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After the Funeral: A Hercule Poirot Mystery
Written by Agatha Christie
Narrated by Hugh Fraser
Book Actions
Start Listening- Publisher:
- HarperAudio
- Released:
- Jul 3, 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780062229373
- Format:
- Audiobook
Description
When Cora Lansquenet is savagely murdered with a hatchet, the extraordinary remark she made the previous day at her brother Richard's funeral suddenly takes on a chilling significance. At the reading of Richard's will, Cora was clearly heard to say, "It's been hushed up very nicely, hasn't it. . . . But he was murdered, wasn't he?"
In desperation, the family solicitor turns to Hercule Poirot to unravel the mystery. . . .
This title was previously published as Funerals Are Fatal.
Book Actions
Start ListeningBook Information
After the Funeral: A Hercule Poirot Mystery
Written by Agatha Christie
Narrated by Hugh Fraser
Description
When Cora Lansquenet is savagely murdered with a hatchet, the extraordinary remark she made the previous day at her brother Richard's funeral suddenly takes on a chilling significance. At the reading of Richard's will, Cora was clearly heard to say, "It's been hushed up very nicely, hasn't it. . . . But he was murdered, wasn't he?"
In desperation, the family solicitor turns to Hercule Poirot to unravel the mystery. . . .
This title was previously published as Funerals Are Fatal.
- Publisher:
- HarperAudio
- Released:
- Jul 3, 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780062229373
- Format:
- Audiobook
About the author
Related to After the Funeral
Reviews
After the Funeral features one of my personal favourite denouements, as well as one of my favourite titles in the Christie canon. On the other hand, I think it struggles to integrate the detective, and relies a little bit too much on chance. "After the Funeral" is promisingly bleak, with a horde of greedy relatives torn asunder when – at the reading of a dead man’s will – a tactless relative intimates he was murdered. Dame Agatha was grand at creating scheming, backstabbing households, and "After the Funeral" is a powerful example. Unlike the repressed schemers of "4.50 From Paddington" or "Hercule Poirot’s Christmas", the Abernethie heirs really have no shame in their greed, and it’s not hard to suspect everyone in the two murders. In this bewildering mix, Christie floods us with clues while blinding us to the obvious. Indeed, hidden amongst the plot are many of Christie’s stalwart tropes, but reinvented and interpreted so as to seem refreshing. The denouement is simply a wonderful piece of plotting.
There aren’t really any flaws. While the murderer’s plan relies on taking a great risk, it seems reasonable that he or she would try it, and – unlike some very contrived plots like "The Body in the Library" – this is a risk that only requires one event to work as planned. Poirot puts in a good show of logic, but his characterisation gets somewhat lost under the weight of the others. Still, this was an era when Christie often inserted Poirot as an afterthought, so he’s probably lucky to have emerged at all.
[US readers, unsurprisingly, got this title rejiggered as "Funerals are Fatal", and, later "Murder at the Gallop", because a Margaret Rutherford Marple movie stole this plot.]
Poirot ranking: 10th out of 38.
Aunt Cora has always taken pleasure in blurting inconvenient truths... those which make people stop in their tracks. At reading of her brother Richard's will she purposely announces "But, he was murdered, wasn't he!" Which of course leads to her murder an an attempt on her "Lady's Companion" as well.....
Greedy, twisted, hypochondriacs...the lot of Rotters...all wanting more than their entitlement..... But Who Done It?
Maybe it is because this year I have read several books of Agatha Christie and this story contains some elements typical for this author. That's why this story seemed very similar to her other novels. To the point it blended out with some of Christie's other works. There was nothing new, fresh and unique about it. I doubt if in a month I'll be able to remember any details about this book.
Also because this story just didn't pull me in. I wasn't interested in it. It's so slow and devoid of twists. The mystery of death, or rather two deaths, is somehow so completely uninspiring. And a group of the characters similar to other characters from the novels of Christie. There is simply nothing distinguishing about this novel. There is not one element that would make it stand out from the others.
I am also disappointed with the ending. Apparently it should be a surprise but even though I did not suspect this person any more than the others, after all this solution at the end is very Christie style. If you read some of her books, it's no surprise. In my opinion, this ending is also somehow too simple. I was expecting something more spectacular, more unique, something more like The Murder in Orient Express.
This is not a bad book by Agatha Christie. It's just not a unique story.