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New Hercule Poirot Mysteries #2
Closed Casket
The world's most famous detective returns in this ingenious, stylish, and altogether delicious mystery from the author of the instant bestseller The Monogram Murders ("I was thrilled" -- Gillian Flynn)."What I intend to say to you will come as a shock..."With these words, Lady Athelinda Playford -- one of the world's most beloved children's authors -- springs a surprise on the lawyer entrusted with her will. As guests arrive for a party at her Irish mansion, Lady Playford has decided to cut off her two children without a penny . . . and leave her vast fortune to someone an invalid who has only weeks to live.Among Lady Playford's visitors are two the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and Inspector Edward Catchpool of Scotland Yard. Neither knows why he has been invited -- until Poirot begins to wonder if Lady Playford expects a murder. But why does she seem so determined to provoke a killer? And why -- when the crime is committed despite Poirot's best efforts to stop it -- does the identity of the victim make no sense at all?Addictive, ferociously clever, and packed with clues, wit, and murder, Closed Casket is a triumph from the author whose work is "as tricky as anything written by Agatha Christie" (Alexander McCall Smith, The New York Times Book Review).
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2016
About the author
Sophie Hannah
109 books4,285 followersSophie Hannah is an internationally bestselling writer of psychological crime fiction, published in 27 countries. In 2013, her latest novel, The Carrier, won the Crime Thriller of the Year Award at the Specsavers National Book Awards. Two of Sophie’s crime novels, The Point of Rescue and The Other Half Lives, have been adapted for television and appeared on ITV1 under the series title Case Sensitive in 2011 and 2012. In 2004, Sophie won first prize in the Daphne Du Maurier Festival Short Story Competition for her suspense story The Octopus Nest, which is now published in her first collection of short stories, The Fantastic Book of Everybody’s Secrets.
Sophie has also published five collections of poetry. Her fifth, Pessimism for Beginners, was shortlisted for the 2007 T S Eliot Award. Her poetry is studied at GCSE, A-level and degree level across the UK. From 1997 to 1999 she was Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, Cambridge, and between 1999 and 2001 she was a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. She is forty-one and lives with her husband and children in Cambridge, where she is a Fellow Commoner at Lucy Cavendish College. She is currently working on a new challenge for the little grey cells of Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s famous detective.
Sophie has also published five collections of poetry. Her fifth, Pessimism for Beginners, was shortlisted for the 2007 T S Eliot Award. Her poetry is studied at GCSE, A-level and degree level across the UK. From 1997 to 1999 she was Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, Cambridge, and between 1999 and 2001 she was a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. She is forty-one and lives with her husband and children in Cambridge, where she is a Fellow Commoner at Lucy Cavendish College. She is currently working on a new challenge for the little grey cells of Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s famous detective.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,100 reviews
February 6, 2017
This is the second book that Sophie Hannah has written with Poirot since she took up the Agatha Christie mantle. Whilst I had enjoyed Monogram Murders, this was a harder sell for me. The story is narrated by Inspector Edward Catchpool of Scotland Yard. For no reason that he can fathom, he has been invited to Clonakilty, County Cork in Ireland. He is to be a house guest at Lillieoak, a mansion owned by Lady Playford, a writer of the Shrimp series. He harbours some resentment of Poirot after the media coverage of his role in the Monogram Murders, but gets over this once he discovers Poirot is a guest. Lady Playford has summoned Michael Gathercole to change her will leaving everything to her dying assistant, Joseph Scotcher. She is disinheriting her son, Harry, an obsessed taxidermist and her daughter, Claudia, is engaged to be married to the extremely wealthy Dr Randall Kimpton. The scene is set for a murder in a country house which could only have been committed by a resident or guest.
Lady Playford announces the change in her will to rancorous recriminations, bitterness and other drama. Scotcher makes clear his intention to marry his nurse, Sophie, despite his terminal illness. There are overheard conversations, a fear of being poisoned by the lawyer, Orville Rolfe, and an upset Lady Playford. Sophie discovers the dead body of Joseph Scotcher, and claims to witness Claudia killing him despite the fact that this seems unlikely. Poirot and Catchpool investigate all in the house and delve into the life of the victim. There are a number of red herrings along with an inept Irish policeman in charge of the case. Poirot has a trip to England which gives him much information and the killer is finally unveiled at the end.
The story is a pleasant way to while away some time but for me it fails to capture Poirot's character or the plot depth that I expected. There are the usual array of characters, all of whom harbour secrets and the possibilities of motive. There is the large country house, a staple of golden age crime writing, but there is a lacking of verve, and more spirited story telling that I wanted. I would recommend this to those looking for a light and undemanding read.
Lady Playford announces the change in her will to rancorous recriminations, bitterness and other drama. Scotcher makes clear his intention to marry his nurse, Sophie, despite his terminal illness. There are overheard conversations, a fear of being poisoned by the lawyer, Orville Rolfe, and an upset Lady Playford. Sophie discovers the dead body of Joseph Scotcher, and claims to witness Claudia killing him despite the fact that this seems unlikely. Poirot and Catchpool investigate all in the house and delve into the life of the victim. There are a number of red herrings along with an inept Irish policeman in charge of the case. Poirot has a trip to England which gives him much information and the killer is finally unveiled at the end.
The story is a pleasant way to while away some time but for me it fails to capture Poirot's character or the plot depth that I expected. There are the usual array of characters, all of whom harbour secrets and the possibilities of motive. There is the large country house, a staple of golden age crime writing, but there is a lacking of verve, and more spirited story telling that I wanted. I would recommend this to those looking for a light and undemanding read.
June 21, 2016
Dame Agatha is rolling in her grave.
November 15, 2016
Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah/ Agatha Christie is a 2016 William Morrow publication.
Lady Athelinda Playford gathers an eclectic group of people together when she decides to announce a major change to her will, a very controversial decision that could bring about terrible repercussions.
Inspector Edward Catchpool and the incomparable Hercule Poirot, may have been invited due to Playford’s suspicions that murder is on someone’s mind. However, a murder is committed right under the famous Belgian detective’s nose, prompting him to give those little grey cells some mandatory overtime.
This is the first Poirot mystery with Sophie Hannah writing as Agatha Christie that I’ve read. I must confess, the very idea of resurrecting one of my favorite detectives sounded like a marvelous idea… if we could resurrect Agatha along with him.
I was very skeptical of how this would work out, although, I have seen other long running and well loved series taken over by ghost writers work out quite well. I have also seen them crash and burn. So, with an odd mix of excitement and trepidation, I decided to give this book a fair chance.
Honestly, I enjoyed this mystery, if for no other reason than for the pleasure of reading the old tried and true whodunit format used in the golden age of detective novels.
The characters are well drawn, the dialogue is impressive, and there are plenty of interesting details and psychology involved.
While clever on many levels, it wasn’t too hard to guess who the culprit was, and Poirot is a not quite the same guy we’ve all come to know and love.
He’s not as vivid, and his arrogance and fussiness is only evident in one or two places, which are traits I always adored about him and made me chuckle.
Still, I thought the author did an admirable job considering the monumental shoes she had to fill. She makes Poirot her own and created a fun and easy mystery, while capturing the essence of a bygone era, and paying homage to it at the same time.
Overall, I had a pretty good time with this one. It makes a nice diversion from the stresses of life, and I think cozy mystery lovers would find this one to their liking as well.
3.5 stars
Lady Athelinda Playford gathers an eclectic group of people together when she decides to announce a major change to her will, a very controversial decision that could bring about terrible repercussions.
Inspector Edward Catchpool and the incomparable Hercule Poirot, may have been invited due to Playford’s suspicions that murder is on someone’s mind. However, a murder is committed right under the famous Belgian detective’s nose, prompting him to give those little grey cells some mandatory overtime.
This is the first Poirot mystery with Sophie Hannah writing as Agatha Christie that I’ve read. I must confess, the very idea of resurrecting one of my favorite detectives sounded like a marvelous idea… if we could resurrect Agatha along with him.
I was very skeptical of how this would work out, although, I have seen other long running and well loved series taken over by ghost writers work out quite well. I have also seen them crash and burn. So, with an odd mix of excitement and trepidation, I decided to give this book a fair chance.
Honestly, I enjoyed this mystery, if for no other reason than for the pleasure of reading the old tried and true whodunit format used in the golden age of detective novels.
The characters are well drawn, the dialogue is impressive, and there are plenty of interesting details and psychology involved.
While clever on many levels, it wasn’t too hard to guess who the culprit was, and Poirot is a not quite the same guy we’ve all come to know and love.
He’s not as vivid, and his arrogance and fussiness is only evident in one or two places, which are traits I always adored about him and made me chuckle.
Still, I thought the author did an admirable job considering the monumental shoes she had to fill. She makes Poirot her own and created a fun and easy mystery, while capturing the essence of a bygone era, and paying homage to it at the same time.
Overall, I had a pretty good time with this one. It makes a nice diversion from the stresses of life, and I think cozy mystery lovers would find this one to their liking as well.
3.5 stars
November 28, 2016
Buying Closed Casket was the triumph of hope over experience. In 2014 author Sophie Hannah released The Monogram Murders, the first Hercule Poirot novel since Curtain: Poirot's Last Case: A Hercule Poirot Mystery was published in 1975. While not up to Dame Agatha Christie’s highest standards, Hannah’s novel wasn’t too shabby. So I bought Closed Casket hoping for better than a pleasant read and for something less convoluted and implausible than The Monogram Murders.
Was my hope justified? Not a chance.
Just as Jill Paton Walsh can’t quite capture the voice of Dorothy L. Sayers, Hannah can’t really sound like Christie in the way that, say, Laurie R. King can channel Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. But I’ve never really held that against Hannah. However, Hannah seems to think that the way to recreate a successful Christie novel is to pepper a house party with lots of loathsome characters and then set Poirot and Scotland Yard detective Edward Catchpool (a transparent Captain Hastings surrogate) to bumble about. Early in the novel, a viciously rude character asks Poirot if he’s left his brain in London; soon I began to suspect the same thing. Hannah’s Poirot is much less astute and more needlessly secretive than the real one and, unlike Hastings, Edward Catchpool is paranoid and unlikable.
Author Athelinda “Athie” Playford has made a great success with her series of children’s mysteries featuring a gang of 10-year-old sleuths led by her moppet heroine “Shrimp” Seddon. Lady Playford decides to disinherit her dimwitted son and her venomous, selfish daughter in favor of her Pollyannaish secretary, Joseph Scotcher, a man dying of kidney disease so advanced that he is confined to a wheelchair and attended full time by a nurse. All of the characters — saving Hercule Poirot and Dr. Randall Kimpton, the fiancé of Lady Playford’s daughter Claudia — are so cardboard that you could make cereal boxes out of them.
Naturally, part of the mystery would be why a robust woman like Lady Playford would bother with changing her will in the autumn to benefit a man who won’t live to inherit; however, when the clever, imaginative Lady Playford reveals her reason, it makes no sense at all. In addition, Lady Playford, an obviously intelligent woman, seems shocked when her children aren’t happy with the new will. Damn! Why would they be? Closed Casket isn’t as lousy as The Big Four, Christie’s worst novel by far, but it’s a pretty pedestrian novel with a denouement that would seem contrived if I hadn’t been past caring by that point.
I’ve been trying to think for whom this book would be a good read. Christie scholars? No, they’d be better off with the original novels and Christie’s correspondence and notes. Christie devotees, desperate for yet one more glimpse of the Belgian detective? I guess, for some, Closed Casket would be better than nothing, although, in my case, I wish I could get back the 10 hours I spent listening to it on Audible. Actually, the person I would most recommend to read this book would be Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard, in the vain hope that he would see that he sold out his grandmother for 30 pieces of silver. Mr. Prichard, you could have done much better than hand over your legacy to the lackluster Sophie Hannah. If you find a new author to write the next Hercule Poirot/Edward Catchpool novel, I might be back for more. Otherwise, this is goodbye.
Was my hope justified? Not a chance.
Just as Jill Paton Walsh can’t quite capture the voice of Dorothy L. Sayers, Hannah can’t really sound like Christie in the way that, say, Laurie R. King can channel Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. But I’ve never really held that against Hannah. However, Hannah seems to think that the way to recreate a successful Christie novel is to pepper a house party with lots of loathsome characters and then set Poirot and Scotland Yard detective Edward Catchpool (a transparent Captain Hastings surrogate) to bumble about. Early in the novel, a viciously rude character asks Poirot if he’s left his brain in London; soon I began to suspect the same thing. Hannah’s Poirot is much less astute and more needlessly secretive than the real one and, unlike Hastings, Edward Catchpool is paranoid and unlikable.
Author Athelinda “Athie” Playford has made a great success with her series of children’s mysteries featuring a gang of 10-year-old sleuths led by her moppet heroine “Shrimp” Seddon. Lady Playford decides to disinherit her dimwitted son and her venomous, selfish daughter in favor of her Pollyannaish secretary, Joseph Scotcher, a man dying of kidney disease so advanced that he is confined to a wheelchair and attended full time by a nurse. All of the characters — saving Hercule Poirot and Dr. Randall Kimpton, the fiancé of Lady Playford’s daughter Claudia — are so cardboard that you could make cereal boxes out of them.
Naturally, part of the mystery would be why a robust woman like Lady Playford would bother with changing her will in the autumn to benefit a man who won’t live to inherit; however, when the clever, imaginative Lady Playford reveals her reason, it makes no sense at all. In addition, Lady Playford, an obviously intelligent woman, seems shocked when her children aren’t happy with the new will. Damn! Why would they be? Closed Casket isn’t as lousy as The Big Four, Christie’s worst novel by far, but it’s a pretty pedestrian novel with a denouement that would seem contrived if I hadn’t been past caring by that point.
I’ve been trying to think for whom this book would be a good read. Christie scholars? No, they’d be better off with the original novels and Christie’s correspondence and notes. Christie devotees, desperate for yet one more glimpse of the Belgian detective? I guess, for some, Closed Casket would be better than nothing, although, in my case, I wish I could get back the 10 hours I spent listening to it on Audible. Actually, the person I would most recommend to read this book would be Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard, in the vain hope that he would see that he sold out his grandmother for 30 pieces of silver. Mr. Prichard, you could have done much better than hand over your legacy to the lackluster Sophie Hannah. If you find a new author to write the next Hercule Poirot/Edward Catchpool novel, I might be back for more. Otherwise, this is goodbye.
September 11, 2016
“Everyone is a potential murderer-in everyone there arises from time to time the wish to kill-though not the will to kill.”
----Agatha Christie
Hercule Poirot is back again with another new adventure and mystery in Sophie Hannah, an internationally bestselling writer's new book, Closed Casket where the Belgian detective Poirot along with the help of Scotland Yard inspector, Edward Catchpool, solve the mystery surrounding an old rich, aristocrat lady's lavish party at a forgotten Irish countryside where among the guests, there is a killer lurking around and they must try to stop him/her before he/she strikes his weapon to commit a crime.
Synopsis:
The world's most famous detective returns in this ingenious, stylish, and altogether delicious mystery from the author of the instant bestseller The Monogram Murders ("I was thrilled" -- Gillian Flynn).
"What I intend to say to you will come as a shock..."
With these words, Lady Athelinda Playford -- one of the world's most beloved children's authors -- springs a surprise on the lawyer entrusted with her will. As guests arrive for a party at her Irish mansion, Lady Playford has decided to cut off her two children without a penny . . . and leave her vast fortune to someone else: an invalid who has only weeks to live.
Among Lady Playford's visitors are two strangers: the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and Inspector Edward Catchpool of Scotland Yard. Neither knows why he has been invited -- until Poirot begins to wonder if Lady Playford expects a murder. But why does she seem so determined to provoke a killer? And why -- when the crime is committed despite Poirot's best efforts to stop it -- does the identity of the victim make no sense at all?
Poirot and Catchpool are among the list of guests attending Lady Athelinda Playford, the popular and bestselling children's detective series books' grand party at her mansion in Clonakilty, County Cork. The reason behind to throw this party is to tell her children as well as their spouses/partners about the sudden change of her old will which she has changed under her lawyer's presence and has left all her property and fortune to her dying and extremely sick secretary without any apparent reason and she is certain that someone might try to commit a crime, hence she has invited the two detective so that they can try to prevent it from happening. But still a murder happens despite the presence of the famous Hercule Poirot, so can Poirot identify the killer's face?
There is also this twist from the guests' POV that they are not aware about the reason why they are actually invited to the party, no one have a clue about it, yet the readers are quite aware about it, so in someway, the story at this point, sounds like Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. Well, Hannah's portrayal of this Poirot mystery is simply fantastic, although at times, the story dragged a bit with too much back story which sounds is bit irrelevant in the story.
The plot is a complete pot-boiler with millions of twists and turns which will leave your brain more puzzled if you try to figure it out on your own, so guys, leave it to Poirot, he will guide you with his brilliance to the end of this complicated maze. Poirot's charm is unmatchable and the author has captured it quite vividly into her story just like she did in the previous book. This Poirot is, although, a more of an evolved version than Christie's, anyhow, the best part is that Poirot is back and he will continue to surprise as well as entertain and challenge the readers with his mysteries. So I suggest that Christie's Poirot fans must at least give this version of Poirot a chance to let him fly his wings of unbeatable wit to solve some gruesome crimes in England.
The writing style of the author is quite crisp and emphatic although I'm not comparing her with Christie. Sophie has got some flair in her style of depicting this tale of mystery and also her narration is very articulate. The writing is laced with tension and suspense as the author pulls her readers into the depth of this baffling maze. The pacing is sometimes quite fast but at times, it dragged, but overall, its swift and the readers will easily sway with the story's flow.
The mystery is unfolded diligently by the author as there are so many twists ans turns that will not only blind side the readers but will also keep the readers guessing and anticipating about the killer's identity until the very last page. The author's building of the plot is smart and clever as she gradually develops the characters with all their flaws and secrets that play an important role in the story line.
The huge cast of characters that Sophie has created is tastefully spun and their depth is eventually unrolled with the progress of the plot. The character's backstory will help the readers to easily connect with them and also will help them to look through the characters.
In a nutshell, this riveting crime thriller will constantly keep the readers on their edges, with its new twists and evolving story line and the unexpected challenges. So over a large cup of hot coffee, enjoy Poirot's thrilling adventure as he solves the crime with his trademark charm and cleverness.
Verdict: Poirot is back with an exciting new and enthralling adventure, so don't miss to grab this book. Oui!
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Sophie Hannah's publicist from Harper Collins UK, for giving me the opportunity to read and review her book.
----Agatha Christie
Hercule Poirot is back again with another new adventure and mystery in Sophie Hannah, an internationally bestselling writer's new book, Closed Casket where the Belgian detective Poirot along with the help of Scotland Yard inspector, Edward Catchpool, solve the mystery surrounding an old rich, aristocrat lady's lavish party at a forgotten Irish countryside where among the guests, there is a killer lurking around and they must try to stop him/her before he/she strikes his weapon to commit a crime.
Synopsis:
The world's most famous detective returns in this ingenious, stylish, and altogether delicious mystery from the author of the instant bestseller The Monogram Murders ("I was thrilled" -- Gillian Flynn).
"What I intend to say to you will come as a shock..."
With these words, Lady Athelinda Playford -- one of the world's most beloved children's authors -- springs a surprise on the lawyer entrusted with her will. As guests arrive for a party at her Irish mansion, Lady Playford has decided to cut off her two children without a penny . . . and leave her vast fortune to someone else: an invalid who has only weeks to live.
Among Lady Playford's visitors are two strangers: the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and Inspector Edward Catchpool of Scotland Yard. Neither knows why he has been invited -- until Poirot begins to wonder if Lady Playford expects a murder. But why does she seem so determined to provoke a killer? And why -- when the crime is committed despite Poirot's best efforts to stop it -- does the identity of the victim make no sense at all?
Poirot and Catchpool are among the list of guests attending Lady Athelinda Playford, the popular and bestselling children's detective series books' grand party at her mansion in Clonakilty, County Cork. The reason behind to throw this party is to tell her children as well as their spouses/partners about the sudden change of her old will which she has changed under her lawyer's presence and has left all her property and fortune to her dying and extremely sick secretary without any apparent reason and she is certain that someone might try to commit a crime, hence she has invited the two detective so that they can try to prevent it from happening. But still a murder happens despite the presence of the famous Hercule Poirot, so can Poirot identify the killer's face?
There is also this twist from the guests' POV that they are not aware about the reason why they are actually invited to the party, no one have a clue about it, yet the readers are quite aware about it, so in someway, the story at this point, sounds like Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. Well, Hannah's portrayal of this Poirot mystery is simply fantastic, although at times, the story dragged a bit with too much back story which sounds is bit irrelevant in the story.
The plot is a complete pot-boiler with millions of twists and turns which will leave your brain more puzzled if you try to figure it out on your own, so guys, leave it to Poirot, he will guide you with his brilliance to the end of this complicated maze. Poirot's charm is unmatchable and the author has captured it quite vividly into her story just like she did in the previous book. This Poirot is, although, a more of an evolved version than Christie's, anyhow, the best part is that Poirot is back and he will continue to surprise as well as entertain and challenge the readers with his mysteries. So I suggest that Christie's Poirot fans must at least give this version of Poirot a chance to let him fly his wings of unbeatable wit to solve some gruesome crimes in England.
The writing style of the author is quite crisp and emphatic although I'm not comparing her with Christie. Sophie has got some flair in her style of depicting this tale of mystery and also her narration is very articulate. The writing is laced with tension and suspense as the author pulls her readers into the depth of this baffling maze. The pacing is sometimes quite fast but at times, it dragged, but overall, its swift and the readers will easily sway with the story's flow.
The mystery is unfolded diligently by the author as there are so many twists ans turns that will not only blind side the readers but will also keep the readers guessing and anticipating about the killer's identity until the very last page. The author's building of the plot is smart and clever as she gradually develops the characters with all their flaws and secrets that play an important role in the story line.
The huge cast of characters that Sophie has created is tastefully spun and their depth is eventually unrolled with the progress of the plot. The character's backstory will help the readers to easily connect with them and also will help them to look through the characters.
In a nutshell, this riveting crime thriller will constantly keep the readers on their edges, with its new twists and evolving story line and the unexpected challenges. So over a large cup of hot coffee, enjoy Poirot's thrilling adventure as he solves the crime with his trademark charm and cleverness.
Verdict: Poirot is back with an exciting new and enthralling adventure, so don't miss to grab this book. Oui!
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Sophie Hannah's publicist from Harper Collins UK, for giving me the opportunity to read and review her book.
February 6, 2017
This was quite a good attempt to continue Agatha Christie's legacy. It is a decent book and interesting reading. It can bring you into the world and psyche of Hercule Poirot. I would say it is a typican whodunit plot, intriguing with suspence. It carries the characteristics that we find in Poirot. By that, I mean that someone not knowing the famous Belgian detective would easily get the grab of him in this book.
On the othe hand though, if this was my first Poirot mystery I wouldn't be so triggered to read more of him. I love Agatha Christie and Poirot in particular. Something else that I did not like , is the first person narration which is not something typical of Poirot stories, and I also believe that this technique leaves our Belgian friend a little behind
On the othe hand though, if this was my first Poirot mystery I wouldn't be so triggered to read more of him. I love Agatha Christie and Poirot in particular. Something else that I did not like , is the first person narration which is not something typical of Poirot stories, and I also believe that this technique leaves our Belgian friend a little behind
Shelved as 'no-thanks-or-lost-interest'
October 11, 2019So I read an article recently; about why the estates of famous writers, tend to suddenly allow a "new" book to come out so many years after the originals. It's all about copyright. See, the copyright on some of Christie's earlier books are soon to expire. However, if they commission a new book, they can retain the copyright to the characters.
I have very mixed feelings about this, especially when I think about all the awesome things that wouldn't exist if the copyright hadn't expired. Like Sherlock.
Knowing this, no matter how much I love Agatha Christie, this whole book seems tainted. It's not for a love of Christie's writing, or a beloved character. It's about money.
I have very mixed feelings about this, especially when I think about all the awesome things that wouldn't exist if the copyright hadn't expired. Like Sherlock.
Knowing this, no matter how much I love Agatha Christie, this whole book seems tainted. It's not for a love of Christie's writing, or a beloved character. It's about money.
September 11, 2016
This Dame is no Agatha Christie
Started this book snuggled up with a cup of tea by my side and smile on my face for a 'new' Poirot adventure to begin.
What a MAJOR disappointment it was.
Her narrator, Catchpool, seemed to be her 'Hastings' but was to also be a capable police detective with a promising career. Obviously this didn't work - love Hastings but lovable bumbling is more his mode than sharp detective skills - and this character did not work. Actually all of the characters seemed to be only l characteristics than any full blown personalities. And Poirot, one of the best known characters of mystery novels, there were only glimpses of him in the character she had portrayed.
Plot was obvious as to who would die but didn't grip you at all.
Had a hard time getting through this book and not worth while at all.
No Idea why anyone would give more than 2 stars.
Oh Poirot so sorry to have you cast in such a book.
Started this book snuggled up with a cup of tea by my side and smile on my face for a 'new' Poirot adventure to begin.
What a MAJOR disappointment it was.
Her narrator, Catchpool, seemed to be her 'Hastings' but was to also be a capable police detective with a promising career. Obviously this didn't work - love Hastings but lovable bumbling is more his mode than sharp detective skills - and this character did not work. Actually all of the characters seemed to be only l characteristics than any full blown personalities. And Poirot, one of the best known characters of mystery novels, there were only glimpses of him in the character she had portrayed.
Plot was obvious as to who would die but didn't grip you at all.
Had a hard time getting through this book and not worth while at all.
No Idea why anyone would give more than 2 stars.
Oh Poirot so sorry to have you cast in such a book.
March 30, 2024
Welcome to a new Hercule Poirot series brought back to life by author Sophie Hannah.
As the Washington Post says, “charming, twisty, captures the essence of the originals.”
Actually, when this was first dropped off as a donation in the Little Free Library Shed, I thought to myself, “self, is this a Hercule Poirot story I missed?”
I didn’t even notice Ms. Hannah’s name at the bottom, until the second day I was reading it. I just happened to glance the cover, and there her name appeared.
*Although some reviewers weren’t as kind as The Washington Post, I found myself entertained by the many plot twists and turns.
Ms. Hannah does her best to emulate Poirot, and for that I say, thank you. At least we can enjoy Poirot’s adventure as he solves the crime with his trademark charm and cleverness.
Update: 7-22-23...since this book, I have grown weary of Ms. Hannah. You will most likely find in subsequent books she has written and I have reviewed, I am not as kind.
As the Washington Post says, “charming, twisty, captures the essence of the originals.”
Actually, when this was first dropped off as a donation in the Little Free Library Shed, I thought to myself, “self, is this a Hercule Poirot story I missed?”
I didn’t even notice Ms. Hannah’s name at the bottom, until the second day I was reading it. I just happened to glance the cover, and there her name appeared.
*Although some reviewers weren’t as kind as The Washington Post, I found myself entertained by the many plot twists and turns.
Ms. Hannah does her best to emulate Poirot, and for that I say, thank you. At least we can enjoy Poirot’s adventure as he solves the crime with his trademark charm and cleverness.
Update: 7-22-23...since this book, I have grown weary of Ms. Hannah. You will most likely find in subsequent books she has written and I have reviewed, I am not as kind.
September 5, 2016
I received this book courtesy of a Goodreads giveaway. Closed Casket has most of the mystery cliches:
1. Like "Clue", all of the suspects staying in the same house and sorting out who was where during the murder; I halfway expected to read about Colonel Mustard and a pipe wrench.
2. A semi-clueless sidekick in Catchpool
3. A moron serving as the lead homicide detective
4. Poirot's big reveal at the end with all of the suspects gathered in one room
5. Confession by the suspect once truth is revealed
All of that said, there were some unexpected twists and turns along the way. Overall, I would prefer that Agatha Christie's Poirot rest in peace and the author create characters on her own, avoiding the cliches mentioned above.
1. Like "Clue", all of the suspects staying in the same house and sorting out who was where during the murder; I halfway expected to read about Colonel Mustard and a pipe wrench.
2. A semi-clueless sidekick in Catchpool
3. A moron serving as the lead homicide detective
4. Poirot's big reveal at the end with all of the suspects gathered in one room
5. Confession by the suspect once truth is revealed
All of that said, there were some unexpected twists and turns along the way. Overall, I would prefer that Agatha Christie's Poirot rest in peace and the author create characters on her own, avoiding the cliches mentioned above.
May 2, 2019
It's not Agatha Christie- but it's close enough. Another of my audiobooks that I listened to while walking the dogs. It was your typical cozy mystery starring Poirot and seen through the eyes of Inspector Catchpool. All the clues were there and try as I might to figure out who-dun-it... I got it wrong. I'll only give one hint... the butler didn't do it.
December 11, 2016
Agatha Christie is my favorite yesteryear cozy mystery author. Sophie Hannah is one of my favorite current psychological mystery authors. So when Sophie Hannah started giving a new life to Hercule Poirot, I was excited.
Monogram murders, the first of this revamped Poirot series was well appreciated by me, though many found it lacking.
Closed Casket was in my radar, the day I saw it on GR, and when I received it as a gift, I was over the moon.
This seems like an amalgam of Christie and Hannah, but somehow when Hannah tried to imitate Christie style in conjuring up a new Poirot, something went wrong somewhere. The newer Poirot seems like a brother of the original Poirot. If I were blinded to the author, still I would have easily guessed that it is not Dame Christie who has written it. This Poirot acts and talks different, doesnot groom his moustache, doesnot mention his grey cells, and doesn't blunder about with the English language like the older one. This one is more suave, more Sherlockish. And I feel a certain amount of distance from him.
Hastings is never to be seen. Instead it is Michael Catchpool who acts as a lackey. Catchpool is cute in his own way. And I am thankful that Hannah replaced Hastings with Catchpool, because if Hastings too came in a different avtar, I would have been disconcerted.
The mystery too is more sophisticated with the characters being more obtuse and conniving than the almost straight forward Christie characters.
Athea Playford, the eccentric rich, mystery novelist of County Cork mansion in Ireland invites Poirot and Catchpool, along with her lawyers, and announces a nasty surprise - that she has changed her existing will, the beneficiaries of which were her daughter and son, to a new one which endows all her property to her ailing, about to die secretary, Joseph Scotcher. This sets forth a chain reaction, with a fatality that Poirot cannot prevent.
Finding out who the murderer is occupies great deal of time and effort, with many vicious secrets coming out. No one seems to be who they purport to be.
I enjoyed the book.
Would recommend to all murder mystery fans, but with a warning, not to expect the older Poirot, but to reconcile with his 21st century version.
Monogram murders, the first of this revamped Poirot series was well appreciated by me, though many found it lacking.
Closed Casket was in my radar, the day I saw it on GR, and when I received it as a gift, I was over the moon.
This seems like an amalgam of Christie and Hannah, but somehow when Hannah tried to imitate Christie style in conjuring up a new Poirot, something went wrong somewhere. The newer Poirot seems like a brother of the original Poirot. If I were blinded to the author, still I would have easily guessed that it is not Dame Christie who has written it. This Poirot acts and talks different, doesnot groom his moustache, doesnot mention his grey cells, and doesn't blunder about with the English language like the older one. This one is more suave, more Sherlockish. And I feel a certain amount of distance from him.
Hastings is never to be seen. Instead it is Michael Catchpool who acts as a lackey. Catchpool is cute in his own way. And I am thankful that Hannah replaced Hastings with Catchpool, because if Hastings too came in a different avtar, I would have been disconcerted.
The mystery too is more sophisticated with the characters being more obtuse and conniving than the almost straight forward Christie characters.
Athea Playford, the eccentric rich, mystery novelist of County Cork mansion in Ireland invites Poirot and Catchpool, along with her lawyers, and announces a nasty surprise - that she has changed her existing will, the beneficiaries of which were her daughter and son, to a new one which endows all her property to her ailing, about to die secretary, Joseph Scotcher. This sets forth a chain reaction, with a fatality that Poirot cannot prevent.
Finding out who the murderer is occupies great deal of time and effort, with many vicious secrets coming out. No one seems to be who they purport to be.
I enjoyed the book.
Would recommend to all murder mystery fans, but with a warning, not to expect the older Poirot, but to reconcile with his 21st century version.
July 31, 2019
2.5 Stars
So, I'm at the library and I see "Agatha Christie." And I think, "most excellent, my dudes." And that is it. Sure, there is another name on it, but right there at the top it says Agatha Christie. If I thought about it at all I assumed the other name was an editor or something.
But I am pretty sure I didn't think of it at all.
And then I started reading and I felt a surge of shock that I had never heard of this Christie novel before. After all, a famous authoress of detective fiction invites the great Hercule Poirot to her home? And an authoress who really sounds like the exact opposite of Agatha Christie herself? Remarkable!
But...weird. At that point I flipped back to the front cover and realized what you call can easily tell because Goodreads very correctly clarifies: this is not an Agatha Christie novel. This is a book based on Agatha Christie's detective, Hercule Poirot. And for some reason, the publishers put her name front and center like they do with real Agatha Christie books. (Well, no some reason about it. It is to trick people like me!)
After that, it sort of made sense why I found this one so hard to get into. It feels like Christie but...not. Like a well-painted forgery. The basics are all there so you want to go along with it, but a part of your brain keeps going, 'But wait! Something isn't right!'
Whether it is the way the author randomly switched narration from the first to second chapter, the way the characters interact, the fact that it took way too long to murder, or even all the heavy-handed backstory for every character...it felt off.
Though motive eluded me since the plot doesn't really reveal much till the last 3/4ths, I found the murderer fairly predictable.
I think I'd read another Sophie Hannah novel, if only because she does have merit as an author in her own right. But unless she writes non-Christie mysteries (which I will go check after I finish this review), I fear they will always fall short because no other mystery author can match the Queen. And the Queen is Christie. Imitation just widens that gap.
So, I'm at the library and I see "Agatha Christie." And I think, "most excellent, my dudes." And that is it. Sure, there is another name on it, but right there at the top it says Agatha Christie. If I thought about it at all I assumed the other name was an editor or something.
But I am pretty sure I didn't think of it at all.
And then I started reading and I felt a surge of shock that I had never heard of this Christie novel before. After all, a famous authoress of detective fiction invites the great Hercule Poirot to her home? And an authoress who really sounds like the exact opposite of Agatha Christie herself? Remarkable!
But...weird. At that point I flipped back to the front cover and realized what you call can easily tell because Goodreads very correctly clarifies: this is not an Agatha Christie novel. This is a book based on Agatha Christie's detective, Hercule Poirot. And for some reason, the publishers put her name front and center like they do with real Agatha Christie books. (Well, no some reason about it. It is to trick people like me!)
After that, it sort of made sense why I found this one so hard to get into. It feels like Christie but...not. Like a well-painted forgery. The basics are all there so you want to go along with it, but a part of your brain keeps going, 'But wait! Something isn't right!'
Whether it is the way the author randomly switched narration from the first to second chapter, the way the characters interact, the fact that it took way too long to murder, or even all the heavy-handed backstory for every character...it felt off.
Though motive eluded me since the plot doesn't really reveal much till the last 3/4ths, I found the murderer fairly predictable.
I think I'd read another Sophie Hannah novel, if only because she does have merit as an author in her own right. But unless she writes non-Christie mysteries (which I will go check after I finish this review), I fear they will always fall short because no other mystery author can match the Queen. And the Queen is Christie. Imitation just widens that gap.
January 30, 2020
Da dies das zweite Buch ist, dass ich von Sophie Hannah aus dieser Reihe las, wusste ich, worauf ich mich einlasse. Es ist kein Agatha Christie. Poirot kommt vor und das Setting stimmt aber das ist auch schon alles. Trotzdem kann man das Buch lesen. Man muss nur seine Ansprüche entsprechend setzen. Die Latte liegt schon recht hoch, wenn es so gut wie von der Queen of Crime Agatha Christie sein sollte. Worauf man gefasst sein muss ist, dass es enorm viele Gespräche gibt. Das Buch lebt sozusagen von ihnen. Es wird ausführlichst kontempliert und zum Schluss auch analysiert. Wobei der Schluss bereits nach dem zweiten Drittel naht. Dem klassischen Täter-Resümee hat die Autorin dann ungefähr 70 Seiten gewidmet. Das ist üppig mon cher.
Es ist nicht unbedingt ein Meisterwerk aber nette Nachmittagsunterhaltung, die nicht wirklich an die Nieren geht ο(=•ω＜=)ρ⌒☆
Es ist nicht unbedingt ein Meisterwerk aber nette Nachmittagsunterhaltung, die nicht wirklich an die Nieren geht ο(=•ω＜=)ρ⌒☆
May 15, 2020
3,5/5 αστεράκια.
Μετά το «Έγκλημα με υπογραφή», η Sophie Hannah επιστρέφει με τη δεύτερη περιπέτεια του Ηρακλή Πουαρό, που φέρει τον τίτλο «Κλειστό φέρετρο».
Αυτή τη φορά, ο διάσημος ντετέκτιβ και ο φίλος του, ο Έντουαρντ Κάτσπουλ της Σκότλαντ Γιαρντ, αποδέχονται αμφότεροι την πρόσκληση της λαίδης Αθελίντα Πλέιφορντ, διάσημης συγγραφέως μιας σειράς βιβλίων μυστηρίου για παιδιά, να τους φιλοξενήσει στην έπαυλή της. Φτάνοντας εκεί, θα συναντήσουν αρκετούς ακόμη καλεσμένους, μέλη του στενού οικογενειακού και φιλικού κύκλου της οικοδέσποινας. Κανείς τους δεν υποψιάζεται την έκπληξη που τους επιφυλάσσει η λαίδη Πλέιφορντ, η οποία ανακοινώνει ενώπιον όλων τους πως αποφάσισε να αλλάξει τη διαθήκη της, ορίζοντας ως μοναδικό της κληρονόμο τον γραμματέα της, Τζόζεφ Σκότσελ, και αποκληρώνοντας έτσι τα δύο παιδιά της. Όπως είναι φυσικό, ξεσπάει πανδαιμόνιο στην ομήγυρη κι ο καθένας αντιδρά διαφορετικά στο αναπάντεχο νέο, για τους δικούς του βέβαια λόγους.
Το περίεργο της υπόθεσης είναι πως ο Σκότσελ είναι βαριά άρρωστος και του απομένει μονάχα λίγος χρόνος ζωής. Όλοι λοιπόν αναρωτιούνται για ποιον λόγο αποφάσισε η λαίδη να αφήσει όλα της τα χρήματα σε κάποιον που –φαινομενικά– δεν θα μπορέσει να αποδεχτεί την κληρονομιά. Και τα πράγματα θα περιπλεχτούν ακόμα περισσότερο, όταν το ίδιο κιόλας βράδυ ο Σκότσελ βρεθεί άγρια δολοφονη��ένος. Όλοι στο σπίτι –μόνιμοι ένοικοι και φιλοξενούμενοι– φαίνονται να έχουν ένα κίνητρο για να διαπράξουν τον φόνο. Έχει έρθει η ώρα για τον διάσημο ντετέκτιβ και το περίφημο ένστικτό του να αναλάβουν δράση. Πάντα με τη βοήθεια του Κάτσπουλ, ο Πουαρό αναζητεί στοιχεία και κρυφά κίνητρα, ξεγυμνώνει χαρακτήρες, συμπληρώνει ένα ένα τα κομμάτια του γρίφου ώσπου, τελικά, κατορθώνει να ολοκληρώσει το παζλ μιας υπόθεσης που κρύβει πολλά περισσότερα απ’ όσα άφηνε να διαφανούν αρχικά…
Η συγγραφέας είχε εξ’ αρχής ένα δύσκολο έργο: να αναβιώσει έναν από τους πιο κλασικούς, αναγνωρισμένους και αγαπητούς λογοτεχνικούς ήρωες. Πατώντας στα βήματα της Agatha Christie κι ακολουθώντας το δικό της μοτίβο, προσπάθησε να μην παρεκκλίνει από τη βασική δομή των κλασικών της έργων. Έχει προσθέσει όμως, αναμφίβολα, την προσωπική της πινελιά στην ανανέωση του κεντρικού ήρωα, όπως και στη δομή της συγκεκριμένης ιστορίας. Κανείς άλλωστε δεν περιμένει από τη Hannah να γίνει μια δεύτερη Christie· ούτε μπορεί να το κάνει, ούτε και η ίδια θα το ήθελε. Όμως, έχει κατορθώσει να αποδώσει το ύφος της ‘βασίλισσας του νουάρ’ όσο πιο πιστά και πετυχημένα είναι αυτό δυνατό, κατά την άποψή μου.
Η πλοκή θυμίζει εκείνη πολλών νουάρ μυθιστορημάτων που εκτυλίσσονται στις πρώτες δεκαετίες του περασμένου αιώνα, αλλά και πιο σύγχρονα. Μια πλούσια έπαυλη, άνθρωποι εντελώς διαφορετικοί μεταξύ τους, που είναι όμως αναγκασμένοι να συνυπάρχουν, κρυμμένα πάθη και μυστικά, έρωτες και μίση, έριδες και υπόνοιες. Και, ξάφνου, μια δολοφονία που καθιστά όλους εν δυνάμει υπόπτους. Ο ντετέκτιβ ή ο αστυνομικός προσπαθεί να εξιχνιάσει το μυστήριο, και όσα περισσότερα πράγματα έρχονται στο φως και ο κλοιός στενεύει γύρω από τους υπόπτους, τόσο εκείνοι είναι διατεθειμένοι να κάνουν τα πάντα προκειμένου να αποδείξουν την αθωότητά τους – ή να καλύψουν την ενοχή τους.
Η συγγραφέας επέλεξε αυτό το, ομολογουμένως, επιτυχημένο μοτίβο και για τη δική της ιστορία. Και πέτυχε να το διαφοροποιήσει αρκετά από άλλες παρόμοιες υποθέσεις μυστηρίου που έχουμε διαβάσει κατά καιρούς. Οπωσδήποτε η πλοκή δεν είναι η πιο πρωτότυπη, είναι όμως καλοδουλεμένη, έντεχνα στημένη, ‘μπολιασμένη’ με ίντριγκες και δολοπλοκίες, ερωτήματα που ψάχνουν απαντήσεις και ενδιαφέροντες χαρακτήρες. Βέβαια, ένας ‘ψαγμένος’ φανατικός αναγνώστης του είδους μπορεί να έχει υποψιαστεί την πραγματική ταυτότητα του δολοφόνου πολύ πριν από το τέλος του βιβλίου, ή να έχει υποψιαστεί πως τα πράγματα δεν είναι όπως παρουσιάζονται όσον αφορά το θύμα ή τις σχέσεις μεταξύ των μελών της οικογένειας. Έτσι, όταν τελικά θα έρθουν τα πάντα στο φως, δεν θα αποτελέσει γι’ αυτόν μεγάλη έκπληξη η αποκάλυψη της αλήθειας. Όπως και να ‘χει, όμως, το λογοτεχνικό ταξίδι μέχρι εκεί αξίζει τον κόπο.
Με το «Κλειστό φέρετρο», δίνεται η δυνατότητα στον αναγνώστη να γνωρίσει –ή να ξανασυναντήσει– ένα από τα πιο δαιμόνια μυαλά της παγκόσμιας αστυνομικής λογοτεχνίας· τον Ηρακλή Πουαρό. Αν συνυ��ολογίσει κανείς πως το βιβλίο αποτελεί μια αξιοπρεπέστατη λογοτεχνική απόπειρα και πως διατηρεί αμείωτο το αναγνωστικό ενδιαφέρον καθ’ όλη την πλοκή του, είναι αναμφίβολα μια πολύ καλή επιλογή για τους λάτρεις του είδους.
Μετά το «Έγκλημα με υπογραφή», η Sophie Hannah επιστρέφει με τη δεύτερη περιπέτεια του Ηρακλή Πουαρό, που φέρει τον τίτλο «Κλειστό φέρετρο».
Αυτή τη φορά, ο διάσημος ντετέκτιβ και ο φίλος του, ο Έντουαρντ Κάτσπουλ της Σκότλαντ Γιαρντ, αποδέχονται αμφότεροι την πρόσκληση της λαίδης Αθελίντα Πλέιφορντ, διάσημης συγγραφέως μιας σειράς βιβλίων μυστηρίου για παιδιά, να τους φιλοξενήσει στην έπαυλή της. Φτάνοντας εκεί, θα συναντήσουν αρκετούς ακόμη καλεσμένους, μέλη του στενού οικογενειακού και φιλικού κύκλου της οικοδέσποινας. Κανείς τους δεν υποψιάζεται την έκπληξη που τους επιφυλάσσει η λαίδη Πλέιφορντ, η οποία ανακοινώνει ενώπιον όλων τους πως αποφάσισε να αλλάξει τη διαθήκη της, ορίζοντας ως μοναδικό της κληρονόμο τον γραμματέα της, Τζόζεφ Σκότσελ, και αποκληρώνοντας έτσι τα δύο παιδιά της. Όπως είναι φυσικό, ξεσπάει πανδαιμόνιο στην ομήγυρη κι ο καθένας αντιδρά διαφορετικά στο αναπάντεχο νέο, για τους δικούς του βέβαια λόγους.
Το περίεργο της υπόθεσης είναι πως ο Σκότσελ είναι βαριά άρρωστος και του απομένει μονάχα λίγος χρόνος ζωής. Όλοι λοιπόν αναρωτιούνται για ποιον λόγο αποφάσισε η λαίδη να αφήσει όλα της τα χρήματα σε κάποιον που –φαινομενικά– δεν θα μπορέσει να αποδεχτεί την κληρονομιά. Και τα πράγματα θα περιπλεχτούν ακόμα περισσότερο, όταν το ίδιο κιόλας βράδυ ο Σκότσελ βρεθεί άγρια δολοφονη��ένος. Όλοι στο σπίτι –μόνιμοι ένοικοι και φιλοξενούμενοι– φαίνονται να έχουν ένα κίνητρο για να διαπράξουν τον φόνο. Έχει έρθει η ώρα για τον διάσημο ντετέκτιβ και το περίφημο ένστικτό του να αναλάβουν δράση. Πάντα με τη βοήθεια του Κάτσπουλ, ο Πουαρό αναζητεί στοιχεία και κρυφά κίνητρα, ξεγυμνώνει χαρακτήρες, συμπληρώνει ένα ένα τα κομμάτια του γρίφου ώσπου, τελικά, κατορθώνει να ολοκληρώσει το παζλ μιας υπόθεσης που κρύβει πολλά περισσότερα απ’ όσα άφηνε να διαφανούν αρχικά…
Η συγγραφέας είχε εξ’ αρχής ένα δύσκολο έργο: να αναβιώσει έναν από τους πιο κλασικούς, αναγνωρισμένους και αγαπητούς λογοτεχνικούς ήρωες. Πατώντας στα βήματα της Agatha Christie κι ακολουθώντας το δικό της μοτίβο, προσπάθησε να μην παρεκκλίνει από τη βασική δομή των κλασικών της έργων. Έχει προσθέσει όμως, αναμφίβολα, την προσωπική της πινελιά στην ανανέωση του κεντρικού ήρωα, όπως και στη δομή της συγκεκριμένης ιστορίας. Κανείς άλλωστε δεν περιμένει από τη Hannah να γίνει μια δεύτερη Christie· ούτε μπορεί να το κάνει, ούτε και η ίδια θα το ήθελε. Όμως, έχει κατορθώσει να αποδώσει το ύφος της ‘βασίλισσας του νουάρ’ όσο πιο πιστά και πετυχημένα είναι αυτό δυνατό, κατά την άποψή μου.
Η πλοκή θυμίζει εκείνη πολλών νουάρ μυθιστορημάτων που εκτυλίσσονται στις πρώτες δεκαετίες του περασμένου αιώνα, αλλά και πιο σύγχρονα. Μια πλούσια έπαυλη, άνθρωποι εντελώς διαφορετικοί μεταξύ τους, που είναι όμως αναγκασμένοι να συνυπάρχουν, κρυμμένα πάθη και μυστικά, έρωτες και μίση, έριδες και υπόνοιες. Και, ξάφνου, μια δολοφονία που καθιστά όλους εν δυνάμει υπόπτους. Ο ντετέκτιβ ή ο αστυνομικός προσπαθεί να εξιχνιάσει το μυστήριο, και όσα περισσότερα πράγματα έρχονται στο φως και ο κλοιός στενεύει γύρω από τους υπόπτους, τόσο εκείνοι είναι διατεθειμένοι να κάνουν τα πάντα προκειμένου να αποδείξουν την αθωότητά τους – ή να καλύψουν την ενοχή τους.
Η συγγραφέας επέλεξε αυτό το, ομολογουμένως, επιτυχημένο μοτίβο και για τη δική της ιστορία. Και πέτυχε να το διαφοροποιήσει αρκετά από άλλες παρόμοιες υποθέσεις μυστηρίου που έχουμε διαβάσει κατά καιρούς. Οπωσδήποτε η πλοκή δεν είναι η πιο πρωτότυπη, είναι όμως καλοδουλεμένη, έντεχνα στημένη, ‘μπολιασμένη’ με ίντριγκες και δολοπλοκίες, ερωτήματα που ψάχνουν απαντήσεις και ενδιαφέροντες χαρακτήρες. Βέβαια, ένας ‘ψαγμένος’ φανατικός αναγνώστης του είδους μπορεί να έχει υποψιαστεί την πραγματική ταυτότητα του δολοφόνου πολύ πριν από το τέλος του βιβλίου, ή να έχει υποψιαστεί πως τα πράγματα δεν είναι όπως παρουσιάζονται όσον αφορά το θύμα ή τις σχέσεις μεταξύ των μελών της οικογένειας. Έτσι, όταν τελικά θα έρθουν τα πάντα στο φως, δεν θα αποτελέσει γι’ αυτόν μεγάλη έκπληξη η αποκάλυψη της αλήθειας. Όπως και να ‘χει, όμως, το λογοτεχνικό ταξίδι μέχρι εκεί αξίζει τον κόπο.
Με το «Κλειστό φέρετρο», δίνεται η δυνατότητα στον αναγνώστη να γνωρίσει –ή να ξανασυναντήσει– ένα από τα πιο δαιμόνια μυαλά της παγκόσμιας αστυνομικής λογοτεχνίας· τον Ηρακλή Πουαρό. Αν συνυ��ολογίσει κανείς πως το βιβλίο αποτελεί μια αξιοπρεπέστατη λογοτεχνική απόπειρα και πως διατηρεί αμείωτο το αναγνωστικό ενδιαφέρον καθ’ όλη την πλοκή του, είναι αναμφίβολα μια πολύ καλή επιλογή για τους λάτρεις του είδους.
February 17, 2017
Worse than the first one. Poirot seldom appeared in the story and when he did, he didn't do much. Catchpool was as whiny, morose, and inept as ever. How he ever became a cop I can't imagine. Nancy Drew is more adventuresome. The pretense for getting Poirot and Catchpool to the scene of the crime was weak at best, lazy at worst. A random invitation to a dinner party, in a foreign country, from a complete stranger? A month in advance of the party? And "the world's greatest detective" doesn't bother to find out why? Just goes to the party because, what, he had nothing better to do? Why even set it in outside of England? The setting was so nondescript, it could have taken place anywhere. At any time. I had to remind myself the Poirot mysteries were set in the 1920s/1930s. The murder doesn't occur until a hundred pages in and the detective work doesn't start until about page 200. The "startling" revelation wasn't startling and the murderer wasn't a surprise. The characters were so dreadful, and their motives for behaving the way they did so ridiculous, I wished more of them had been killed off. If there’s a third "new" Hercule Poirot mystery on the way, I'll give it a miss. In fact, I'm going to re-read some of the original Poirot mysteries to cleanse my brain of this mess.
April 11, 2017
I saw this in the bookstore and had to buy it. A revival of Hercule Poirot? Wow!
But then I read it. Maybe it's my age. Maybe I'm too jaded. Too much Jason Bourne and Jack Reacher novels in me. Whatever . . . but poor Herucle in this effort just turned out to be too bland for my tastes.
And that's the operative word: bland.
But then I read it. Maybe it's my age. Maybe I'm too jaded. Too much Jason Bourne and Jack Reacher novels in me. Whatever . . . but poor Herucle in this effort just turned out to be too bland for my tastes.
And that's the operative word: bland.
March 31, 2021
Bit too long and complicated and too little "grey cells" in this new invention of a Poirot mystery.
May 16, 2020
4/5
Me ha gustado mucho, me ha recordado a Cinco Cerditos y a La Casa torcida, y esas novelas me encantan!
Me ha gustado mucho, me ha recordado a Cinco Cerditos y a La Casa torcida, y esas novelas me encantan!
September 20, 2016
I need to confess that I had no idea Sophie Hannah had revitalised Agatha Christie’s famous Belgian detective and his little grey cells until this book appeared on a listing. It was only then I discovered Hannah had previously released The Monogram Murders, featuring Hercule Poirot, in 2014 – almost 40 years after the passing of Dame Agatha.
I should mention here that I adore Agatha Christie. I’ve read all of her books a million times. At least.
Lovers of the original will notice there are some significant differences between Christie’s Poirot and Hannah’s Poirot.
Hannah’s books are far longer for a start. And Poirot – for me – was a little less impressive. Though less arrogant, he was also less larger-than-life (if that makes sense).
Our narrator this time around was the off-duty Inspector Catchpool and it felt weird to be privy to Poirot’s investigations through someone else’s eyes. I wasn’t actually a Hastings devotee but realised I missed their witty banter. Hannah obviously also featured Catchpool in The Monogram Murders as he was still smarting from being bested by Poirot on that outing.
The cast of characters themselves were far more distasteful than I remember Christie’s being. Hers were often eccentric and unlikeable, but not necessarily evil.
The crime itself and references to it were also far more vivid and gory than the original series… but I assume some of that relates to the fact that we’ve become inured to ‘simple’ deaths in our reading, television and big screen fodder.
There were also a lot of positives.
Hannah did mostly keep to the style of Christie: in her overly-wordy language and prose. The mystery itself was suitably twisty; and investigation offered up a myriad of suspects.
So this was an enjoyable outing with my old friend and his little grey cells. His star shone a little less bright than it once did, but I most-certainly welcome his return.
http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5 stars
I should mention here that I adore Agatha Christie. I’ve read all of her books a million times. At least.
Lovers of the original will notice there are some significant differences between Christie’s Poirot and Hannah’s Poirot.
Hannah’s books are far longer for a start. And Poirot – for me – was a little less impressive. Though less arrogant, he was also less larger-than-life (if that makes sense).
Our narrator this time around was the off-duty Inspector Catchpool and it felt weird to be privy to Poirot’s investigations through someone else’s eyes. I wasn’t actually a Hastings devotee but realised I missed their witty banter. Hannah obviously also featured Catchpool in The Monogram Murders as he was still smarting from being bested by Poirot on that outing.
The cast of characters themselves were far more distasteful than I remember Christie’s being. Hers were often eccentric and unlikeable, but not necessarily evil.
The crime itself and references to it were also far more vivid and gory than the original series… but I assume some of that relates to the fact that we’ve become inured to ‘simple’ deaths in our reading, television and big screen fodder.
There were also a lot of positives.
Hannah did mostly keep to the style of Christie: in her overly-wordy language and prose. The mystery itself was suitably twisty; and investigation offered up a myriad of suspects.
So this was an enjoyable outing with my old friend and his little grey cells. His star shone a little less bright than it once did, but I most-certainly welcome his return.
http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5 stars
December 24, 2016
Κλειστό φέρετρο η νέα προσπάθεια της συγγραφέως να επαναφέρει τον αγαπημένο ήρωα Ηρακλή Πουαρό. Σε αντίθεση με το έγκλημα με υπογραφή που δεν είχε καταφέρει να με συγκινήσει θεωρώ ότι το κλειστό φέρετρο έχει περισσότερες αρετές σαν βιβλίο και η συγγραφέας του καταφέρνει να σταθεί περισσότερο επάξια στη βαριά κληρονομιά που άφησε πίσω της η Άγκαθα Κρίστι με έναν ήρωα όπως είναι ο Ηρακλής Πουαρό δημιουργώντας αυτή τη φορά ένα αρκετά ενδιαφέρον βιβλίο μυστηρίου με γρήγορο ρυθμό και συνοχή. Το κακό όμω�� είναι ότι ναι μεν σαν βιβλίο βρήκα ότι είχε περισσότερο σασπένς από το προηγούμενο όμως έχοντας κάνει διατριβή σε όλα τα βιβλία της Αγκαθα Κρίστι θεωρώ ότι και στα δυο της βιβλία η συγγραφέας μας δίνει ένα διαφορετικό Πουαρό από αυτόν της Κρίστι. Έναν πιο μπλαζέ φλατ ήρωα ή τελοσπάντων λιγότερο εντυπωσιακό από ότι τον είχαμε συνηθίσει. Επιπλέον ενώ ακολουθεί το στυλ της Κρίστι ως προς τη δόμηση του βιβλίου θεωρώ ότι οι ιστορίες της είναι μεν ενδιαφέρουσες αλλά όχι τόσο ανατρεπτικές που θα σου κόψουν την ανάσα. Εν κατακλείδι πολύ καλή προσπάθεια αλλά χρειάζεται ακόμα δρόμος για να γίνει η συγγραφέας η νέα βασίλισσα της αστυνομικής λογοτεχνίας.
January 22, 2018
Sophie Hannah must have had great fun writing this new Poirot mystery. The immaculate Belgian detective is drawn impeccably, surrounded by an outrageous cast of mostly unpleasant people in a wildly improbable version of the English country house murder.
It was an entertaining, stylish, escapist read, 3.5 rather than a flat 3.
I was a bit startled to see that copyright rests with Agatha Christie Limited, and hope Hannah's contract pays her well for what should be a successful book. Clearly the company liked The Monogram Murders, or they wouldn't have commissioned her for a second. I'd be happy to read a third.
It was an entertaining, stylish, escapist read, 3.5 rather than a flat 3.
I was a bit startled to see that copyright rests with Agatha Christie Limited, and hope Hannah's contract pays her well for what should be a successful book. Clearly the company liked The Monogram Murders, or they wouldn't have commissioned her for a second. I'd be happy to read a third.
December 30, 2016
I feel a twinge of guilt giving this only one star as I couldn't finish it, but in both cases the reason is the same... it reads like almost-good fan fiction. It's close enough to the original to merit consideration, but sufficiently different to grate woefully on the senses, in much the same way as an ever-so-slightly out of tune guitar string renders a chord painful to listen to.
March 29, 2017
Poirot in 1929 - the heyday, nee the Golden Age of murder and Christie. Ths was great. Lots of fun if a bit brutal and not as adoring to Hercule as Christie would have made it. She still liked him in the early days.
Want to read
June 26, 2016Won in Goodreads giveaway!
Want to read
June 29, 2023Love a good whodunnit with Poirot. A fun listen and great story. I really should go back and read some of the older Christie books....one day!!
May 22, 2019
Pretty dire stuff. I was hoping for better given the reviews. Nothing would induce me to read another of these pseudo-Poirots.
September 9, 2016
Closed Casket – Hercule Poirot Returns
Sophie Hannah has risen to the challenge to become the voice and mind of Hercule Poirot and mimic everything that the Grand Dame of Crime Fiction created. Hannah has picked up where Agatha Christie left off and it is impossible to notice that Poirot came to life over 100 years before, this is a seamless addition to the Christie canon.
Hercule Poirot has been invited over to the newly independent Ireland, as the guest of aristocratic author Lady Playford to her country estate of Lillieoak. We are told the story of Closed Casket, through the eyes and voice of Inspector Edward Catchpole of Scotland Yard, a friend and colleague of Poirot’s.
It is October 1929, and both Poirot and Catchpole wonder why they have both been invited to stay as guests. Everything becomes clear over the first night why they are both house guests, when Lady Playford’s secretary, Joseph Scotcher, after dinner is found murdered. So begins the classic Christie, Manor House style mystery.
Throughout the book we get to know all the characters a lot more and some of their thoughts that they have not told each other. Poirot who has his ‘grey cells’ thinking is intrigued by what has gone on, and investigates further, to the annoyance of the Irish Police Inspector sent to investigate the murder.
Even at the Coroner’s Inquest Poirot recognises that everything that they have been told and what has been said in court is not necessarily the truth. The suspects all have their own quirks and secrets that they do not want to come out, as did the murder victim. Like Christie, Hannah does not delve too deeply in to the characters, but is consumed by the whole even of murder in a Country House.
In parts of Closed Casket you can be forgiven if you feel that Christie could have written those passages, but that is the art of an excellent author, who has studied her subjects of Poirot and Christie. It would be easy to point out the things Christie did make Poirot do, but Hannah does, but clearly different people bring their own quirks to the story.
Closed Casket does not disappoint, and I am sure Christie herself would have been delighted with this story if she had written it. For fans of Poirot all his nuances are there, from his gate, his OCD, and how he expresses himself in Franco-English. Sophie Hannah has written Closed Casket so well, that Poirot is just as he was when Christie wrote her last, this is a seamless continuation.
An excellent book that fans of Poirot and Christie will love and take to heart.
Sophie Hannah has risen to the challenge to become the voice and mind of Hercule Poirot and mimic everything that the Grand Dame of Crime Fiction created. Hannah has picked up where Agatha Christie left off and it is impossible to notice that Poirot came to life over 100 years before, this is a seamless addition to the Christie canon.
Hercule Poirot has been invited over to the newly independent Ireland, as the guest of aristocratic author Lady Playford to her country estate of Lillieoak. We are told the story of Closed Casket, through the eyes and voice of Inspector Edward Catchpole of Scotland Yard, a friend and colleague of Poirot’s.
It is October 1929, and both Poirot and Catchpole wonder why they have both been invited to stay as guests. Everything becomes clear over the first night why they are both house guests, when Lady Playford’s secretary, Joseph Scotcher, after dinner is found murdered. So begins the classic Christie, Manor House style mystery.
Throughout the book we get to know all the characters a lot more and some of their thoughts that they have not told each other. Poirot who has his ‘grey cells’ thinking is intrigued by what has gone on, and investigates further, to the annoyance of the Irish Police Inspector sent to investigate the murder.
Even at the Coroner’s Inquest Poirot recognises that everything that they have been told and what has been said in court is not necessarily the truth. The suspects all have their own quirks and secrets that they do not want to come out, as did the murder victim. Like Christie, Hannah does not delve too deeply in to the characters, but is consumed by the whole even of murder in a Country House.
In parts of Closed Casket you can be forgiven if you feel that Christie could have written those passages, but that is the art of an excellent author, who has studied her subjects of Poirot and Christie. It would be easy to point out the things Christie did make Poirot do, but Hannah does, but clearly different people bring their own quirks to the story.
Closed Casket does not disappoint, and I am sure Christie herself would have been delighted with this story if she had written it. For fans of Poirot all his nuances are there, from his gate, his OCD, and how he expresses himself in Franco-English. Sophie Hannah has written Closed Casket so well, that Poirot is just as he was when Christie wrote her last, this is a seamless continuation.
An excellent book that fans of Poirot and Christie will love and take to heart.
September 17, 2017
This is my first time reading Sophie Hannah's interpretation of Agatha Christie's famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. These are big shoes for Hannah to fill, and I think she does a fairly good job in Closed Casket. I very much enjoyed the murder, the clues, the eccentric cast of characters and the way the story develops.
The one weakness is the actual solution of the murder mystery. It feels somewhat unbelievable at times, both in the explanation of some of the more outrageous details and in the motivations for murder. Also, while Hannah sticks to Christie's format of having Poirot gather all the characters in a room to explain and unveil whodunnit, Hannah takes more than 50 pages to do this (about 1/6th of the book), making that part drag on unnecessarily.
In the end, while this book falls short of its lofty goal in the inevitable comparisons with the queen of mystery, I feel it is an enjoyable book in its own right, and I look forward to reading more from the author.
The one weakness is the actual solution of the murder mystery. It feels somewhat unbelievable at times, both in the explanation of some of the more outrageous details and in the motivations for murder. Also, while Hannah sticks to Christie's format of having Poirot gather all the characters in a room to explain and unveil whodunnit, Hannah takes more than 50 pages to do this (about 1/6th of the book), making that part drag on unnecessarily.
In the end, while this book falls short of its lofty goal in the inevitable comparisons with the queen of mystery, I feel it is an enjoyable book in its own right, and I look forward to reading more from the author.
February 27, 2019
Look, I included a fat character! He's the size of a PLANET! Ha ha, that's so funny. I made his chair break when he sits on it. He doesn't know what's going on during a dramatic scene because he's too busy eating! Ha ha, now he's in excruciating pain because he ate too much and got gas! Everyone laugh at the stupid fat guy! What a riot. I sure do have great writing skills.
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