Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie

Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie

The Lee's have gathered at their father's home for Christmas. A millionaire twice over Simon Lee evokes strong passion among-st his children. When Simon lee a day before Christmas announces his desire to change his will to include new members it is evidently not taken well with his family.

While the Lee's are having dinner and coffee downstairs they suddenly hire a blood curling cry from the floor above. They all rush towards their father's chamber but the door is locked from inside. They break down the door and find Mr Lee's throat slit and his blood splattered all over the room.

Luckily Poirot is at hand to help the local police solve the crime.

Review: I have often stated that the best Poirot books are the one's where he works alone where he does not have his Watson around i.e. Arthur Hastings. This one is another example in support of that deduction.



The book is a fast paced mystery which involves a gruesome murder and the assembly of a very odd family. I was able to finish the whole book in a day. Poirot is not pompous in the book and goes about his business unobtrusively. What I like about this book is that there is no killing of time, no unnecessary stalling. When the ending is revealed then you can't help wonder how detailed and meticulous Dame Agatha was, you feel like there were no unnecessary details; everything was important and related to the central plot.

The Mystery was like a Carr, The murder was committed in a locked room which although was not watched but had it's own complications(which I don't want to get in details about and spoil the mystery). Agatha Christie mysteries were famous for the murderer turning out to be the least likely suspect and this one truly lives out its expectations. I could not guess the murderer! and 8/10 I'm right. so this book automatically gets an additional star for bewildering me.

According to many book Critics this was the last of the great Hercule Poirot mysteries and although I cannot concur with the notion that this was the last great Poirot since I haven't read them all, but I can corroborate that this is definitely a great Poirot.

Although Christmas is a time for merriment and benevolence. but for mystery lovers the combination of Agatha Christie, Poirot, a bloody murder and a crackling mystery is truly Christmas.

So grab your hot chocolate, get inside a quilt or sit in front of the fire and enjoy Christmas with Poirot.

Merry Christmas!! :)

Ratings:



4 out of 5