Hercule Poirot's Christmas: A Hercule Poirot Mystery (Hercule Poirot Mysteries, 20)

If you have not read Agatha Christie before, please, please don't choose this as your introduction or you may wonder how on earth she was so phenomenally successful. Quite simply, I think this is the worst novel by this author I have ever read - and I have worked my way through many more of them than is apparent from my reviews. The characters are wooden and undifferentiated (to the extent that it took me a considerable proportion of the book to remember who was who and who was married to whom), the dialogue uninspiring and the coincidence-laden plot ridiculous. If you aim to read all of Christie's works, by all means read it for completeness, but otherwise, I feel it is one to a avoid: there are plenty of excellent novels by this author from which to choose.

What can I say this book is just so good Agatha Christie really brings the whole murder mystery altogether greatly!! I loved this book!! I definitely recommend this book it was such a good read and I definitely wasn't expecting who the murderer was going to be at the end she definitely surprised me! I feel like if I say anymore I'm going to spoil it for other people so I recommend giving a chance give it a read and if you like old school good murder mysteries Agatha Christie is definitely your author and if you want more of a Christmas murder mystery theme this is definitely one of those books for you!!

Very quick read, I will say that. It's a very fast paced book that never slows down and I love Poirot books like that. It does kind of follow the typical plot layout - Introduction to the characters, The murder, Breaking down alibis and then catching the culprit but it's the journey there that makes it worthwhile. The cast of characters are very colourful and likeable and with a very unpredictable ending that you don't see coming, Those two things combine to make a fantastic mystery. Definitely a top 10 Poirot novel for me.

It is Christmas 1938, as our fussy Belgian sleuth is aghast at the thought of a broken furnace in his posh London apartment. Reluctantly accepting creepy tycoon Simeon Lee's invitation for a case (and, yes, Lee's mansion has central heating, as Poirot must be assured), Poirot finds his first impression is correct: his new client is as greedy and despicable as they come. Soon after, with Poirot uneasily present as a witness, the elderly, wheelchair-bound Simeon proceeds to wretchedly enjoy taunting his three sons and their wives, plus an adult granddaughter, about changing his will again and showing off his vaunted South African diamonds. If anything, in the Lee family, hating patriarch Simeon and sponging off his vast wealth go hand in hand. Inevitably, later that night, old Simeon is found brutally murdered in his ransacked, locked study. No surprise, his diamonds have been stolen from the safe. With a household packed with suspects (including a servant or two), Poirot and local cop Sugden have their hands full interrogating the Lee family (none of whom are actually grieving). The question remains: who ingeniously has the perfect alibi while still managing to slip away to viciously murder and rob Simeon before disappearing into thin air. Only some chance clues Poirot puts together reveals the solution (including a very personal motive). Unlike the generally faithful film adaptation starring David Suchet, the original novel doesn't drop broad hints and instead wisely leaves readers guessing until the very end. This is vintage Agatha Christie for the holidays. Rating: 5/5 stars. P.S. For a nice companion piece, look for Christie's short story "Theft of the Royal Ruby." It was then expanded into the novella, "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding," for anyone wanting to share another Yuletide treat with Hercule Poirot.

Vintage Christie, but short on Christmas ambiance and theme; so if that is what you are looking for, I would not recommend this one. That said, the setting is in luxurious Gorston Hall in the English countryside (Longdale, Addlesfield), where the highly dysfunctional Lee family has assembled for one last family holiday with their patriarch and tormentor, Simeon Lee, a despicable, decaying curmudgeon of a once vital man, who takes finds his ultimate pleasure in creating turmoil among his offspring, granddaughter, and son of his ex-business partner, who are also guests at Gorston Hall for the holidays. The family fortune was built on the South African diamond mining trade, and Simeon has hoarded a collection of uncut stones worth a considerable amount in his personal safe at Gorston Hall. These stones mysteriously disappear at the same time the old man is violently murdered in his bedroom. Of course, each of the family members have their own reason for wanting Simeon dead, but you have to entertain the idea of an "outsider" or possibly a thief harbored in the rather dubious domestic staff at Gorston Hall. As with all of Christie's works, there is no shortage of suspects and motives, but the incredible Hercule Poirot, will make short work of that list. He happens to be visiting his friend the Chief Constable of Middleshire, Colonel Johnson, for the holidays, and is asked by his friend and the Superintendent of Police, Mr. Sugden, to help work the case. The rich, descriptive detail is exquisite throughout the story in setting and character development, an ornate baroque tapestry of language, nuance, and subtle plot lines. Christie and Poirot never disappoint. Published by William Morrow, An Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers Previously released as: Murder for Christmas / Holiday for Murder also available from Harper Audio and Harper Collins e-books