HERCULE POIROT'S SILENT NIGHT by Sophie Hannah is the fifth mystery she has written about Agatha
Christie’s intrepid detective, but the first that I have had the pleasure to
read. This novel takes place at an old mansion which is literally about to
crumble into the sea as the cliff it sits upon is eroding. It seems that the
family who lives there is disintegrating, too – there is much animosity between
the two sisters (married to two brothers), their parents, and in-laws. The patriarch
is gravely ill and about to enter hospital, but his wife is certain that he
will be killed after another patient is murdered. Temporary guests Poirot and
his friend, Edward Catchpool, are caught up in the drama and preparations
for Christmas festivities. In fact, many clues emerge as Catchpool unobtrusively
interviews suspects while decorating Christmas trees. The key is past
transgressions and as Poirot notes, “without the determination to keep the
terrible secret at all costs there would have been no motive to commit any
murders at all.” Readers will be surprised and entertained by this holiday-themed
tale.
THE PROOF
OF THE PUDDING by Rhys Bowen is number 17 in the series which features Lady Georgiana Rannoch. It is
exciting that she and her husband are about to have a baby, but this mystery
lacked suspense and the perpetuator and motive were fairly obvious from the
start. Numerous guests attend a fancy dinner party and eat the same food, but a
few become ill and more than one dies.
In order to save the reputation of her chef, Georgie has to figure out
how the murder occurred and greatly benefits from some brainstorming with none
other than Agatha Christie herself (a fellow guest at the exclusive dinner).
Fans of this long-running series will likely enjoy Georgie’s increased
confidence and triumph at entertaining with a French chef; many, however, may
prefer other, more puzzling, cozy mysteries.
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