Set in the claustrophobic world of academia, Mark Prins' debut novel is saturated with references to Classical mythology and, like the best thrillers, is ingenious in its sinister simplicity.
UnCovered review by Kate Snyder, ACLS Pleasantville Branch
Who doesn’t love a good mystery? Sophie Hannah delivers with The Monogram Murders. With the permission of the Agatha Christie estate, she has resurrected the Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. Poirot, enjoying a cup of rich coffee at his favorite coffee house, witnesses a woman stumble in terrified. She tells him someone is trying to kill her and, when he does, justice will be served. Poirot is not to try to find her killer. Later he learns of three people poisoned at a posh London hotel, each with a monogramed cufflink in their mouth. Is it suicide? Murder and back to suicide again? There are more plot twists here than a tangled jumble of holiday lights. As usual, Poirot sums everything up at the end with a somewhat plausible explanation.
Sophie Hannah does Christie proud in bringing back to life Hercule Poirot and his “little gray cells, mon amie.” I found this book an easy read and great fun and look forward to her next Poirot novel, Closed Casket.
Nikki May's novel captures issues of modern city living: women's evolving roles in home and work, interracial relationships, multicultural identity, and competition that runs under many friendship.
(Image credit: Custom House)