First book by Sophie Hannah in Agatha Christie's "world" so to speak - [b: The Monogram Murders|19367226|The Monogram Murders (New Hercule Poirot Mysteries, #1)|Sophie Hannah|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407106060l/19367226._SY75_.jpg|27431535] -was OK for me but way too verbose. Also Poirot was a character at constant odds with the police in that story - I know he considers himself to be the best but he was never that dismissive of police.

Now this book is different - both writing and characters are much more like to what I remember from Agatha Christie's novels. We even get inspector Catchpool (also character from the "The Monogram Murders") playing more active [and dare I say more intelligent] role.

Story is standard whodunit taking place in old family house (this time in Republic of Ireland and not in UK). All the characters involved are very very mixed party of people. As expected everyone has some-grudge-or-other against their relatives and friends living with them in that very same house. Both Poirot and Catchpool very soon figure out that their role is to actually prevent the murder but that is very difficult when they do not know who is in danger.

Enjoyable book and I have good feeling that future novels by Sophie Hannah about Poirot (or any other Agatha Christie's character) will only get better.

Recommended to [old school :) ] crime-fiction aficionados. ( )

I never give negative reviews to a book, knowing that the author worked hard to create it (and doing something I cannot do). In this case however, I felt compelled to give my opinion. I have previously read the first of Sophie Hannah's "Poirot" novels and didn't care for it, but felt that I needed to read more of the series before I wrote my thoughts down. I feel that some of the best parts of the Agatha Christie's novels are the characters that she created, and how the reader is made to feel sympathetic or to be repelled towards them. Ms. Hannah seems unable to create a character that I don't dislike. Now, I don't understand her refusal to use previously used "Poirot" characters (i.e. Hastings, Japp, Mrs. Oliver), but maybe it is better. Her narrator, Inspector Catchpool, is perhaps one of the most unlikable characters I have ever come across. He is, quite frankly, a jerk. He is opinionated and smug. He comes across as hating Poirot, even though he writes about him. He is so very stupid that he makes Hastings look like Sherlock Holmes. Ms. Hannah's books (and I have only read her Poirot books) are not even interesting, and I couldn't wait to finish it. It doesn't feel like it is taking place in the 1930s either. Now, Agatha Christie is not always perfect (and I have read her Poirot books several times), being rather racist at times (I know. I know, they were written in a different time period), and sometimes a bit formulaic, but I always love re-reading them. She was a very special author. I shouldn't compare Sophie Hannah to her, and try not to. I have read the Robert Goldsborough "Nero Wolfe" books and enjoy them. I have purchased the third Sophie Hannah "Poirot" book and will read it. I hope I will enjoy it. ( )

I must admit that I did not enjoy Sophie Hannah's first Poirot reboot book, but after reading some of the reviews on this her second one, I thought it night be a worth a try. This was a more enjoyable book for sure. I liked the characters (with the exception of Sophie Hannah's Poirot who seems like a ghost of the original Poirot). The mystery is tricky and intricate, but I thought it went on a bit too long, and got too convoluted at the end. I must admit that I did figure out who the murderer was at about 2/3 of the way through, and I thought it took a little too long to get there. A shorter book with more of a direct denouement, would have improved this book to my way of thinking. But all in all, it wasn't a bad example of a country house murder in the style Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers or Ngaio Marsh. The murder was sufficiently bloody, but also very puzzling. I particularly liked Inspector Catchpool. It may be worth while to read another book in the series if the books keep improving like this one did. ( )

Kirjalla oli hetkensä, mutta pääasiassa uskomatonta scheissea. ( )

This is the second Poirot revival written by Sophie Hannah, and it was perhaps a bit better than the first (in my opinion). I was happy to see Catchpool play more of the sleuth and less of the emotionally unstable, dependent character he was in the first book. The mystery was intriguing and the writing solid, although I felt this one didn’t highlight all the fun idiosyncrasies of Poirot that fans know and love. Once again it was a good attempt, but I think I’m the future I’ll just stick with classic Christie. She can’t be beat or even replicated. ( )