The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah, Agatha Christie

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The Monogram Murders
by Sophie Hannah
character created by Agatha Christie
(Audio)

When I saw that there was a new Hercule Poirot book out, I was skeptical. Hercule is my favorite fictional detective (even more than Sherlock) and I'm inwardly protective of them. I wasn't sure I wanted him written by someone else. But I stumbled upon the audiobook at the library and gave it a chance. I'm SO GLAD I DID! It was like Hercule was alive again. And the mystery was just as detailed and complex as I would expect from an Agatha Christie novel. Well done, Sophie. Well done!

Poirot is taking dinner in a cafe when in rushes in a young woman in danger. She insists she cannot be helped and runs out. Not long after, three bodies are found at a hotel on the other side of London, monogrammed cufflinks stuffed into their mouths. And so begins the who dunnit. Poirot, though retired, is on the case!

I enjoyed every second of the book, but of course I tried to solve the murder as well. By chapter 3, I was pretty sure I had it figured out. I didn't know why, but I knew how. And everything that happened afterward supported my theory. I was thrilled. Then came time for a big reveal and a character told exactly how it happened. I had it about 70% correct, which is HUGE for me. I'm not good at mysteries. So I might have been dancing in my seat a bit. I got it right! I got it right! Then Hercule turns to the Scotland Yard detective he is working with and says that the entire story is false, naturally. UGH. I can't win! LOL I had it very wrong. But this was indicative of how complex the mystery is. Layer upon layer, details circling around each other. I thought it was one of the best mysteries I'd ever had the pleasure of reading.

And the gentleman who read the audio book was AMAZING at accents. He had them down. I enjoyed every second of this book and constantly wanted to get in my car just so that I could read more.