The Mysterious Affair at Castaway House: The stunning debut for fans of Agatha Christie

An excellent read very much in the same mold as Kate Morton. I know it probably isn't fair to Ms Lam to compare her work to someone else's but comparisons will be drawn and in my case I meant it as a compliment. The characters are superbly developed regardless of how large or small their role in the story is. I enjoyed the parallels between Robert and Clara, and Rosie and Star, and the similarity in their characters and relationships even though there were 40 years separating them. The period details were very good, too. I adore so-called country house murder mysteries so the title of this book grabbed my attention immediately even though it might be considered by some (of my reading friends) to be too Blyton-esque to be taken seriously - but they have lost out on a wonderful read. I'm looking forward to Ms Lam's next book...

A good read featuring an old mystery, a new mystery and a fascinating cast of characters in a rundown seaside house.

Not fair to compare book to Agatha Christie books Christie in category by self Star's and Rosie's relationship not necessary to plot

Wonderful all around!

I read this book a while back and loved it.

Interesting story with all the twists and turns. Story/mystery takes place 40 years apart. Family all connected to the seaside home of Castaway House. All ties together in the end.

This book needed a good editor to tighten the story and keep the narrative focused. I felt that the author was trying to put too much into the plot. A little less subplotting would have made for a better story. And quite honestly,none of the characters were very appealing. I did like the locale of the story and the use of two time periods, contrasting the social changes.

I don't usually write reviews but after reading this novel, I felt an urge to do so. Much has been said about the dual narrative and dual era of this book, so I won't go into it too much. What I will say is that I felt completely transported by the book. The author has obviously worked hard at researching both 1924 and 1965, for all the time I read the book I felt that I inhabited the two worlds the author created. And I loved it! The book is full of suspense and mystery that I found it pretty hard to put it down. It's pure escapism at its best! I surprised myself by reading this book in record time, it really is a page-turner. I was surprised to read that this is Stephanie Lam's debut novel. The book is so beautifully written and the characters so established and full of intrigue that I find it hard to believe that this is only her first published book. I just hope that she has a second book in the horizon - she's definitely an author to look out for. This book was a sheer joy to read, so much so that I felt sad when I read the last few chapters. I'd been so engrossed by Robert Carver and Clara Bray that I wished I could carry on living in their world. I would like to say it's the best novel I have read in the last five years. Thank you Stephanie Lam for writing this and please write another book soon!!!

At the beginning, the story didn't start as "fast" as I wished. But step by step, it captures my attention and I get attached to some characters, even if they were not the main characters ! I didn't see the end coming - I was surprised about what was happening page by page. And now that I've finished the book I'm frustrated by thousands questions about the afterpart. But like every good book, I suppose that the author writes so that the readers keep imagine what happens next.

This novel is a real page turner,and can be easily read in a weekend. It is evocative in its setting; an old and decrepit boarding house in a faded seaside town, inhabited by eccentric and transient residents that all have secrets to reveal in the course of the book. The parallel story that takes place forty years earlier is the one that for me was more compelling; a young man's observation of a crumbling marriage seen through his bemused eyes and then through the heat of his feelings. In both periods, the observational detail of a shabby coastal resort is well done; the incidental characters that flit in and out of the periphery of the main story, add to the colour of the book.

Good book, well written

A very slow start but worth A read. Good twists

This novel had everything I love about a story. Historical fiction, dual time frame and a big old house with secrets and mysteries. The story also has potential for a follow up novel depicting the lives of the main characters in the 40 years between the two time frames. Whether the author does so or not we will have to wait and see. Although I would definitely be interested in knowing what happened in between.