"The Last Death of the Year" by Sophie Hannah

 

"The Last Death of the Year" by Sophie Hannah is the sixth book in her new Hercule Poirot Mysteries, and by far the best of them. Yes, I have read them all. As a devoted Agatha Christie fan, I couldn't resist this new addition to the series.

Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool are back in a complex murder investigation that takes place on a Greek island. The time is New Year’s Eve, 1932. Poirot and Catchpool from Scotland Yard arrive on the tiny island of Lamperos, supposedly for a vacation among the eccentric locals living at the House of Perpetual Welcome.

Soon, Catchpool begins to suspect Poirot had another reason for inviting him. During a New Year’s Resolutions party, one written note—threatening to perform “the last and first death of the year”—overshadows the holiday spirit. The tension escalates when, only hours later, one of the residents is found dead on the terrace. The pair must find the culprit to ensure the first murder will indeed be the last

I enjoyed the book immensely. Although it pays homage to Christie and has shades of the Dame herself, it is not Agatha Christie—admittedly, those are very difficult shoes to fill. That doesn’t mean the book isn’t good. It’s suspenseful and fun, just not Christie. Once I stopped treating it as such, I enjoyed it even more.

The writing is tight, and the book conveys a suspenseful atmosphere as well as the detective’s methodical way of investigating and solving problems. I didn’t foresee the twists, and the mix of deceptions and red herrings kept me engaged throughout.

The plot unfolds at a slow pace, as befits a detective story. Not all the cards are revealed, and not all the moves are clear in advance. Unfortunately, Catchpool isn’t Captain Arthur Hastings. He is more needy, lacks confidence, and despite being a Scotland Yard detective, is less brilliant, continually requiring Poirot’s guidance. Still, I liked him.

Overall, I loved the book and highly recommend it to fans of Agatha Christie or simply fans of an excellent mystery. It may not be quite the original, but it comes very close. Sophie Hannah manages to capture Poirot’s mannerisms and deliver an intriguing tale while doing so. I can't wait for the next installment in the series!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Last Death of the Year" by Sophie Hannah