The Murder on the Links

Still riding high on the mystery train, with this next pit stop being at The Murder on the Links, another Hercule Poirot mystery by Agatha Christie. This will be a short review, unfortunately, because when you read a series, things to get repeated over and over when reviewed. My husband and I are also currently in a season of incredibly high favor and things are beginning to happen fast and coming together at the same time. For those who pray, can I ask for continued growth of confidence when speaking to those above me and the wisdom and heart to accept the challenges that will come. Thank you from the whole of my heart.

Alright, back to the reviewing. I listened to The Murder on the Links through the podcast Phoebe Reads a Mystery, and again really enjoyed going along with Poirot and his friend Arthur Hastings. This is the second book in the series, where Poirot receives a cryptic letter requesting his presence at a wealthy person’s home in France in fear of a possible murder to come. By the time Poirot and Hastings arrive, the murder has already happened, and now it is dire that the murder be solved. Poirot is up against a couple of obstacles even with the French magistrate supporting him: the development of the latest crime solving forensics, and a weeb of a detective going with those scientific developments. That will not stop Poirot.

I do not recall if this was brought up when reviewing The Mysterious Affair at Styles, but I what I have found to enjoy with Poirot’s mysteries is the more adult presentation. Hastings’ subplot of finding his Cinderella and her role in the mystery was a great way to bring extra complication and relationships to the story. With his subplot, the oppositions that Poirot puts up with while he works through the murder, and the drama that the characters directly affiliated with the murder were creating was just enough chaos to not be overwhelmed. I will applaud Poirot with his gentleman composure. He projects such a calming peace about him.

I like that the ending is once again not where we were expecting to go. This may be the only drawback, because when you think it is one person, it changes, then changes again as the drama unfolds. I can understand where a person would get frustrated with all of those jumps. When I think about it now, it might be that it is Christie’s way of giving us all the solutions that other people have presented, why it does not work, and how in the end Poirot is the one who comes out correct. To me, it reminds me of how a teacher would explain the solution, or at least how I have learned best. Here are all the possible solutions, now explain to me why none of them work, and give me the solution and tell me why it works.

I enjoyed listening to Agatha Christie again and I would certainly continue to enjoy reading Hercule Poirot’s adventures. If you want to read The Murder on the Links, you will be able to listen to it through Phoebe Reads a Mystery as I have, or pick up a copy here.

Thank you everyone for subscribing to these reviews. From the whole of my heart, thank you.

8/10