Thursday, October 9, 2014

BLOG TOUR: Agatha Christie's The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah

Title: The Monogram Murders
Author: Sophie Hannah as Agatha Christie 
Genre: Mystery Fiction
Publisher: William Morrow
Release Date: Sept 9/2014
Acquired: Print copy sent by Publisher
Goodreads: ADD

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Since the publication of her first novel in 1920, more than two billion copies of Agatha Christie’s books have been sold around the globe. Now, for the first time ever, the guardians of her legacy have approved a brand new novel featuring Dame Agatha’s most beloved creation, Hercule Poirot.

‘I’m a dead woman, or I shall be soon…’

Hercule Poirot's quiet supper in a London coffeehouse is interrupted when a young woman confides to him that she is about to be murdered. She is terrified – but begs Poirot not to find and punish her killer. Once she is dead, she insists, justice will have been done.

Later that night, Poirot learns that three guests at a fashionable London Hotel have been murdered, and a cufflink has been placed in each one’s mouth. Could there be a connection with the frightened woman? While Poirot struggles to put together the bizarre pieces of the puzzle, the murderer prepares another hotel bedroom for a fourth victim...

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Confession #1: I have never, in my entire existence, read, sat next to, or lingered near an Agatha Christie book. Although, I have in my possession ONE Sophie Hannah novel (that I haven't read yet). Confession #2: I didn't like this book. Confession #3: I have nothing to compare The Monogram Murders to, a.k.a. I have no idea if this book was written in true Christie form. Confession #4: I still didn't like this book.

Three people are murdered at a snazzy local hotel. The killer is still at large. Or are they? Hercule Poirot, and his Watson-esque sidekick, Catchpool, set out on a slightly convoluted goose chase to gather facts and rule out suspects. They get THISCLOSE to figuring it out, and BAM! Wrenches are thrown in. Truths are revealed to be lies. Who possessed the greater motive for murder? It won't be who you think it is, but Hercule and Catchpool will spend about 20+ pages at the end telling you who it was, and why.

I didn't dislike the entire thing. I actually quite enjoyed the first 3/4 of The Monogram Murders. I was following along rather excitedly with the age-old puzzle of "find the murderer." I wasn't particularly drawn to the slow pace or even the quirks of the beloved Hercule Poirot, but Hannah kept me engrossed right up until she exploded into what felt like a three-week long reveal. It was excruciating, and not even the kind that's worth it in the end. That's not to say that her writing wasn't up to par, because there was a flow that existed in the narrative that seriously held my attention. It just got lost after that point, and I found myself glazing over whole paragraphs, and at times, even skipping pages.

The Monogram Murders was my very first foray into "author resurrecting author", and to say that I disapprove of the idea is unfair, because I don't. I feel as though I should have at least read a classic Christie novel before diving into this one, however, that may have also made things worse. For what it's worth, the characters in The Monogram Murders were distinct and cleverly placed to create an air of mystery, and intrigue. I admit that I enjoyed the side characters a hell of a lot more than the two main ones, and wish that we got to hear more from the likes of Fee Spring, or even Dorcas the maid. This novel had potential, but sadly, fell horribly short in the end.


Read if you like:
Sherlock Holmes, Mystery, Crime/Detective fiction, Historical Fiction.


Challenges: 


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CLICK HERE to read more about one of the most iconic authors of all time.













CLICK HERE to read more about Sophie on her website.



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Thank-you to Trish from TLC Book Tours for hosting this tour, and to William Morrow for sending me a print ARC to review! CLICK HERE to follow the rest of the tour

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts as part of the tour.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well what do you have in mind? You are getting me excited! 🙂 🙂 🙂
    https://www.fiverr.com/studentfirst34/design-luxury-initial-letters-logo-monogram-copyrights

    ReplyDelete

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