Read of the Town: The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah

Whether it's from controversy or excitement, the buzz around this book that's released today is palpable. I know I've been "at odds" myself with whether or not I'll be reading this book. For starters, David Suchet portraying Hercule Poirot for the last time in the final episode (and book) written by famed Agatha Christie aired on PBS not too long ago, called Curtain. Now I pride myself in being a fan of both Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot and I must admit I've had open conversations with people who know the characters both very well as to who they think would outwit the other? I'll tell you the answer changes as often as the rising and setting of the moon! But I digress...

My point is, Curtain, for those who are fans and have read it so they knew what to expect, and to those who haven't because (like myself) you're reading them in order, realizing she's written 88 such stories centered around Hercule Poirot, you are probably a bit surprised by how it's possible for him to appear in a new novel? Me too!

It's not uncommon for a greatly loved character to rise again even after the author who created, cultivated, and nurtured, that character, has come and gone. See 007 as probably one of the best examples of that. His estate picks someone to carry on the legend, the story, and for them it works. Now, without spoiling Curtain for those who haven't watched the episode or read the book yet, although I can't see how you wouldn't guess what it means by the title, I am skeptical about how it's possible to write the next Hercule Poirot Mystery? Unless she's gone back in time to some earlier cases and an earlier time in his life? I wouldn't be against that of course since, as I'm reading the novels and watching the episodes of the same titles, I often wonder who and where he was before we see him as the great detective with his "little grey cells"?

To conclude, I will be buying and reading this novel. Only because my curiosity wouldn't allow me to simply ignore it. I've already heard some stark reviews from people saying "it's not the same" and in my mind I'm thinking, of course it won't be! Not sure what I'll be expecting when I start, but I know I won't be expecting Agatha Christie to come through in all her glory. I hear Sophie Hannah is not too shabby in the mystery/suspense realm so I'm willing to give her a chance, are you?

The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie (Book Review)

The Murder on the Links

by Agatha Christie

249 pages

William Morrow, 2011 (1923)

fiction / mystery

Finished in 2 days

Rating: ★★★★

Amazon | BN

"I believe that a well-known anecdote exists to the effect that a young writer, determined to make the commencement of his story forcible and original enough to catch and rivet the attention of the most blase of editors, penned the following sentence:

" 'Hell!' said the Duchess." "

Review: Immediately after finishing this book I watched the David Suchet BBC version. Let me start by saying that the televised version fell flat and short of the book, as I would expect. What harm would it have done to stay authentic to the characters, clues, and even the ending of the book? But let me move on...

This mystery is the second one Agatha Christie wrote about Hercule Poirot and his assistant Captain Hastings. Poirot is a Belgian detective who considers himself to be the best in the world. Well, in this case he meets his match with Giraud who considers HIMSELF to be the best. Instantly the competing begins between the two of them. All the while Hasings has fallen in love with a woman whose name he doesn't know and who just might turn out to be the killer. But he doesn't care. Like all the men in this case, he is willing to risk his life and career for the woman he loves.

This case involves a similar case that went somewhat unresolved 10 years earlier. But nothing gets past Hercule Poirot who keeps his "little grey cells" active at all times in order to solve the murder. I enjoy Agatha Christie's ease with which she is able to lay out the murder, the suspects and the clues all without giving it all away until she/Poirot are ready. 

As with the previous case I was totally fooled until the last 10 pages when all was finally explained sufficiently. That is something else I like, she leaves nothing unexplained or nothing to the readers imagination. Sometimes it's good to clean up any loose ends that may have become exposed during the course of a mystery.

There is little more I need say except you should read at least ONE Agatha Christie book in your lifetime if only to figure out why she is the most widely published author of all time, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare!

Summary: An urgent cry for help brings Hercule Poirot to France. But he arrives too late to save his client, whose brutally stabbed body now lies facedown in a shallow grave on a golf course.

But why is the dead man wearing an overcoat that is too big for him? And for whom was the impassioned love letter in the pocket? Before Poirot can answer these questions, the case is turned upside down by the discovery of a second, identically murdered corpse.…

To learn more about Agatha Christie, visit her site here.