One of the most popular and enduring characters in detective fiction is Hercule Poirot, the Belgian sleuth created by Agatha Christie.
What makes him so appealing to readers? Perhaps it is his eccentric personality, his sharp mind, or his distinctive appearance. Poirot is a master of logic and deduction, who can solve the most baffling mysteries with his “little gray cells”. He is also a man of impeccable manners, refined taste, and obsessive neatness. With a flair for drama and a knack for disguising himself, Poirot is a unique and unforgettable character, who has entertained and intrigued millions of fans for almost a century.
When Agatha Christie passed away at the age of 86 in 1976, the literary world and the character’s legion of fans lost any possibility of new Poirot adventures. Now this has changed.
A murder mystery author has been asked to pen a new Poirot novel. Crime writer and poet Sophie Hannah, from Cambridge, said she was a “superfan” of the prolific author, Agatha Christie and now feels she is “a sidekick” of the Belgian super sleuth.
The book, called “Hercule Poirot Silent Night” takes place in December 19, 1931, and Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool are looking forward to a much-needed, restful Christmas holiday, but instead they are called upon to investigate the murder of a man in a Norfolk hospital ward. Cynthia Catchpool, Edward’s mother, insists that Poirot stay with her in a crumbling mansion by the coast, so that they can all be together for the festive period while he solves the case. How the legendary detective uses his “little gray cells” to reveal the culprit unfolds over the next few days.
“I don’t think anyone can really step into her shoes, she will always be the reigning queen of crime,” Hannah said of the famous author. “But what I saw my job as being was to create new challenging, exciting, fascinating mystery puzzles for Hercule Poirot to solve.”
The opportunity to write the novel came during a meeting between Ms. Hannah’s literary agent and publishers Harper Collins, when her name was suggested.
Before she wrote crime fiction, Sophie Hannah wrote poetry. “She can’t create mystery puzzles for him to solve anymore and he does love to show off his little gray cells so I try to tax him to the maximum,” she says.
