In "The Murder on the Links," Hercule Poirot is summoned to France by a man fearing for his life, only to arrive too late as the man is already murdered. The story unfolds with intricate twists and turns as Poirot uses his psychological studies and deduction skills to unravel the mystery, aided by his friend Captain Hastings. The plot is filled with unexpected developments, misdirection, and a complex web of family connections and false identities, keeping readers guessing until the very end.
The book showcases Agatha Christie's developing writing style, with well-drawn characters and a blend of suspense, action, and cleverly laid-out plot twists. Despite some minor flaws like publishing errors in certain editions, the narrative maintains an upbeat tone, fast-paced yet reflective, making it an entertaining read that sets the stage for Christie's trademark formula and style in mystery storytelling.
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Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance, primarily through Hastings's infatuation with a female character, adding a subplot that intertwines with the main mystery.
From The Publisher:
An urgent cry for help brings Poirot to France. But he arrives too late to save his client, whose brutally stabbed body now lies face downwards in a shallow grave on a golf course.
But why is the dead man wearing his son's overcoat? And who was the impassioned love-letter in the pocket for? Before Poirot can answer these questions, the case is turned upside down by the discovery of a second, identically murdered corpse . . .
Ratings (35)
Incredible (4) | |
Loved It (14) | |
Liked It (8) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (57):
Read It (40) | |
Want To Read (12) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (4) |
2 comment(s)
Second book in Poirot Series, and It was as interesting as first. I finished it in a day!
Let me get into the plot. Now Poirot and Hastings are sharing rooms in London and Poirot has taken up detective work privately for a living. Hastings is secretary to some big personality.
The mystery begins when Poirot is called to France when a millionaire Paul Renauld, who writes and asks for an immediate assitance. And when Poirot and Hastings reach the place, the millionaire is already dead!
Paul Renauld was stabbed and had been found dead in a freshly dug grave! His wife bound and gagged in bedroom and Paul was taken by two masked men who threatened to kill if Paul didnt give them the "Secret"! And no one heard a sound at home.
Who killed Paul Renauld ? What is the secret ? Is his wife telling the truth? Is Paul a Womanizer?Is Jack a spoiled son of millionaire?
And who is the second man that was found dead in almost identical way as Paul Renauld ?
It was a great read. I loved it to every inch. Another 5 starrer of this year for me :)
Poirot was an extraordinary-looking little man. He was hardly more than five feet four inches, but carried himself with great dignity. His head was exactly the shape of an egg, and he always perched it a little on one side. His moustache was very stiff and military. The neatness of his attire was almost incredible; I believe a speck of dust would have caused him more pain than a bullet wound. Yet this quaint dandified little man who, I was sorry to see, now limped badly, had been in his time one of the most celebrated members of the Belgian police. As a detective, his flair had been extraordinary, and he had achieved triumphs by unravelling some of the most baffling cases of the day.
Christie, Agatha. Hercule Poirot 3-Book Collection 1: The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Murder on the Links, Poirot Investigates (Kindle Locations 308-313). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.
I love Hercule Poirot. Such a great detective. Such a character. There's always a great mystery with lots of twists and turns and red herrings, all of which keep me riveted. The characters are interesting and have complex motives for their actions. That said, not a huge fan of Hastings. He's too busy being on his high horse to be likable. I've read many Agatha Christie books before but not all and not in order so I'm in the process of commencing a reread. Highly recommend to crime lovers.
In The Murder on the Links, Poirot and Hastings are called to assist a man who later winds up dead and stay on to help solve the murder.
There's love affairs and mistaken identities and lots of intrigue. I had no idea what the hell was going on and it was fantastic. Hastings irritates me with how easily he falls in love - he knows this chick for two seconds and he loves her? Seriously, he met her twice. He's too fickle and it irritates me a lot.
Fantastic.
What can you read after
The Murder on the Links?
About the Author:
Agatha Christie, the acknowledged 'Queen of Crime' (The Observer) was born in Torquay in 1890. During the First World War she worked as a hospital dispenser, and it was here that she gleaned the working knowledge of various poisons that was to prove so useful in her detective stories. Her first novel was The Mysterious Affair at Styles, which introduced Hercule Poirot to the world. This was published in 1920 (although in fact she had written it during the war) and was followed over the next six years by four more detective novels and a short story collection. However, it was not until the publication of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd that Agatha Christie's reputation was firmly established. This novel, with its complex plot and genuinely shocking conclusion, attracted considerable public attention and has since been acknowledged by many experts as a masterpiece. In 1930 the sharp-witted spinster sleuth Miss Marple made her first appearance in The Murder at the Vicarage. In all, Agatha Christie published over 80 novels and short story collections. The brilliance of Christie's plots, and her enduring appeal, have led to several dramatisations of her work on radio, television and film. In 1930 she was one of a number of crime writers asked to contribute a chapter to a mystery, Behind the Screen, that was broadcast on BBC radio on 21st June that year. More recently, June Whitfield portrayed Miss Marple on BBC Radio 4, whilst John Moffat starred as Hercule Poirot. On screen, Peter Ustinov, David Suchet, Margaret Rutherford, Joan Hickson, Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie have all memorably played Agatha Christie's famous sleuths. As her play The Mousetrap (the longest-running play in the history of theatre) testifies, Agatha Christie's detective stories are likely to appeal for a long time to come. Agatha Christie was awarded a CBE in 1956 and was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1971. She died in 1976.
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