Alan Carr, Toby Jones and Brooklyn Blackout Cake

In this classic Agatha Christie novel, the quiet village of St. Mary Mead is disrupted by the murder of Colonel Protheroe. The investigation, led by the local police and assisted by the keen observations of Miss Marple, uncovers a complex web of relationships and motives that ultimately reveal the surprising truth behind the crime.

In this detective novel, Hercule Poirot and his friend Captain Hastings encounter Nick Buckley, who has narrowly escaped several life-threatening accidents. Poirot believes these incidents are not mere coincidences but deliberate attempts on her life. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a dark history of End House and a complex web of motives among Nick's inner circle, including family members, friends, and strangers. The investigation leads to a secondary murder and exposes forgery, trickery, and other shady practices. Ultimately, Poirot reveals that Nick herself is the mastermind behind the plot, aiming to usurp the wealth of her cousin's fiancé by pretending to be the fiancée.

In 'Death on the Nile,' Hercule Poirot is on a tranquil cruise along the Nile when the tranquility is shattered by the murder of Linnet Ridgeway, a young, wealthy, and beautiful socialite. Linnet had recently married Simon Doyle, who was previously engaged to her friend Jacqueline de Bellefort, leading to a bitter and vengeful Jacqueline. As Poirot investigates, he uncovers a complex plot involving multiple suspects, hidden identities, and a series of events that lead to further murders. The novel is characteristic of Christie's style, with layered character interactions and unexpected revelations that keep the reader guessing until the very end.

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.