Category: Mystery & Suspense

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Books & Novels Movies & Television (Books) Mystery & Suspense Sherlock Holmes-Related

SHERLOCK ON SCREEN: THE COMPLETE FILM AND TELEVISION HISTORY, 3rd Edition (Sherlock Holmes)

Written by Alan Barnes

SUMMARY:

Published by Titans Books in 2011, this revised 320-page third-edition paperback analyzes virtually every Holmes film and TV program ever produced in alphabetical order.  British author Alan Barnes provides basic credits; cast lists; and synopses.  When feasible, the author breaks a synopsis into: “The Mystery” (the basic set-up); “The Investigation” (self-explanatory); and “The Solution” (again, self-explanatory).  For the various TV series (including a Russian adaptation), the individual episode titles and casting appear first before Barnes analyzes the series in general and citing certain episodes as necessary.  For visual reference, a related film still or photo is included on most pages. 

REVIEW:

To Barnes’ credit, his analyses are balanced, though the BBC’s Sherlock receives some predictably gushing attention.  Occasionally, some undemanding projects, like Tom & Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes, receive his literary eye-roll.  Still, Barnes offers plenty of compelling history re: how the visual interpretation of Holmes has varied, whether it is by different countries or different producers, either seeking to celebrate Conan Doyle’s creation or, more likely, for a reliable payday.       

The best element of the book is how so many screen Sherlocks (Basil Rathbone; Jeremy Brett; Peter Cushing; Benedict Cumberbatch; Robert Downey Jr.; Arthur Wontner; Eille Norwood, etc.) have been incorporated into one guide.  Further, for additional actors: i.e. Douglas Wilmer, Christopher Lee, John Neville, H.A. Saintsbury, William Gillette, and even John Barrymore, it proves an intriguing read exploring how their films or TV series came into existence, even if many been lost to time.  Even more so is the fascinating information re: the silent film era, going back to the start of the 20th Century when Conan Doyle’s legal copyright was hardly obliged.

The only weakness is that this book lacks an index (even for the major players involved), which would have been helpful.  Still, for any amateur Holmes historian, this insightful reference guide proves a must-have.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

Sherlock co-creator Steven Moffat provides a two-page foreword.  In addition to acknowledgments, the author includes a brief introduction / author’s note explaining his terminology.  There is also a four-page appendix re: synopses of lost European silent films from a century ago that were at least inspired by the Holmes phenomenon.  The book’s last section is a five-page chronology (1887-2010) of historical events impacting Holmes’ publishing and film history.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                               10 Stars

Categories
Books & Novels Children's Books Mystery & Suspense

THE THREE INVESTIGATORS # 1: SECRET OF TERROR CASTLE

Written by Robert Arthur & Illustrated by Harry Kane

Cover Art by Stephen Marchesi

SUMMARY:

First published in 1964 by Random House, this 179-page paperback reprint from 1978 launches The Three Investigators. 

Per the series’ original formula, a fictionalized Alfred Hitchcock begrudgingly introduces this tale.  In Rocky Beach, precocious Southern California middle schoolers: brainy Jupiter Jones, athletic Pete Crenshaw, and bespectacled researcher Bob Andrews pool their talents and resources into opening their own private detective agency.  From a secret headquarters hidden inside a junkyard owned by Jupiter’s aunt and uncle, the boys ponder how to obtain their first case.

Utilizing temporary use of free limousine service from a contest that he had won, Jupiter and his friends perpetrate a successful scam to contact famed movie director Alfred Hitchcock.  Ever so reluctantly, Hitchcock agrees to let the rookie investigators locate a legitimately haunted house for his next project.  Hidden away in nearby Black Canyon is the ominous Terror Castle, once owned by long-missing and presumed-dead silent film star Stephen Terrill.  Yet, someone or something is willing to go to desperate lengths to thwart the boys from de-haunting Terror Castle.  In the epilogue, as would become a recurring series gimmick, Hitchcock maneuvers the Three Investigators towards their next case. 

Note: A 2010 live-action film, The Secret of Haunted Castle, loosely adapts the Three Investigators’ exploration of Terror Castle.

REVIEW:

In terms of nostalgia, The Secret of Terror Castle is a delightful reminder that fellow sleuths Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and Encyclopedia Brown have worthy competition in The Three Investigators.  While certain elements of this mystery might lose their appeal (i.e. the outdated sketch illustrations), the storytelling charm of Jupiter, Pete, and Bob’s Scooby-Doo-like adventures remains.  The same applies to the peculiar gimmick of incorporating Alfred Hitchcock as an unofficial mentor.  For instance, a brief scene of Jupiter innocently demonstrating his youthful Hitchcock impression to their apoplectic new ‘boss’ is nothing short of a gem.   

Today’s young readers, however, may find this mystery’s unsophisticated details linking it to the mid-1960’s more yawn-inducing than the story really is.  Given a fair chance, Robert Arthur’s haunted house enigma starring Jupiter, Pete, & Bob remains surprisingly well-played.  However, subsequent titles produced in the series (for instance, during the 1980’s) will likely resonate more with today’s kids, in terms of faster-paced entertainment.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There is a table-of-contents and a list of Three Investigators titles up through “The Mystery of the Deadly Double.”

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                       6 Stars

Categories
Books & Novels Children's Books Mystery & Suspense

THE HARDY BOYS # 62: THE APEMAN’S SECRET

Written by Franklin W. Dixon & Illustrated by Leslie Morrill

SUMMARY:

Published in 1980 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. this 184-page mystery paperback has teen detectives Frank and Joe Hardy tangled up in two seemingly unrelated cases.  In one instance, a missing girl, Sue Linwood, is believed to have joined a secretive religious cult.  Or was she abducted by the thuggish Children of Noah? 

The Hardys’ other case pertains to a sudden rash of vandalism and theft-related offenses linked to The Apeman, a popular comic book super-hero, now with his own high-profile TV series.  Could these bizarre costumed Apeman appearances be a misguided publicity stunt, or is there a far more nefarious purpose?  Frank & Joe must work fast to find definitive answers before they become the ruthless culprit’s next target.    

REVIEW:

Clearly inspired by The Incredible Hulk TV series, including some winks at the perennial Marvel Comics-DC Comics rivalry, the Apeman case proves great fun.  The Sue Linwood subplot is relegated to the back-burner amidst the Hardys’ involvement in the Apeman shenanigans.  Despite a growing incentive to find Sue, the Hardys’ repeated clashes with the Children of Noah cult become far more about exposing the cult’s sinister agenda than discovering the girl’s fate.  Hence, Sue’s sub-plot is far too abruptly and conveniently resolved in the finale to be considered a fair resolution.    

Also, the author’s repetitive references to the Hardys’ pal, Chet, as i.e. “chubby,” “rotund,” etc. weakens whatever scenes Chet participates in.  Describing Chet’s appearance once would have been sufficient, especially as illustrator Leslie Morrill’s black-and-white sketches competently fill in any visual gaps. 

Finally, where this book falls flat is its contrived crossover between the two mysteries.  Though such clichés are expected for this particular genre, the bland links the Hardys establish between these two cases make for forgettable reading.  Even if it doesn’t age particularly well, The Apeman’s Secret remains a decent find for Hardy Boys fans.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

None.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                             5 Stars

Categories
Books & Novels Mystery & Suspense

BRIT IN THE FBI # 1: THE FINAL CUT

Written by Catherine Coulter & J.T. Ellison

SUMMARY:

First published as a 2013 hardcover, the 510-page paperback edition was released in 2014 by Jove Books for the Berkley Publishing Group.  Spinning off Catherine Coulter’s ‘An FBI Thriller’ series, The Final Cut is the first ‘Brit in the FBI.’ 

On loan from the British royal family is the fabled Koh-i-Noor diamond to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art for a high-profile gala exhibit.  The homicide of Scotland Yard’s project liaison, Elaine York, sends a grieving Detective Chief Inspector Nicholas Drummond overseas to work with the FBI Special Agents Savich, Sherlock, and Houston, among others. 

Drummond’s temporary partner is FBI Special Agent Michaela “Mike” Caine.  Still, the squad’s combined efforts can’t thwart the Koh-i-Noor’s subsequent theft during a gala reception by the enigmatic Kitsune, aka ‘The Fox,’ who has spent two years engineering this elaborate heist.  Her nefarious client, Saleem Lanighan, seeks all three portions of the cursed diamond for a personal motive.

Pursuing the elusive Kitsune to Switzerland and later Paris, Drummond & Caine are moving targets for a white-haired assassin –  aka ‘The Ghost,’ and other heavily-armed henchmen.  In a cat-and-mouse game, the elusive Kitsune senses that Drummond and his FBI allies are closing in.  Possession of the Koh-i-Noor ignites an inferno of high-stakes deception and murder, as an exhausted Drummond & Caine seek fitting justice for their fallen colleague.

REVIEW:

If it were a movie, The Final Cut would be cinematic dynamite.  Hollywood could gloss over a litany of contrived plot twists that co-authors Coulter & Ellison overload this James Bond/Jason Bourne-style caper with.  Foremost is their British super-cop, as he is too often compared by his colleagues to Bond.  An amalgam of Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan, Drummond (distantly related to British nobility, no less) comes off impossibly perfect at age 31 to be an ex-spy, expert computer hacker, top-caliber marksman & hand-to-hand combatant, SWAT commando, etc. 

Another absurdly convenient element re: the relentless Drummond is that the museum’s chief security pro is his own American uncle.  Somehow, Drummond ideally fits The Final Cut, as FBI Special Agents Mike Caine, Ben Houston, Lacey Sherlock & Dillon Savich ensure that he shines above them.  Other characters: Lanighan, the enigmatic Mulvaney, and especially enigmatic Kitsune make contributions enhancing the plot, though there isn’t much originality to them.

Combining a classy FBI procedural with Daniel Craig’s brand of hyperactive James Bond action, Coulter & Ellison make The Final Cut well worth the ride.  Readers should just expect to shrug off some preposterous speed bumps on the way.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

There is a page-and-half of critical raves re: The Final Cut.  Along with an ‘Author’s Note,’ the co-authors briefly describe the real Koh-i-Noor’s backstory.  A twelve-page excerpt (from Chapters 1-2) preview Drummond & Caine’s next case: The Lost Key. 

Ads for Coulter’s books include a full-page ad plug for Savich & Sherlock’s FBI thriller, Split Second.  The back inside cover has brief author capsules. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:               7½ Stars

Categories
Books & Novels Children's Books Mystery & Suspense

CHASING VERMEER

Written by Blue Ballett

Illustrated by Brett Helquist & Cover Design by Marijka Kostiw

SUMMARY:

Scholastic Inc. published this 254-page mystery paperback in 2005.  Chicago middle school students Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay, who don’t hang out with each other too much, are brought together by a string of strange incidents.  Soon afterwards, a priceless Vermeer painting is mysteriously stolen.  Petra & Calder team up to find assorted clues around town.  Calder’s best friend, Froggie, disappears and can only send messages that must be decoded.  It’s up to these two kids to solve a baffling crime by deducing hints in this book’s illustrations.

REVIEW:

If you enjoy the subject matter, it’s a great time reading this book.  This reviewer’s advice is to find the three people in the book, who each have a letter.  Clearly, this book is meant for ages 10 and up.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The author provides acknowledgements and an illustrated story map key.  The author further explains what pentominoes and how the illustrator has included a hidden message for readers.  The interactive After Words feature consists of: short biographies and questions-and-answers of the author and illustrator; “Create Your Own Secret Code;” “Make Your Own Pentominoes;” Brett Helquist’s “How I Draw;” a “What is It?” game; “Ways of Seeing” offers tips on appreciating artwork; and “Chasing Down a Vermeer” offers advice on seeking out his paintings.  The author ends with a nine-page preview of Chasing Vermeer’s sequel: The Wright 3. 

JAYNA’S ODD MOON RATING:                           7½ Stars

Categories
Agatha Christie-Related Anthologies Books & Novels Mystery & Suspense

THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHRISTMAS PUDDING (HERCULE POIROT & MISS MARPLE)

Written by Agatha Christie

SUMMARY:

First printed in 1960, this 363-page HarperCollins Books softcover edition was released in 2002.  It consists of five Hercule Poirot mysteries and a Miss Marple whodunnit.  These stories are:

  • “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (AKA “Theft of the Royal Ruby”): Poirot nimbly traces a foreign royal gem’s theft to a secluded English country home during the holidays.  Murder may be one of the entrees served up with the turkey and a traditional British Christmas pudding.    
  • “The Mystery of the Spanish Chest:” Poirot investigates a ghoulish, high-profile homicide after someone is found stabbed to death inside a decorative living room chest the morning after a dinner party.
  • “The Under Dog:” A grouchy British entrepreneur’s homicide in his private study necessitates Poirot moving into the victim’s posh family home for an extended period.
  • “Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds:” An odd change in an elderly recluse’s dinner routine incurs Poirot’s suspicions when the man soon turns up dead. 
  • “The Dream:” Eccentric industrialist Benedict Farley confides in Poirot that he is haunted by a recurring dream foreshadowing his violent suicide.  The Belgian sleuth seeks the disturbing truth.
  • “Greenshaw’s Folly:” Katherine Greenshaw, the middle-aged heiress of a garish English country home, suffers a brutal demise.  Perhaps only Miss Jane Marple can direct the police to the culprit behind this cold-blooded murder.

Notes: “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding” expands and considerably improves Christie’s 1923 short story, “Christmas Adventure.”  “The Mystery of the Spanish Chest,” is a later alternate version of “The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest.”

REVIEW:

There’s no argument that this compilation presents vintage Christie.  Its strongest entry is the title story, as Poirot’s Christmas jewel caper is a sheer delight.  In impressive fashion, this smartly-reworked novella of an obscure 1920’s Poirot tale generically dubbed “Christmas Adventure” nails every component of effective storytelling.  Far more on the macabre side, “The Mystery of The Spanish Chest” and “The Dream” also rank among Poirot’s gems.  Miss Marple’s presence in “Greenshaw’s Folly” is convincingly conveyed re: how she could unravel a baffling case based on second-hand observations.  The other two Poirot tales deliver some entertainment, but they also reflect the book’s minor weaknesses. 

First, a recycled plot device shared between “Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds” and “The Dream” is evident.  It’s inexplicable as to why the publisher included both stories (back to back, no less), if only perhaps to catch readers off-guard.  Without divulging spoilers, the culprit’s gimmick works better in “The Dream,” though David Suchet’s TV adaptation tweaks “Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds” enough to make its plot almost equally as plausible. 

The other problem are contrived solutions plaguing “The Under Dog” and “Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds.”  While “Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds” underwhelms with Poirot’s casual approach of the culprit with a workable theory, the “Under Dog” novella is a head-shaking disappointment.  After a prolonged hundred pages, a killer’s unconvincing breakdown under mild scrutiny shouldn’t qualify as a satisfying finish.  Forcing Poirot to improvise due to a lack of evidence is fine, but Christie’s finish for “The Under Dog” seems plain lazy by her usually pristine standards.

As a Poirot novella showcase, The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is old-school British mystery fiction that completes a reader’s relaxing wintry evening by the fireplace.  What’s even better is that a large font size makes this book an easy task for one’s eyes.    

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

The table of contents is followed by Christie’s fun two-page foreword.  A single-page Christie biography is also included.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                            8 Stars

Categories
Agatha Christie-Related Anthologies Books & Novels Mystery & Suspense

THE GOLDEN BALL AND OTHER STORIES

Written by Agatha Christie

SUMMARY:

First printed in 1971 by a different publisher, this 231-page Berkley Books paperback edition was released in 1986.  Fifteen of Agatha Christie’s short stories set in London dating as far back as 1924 are compiled.  These mostly non-mysteries are:

  • “The Listerdale Mystery:” Struggling single mother Mrs. St. Vincent, and her two teenagers, Barbara and Rupert, are baffled by the exceedingly affordable rent of their new home.  There’s also the matter of their enigmatic butler.
  • “The Girl in the Train:” Gloriously self-involved elitist George Rowland stumbles into a peculiar spy caper at the behest of a beautiful mystery girl he meets aboard a train.
  • “The Manhood of Edward Robinson:” Hen-pecked, blue-collar fiancé Edward Robinson finds mistaken identity and romantic adventure await him on Christmas Eve.
  • “Jane in Search of a Job:” Feisty, out-of-work Jane Cleveland accepts a temporary job for an unlikely employer.   
  • “A Fruitful Sunday:” A young couple finds a curious surprise in a cherry basket purchased for their afternoon date.
  • “The Golden Ball:” Another self-absorbed George (this one is George Dundas) takes a wild ride with bubbly society girl Mary Montresor.   
  • “The Rajah’s Emerald:”  Short of cash, blue-collar James Bond (no, he’s not a secret agent) jealously yearns to join the beachside fun that his girlfriend, Grace, is freely enjoying.  Yet, the recent theft of a fabulous emerald may land this Bond in a far greater predicament.
  • “Swan Song:” Famed opera diva Paula Nazorkoff’s last performance screams murder.
  • “The Hound of Death:” A Belgian nun’s reputed supernatural prophecies foreshadow destruction.
  • “The Gipsy:” The gothic romances of sisters Esther & Rachel Lawes experience unexpected twists.
  • “The Lamp:” The young Lancaster clan realize that their new home may be haunted.
  • “The Strange Case of Sir Andrew Carmichael:” Two medical professionals investigate a young man’s bizarre memory loss.  Note: Oddly, this story is mistitled — the character’s name is Arthur Carmichael.
  • “The Call of Wings:” Millionaire Silas Homer’s peculiar epiphany inspires a transformation.
  • “Magnolia Blossom:” An affluent wife’s extra-marital affair tests her allegiances to her husband and her lover.
  • “Next to a Dog:” Destitute Joyce Lambert’s love for her faithful pet dog, Terry, may determine her fate.

REVIEW:

Celebrating Agatha Christie’s non-detective literary talents, The Golden Ball and Other Stories is a book of two halves.  Its first half is buoyed by Christie’s savvy humor, as some hilariously selfish characters make reading an absolute joy.  Of the first seven stories, “The Girl in the Train,” and “The Golden Ball” are delightful parodies of upper-class snobbery. Slow and clichéd, “The Manhood of Edward Robinson” gradually asserts an undeniable charm once the title character is mistaken for a suave thief. 

The other four tales are worthwhile (i.e. “Jane in Search of a Job”) due to Christie’s variations on sympathetic have-nots unexpectedly mingling with higher society.  Christie’s only miss is “A Fruitful Sunday.” Aside from a few funny lines, this middling trifle is hard-pressed to rate more than a single read.  

This collection’s back half takes a decidedly macabre turn with “Swan Song.”  Its fatal vendetta doesn’t deliver jaw-dropping twists, but it’s a worthy sample of Christie’s noir-ish storytelling.  A stretch of four supernatural-themed tales between “The Hound of Death” and “The Strange Case of Sir Andrew Carmichael” explores Christie’s intriguing take on gothic ghost stories.  While “The Gipsy” is an okay read, “The Hound of Death” deserves re-discovery, as it could make an intriguing horror film. 

With the spooky “Lamp,” Christie’s ‘haunted house’ holds up well in the genre by letting her readers make the necessary inferences.  However, one should be forewarned that “Andrew Carmichael” repeatedly plays up a racist Asian caricature.  Christie’s creative misjudgment ruins this sinister tale’s ambiance. 

The final three entries are a mixed bag.  One might construe “The Call of Wings” as reminiscent of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” without the holiday season.  Its ethereal hints are well-played, as readers might ponder what actually causes Silas Homer’s attitude shift.  Is it his conscience?  Or could perhaps outside forces be influencing him?  Either way, this tale is among the book’s underrated winners, along with the charmingly low-key “Listerdale Mystery.”   

It’s no contest that the soap opera-ish “Magnolia Blossom” is the collection’s least appealing tale.  Re: its theme of upper-class marital discord, the sole glimmer depicts a pivotal character finally displaying an ounce of dignity.  Otherwise, its dubious love triangle merely wastes a reader’s time.  The poignant “Next to a Dog,” unfortunately, is really more a ‘what-if.’  Had Christie had hinted that a tragic demise was more willful rather than accidental, then this tear-jerker might have met its full potential vs. settling for a conventional finish. 

Amply displaying her literary range, Christie’s Golden Ball and Other Stories should appeal to both her loyal fanbase and casual readers alike.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

None.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                         7 Stars

Categories
Agatha Christie-Related Books & Novels Mystery & Suspense

HERCULE POIROT: CURTAIN

Written by Agatha Christie

SUMMARY:

First published in 1975, this 280-page Pocket Books paperback was released the following year.  Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s legendary exploits come full circle, as this series finale is a sequel to his first novel: 1920’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles.  Curtain’s nebulous time frame is set roughly 25-30 years later (in post-World War II England).  A widowed Capt. Arthur Hastings poignantly narrates Poirot’s last case deploying his indomitable ‘little grey cells.’     

Residing at a dilapidated Styles Court, a sickly Poirot summons his best friend, Hastings, to go ‘hunting’ with him one final time.  The elderly Belgian sleuth reveals to his former associate that an elusive culprit dubbed ‘X’ has committed at least five murders.  Refusing to divulge the killer’s name, Poirot enigmatically warns that ‘X’ is lurking among them. 

As Styles is now a summer holiday retreat, the current guests include: Dr. and Mrs. John & Barbara Franklin; the Franklins’ Nurse Craven; Sir William Boyd-Carrington; Major Allerton; Stephen Norton; Elizabeth Cole; Poirot’s new valet, Curtiss; and Hastings’ adult daughter, Judith.  A doddering Col. and Mrs. George & Daisy Luttrell are their hosts. 

Distracted by his own personal conflict, Hastings gradually realizes that this invisible ‘X’ isn’t settling for just one more victim.  Could Poirot himself be ‘X’’s ultimate target?  It’s up to a baffled Hastings to decipher the shocking truth in time.

Note: Christie wrote Curtain during World War II, but she kept it locked up for over thirty years.

REVIEW:

While this ingenious mystery isn’t necessarily Agatha Christie’s finest effort, it still far surpasses her mediocre last few novels.  More so, the title’s clever double-meaning signifies the classic style of mystery that Christie imbues Poirot’s final case.  Considering how their long-established personalities are plausibly expanded, long-time fans of the Poirot/Hastings dynamic won’t likely be disappointed.  Hastings, in particular, has never been better.  The same even applies to his off-screen spouse’s posthumous role, as readers at last get a better sense of his decades-long marriage.  Further, as the Poirot novels are generally self-contained, sporadic references to some of Poirot & Hastings’ previous cases (i.e. Murder on the Links; The Mysterious Affair at Styles; etc.) subtly adds another element of finality. 

As with And Then There Were None, Christie’s postscript spells out everything, so every peripheral detail finally makes sense.  In that regard, all the clues really are fair game.  Completing this jigsaw puzzle, some classic literary allusions by Christie enhance the ‘big reveal’ dynamite.  Bittersweet in a number of ways, Curtain remains the gold standard for literary mystery series finales.  Even for non-fans, it’s a high-caliber read. 

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

None. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        9 Stars

Categories
Agatha Christie-Related Books & Novels Mystery & Suspense

HERCULE POIROT: CLOSED CASKET

Written by Sophie Hannah

SUMMARY:

In 2016, HarperCollins released Sophie Hannah’s 299-page Closed Casket – it’s her sequel to 2014’s The Monogram Murders.  In mid-October 1929, several long months have elapsed since the lurid events of The Monogram Murders. 

Humiliated Scotland Yard detective Edward Catchpool has distanced himself from an oblivious Poirot upon suffering media ridicule for his perceived incompetence.  Per an unexpected invitation, Catchpool visits the posh Irish country estate, Lillieoak, belonging to famed children’s mystery author Athelinda Playford (it’s easy to visualize actress Judi Dench).  To Catchpool’s chagrin, Poirot is among the other guests, as are two of Lady Playford’s personal attorneys. 

Upon meeting Lillieoak’s staff and the deplorable Playford heirs, Poirot and Catchpool wonder why they were summoned to help keep the peace.  Deploying a reluctant Catchpool as his partner, Poirot senses that someone’s life is indeed threatened.  At dinner, a surprise announcement modifying Lady Athelinda’s substantial will sends the egotistical household into instant turmoil. 

By morning, a fatal poisoning is discovered, as the victim’s head has also been savagely bashed to a bloody pulp for good measure.  While the Irish police heavy-handedly conduct the official investigation, Catchpool & Poirot discreetly analyze the Playford household.  A calculated web of deception, blackmail, and murder dating back several years may be the culprit’s trump card to elude justice.         

REVIEW:

It’s a far cry from Agatha Christie’s Poirot in his prime. For this English parlor mystery, author Sophie Hannah’s second Poirot is at best mediocre.

For instance, two insipid Playford heirs and their significant others are depicted as such wealthy, self-absorbed snobs that these walking clichés carry virtually zero credibility by the novel’s end.  Hence, readers may be hard-pressed to find a plausible suspect in spite of Hannah’s improved take on Poirot after The Monogram Murders.  Catchpool’s world-weary narrative and Playford attorney Michael Gathercole’s calm professionalism come the closest in terms of some semblance of reality. 

What extinguishes any faint glimmer of a satisfying read is Hannah’s crummy excuse for a finale.  Once re-assembled, Poirot, Catchpool, and their suspects discuss the ghastly murder, with a calm demeanor reminiscent of a book club meeting.  The ‘big reveal’ re: an impatient killer’s motive is utterly unconvincing, much like the culprit’s fate.  Even worse is a failure to adequately address the severity of the gruesome post-death clubbing, let alone hold someone accountable.  Incredibly, the only regret expressed pertains to a blood-stained suspect’s ruined outfit. 

To Hannah’s credit, she percolates a few good sequences (typically involving either Catchpool or Gathercole), including a well-played last few pages.  The epilogue, ironically, is the novel’s best scene, if only to signal that this travesty is finally over.  Sabotaged by a shallow plot and weak characterizations, Closed Casket deteriorates fast in comparison to the merely convoluted Monogram Murders.        

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

A full-page stylishly diagraming Lillieoak’s ground floor and first floor is included.  Two pages are dedicated to Hannah’s acknowledgments.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                               2 Stars

Categories
Agatha Christie-Related Books & Novels Mystery & Suspense

HERCULE POIROT: DEATH IN THE CLOUDS

Written by Agatha Christie

SUMMARY:

Also known by its alternate title, Death in the Air, this Hercule Poirot mystery was first published in 1935. The 230-page Berkley reprint (as seen below) was released in mid-1984.  During a routine noon flight from France to England aboard the commuter airplane, Prometheus, eleven passengers and two stewards inhabit its rear compartment. 

Amongst the travelers, there are French father-and-son archaeologists; a businessman, a mystery novelist; a physician; a dentist; a hairstylist; two British socialites; a money lender; and a snoozing Hercule Poirot.  Yet, one of these commuters is discreetly murdered by the time the Prometheus reaches its destination.  The audacious method is evidently a poisoned dart from a blowgun.

Teaming with Scotland Yard’s Inspector Japp and his French counterpart: the Sûreté’s Fournier, Poirot gets to work deciphering who conjured up the opportunity and resources to pull off this homicidal stunt.  After recruiting two fellow passengers for assistance, the Belgian sleuth best hurry finding vital answers before a remorseless killer strikes again. 

REVIEW:

Aside from the convenience of inserting him as one of the crime’s witnesses, Death in the Clouds is middle-of-the-pack Poirot.  This enigma’s solution is neither jaw-droppingly ingenious, nor will it leave readers contemplating its standard-issue plot afterwards. 

Yet, Death is competently designed, as the audience waiting late in the game for certain story elements (no matter how contrived) to fall into place, won’t come away disappointed.  The solution is somewhat outlandish, but there’s enough dangling clues to still make it fair game for astute readers.  Poirot’s smooth chemistry with hairstylist Jane Grey, Inspector Fournier, and the reliable Japp further contributes to an enjoyable read.

While the author’s preoccupation with archaeology grows tiresome here, at least Death in the Clouds doesn’t mingle in overtly racist overtones, unlike various other Christie works.  Ironically, this time she mocks stereotypical British xenophobia towards distrusting foreigners, with the Belgian-born Poirot bearing the brunt early on.  Her inclusion of snobbish bigotry doesn’t add much to this storyline, but Poirot’s plausible deductions make up much of the difference. 

For travel, work breaks, or bedtime, Death in the Clouds provides an ideal option.  Though not a top-tier Poirot mystery, this undemanding Christie novel serves its purpose well enough.   

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

The first page is a possibly helpful diagram of the Prometheus’ rear compartment seating arrangement.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                       5½ Stars