Hercule Poirot's Silent Night
Author: Sophie Hannah
Created by: Agatha Christie
Published by: Harper Collins
Pages: 360
Format: Hardback
My Rating: ★★★
Created by: Agatha Christie
Published by: Harper Collins
Pages: 360
Format: Hardback
My Rating: ★★★
‘The main danger, as I see it, is that you and I will be trapped here for the whole of the Christmas holiday!’
It’s 19 December 1931. Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool are called to investigate the murder of a man in the apparent safe haven of a Norfolk hospital ward. Catchpool’s mother, the irrepressible Cynthia, insists that he and Poirot stay with her in a crumbling mansion by the coast, so that they can all be together for the festive period while Poirot solves the case. Cynthia’s friend Arnold is soon to be admitted to that same hospital and his wife is convinced he will be the killer’s next victim, though she refuses to explain why.
It’s 19 December 1931. Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool are called to investigate the murder of a man in the apparent safe haven of a Norfolk hospital ward. Catchpool’s mother, the irrepressible Cynthia, insists that he and Poirot stay with her in a crumbling mansion by the coast, so that they can all be together for the festive period while Poirot solves the case. Cynthia’s friend Arnold is soon to be admitted to that same hospital and his wife is convinced he will be the killer’s next victim, though she refuses to explain why.
My thoughts:
Hercule Poirot's Silent Night is Sophie Hannah's fifth book based on the famous Belgium detective, Hercule Poirot.
The story opens with Inspector Edward Catchpool and Hercule Poirot discussing the upcoming Christmas season, when Cynthia Catchpool, Edward's mother arrives unexpectedly to fetch both to Frellingsloe House in Norfolk. The pair are coerced by Catchpool's mother into joining her for Christmas to solve a murder. Or more aptly, solve a murder and prevent another.
What comes next is a very twisty mystery that, if Poirot is not careful, could cost him his very own life. I felt the book took a long time to gain momentum, and very little actually happens in the first one hundred pages or so. The writing style felt like it dragged on for most of the first half. Eventually, however, Hannah inserts the anticipated twists and turns and Poirot’s little grey cells for solving the mystery, with encouragement for the reader to reach their own conclusions. Although the conclusion was entertaining, it deviated from the Golden Age's principles as not all the clues were accessible to the reader. The mystery itself just wasn’t anything special or memorable and I did not find the solution very effective or satisfying. However, I am a great lover of mystery and Agatha Christie novels especially, so maybe I’d be particularly hard to please regarding this.
I think the book pretty much does the job plot-wise, but it’s missing the visual imagery and atmosphere that Christie creates so well. Edward Catchpool is (to me) another version of Hastings with a bit of humour injected into the novel. All too often he strikes me as not being as intellectual as he is supposed to be, ultimately coming across more like a bumbling Dr Watson to the great Sherlock Holmes.
From start to finish, Poirot remained mysterious and playful throughout the novel, while observing those around him in search of a murderer. Sophie Hannah’s writing is entertaining, but Agatha Christie remains the true artist who made Hercule Poirot the beloved investigator that he is.
A good start to the festive seasonal reading, but in all honesty, I’d recommend reading the originals instead. There are many to choose from, and Christie’s crime novels will make for a much cosier and more entertaining reading experience this Christmas.
Thank you to Tandem Collective and the publisher for gifting me an early copy to review.
Overall reaction: