Poirot Retrospective #7: Murder on the Links

 

Poirot Retrospective #7: Murder on the Links

This review will be a short one, as this was a pretty straightforward read. Murder on the Links is an interesting, slightly better than middle of the road novel with a good double twist ending. Reminded me strongly of Body in the Library (a Marple mystery).

A man in France writes Poirot for help, but is found dead when Poirot arrives (with Hastings in tow). Things unravel quickly... then they re-ravel... then unravel again, even further.

There are a few really nice moments in this, including Poirot chiding the French detective who comes and vacuums up clues with his nose to the ground, but misses the important stuff: forest for the trees. Or when Hastings has his obligatory run-in with a lovely redhead who bests him time and time again in conversation, leaving him simultaneously muddled and enchanted.

This book was notable (to me) primarily for a shocking moment when Hastings turns on Poirot and tries to prevent him from solving the crime. Poirot, of course, isn't fazed: he saw it coming. But in the moment I was stunned. Another example of Christie turning a book against the reader's expectations effectively.

Finally, the finale here reminded me strongly of a Sherlock Holmes story - not one particular story, necessarily, but all of them, the archetypical Holmes story. It's a quintessential "realization of truth / hurry, to the manor! / dramatic action showdown you are almost too late to fix / sudden explication of the truth" type unfolding.

All said, this is pleasant and a good read but not really exceptional. I think it must be in the public domain because there are tons of $1 copies on Kindle.