparks of genius from Poirot, and his famous little grey cells. As Hastings did before him, Sheppard gives insight into the workings of Poirot's analytical mind, as well as throwing light on the nuances of the suspects. Whilst Poirot sees them as pieces of the puzzle, Sheppard reveals them as people who are as flawed, as they are good.

Between the murder and the big reveal, the plot contains Agatha Christie's famous twists and turns. There are plenty of red herrings and many interpretations of the facts presented. This book is famous for its unusual and, at the time, innovative, ground-breaking ending. It is the kind of book you want to go back and read again once the killer has been revealed, to see if the clues do in fact, fit the revelation.

Christie's book are timeless, satisfying the need for a great whodunnit, as successfully as they did on first publication. Her ability to write twisting plots and multi-layered characters still captures the imagination of generation after generation.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was voted the best novel ever by the British Crime Writers Association in 2013. It would be a crime not to read it! It is my favourite of all the brilliant novels Agatha Christie wrote and is a treat for fans of this genre.

- Milly

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Our narrator - and only redeemable character - Nick moves into a small rented home, next door to an almost constant party. He discovers that somehow he knows the mysterious Gatsby, who hosts the parties in his mansion. 

I know this story is meant to be a renowned romance but I just can't believe Gatsby's claim of true love. I did not see any depth of feeling: merely Gatsby’s obsession with a woman he once dated. I feel the reality of it is that Gatsby was a poor man who latched on to the idea of wealth, which seems to have gotten mixed up with his feelings for Daisy, who is herself superficial and frivolous. Gatsby is so completely enamoured by their glamor and beauty, that he forgets about substance. And in order to win her he must prove himself to her. He must prove “new money” is as good; as influential as “old money”. This is the difference between Gatsby and the Bucanans.

The Bucanans and their friends seem to simply sit around drinking and using other people for their entertainment. All the characters are deplorable, which I can stand in some literature (I’m looking at you Cathy and Heathcliff!) when there is more to the love connection than admiration for looks or the way a woman carries herself. I could find no redeeming features or motives in this crowd. It ultimately shows the influence and power behind old money, and the horrible truth: people with money and social power get away with murder.

I feel like Fitzgerald was a little lazy with his conveniently connected but unconnected characters and their placements, e.g. Nick conveniently moving in next door to Gatsby, and his previous separate connections with both Daisy and Gatsby.

Generally, I love classic fiction, but I did not get on well with Fitzgerald. I found this classic hard to get into, with Fitzgerald’s writing style being a little too poetic and vague to really get my teeth into. The characters were unlovable and flimsy. I would recommend that anyone wanting to be introduced to classics choose something else.

- Anara

Paperback, £6.99. Find it in the Classics section!

Flush, by Virginia Woolf

Anyone who's visited the store with their perfect pooch in tow can testify to the fact that I am a passionate advocate for dogs. As a cause, it is my number one! More dogs, fewer humans, that's what I always say! AND more books about dogs. 

Virginia Woolf, the icon that she is, wrote a book about a dog. A real dog! Elizabeth Bennett Browning's dog, whose name was Flush. The perfect cocker spaniel; a beautiful soul, a wonderful companion. This books lends itself both as a biography for Flush, but also for Elizabeth Bennett Browning, albeit with a lot of creative liberties taken, of course. We see her life progress, only as it comes to affect Flush: how much attention he's getting, what sort of walks he's been on. It's such a charming concept, and it was lovely read over Christmas... for the most part.

Poor Flush, as dogs usually are, was merely swept up in the lives of the humans around him. I felt sorry for Flush for a sizeable chunk of this book. It transpires that Elizabeth had what we would now recognise to be Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. And since she spent most of her time alone in her bedroom, resting, so did Flush. The poor little tyke, for years, merely sat on the sofa beside her. As a dog owner myself, I couldn't imagine condemning any dog to this docile life, let alone a spaniel! Have you ever met a spaniel? They're mental! And this is just the beginnings of the stresses and traumas that Flush endures throughout the course of his life.

During troubling times for Flush, the book became very difficult to read. The vivid description from his point of view was disarming and upsetting, to say the least. I found myself furious with the humans who left sweet Flush to his fate. It was quite grounding to see our actions through the eyes of an innocent and loyal animal, and reminded me how wholly they rely on us for their happiness and health.

This book was surprisingly well fleshed out, considering the narrator is a spaniel, and it was just nice to allow myself to be swept up in the story, and not question its accuracy too much. It was both a lovely and a haunting read for a dog-lover. Only proceed if you can keep your furry little friend close by for quick squeezes and snuggles when things get tough for Flush!

- Sian

Paperback, £2. Find it in the classics section!

Agnes Grey, by Anne Brontë

A book club special!

This was the first book we read as a group, and as such, it was a very sombre start. We follow Agnes Grey as she tries to make her way into a career as a governess. Her family isn't keen on her plan, but she remains firm in her resolution to play her part in pulling her family through their sudden and unexpected poverty. She goes on to work for unpleasant families and downright hellish children. If you're expecting a charming, cosy family unit like Little Women (like I was) you will be sorely disappointed.

Agnes is a mild character. She likes to look for the best in others and in the worst circumstances; she trusts her faith in God to give her purpose and guidance. Even in moments of weakness, she is headstrong, kind, and has the best intentions. But... she's just a little meek for my taste. As much as I admire her determination, sometimes it feels like she could have put that energy towards something a little more fruitful. It is oh-so-noble to put aside your own happiness in order to care for others' needs, but at times it didn't feel as though anyone was benefiting from her efforts. At times, she was more stubborn than noble, and it was a little bit frustrating as a woman in the 21st Century. 

She came to life a little when she was falling in love. I mean, yes Mr Weston is a priest, and so is her father, but let's overlook the psychological discomfort there. He's a good man: generous, patient, and reliable. Unfortunately, Agnes decides to omit certain interactions they have, "for fear of boring the reader". She says that she finds such a thrill in the most mundane of interactions with Mr Weston, that we couldn't possibly be interested in hearing about them. Alas, Agnes, you were wrong: at times, I was simply gasping for something -- anything to happen! She finally had some spirit and some unencumbered positivity, and it was a joy to experience.

It is a bit of a dreary read in my opinion, but it has a soothing and comforting ending after all. I shan't spoil it too much, but here is my one note: don't worry about the dog, he'll be ok!

I don't think this was the best Brontë sister to start with, but I haven't been totally put off yet!

- Sian

Paperback, £7.99 - multiple editions available. Find this in the Classics section!

The Story of a Nobody, by Anton Chekhov

This novella is part of the 101 Page Classics series. It follows a young man, a "nobody" who has infiltrated the household of a government official's son on behalf of a secret terrorist group. His purpose is to spy on the father and, ultimately, assassinate him. But our "nobody" narrator gradually becomes disillusioned with his purpose and chooses a new path, which leads him to a tragedy.

This was my first Chekhov, but not my first piece of classic Russian literature, and I think it is the perfect introduction to the genre! It's a great way to discover some new authors or discover a forgotten classic. Who doesn't a love character-driven psychological story? And Chekhov's writing is stunning!

At only 101 pages, it's definitely worth trying something new. And despite its short length, by the end you fully know the characters and will have formed your opinions of them. 

- Jenny, @budgetbooklover 

Paperback, £5.99. Find this in the Classics section!

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

For some reason I have always felt a bit intimidated by the classics. But since it was written for young girls, it's a really accessible read. It’s tender and cosy, the language is lovely, and the girls are even lovelier. I mean, I’m sure most of you have probably read this one before, but if you’ve been umm-ing and arr-ing about embarking on the classics, like I did, this is a smashing place to start.

The four sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy – are each a precious little story in themselves. So perfectly different and alike. They make up a pretty band of creative, loving, passionate young souls, and bring such a fresh perspective to one another.

Even though some are more dramatic than others, there’s no one plot point in this book that stands out to me the most. What stands out to me is how completely human the emotionally charged and instinctive decisions the characters make; the way that they fight adversity. And I think that’s what I needed reminding of when I embarked on reading the classics for the first time: that no matter how different their language, their dresses, or their hygiene, they’re just stories about people.

And I so relate to each of them. Take Jo and her deeply emotional responses. Or Amy’s goal to be helpful to everyone. Beth is always so keen to see people happy. And Amy… well, I’d hate to admit to any similarities I have with Amy!

This book was a lovely experience, and I felt giddy the whole time I was reading it. I must say, after using audio books for my university reading of the classics that, if you can read a physical copy, do it! It feels extra special.

 - Sian

Paperback, £6.99 - multiple editions available. Find this in the Classics section!

An extra note to the reader: the British and American editions are different! The American version is Little Women and Good Wives in one book – us Brits are stingy and only have the first part. I got the British version, so expect a Part Two once my copy of “Good Wives” comes in!