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HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (2003)
Original publication date
1946-11-01
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Description
Fiction. Mystery. HTML: Agatha Christie's classic, The Hollow, finds Poirot entangled in a nasty web of family secrets when he comes across a fresh murder at an English country manor. A far-from-warm welcome greets Hercule Poirot as he arrives for lunch at Lucy Angkatell's country house. A man lies dying by the swimming pool, his blood dripping into the water. His wife stands over him, holding a revolver. As Poirot investigates, he begins to realize that beneath the respectable surface lies a tangle of family secrets and everyone becomes a suspect..
User reviews
LibraryThing member MusicMom41
This one definitely goes on my “favorite Christie’s” list. It started out in typical fashion for me as I read with one part of my mind and used the other part trying to figure out who the victim would be, but gradually I became completely absorbed in the story and especially the characters.
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The book was full of surprises for me, not only keeping me guessing but also keeping me utterly entranced. The biggest surprise for me was that for the first time with Agatha Christie, when I closed the book at the final page I was crying. Show Less
LibraryThing member katzenfrau
I finished The Hollow night before last. It's a glorious, shining example of the aesthetics one reads AC for--the big house, the English countryside in Autumn, the hot baths in a country where nobody had hot baths, the soft beds in a country where nobody had soft beds, the expensive food, the
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London lifestyle, the motorcars and long walks and spaniels. I enjoyed it enormously. On the other hand, as a mystery it's rotten. There are no clues and nothing that the reader can figure out--the solution is "psychological," which means that AC didn't decide whodunit until it came time to write the last chapter. So be warned. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookAngel_a
This book made me want to read Christie's Mary Westmacott novels. I say this because even though this is a Poirot novel, Poirot is a minor character. The main focus of this book is to develop the characters of a very interesting family. I felt that the mystery came in second place to character
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development. For instance, I very quickly guessed who the murderer was and it turned out I was right. However, I still enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down due to the interesting people. Now I am convinced that I would enjoy reading a Christie novel even if it is NOT a mystery! Show Less
LibraryThing member riverwillow
This is a fascinating tale with bluff and double bluff centred around a fascinating family. The characterisation in this novel is superb.. The plot is peppered with red herrings, but Poirot gets there in the end.
LibraryThing member Figgles
Sad, not her best mystery, but lovely characterisation,
LibraryThing member smik
If you've been reading the Agatha Christie novels in order then you'll remember that you have already met Lady Lucy Angkatell in Baghdad. In the following extract she is talking about the composition of her impending house party. Hercule Poirot is staying in one of the nearby cottages (ironically
Lady Angkatell stretched out fluttering white hands in a lovely, helpless gesture. ‘All the wrong people coming–the wrong people to be together, I mean–not in themselves. They’re all charming really.’
‘Who is coming?’
‘The ingredients of the pudding are not promising,’ murmured Midge.
Lucy smiled at her. ‘Sometimes,’ she said meditatively, ‘things arrange themselves quite simply. I’ve asked the Crime man to lunch on Sunday. It will make a distraction, don’t you think so?’
‘Crime man?’
‘Like an egg,’ said Lady Angkatell. ‘He was in Baghdad, solving something, when Henry was High Commissioner. Or perhaps it was afterwards? We had him to lunch with some other Duty people. He had on a white duck suit, I remember, and a pink flower in his buttonhole, and black patent-leather shoes.
I don’t remember much about it because I never think it’s very interesting who killed who. I mean, once they are dead it doesn’t seem to matter why, and to make a fuss about it all seems so silly…’
THE HOLLOW contains an interesting exploration of what binds people together. It seems to me that it would make a very good classroom discussion book.
But he half-closed his eyes and conjured them up–all of them–seeing them clearly in his mind’s eye. Sir Henry, upright, responsible, trusted administrator of Empire. Lady Angkatell, shadowy, elusive, unexpectedly and bewilderingly charming, with that deadly power of inconsequent suggestion. Henrietta Savernake, who had loved John Christow better than she loved herself. The gentle and negative Edward Angkatell. The dark, positive girl called Midge Hardcastle. The dazed, bewildered face of Gerda Christow clasping a revolver in her hand. The offended adolescent personality of David Angkatell. There they all were, caught and held in the meshes of the law. Bound together for a little while in the relentless aftermath of sudden and violent death.
There are a number of issues that surface. As after Word War One, Christie appears to be struck by the way the world has changed, not just politically but economically and socially.
There's no mention of the Second World War but I assumed that THE HOLLOW was set more or less in the "present", that is, immediately after the war. Those with titles and or money don't seem to be aware that their way of life is endangered. The days of servants and large houses are numbered. Girls, like Midge Hardcastle have to work, and they can't always get jobs they like.
Lucy, Henry, Edward–yes, even Henrietta–they were all divided from her by an impassable gulf–the gulf that separates the leisured from the working. They had no conception of the difficulties of getting a job, and once you had got it, of keeping it!
One might say, perhaps, that there was no need, actually, for her to earn her living. Lucy and Henry would gladly give her a home–they would with equal gladness have made her an allowance. Edward would also willingly have done the latter.
But something in Midge rebelled against the acceptance of ease offered her by her well-to-do relations. To come on rare occasions and sink into the well-ordered luxury of Lucy’s life was delightful. She could revel in that. But some sturdy independence of spirit held her back from accepting that life as a gift. The same feeling had prevented her from starting a business on her own with money borrowed from relations and friends. She had seen too much of that.
There's a stage like quality to THE HOLLOW. It is easy to imagine it is a stage set and adapting it as a play would have been relatively easy. The action takes place episodically and indeed Poirot, when he first arrives, believes he has come across a tableau staged for his benefit.
Hercule Poirot stepped out on to the open space surrounding the swimming pool, and immediately he, too, stiffened, but with annoyance.
It was too much–it was really too much! He had not suspected such cheapness of the Angkatells. The long walk by the road, the disappointment at the house–and now this!
The misplaced sense of humour of the English! He was annoyed and he was bored–oh, how he was bored. Death was not, to him, amusing.
And here they had arranged for him, by way of a joke, a set-piece. For what he was looking at was a highly artificial murder scene.
By the side of the pool was the body, artistically arranged with an outflung arm and even some red paint dripping gently over the edge of the concrete into the pool. It was a spectacular body, that of a handsome fair-haired man. Standing over the body, revolver in hand, was a woman, a short, powerfully built, middle-aged woman with a curiously blank expression.
This sense of something staged, something artificial, crops up again and again, and adds to the mystery. Poirot thinks he is being directed and manipulated but he is not quite sure by whom.
I could really go on discussing this book ad nauseam, but you really need to read it for yourself!
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called Resthaven), which he has bought after pressure from friends, even though he doesn't actually like country life.Lady Angkatell stretched out fluttering white hands in a lovely, helpless gesture. ‘All the wrong people coming–the wrong people to be together, I mean–not in themselves. They’re all charming really.’
‘Who is coming?’
‘The ingredients of the pudding are not promising,’ murmured Midge.
Lucy smiled at her. ‘Sometimes,’ she said meditatively, ‘things arrange themselves quite simply. I’ve asked the Crime man to lunch on Sunday. It will make a distraction, don’t you think so?’
‘Crime man?’
‘Like an egg,’ said Lady Angkatell. ‘He was in Baghdad, solving something, when Henry was High Commissioner. Or perhaps it was afterwards? We had him to lunch with some other Duty people. He had on a white duck suit, I remember, and a pink flower in his buttonhole, and black patent-leather shoes.
I don’t remember much about it because I never think it’s very interesting who killed who. I mean, once they are dead it doesn’t seem to matter why, and to make a fuss about it all seems so silly…’
THE HOLLOW contains an interesting exploration of what binds people together. It seems to me that it would make a very good classroom discussion book.
But he half-closed his eyes and conjured them up–all of them–seeing them clearly in his mind’s eye. Sir Henry, upright, responsible, trusted administrator of Empire. Lady Angkatell, shadowy, elusive, unexpectedly and bewilderingly charming, with that deadly power of inconsequent suggestion. Henrietta Savernake, who had loved John Christow better than she loved herself. The gentle and negative Edward Angkatell. The dark, positive girl called Midge Hardcastle. The dazed, bewildered face of Gerda Christow clasping a revolver in her hand. The offended adolescent personality of David Angkatell. There they all were, caught and held in the meshes of the law. Bound together for a little while in the relentless aftermath of sudden and violent death.
There are a number of issues that surface. As after Word War One, Christie appears to be struck by the way the world has changed, not just politically but economically and socially.
There's no mention of the Second World War but I assumed that THE HOLLOW was set more or less in the "present", that is, immediately after the war. Those with titles and or money don't seem to be aware that their way of life is endangered. The days of servants and large houses are numbered. Girls, like Midge Hardcastle have to work, and they can't always get jobs they like.
Lucy, Henry, Edward–yes, even Henrietta–they were all divided from her by an impassable gulf–the gulf that separates the leisured from the working. They had no conception of the difficulties of getting a job, and once you had got it, of keeping it!
One might say, perhaps, that there was no need, actually, for her to earn her living. Lucy and Henry would gladly give her a home–they would with equal gladness have made her an allowance. Edward would also willingly have done the latter.
But something in Midge rebelled against the acceptance of ease offered her by her well-to-do relations. To come on rare occasions and sink into the well-ordered luxury of Lucy’s life was delightful. She could revel in that. But some sturdy independence of spirit held her back from accepting that life as a gift. The same feeling had prevented her from starting a business on her own with money borrowed from relations and friends. She had seen too much of that.
There's a stage like quality to THE HOLLOW. It is easy to imagine it is a stage set and adapting it as a play would have been relatively easy. The action takes place episodically and indeed Poirot, when he first arrives, believes he has come across a tableau staged for his benefit.
Hercule Poirot stepped out on to the open space surrounding the swimming pool, and immediately he, too, stiffened, but with annoyance.
It was too much–it was really too much! He had not suspected such cheapness of the Angkatells. The long walk by the road, the disappointment at the house–and now this!
The misplaced sense of humour of the English! He was annoyed and he was bored–oh, how he was bored. Death was not, to him, amusing.
And here they had arranged for him, by way of a joke, a set-piece. For what he was looking at was a highly artificial murder scene.
By the side of the pool was the body, artistically arranged with an outflung arm and even some red paint dripping gently over the edge of the concrete into the pool. It was a spectacular body, that of a handsome fair-haired man. Standing over the body, revolver in hand, was a woman, a short, powerfully built, middle-aged woman with a curiously blank expression.
This sense of something staged, something artificial, crops up again and again, and adds to the mystery. Poirot thinks he is being directed and manipulated but he is not quite sure by whom.
I could really go on discussing this book ad nauseam, but you really need to read it for yourself!
Show Less
LibraryThing member amelish
Terrible lady novelist bring us the best ever description of terrible lady drivers.
LibraryThing member BrianFannin
Not one of her better efforts. Poirot is almost a peripheral character in this one. Loads of melodrama and not much crime.
LibraryThing member bookwoman247
When Hecule Poirot is invited by Lady Angkatell to lunch at The Hollows, he finds a body near the pool, with the deceased's wife nearby, in shock, holding a revolver.
It was such a perfect theatrical tableau that Poirot at first believes that it was faked for his benefit. He soon finds that the
It appears to be an open-and-shut case, but Poirot begins to wonder, and begins to aid the investigation in his own, inimitable style.
I quite enjoyed this, as I do most of Christie's work.
It was such a perfect theatrical tableau that Poirot at first believes that it was faked for his benefit. He soon finds that the
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murder was all too real.It appears to be an open-and-shut case, but Poirot begins to wonder, and begins to aid the investigation in his own, inimitable style.
I quite enjoyed this, as I do most of Christie's work.
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LibraryThing member RubyScarlett
Up to Christie's usual standard in terms of plot. I wouldn't have guessed what the murderer did at the very end, quite out of character if you ask me and what Christie says throughout about women working is frankly strange but the rest was good.
LibraryThing member Jiraiya
I read this book mostly in one day. The narrative was one of the easiest and fastest I've ever come across. But the urgency of the murderer's impending doom wasn't present in the fabric of this story. You never had the feeling that all these words were converging to a brilliant denouement. Poirot
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made literally a guest appearance. He usually does that figuratively. I was bogged down by what the author wanted to pass for character development here. But maybe there was a tad too much of a touch of romance in the air. Romance and melodrama seemed to go hand in hand back then. The couple hasn't aged well though. Show Less
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Poor Hercule Poirot. He can't get away from murder, not even at his weekend cottage. His neighbors at the Hollow, the Angkatells, are having a weekend house party, and they've invited Poirot for Sunday lunch. He arrives to find his hosts and their guests gathered around a body by the swimming pool;
Christie fills a typical country house party with stock characters (a doctor, an actress, an artist, a brooding student, and a poor relation), but she still manages to find a new twist for the murder. Poirot's best cases are behind him at this point in Christie's publishing career. This is a solid mystery, but not a particularly memorable one.
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apparently his hosts have planned a murder game to entertain their guests. Poirot soon realizes that the scene is no game. One of the guests, Dr. John Christow, has been shot. The doctor's wife, Gerda, is holding a pistol, with the other guests surrounding her. Did Mrs. Christow shoot her husband? No one who knows her believes her to be capable of murder. If she didn't do it, who did? His mistress, the artist Henrietta? Edward Angkatell, who's in love with Henrietta? Poor cousin Midge, who's in love with Edward? Or maybe Veronica Cray, a woman from Dr. Christow's past who just happens to be renting a nearby cottage?Christie fills a typical country house party with stock characters (a doctor, an actress, an artist, a brooding student, and a poor relation), but she still manages to find a new twist for the murder. Poirot's best cases are behind him at this point in Christie's publishing career. This is a solid mystery, but not a particularly memorable one.
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LibraryThing member SueinCyprus
A houseparty gathers, Poirot is invited to lunch, and inevitably someone is murdered. Investigations lead to increasingly more confusion and clues leading to false trails. So cleverly written that even the second time of reading I had forgotten which clues were real and couldn't guess 'whodunit'
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until the last moment. Show Less
LibraryThing member AlexTheHunn
Monsieur Poirot is terribly fun as a character. So full of himself. Christie clearly enjoyed her creation yet equally clearly tires of him sometimes. We, the readers, get to luxury of enjoying him at our will. The Hollow will engage your wits and challenge your prowess as a detective.
LibraryThing member BrokenTune
"Since she was a woman of disconcertingly rapid thought processes, Lady Angkatell, as was her invariable custom, commenced the conversation in her own mind, supplying Midge’s answers out of her own fertile imagination. The conversation was in full swing when Lady Angkatell flung open Midge’s
‘–And so, darling, you really must agree that the weekend is going to present difficulties!’ ‘Eh? Hwah!’ Midge grunted inarticulately, aroused thus abruptly from a satisfying and deep sleep."
A house party in the country, where each guest struggles with some internal conflict. The plot is pretty standard for a Christie novel, and so it the resolution. What really drew me to the book, tho, was it's focus on the characters. Not all of the characters are likable, some are down-right horrible, but what I really liked was that many of them are either transformed by the events of the book or undergo some serious soul searching.
The weakest part of the book was the ending. Although, it makes for a convenient conclusion, this is one of the Christie books where I felt she could have strayed from the path of formula and presented something more - not controversial, but - challenging as she had done in some of her other books - Endless Night for example.
Despite the weak(-ish) ending, I immensely enjoyed the book. I think this is the one that made me constantly think about why I prefer Poirot to Marple (even Poirot is almost a nuisance in this one). I believe the reason I am drawn to Poirot instead of Marple is their difference in outlook - where Marple seems a grounded old lady without many quirks, I have always found her to be a bit of a judgmental snob who seeks out the worst in people - and the gloats when her expectations are confirmed.
Poirot on the other hand gives the appearance of an eccentric but for all his quirks, he still manages to express his faith in and hopes for many of the characters he encounters. I really noticed this in his observations about Lady Angkatell, the most beautiful of which was:
"Hercule Poirot thought: ‘She is old–her hair is grey–there are lines in her face. Yet she has magic–she will always have magic…’ "
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door.‘–And so, darling, you really must agree that the weekend is going to present difficulties!’ ‘Eh? Hwah!’ Midge grunted inarticulately, aroused thus abruptly from a satisfying and deep sleep."
A house party in the country, where each guest struggles with some internal conflict. The plot is pretty standard for a Christie novel, and so it the resolution. What really drew me to the book, tho, was it's focus on the characters. Not all of the characters are likable, some are down-right horrible, but what I really liked was that many of them are either transformed by the events of the book or undergo some serious soul searching.
The weakest part of the book was the ending. Although, it makes for a convenient conclusion, this is one of the Christie books where I felt she could have strayed from the path of formula and presented something more - not controversial, but - challenging as she had done in some of her other books - Endless Night for example.
Despite the weak(-ish) ending, I immensely enjoyed the book. I think this is the one that made me constantly think about why I prefer Poirot to Marple (even Poirot is almost a nuisance in this one). I believe the reason I am drawn to Poirot instead of Marple is their difference in outlook - where Marple seems a grounded old lady without many quirks, I have always found her to be a bit of a judgmental snob who seeks out the worst in people - and the gloats when her expectations are confirmed.
Poirot on the other hand gives the appearance of an eccentric but for all his quirks, he still manages to express his faith in and hopes for many of the characters he encounters. I really noticed this in his observations about Lady Angkatell, the most beautiful of which was:
"Hercule Poirot thought: ‘She is old–her hair is grey–there are lines in her face. Yet she has magic–she will always have magic…’ "
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LibraryThing member Auntie-Nanuuq
Also: Murder After Hours
Romance, triangles, jealousy, family, secrets from the past, & murder.....
For some reason I am always surprised when there is romance in Christie's mysteries, not so much as a basis for murder, but when people actually get together & have a life after murder..... In this
M. Poirot is invited to lunch during a family gathering at a neighboring home. When he arrives he finds a dying man, John Christow, laying next to the pool, his wife, Gerta, w/ a gun in her hands. The dying man's last words in the tone of a plea/question (calling the name of his mistress who is standing there)... "Henrietta".
Henrietta comes to Gerta to comfort her & takes the gun out of her hand, then quite "accidentally" drops the gun in the pool, thus obliterating all fingerprints. As the story moves forward we are privy to the fact that the gun that was dropped in the pool was not the gun that killed John.
It seems as everyone in the house knows who killed John and is intent on protecting the person.... It take M. Poirot quite awhile before he is able to come to the correct murderer.
There was only one racial reference (rolling my eyes here), but I didn't like the book. It seemed to be missing something and the characters seemed flat and boring....
Romance, triangles, jealousy, family, secrets from the past, & murder.....
For some reason I am always surprised when there is romance in Christie's mysteries, not so much as a basis for murder, but when people actually get together & have a life after murder..... In this
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book there were several romances: past, present, and future. There was also two interlocked triangles and unrequited love, which in part were the basis for the murder.M. Poirot is invited to lunch during a family gathering at a neighboring home. When he arrives he finds a dying man, John Christow, laying next to the pool, his wife, Gerta, w/ a gun in her hands. The dying man's last words in the tone of a plea/question (calling the name of his mistress who is standing there)... "Henrietta".
Henrietta comes to Gerta to comfort her & takes the gun out of her hand, then quite "accidentally" drops the gun in the pool, thus obliterating all fingerprints. As the story moves forward we are privy to the fact that the gun that was dropped in the pool was not the gun that killed John.
It seems as everyone in the house knows who killed John and is intent on protecting the person.... It take M. Poirot quite awhile before he is able to come to the correct murderer.
There was only one racial reference (rolling my eyes here), but I didn't like the book. It seemed to be missing something and the characters seemed flat and boring....
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LibraryThing member g33kgrrl
I hadn't actually read this one, I don't think, before listening to it as an audiobook. I was utterly charmed and really appreciated it. I will look forward to reading it as a book someday, when I've forgotten a bit of the plot. I really appreciated the internal monologues, so different than the
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rest of her mysteries. Show Less
LibraryThing member bbbart
The Hollow is a nice psychological drama set in the English countryside we've all got to know better thanks to Christie's work. I really enjoyed this little piece of work, even though (or perhaps because) it is not a typical Poirot investigation. No, at this murder, Poirot was also a guest amongst
I can understand that this work was commented upon by Christie herself as "being ruined by the introduction of Poirot". This mystery indeed didn't need our little Belgian detective at all to have itself unfold to the reader. The theatre adaptation doesn't even feature Poirot at all. I wouldn't, however, go so far as calling it ruined by his character. Indeed, he only plays a small role overall.
Fun characters, compelling story and interesting mystery all in one. Recommended!
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others and at a certain point - even if only barely - a suspect.I can understand that this work was commented upon by Christie herself as "being ruined by the introduction of Poirot". This mystery indeed didn't need our little Belgian detective at all to have itself unfold to the reader. The theatre adaptation doesn't even feature Poirot at all. I wouldn't, however, go so far as calling it ruined by his character. Indeed, he only plays a small role overall.
Fun characters, compelling story and interesting mystery all in one. Recommended!
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LibraryThing member ben_a
A more psychological Christie, but less deftly handled than in "Endless Night." Verging on melodrama at times, in fact. Still a fun Poirot, and memorable for the delightful character of Lucy Angkatell.
LibraryThing member ritaer
somewhat deeper than usual examination of country house murder solved by Poirot
LibraryThing member Al-G
I am not ashamed to say that she got me - I didn't figure it out before the reveal. My money was on the wrong persom as the murderer. I take pride in solving the mysteries before the author reveals the culprit, but this not the first time Christie has stumped me. This is a great plot with her usual
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quirkey characters and of course, the magnificent Poirot. It's been a while since I read a Christie book andI had forgotten how well she writes. This is a very readable story for the mystery lover and it has a couple of unique twists a la Christie. Show Less
LibraryThing member delphimo
Reading Agatha Christie always brings pleasure. The Hollow follows Christie’s formula for a fun mystery with the range of suspects and Hercule Poirot utilizing his gray cells. The end result provided much discussion concerning all the red herrings. This story follows the murder of Dr. John
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Christow. His wife, Gerda, stands in front of the dead John, holding a gun. Hercule Poirot had been walking to the neighbor’s house and heard the shot and arrived minutes after the incident. But all does not fall exactly as the scene appears. Poirot remarks many times that the murder seems staged. The gun that Gerda holds turns out to not be the weapon that killed John. As usual, Christie introduces many other suspects in the quest of finding John’s killer. I thought many times that maybe John’s office manager might be guilty, but Beryl disappears from the storyline. Next, we have an old love, Veronica, and a new love, Henrietta, that might have motives. And what a dipsy character Lady Lucy Angkatell. She skips in and out of the activities like a fairy. A lovely cast of murderers. Show Less
LibraryThing member rmarcin
Poirot is invited to his neighbor's country cottage. When he arrives, he sees Dr. John Christow surrounded by others. John mutters one word, then dies. One of the group tosses a gun into the pool. Poirot thinks it looks too staged. As he examines the scene, many questions arise, as well as
Dr. Christow was a cheater, but was his jilted lover the murderer?
I had seen the Poirot movie on PBS, and I was curious to read the original book.
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discrepancies.Dr. Christow was a cheater, but was his jilted lover the murderer?
I had seen the Poirot movie on PBS, and I was curious to read the original book.
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LibraryThing member funstm
"Sometimes," she said meditatively, "things arrange themselves quite simply. I've asked dthe Crime man to lunch on Sunday. It will make a distraction, don't you think so?"
"Crime man?"
"Like an egg," said Lady Angkatell.
Christie, Agatha. The Hollow: Hercule Poirot Investigates (Hercule Poirot series
Hercule Poirot is invited to lunch but is disappointed to find his hosts so crass as to stage a murder as the entertainment. Only his hosts are as surprised as he to find the charming Doctor John Cristow dead with his newly widowed wife, Gerda Christow holding the gun.
This was fantastic. A seemingly simple crime turns complex as Poirot pits his wits against his most fiendishly good villain yet or do gooder as the case may be. . Every clue is a red herring leaving both Poirot and Inspector Grange scratching their heads. Okay I'll admit, and me. I was jumping from suspect to suspect sure I was finally right. Of course, I was wrong but I had a great time trying to puzzle my way out of this one. I loved Henrietta and Lady Lucy Angkatell best but I was also pretty fond of Midge and Gerda. Lucy cracked me up. I loved that she had a whole conversation with Midge before she actually gets to Midge and then she's like oh dear, you're so helpful! and Midge is like am i?
I was amused by the butler, Gudgeon and his efforts to look after his mistress, Lady Angkatell to the best of his abilities. Like having multiple replacement kettles for when she inevitably burns them by l eaving them to boil and walking away.
The victim, Doctor John Christow was a different story. Honestly the guy was a jerk. He deserved everything he got. I hated the way he treated Gerda. The poor woman didn't deserve it at all and I felt so sorry for her having so much anxiety and being told she was so stupid. I loved that she made a decision at some point to just play dumb so people would leave alone but I still felt sorry for her to have to.
And Henrietta. I liked that she was kind to Gerda although it definitely doesn't excuse her for sleeping with her husband ffs. But I didn't get why she liked John either. He treated her, in his own way, just as badly. Wanting to own her and possess her when he has a freaking wife and children is just as terrible. I liked that Henrietta wasn't as wrapped up in him and recognised the situation for what it was but I also would've liked her to just get rid of him. As for the villain of the piece Henrietta was epic. I loved her misleading Poirot and it cracked me up when she said how tired she was trying to keep ahead of him. I got why she protected Gerda - I just wish that Gerda doesn't try to kill her in the end. I would've liked some girl power or something. But Poirot always knows how to play the odds and it was neatly tied up.
A fantastic Hercule Poirot. 4.5 stars, rounded to 5 stars.
"Crime man?"
"Like an egg," said Lady Angkatell.
Christie, Agatha. The Hollow: Hercule Poirot Investigates (Hercule Poirot series
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Book 25) (p. 7). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.Hercule Poirot is invited to lunch but is disappointed to find his hosts so crass as to stage a murder as the entertainment. Only his hosts are as surprised as he to find the charming Doctor John Cristow dead with his newly widowed wife, Gerda Christow holding the gun.
This was fantastic. A seemingly simple crime turns complex as Poirot pits his wits against his most fiendishly good villain yet
I was amused by the butler, Gudgeon and his efforts to look after his mistress, Lady Angkatell to the best of his abilities.
The victim, Doctor John Christow was a different story. Honestly the guy was a jerk. He deserved everything he got.
And Henrietta. I liked that she was kind to Gerda although it definitely doesn't excuse her for sleeping with her husband ffs. But I didn't get why she liked John either. He treated her, in his own way, just as badly. Wanting to own her and possess her when he has a freaking wife and children is just as terrible. I liked that Henrietta wasn't as wrapped up in him and recognised the situation for what it was but I also would've liked her to just get rid of him.
A fantastic Hercule Poirot. 4.5 stars, rounded to 5 stars.
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LibraryThing member Cassandra2020
The Hollow by Agatha Christie - very good
I read so many of Agatha Christie's books that I'm running out of things to say about them. The fact that I keep returning is probably all the testament I need to give. Other authors run out of original ideas or their books become formulaic etc. Not the case
This particular book is one of the later (post WW2) 'Poirot' mysteries. He walks in on what he initially thinks is a murder mystery - it looks so staged - John Christow is lying by the swimming pool, breathing his last. His wife is standing over him with a gun in her hand. As he dies he says just one word: "Henrietta" - the name of his mistress. The question is: are things really as they seem?
I read so many of Agatha Christie's books that I'm running out of things to say about them. The fact that I keep returning is probably all the testament I need to give. Other authors run out of original ideas or their books become formulaic etc. Not the case
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here. Even when I've read a book that I've seen the TV adaptation of (as with this one) there are enough twists and red herrings to make me wonder if the TV changed the ending (it has been known).This particular book is one of the later (post WW2) 'Poirot' mysteries. He walks in on what he initially thinks is a murder mystery - it looks so staged - John Christow is lying by the swimming pool, breathing his last. His wife is standing over him with a gun in her hand. As he dies he says just one word: "Henrietta" - the name of his mistress. The question is: are things really as they seem?
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9780007164967
Physical description
5.47 inches
Other editions
The Hollow by Agatha Christie (Paperback)