Helle & Death is heavily inspired by classic murder mysteries and is not at all ashamed to admit it. In addition to the plot feeling straight out of an Agatha Christie novel (a group of old friends reunite in a manor house, get snowed in and then one of them ends up dead), there are frequent references to classic works and literary detectives from Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot to Peter Wimsey. 

The mystery itself is intriguing and quite enjoyable to read, though not on par with the classic whodunnits it emulates. The eventual resolution was one I suspected and works quite well, though honestly the way it was revealed rather annoyed me. 

Something I have learnt about my own taste in mystery novels is that with the possible exception of the detective, I don't really want too much focus on the characters and their lives - I prefer to know just enough about them to understand their relationships to the victim and the other suspects, and to identify any possible motives for murder. For that reason I struggled with the first 80 or so pages of the book, and only really got hooked after the murder had actually taken place. It didn't help that many of the characters were not particularly likeable or compelling (though this would have been fine if there had been less time spent on them). 

Overall it's a perfectly fine book. I enjoyed it, I'm glad I read it and I might be willing to try the author again one day, but it probably won't be appearing on any favourites lists.