The Killings at Kingfisher Hill: The New Hercule Poirot Mystery (Hercule Poirot Mysteries)

by Sophie Hannah

Hardcover, 2020

Status

Available

Publication

William Morrow (2020), 288 pages

Description

"Hercule Poirot is traveling by luxury passenger coach from London to the exclusive Kingfisher Hill estate. Richard Devonport has summoned the renowned detective to prove that his fiance, Helen, is innocent of the murder of his brother, Frank. Poirot will have only days to investigate before Helen is hanged, but there is one strange condition attached: he must conceal his true reason for being there from the rest of the Devonport family. The coach is forced to stop when a distressed woman demands to get off, insisting that if she stays in her seat, she will be murdered. Although the rest of the journey passes without anyone being harmed, Poirot's curiosity is aroused, and his fears are later confirmed when a body is discovered with a macabre note attached... Could this new murder and the peculiar incident on the coach be clues to solving the mystery of who killed Frank Devonport? And if Helen is innocent, can Poirot find the true culprit in time to save her from the gallows?"--… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member pierthinker
This is the fourth Hercule Poirot mystery novel from Sophie Hannah and it is an absolute winner. Poirot and his new sidekick, Inspector Catchpool, travel to Kingfisher Hill, a sort of upmarket gated community, to resolve a mystery: Richard Davenport’s fiancee, Helen, is convicted of killing
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Richard’s brother Frank and Poirot is tasked with proving her innocent even though she confessed to the crime. Everyone involved is reluctant to assist Poirot and are all hiding something. When another murder occurs Poirot must crank his deductive skills up another notch.

When reviving a much-loved character like Poirot the author has two choices. Try and write as close to the spirit, style and technique of Agatha Christie, or absorb the Poirot canon and then produce something recognisably Agatha-like, but definitely in the style of the new author. Here, Sophie Hannah has gone for the first option. The book is set in the 1930’s, with appropriate contemporary references, and features an upper middle class cast, plus the usual smattering of servants and ‘commercial’ types. The writing is first class, intelligent, to the point, with no concessions to modern mores. This could readily be from the pen of Christie herself who, I think, would be proud to have produced such a novel.

The plot is deceptively simple, who committed a murder that several people witnessed and that someone has confessed to. Almost every fact we are given from the first page is either a red herring or, more often, interpreted in different ways by different people, including the reader. Suspects hove into and out of view and no sooner do we dismiss or confirm their involvement another piece of information comes along to upend our thinking. I could not put this down because I felt as lost in the investigation as poor old Catchpool, always two steps behind the great Poirot.

This is an excellent psychological thriller where thoughts, feelings, motivation and character are the grounds in which we play. This is thoroughly recommended, even though the climax is bitter-sweet, as one of the best crime thrillers of the year.
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LibraryThing member rafram
When Poirot is summoned to Kingfisher Hill to solve a murder, he has to promise to keep the assignment secret. While investigating, he realizes he is dealing with two complex murders and plenty of distractions.

The Killings at Kingfisher Hill is the New Hercule Poirot Mystery by Sophie Hannah,
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published by William Morrow. The story is set in fictional Kingfisher Hill country estate in Surrey 1922. We follow Hercule Poirot and new colleague Scotland Yard Inspector Edward Catchpool as they are summoned to Kingfisher Hill to solve the murder of Frank Devonport. They travel by luxury motor coach where a seemingly disturbed woman is adamant she will be killed if she sits in a certain seat. Poirot agrees to switch seats and takes her place next to another woman who confesses to a murder. Nothing happens to him and Poirot is both shocked and curious to see if these two occurrences on the coach are linked to the murder he is assigned to solve.

Main character Hercule Poirot seems his recognizable self. I enjoy how new details makes him even more interesting while the most important original traits are still in place; maybe with some new twists. I find it charming that he uses more French language.

Second main character and narrator is Scotland Yard Inspector Edward Catchpole. I love how he conducts independent questionings of some witnesses. Perhaps a slightly modern way of dealing with investigations,

I read this as a standalone in The New Hercule Poirot Mystery series, which worked perfectly just as all other stories I have read about Hercule Poirot. I love how the writing style is so excellently in keeping with the original Agatha Christie novels. An amusing vibe, in parts, does not get in the way of the seriousness of the murder investigation. In the centre of the story is the Devonport family who has an extreme capacity for denial. This might have been customary in the 1920s, so it adds an old fashioned feel to the story. Poirot allows Inspector Catchpool an independent, trusted position which might be a modern touch, but he still has to work with Poirot’s detailed lists. I feel this element adds information, clarifies and drives the plot forward in an amazing way.

My absolute favorite part of the story is Poirot’s interaction with amusing character Hester Semley. She is a feisty old lady who is insulted by Poirot’s tendency to interrupt her to dig out more details for the investigation.
I am not able to reveal my least favorite part of the story to avoid spoiler. Lets just say it relates to the second murder.

Fans of Agatha Christie will love this new mystery. As will readers of cozy mysteries.
Similar author to explore might be Agatha Christie.
Thank you to Kristiansand Public Library @krsbib for lending me this book. It gave me the opportunity to share my honest review and all opinions are completely my own.

Conclusion: This is the exiting new story where Hercule Poirot solves two complex murders helped by his interesting colleague, Scotland Yard Inspector, Edward Catchpool. They have to deal with a family with extraordinary capacity for denial living in an enclosed country estate. This is the perfect addition to the library of Agatha Christie books for fans old and new. I will be eagerly awaiting Sophie Hannah’s next release.
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LibraryThing member smik
There has been considerable discussion about whether Sophie Hannah has quite captured Hercule Poirot, whether her characterisation of him rings true. My feeling is that while she has captured the essence of the great detective, she hasn't quite got it with the plotting. The plots to me become
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trivial, too much detail, and lacking in Agatha Christie's economy of words. I think this is partly because the books are longer than Agatha Christie's were.

In the long run the author manages to bring the plot threads together and even to introduce a a couple of elements that we didn't see coming, to bring an element of surprise to the final denouement.

I must add also that the narration is superb.
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LibraryThing member tpsulli
I enjoyed this mystery. There a few clues sprinkled throughout but, as per usual, Poirot gets information that the reader/Catchpool doesn't have - and gets to reveal all at the end. The narrator here is Catchpool. Since we are seeing everything through his eyes, the chapters that focus on Poirot
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alone with a suspect, we are getting 2nd hand. I do wonder if "seeing" the mystery through the eyes of a narrator who is always admittedly so confused about what's happening helps the reader to miss things, too...
Anyway, I could hardly put this down.
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LibraryThing member kimkimkim
There were too many condescending remarks about challenging the grey cells and how perfect M. Poirot’s powers of deduction elevate him to a realm beyond ordinary humans. The narrative told by Inspector Edward Catchpool brought a degree of levity to what would have otherwise been an overly lengthy
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discourse of minutiae. When there are so many nasty people It is difficult to look beyond and care about the plot and it’s resolution. I was hoping for much better.
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LibraryThing member Twink
Agatha Christie created some of the most memorable and beloved characters ever to populate a mystery novel, including Hercule Poirot. The first Poirot novel was published in 1920 and the last in 1975. Sophie Hannah has continued the series with the Christie estate's blessing. The latest is The
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Killings at Kingfisher Hill.

Poirot has a new sidekick in the Hannah books - Scotland Yard Inspector Edward Catchpool. Catchpool documents the cases and it is through his eyes that we see the unfolding mystery. He is a delightful character and he's clever in his own right. But, no one can match Poirot's deductive powers, so Catchpool's personal thoughts and comments are more in line with what the reader may be thinking and postulating.

Poirot and Catchpool are taking the train to the Kingfisher Hill estate for a reason only Poirot knows. But before they arrive there are number of odd events on the train. A woman is afraid to sit in the last available seat as she has been told she will die if she does. Ah hah! Poirot is intrigued... And there's more once they arrive at the estate. Murder to be exact. Hannah's plotting is clever, serpentine and makes for addictive reading.

It is Poirot's 'little gray cells' that drive the investigation. I always have enjoyed the deductions, the piecing together, the reasoning, the seemingly innocuous clue tucked into a paragraph along the way. The reader needs to pay close attention. The 'old fashioned' method of solving a crime is quite enjoyable and challenges the reader.

I think that Hannah successfully captures Poirot's style, mannerisms, dialogue and idiosyncrasies.Those looking for a book written as Agatha Christie won't find it in The Killings at Kingfisher Hill. But those looking for a classic mystery written in the style of Christie will enjoy this book. I did!
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LibraryThing member samantha.1020
I've been a huge Agatha Christie fan for years with a personal goal of eventually reading everything that she has written (I've got a ways to go in case you are wondering). I was delighted to hear that Sophie Hannah was continuing the Hercule Poirot series so I jumped at the chance to read this
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one. I say this with all respect to Christie and her work - I really couldn't tell the difference. Hannah has written such a well crafted mystery that I believe Christie would have appreciated herself. This isn't a book that you will fly through as it is definitely a slow burn. But it was such an enjoyable ride that this author took me on that I didn't mind the slower pace. I can honestly tell you that I suspected every character besides of course Poirot and Inspector Catchpool. There was a variety of characters to suspect and I'm not sure that I liked any of them. But I did enjoy reading about them and trying to guess if they were the ones behind it all. And to my delight, I didn't see the ending coming at all. Looking back, I almost felt like I should have but I didn't. This was such an amazing tribute to Christie's work and I cannot wait to go back and read the other Poirot books that Sophie Hannah has written!

Overall, I enjoyed this book and am excited that we have more Poirot books to look forward to thanks to this author! If you are a fan of Christie's books or are a mystery reader, I definitely think that you should give these a try. I haven't yet read the earlier Poirot books that Sophie Hannah has written and it didn't matter in the slightest. I would say you could probably treat these as standalones almost but I'm planning on reading those other books now as well! Definitely recommended!

Bottom Line: An enjoyable mystery that felt like Christie wrote it herself. I can give it no higher praise!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher. Honest thoughts are my own.
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LibraryThing member TomDonaghey
The Killings At Kingfisher Hill (2020) (New Poirot #4) by Sophie Hannah, Agatha Christie. When I reviewed Ms. Hannah’s 2016 effort at a Poirot novel (Closed Casket) I said that Poirot himself did not seem to be his old self. I must reiterate those sentiments here. Our formidable little hero talks
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and talks and talks, asking questions, having his Scotland Yard assistant (so it appears throughout the novel) Inspector Catchpool also ask a series of interminable questions. Catchpool appears denser than the normal Inspector, and far meeker also. Why would he relinquish all control of this investigation to his friend without a hint of resentment. It makes me wonder how Catchpool ever rose to the rank of Inspector.
Frank Devonport as fallen from the balcony of his parents palatial home and died. Of the several people who were on the balcony, or had access to it at the time of his death, only his fiancé rushes down the stairs and confesses. She is tried and sent to prison where she is awaiting execution.
Then, on a bus trip to Kingfisher Hall, where the “murder” took place, Poirot and Catchpool are confronted by a young woman who tells them she has been threatened if she sits in a particular seat. Poirot insists on trading seats and finds himself sitting next to a mysterious woman who then confesses to a murder that she has gotten away with.
Wow?
What follows is coincidence after coincidence, lies upon lies and a twisted set of family and friends that could only be found in a murder mystery. I know that without all the deceptions there would be no mystery, but here the issues being lied about seem, to the most part, so picayune.
A second murder occurs which the reader should be able to solve right away, and yet another murder is presented in hindsight that helps explain all the proceedings, but the entire series of rationales feel forced and the amount of coincidences again feel not to be believed.
I can not recommend this novel, rather I refer you to any from Ms. Christie’s extensive catalog to read and enjoy.
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LibraryThing member rmarcin
Sophie Hannah has written a new Hercule Poirot mystery in the Agatha Christie whodunit form. Along with his friend, Inspector Edward Catchpool, Hercule is en route to Kingfisher Hill country estate in February 1931 to investigate the murder of Frank Devonport. Although Helen Acton, Frank's fiancee
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has confessed, her new fiance, Richard--Frank's brother--is convinced of Helen's innocence.
While taking transportation to the estate, Poirot and Catchpool encounter a frazzled young woman terrified to sit in a particular seat, claiming that harm will come to her. Due to change of seats, Poirot is now seated with a cold, arrogant passenger, who spins a tale for Poirot.
As they arrive at the estate, tempers rise, and Poirot and Catchpool must try alternative means to solve the crime. Naturally, Hercule Poirot shines again with powers of deduction and investigation.
This tale involves a great deal of misdirection and lying, as well as financial crimes and multiple murders. This was a quick read, and had lots of confusing twists to follow to the conclusion.
Thanks to Scene Of The Crime/Harper Collins and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinions are my own.

#TheKillingsAtKingfisterHill #SophieHannah #NetGalley
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LibraryThing member siri51
Poirot and hysterical people in a country estate and several murders - easy read to pass the time
LibraryThing member therebelprince
Putting this back on the "to read" list, since the first two chapters annoyed me beyond all logic and reason. It could be pandemic lockdown, it could be Hannah's whacko approach to Poirot. You be the judge.

Language

Original language

English
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