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The Hollow (Hercule Poirot, #26)

Agatha Christie

Start date: February 1, 2020

Finish date: February 29, 2020

Discussion: Archive: Poirot Buddy Reads

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Archive: Poirot Buddy Reads

* Reading Order for the Unofficial Poirot Buddy Reads
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last updated Dec 27, 2020 08:20AM

Poirot Buddy Read 40: SPOILER THREAD Curtain
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last updated Feb 05, 2021 06:12PM

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What Members Thought

Oct 23, 2019 Christine PNW rated it really liked it

Shelves: halloween-bingo-2019

2019:

Not one of the strongest entries.

2023:

WTF was 2019 me thinking? This mystery was OUTSTANDING!

4 likes · Like · see review

Aug 13, 2018 Sonia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: rereads

Sometimes I forget why I consider her my favorite author, this book reminded me. One of her best.

2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 13, 2014 Amy rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-as-an-audiobook

I've decided everything is better as an audiobook. I probably would have aced Thermodynamics if the textbook has been available as an audiobook. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 08, 2011 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: vintage-mystery, mystery, british-mystery, mount-tbr-2024

Agatha Christie gives us a nice little country house murder. Lady Lucy Angkatell invites a group of friends and relatives that is sure to cause tension somewhere...and it mostly revolves around Dr. John Christow. Christow is a brilliant doctor with a terrific manner with patients and some innovative ideas about a cure for a deadly disease. But he's not really any good with personal relations. His wife Gerda worships him and is exactly what he thought he wanted yet he treats her poorly. Henrietta Agatha Christie gives us a nice little country house murder. Lady Lucy Angkatell invites a group of friends and relatives that is sure to cause tension somewhere...and it mostly revolves around Dr. John Christow. Christow is a brilliant doctor with a terrific manner with patients and some innovative ideas about a cure for a deadly disease. But he's not really any good with personal relations. His wife Gerda worships him and is exactly what he thought he wanted yet he treats her poorly. Henrietta Savernake, a sculptor, is his mistress--because she's more vital and intelligent than Gerda, but he wants her to focus only on him (and not her art)...like Gerda does. Edward Angkatell has always loved Henrietta and hates Christow because Henrietta won't agree to marry him. Others at the house party include Midge Hardcastle, poor relation who must work for her living, who is in love with Edward; David Angkatell, a young intellectual, who feels like an outsider in the family and seems to hate everyone--including Christow. Thrown into the mix is Veronica Cray--Christow's first love who wanted him to give up his life's work as a doctor and come with her to America while she became a Hollywood star. He told her no. She's back in England and determined to get him back. She isn't pleased when he tells her no again.

And then...after he spends a late night at Cray's nearby cottage and then is summoned back in the morning--where he tells her that there most definitely isn't anything doing...he's found dead by the swimming pool, shot to death. And his wife Gerda is standing over him with a gun in her hand. Just at that moment, Hercule Poirot (also staying in another nearby cottage and who has been invited to lunch) comes to the scene...a scene that he initially feels has been staged (as a little joke) for the "great detective" and, as the investigation unfolds, still feels staged, though he's not quite certain by whom and to what purpose. But once the little grey cells have the chance to ponder all of the clues--both real and red herrings--he is able to resolve the question.

I enjoyed this one more for the characters than for the mystery (I spotted what was going on quite early--long before Poirot makes any indication that he knows the culprit, even if he can't prove it yet). Not that the mystery isn't interesting--it is. Christie does some interesting things with the plot and clue placement. But anyone who thinks Christie only does cardboard cutouts and her characters have no depth should really take a look at this one. The standard characters are given motivations and emotional lives that really resonate on the page...and even Gudgeon, the butler who has few scenes, is more than just the wooden-faced, typical butler. But my favorite has to be Lady Angkatell. Probably because with her apparent non sequiturs that have a way of hitting the nail on the head every time she reminds me a great deal of the Dowager Duchess in Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. And I adore the Dowager. Lucy Angkatell is a bit more frightening than the Dowager--she definitely seems to know what she's about in putting together certain persons. But in general she does appear to want what's best for everyone (even if what she thinks is best isn't necessarily what they think is best). A very good mystery that I found moth interesting and fun.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. ...more

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Apr 21, 2016 jaadhimalli rated it it was ok

It was ok. Somehow seemed to lack Poirot-ness. Not many investigations by Poirot. Not many french 'mon-ami's. No twinkle of green eyes. He generally gathers all suspects in one room and says who the killer is. Not that either in this book. ...more

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