Hercule Poirot's Christmas

You know how everyone this time of year always jokes about killing their relatives? (Everyone does this, right? If not, my friends need counseling.) Well, some people are not joking about this. Case in point: Cantankerous millionaire Simeon Lee relishes terrorizing his estranged family over the holidays - he browbeats his sons, insults his daughters-in-law, and plays mind games with his relatives. Little wonder he turns up with his throat cut on Christmas Eve. Nobody is really sad to see the old man go, but who exactly is to blame? It is up to the eccentric, legendary Belgian detective Hercule Poirot to solve this mystery.

I adore Agatha Christie mysteries! It's been some time since I read one of Dame Agatha's novels and I needed something suitably festive, so Hercule Poirot's Christmas nicely fit each category. If you're not familiar with Agatha Christie books, I offer this disclaimer: Do not read these books expecting a realistic depiction of police investigations. If you want a precise description of forensics, you will have to go elsewhere, my friend. But if you're looking for an amusing, witty brainteaser, then Agatha fits the bill nicely. With that being said, I will proceed with my review.

I think Hercule Poirot's Christmas is one of Christie's better books. The crime is one of her more savage ones (though in typical Christie style, the murder is not portrayed graphically) and the mystery is first-rate. The identity of the killer will have you guessing to the very end. Even the some of the more technical aspects of Christie's murder mysteries may not be as specific as more modern novels, Christie's books work because she possesses an acute understanding of the human mind. Her characters are believable and that adds a touch of realism that many mystery writers who focus on dry technical detail often lack. Furthermore, although Christie relies on characters types over complex characterizations (such as the crotchety old man, the mild mannered Englishman, the doting wife, the roguish adventurer), Christie writes these characters so well, that the lack of deeper characters is not an issue. If you've read enough Agatha Christie novels, you start to recognize these character types, and they seem like old friends. I believe that Christie is at her best when she's portraying domestic life gone awry, and that's true for Hercule Poirot's Christmas as well. The dysfunctional dynamics of the Lee family are both authentic and darkly funny.

My only problem with this novel is the opening chapter (in which the novel's premise is set out) seemed a bit artificial to me. I know that Agatha was trying to introduce the family and their contentious history, but some of the dialogue seemed too staged to me. I found it hard to believe that these relatives would need to explain the background of the family to each other so extensively after twenty years of feuding. It's a small issue though and didn't lessen my enjoyment of the novel.

Need a fun-filled diversion this holiday season? Try Hercule Poirot's Christmas. This novel offers a engaging characters, first rate suspense, and a tantalizing mystery that is to die for. Happy holidays and Merry Christmas!

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Next Time: I have been reading a collection of Tennessee Williams' plays and am a bit stumped on what to review next time. It will either be The Glass Menagerie or A Streetcar Named Desire, but I am not sure which. I love both plays, so this is a hard choice. I am leaning more toward The Glass Menagerie, because I enjoy the more subtle aspects of that play, but I find A Streetcar Named Desire more compelling. (Also, the latter was the ticket to stardom for my all-time favorite actor, Marlon Brando. Where would the world of film be without my boy Marlon?) I haven't decided yet, but I should have a review of one of these classic dramas up some time this weekend.

My Ten Favorite Agatha Christie Novels

You may have noticed that I listed Agatha as one of my favorite writers. I love her books! Some readers may knock her books for being convoluted and somewhat inaccurate in their portrayal of police investigations, but these readers are missing Christie's intent. Her mysteries were intended to be fun, brainteasing puzzles, and, at this, they fully succeed. I decided to write my first article on my favorite Agatha Christie novels. I haven't read all of her books (yet!), so I may update this post regularly.

1. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd: This novel's surprise ending is deemed one of the best in mystery writing history. I read it knowing that there is a twist ending and still couldn't solve the case until I reached the end. There's more than just the surprise ending to keep you interested though. Christie was a master of creating delightfully eccentric characters, and she does not fail in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. (Miss Marple fans will note the similarities between the venerable spinster detective and the character Caroline Sheppard. Christie wrote in her autobiography that Miss Marple was inspired by Sheppard.) But the real draw here is the surprise ending. When I finished, it confirmed my belief that Agatha is a diabolical genius!

2. And Then There Were None: This was the first Christie I ever read, and it remains a favorite of mine. The premise (Ten strangers are brought to a remote island. These ten strangers are all accused of committing foul murders by a mysterious voice. The ten strangers then start to die, one by one.) would be ridiculous in the hands of a lesser writer, but Christie pulls this one off beautifully. The characters are all very well-written and the suspense is almost overwhelming. I couldn't put it down!

3. Murder At The Vicarage: The first novel to feature Miss Marple is easily one of the best in that series. The mystery in this one is good, but what really made this enjoyable for me is Christie's witty style. Vicar Leonard Clement's narration is hilarious and a solid cast of delightfully eccentric characters adds to the fun. I laughed all the way through this one.

4. Sad Cypress: I've always felt that Christie is at her best when she's writing mysteries in a domestic setting: Sad Cypress is definite proof. The mystery is a real puzzler, but I was really taken in by the three main characters in this haunting novel: Elinor (who is in love with Roddy), Roddy (who dumps Elinor for Mary), and Mary (who ends up murdered.) And if you don't want to kill Roddy by the end, you're a saint.

5. Sleeping Murder: This was the last book Christie wrote, and it's one of her best. The plot is intriguing: A woman moves to England and buys a home she's never seen. She then begins to suspect that she's living in the same house that she witnessed a murder in as a toddler. The mystery is a fine one, and the main characters, Gwenda and Giles, are quite likable.

6. Death On The Nile: The plot is as old as man: Boy meets girl. Girl loses boy to her best friend. Jilted girl begins jealously stalking boy and her now ex-friend. Someone ends up murdered. This is one of Christie's best mysteries - she keeps you guessing to the very end. The ending, although not as shocking as Roger Ackroyd's, will stun you.

7. Crooked House: This was one of Christie's favorites, for good reason. Crooked House is one of Christie's stand-alone mysteries, and I think it benefits from not featuring Poirot or Miss Marple. The narrator Charles tries to uncover who murdered his girlfriend Sophia's grandfather. Zany characters, a great mystery, and a surprising villain are in store for Charles and the reader.

8. The Body In The Library: A young woman is found dead in a stately home. Nobody knows who she was. Leave it to Miss Marple to unravel the mystery. This mystery is very amusing and cleverly written. This novel also stands out to me for having one of the more callous crimes featured in a Christie book.

9. Ordeal By Innocence: Another excellent Christie standalone novel, Ordeal By Innocence centers on solving the crime after the accused died in prison. A man arrives at the home of Jackie Argyle and claims that Jackie could not of killed his adopted mother, Rachel, because he was with him that night. Instead of being relieved that Jackie is innocent or angry at the stranger for not coming forward sooner, the Argyles are angry that the man would accuse anyone but Jackie. Why? Oh, what a twisted web Christie can weave!

10. The ABC Murders: A serial killer is on the lose, murdering victims with sadistic alphabetic glee (Alice Ascher at Andover, Betty Barnard at Bexhill, Carmichael Clarke at Churston) and taunting Poirot to find him before he strikes again. This crafty killer almost, but not quite, tops the formidable Belgian detective. The ABC Murders is genuinely suspenseful and clever.