From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Murder on the Links (Hercule Poirot, #2)

Agatha Christie

Start date: March 1, 2025

Finish date: March 31, 2025

Discussion: Group Challenges

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* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie
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What Members Thought

Feb 10, 2018 BrokenTune rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

3.5*

It was a day in early June. I had been transacting some business in Paris and was returning by the morning service to London, where I was still sharing rooms with my old friend, the Belgian ex-detective, Hercule Poirot.

The Calais express was singularly empty—in fact, my own compartment held only one other traveller. I had made a somewhat hurried departure from the hotel and was busy assuring myself that I had duly collected all my traps, when the train started. Up till then I had hardly noti ...more

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Apr 01, 2018 Marina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Despite what the summary (book description above) says, the open grave is definitely not the strangest feature of the case.

I thought that this book was going to be boring. I don’t know, a golf course setting really did not spark any interest in me. Boy I was wrong. This book has so many layers to it! It made me confused at times but trust me, just enjoy the journey and everything will make sense. It’s worth it.

Unlike the first Poirot book (The Mysterious Affairs at Styles), I thought that the ch ...more

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Jan 22, 2017 Dipanjan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

3 years after the first appearance, Hercule Poirot returned for his 2nd mystery in 1923. By this time Hastings and Poirot shares a flat in London. An urgent cry for help takes Poirot and Hastings to France on assignment. What follows is a myriad of death, mystery, dark pasts, array of unique individuals and a classic "whodunnit", in Agatha Christie style.

The Murder On The Links is an extremely confusing and seemingly motiveless puzzle. But once we discover the layers and layers of intrigue takin 3 years after the first appearance, Hercule Poirot returned for his 2nd mystery in 1923. By this time Hastings and Poirot shares a flat in London. An urgent cry for help takes Poirot and Hastings to France on assignment. What follows is a myriad of death, mystery, dark pasts, array of unique individuals and a classic "whodunnit", in Agatha Christie style.

The Murder On The Links is an extremely confusing and seemingly motiveless puzzle. But once we discover the layers and layers of intrigue taking us to the depth of the crime, we are left fascinated by the extraordinary mind of the author. It is an extraordinary story with very deep insights into human psychology. The crimes are so meticulously ingenious that the reader is left gasping for breath by the end of it. The distractions sprinkled around in every corner of the plot makes it challenging for the reader to unearth the true facts in this incredible journey until the very end.

"Murder On The Links" showcases Agatha Christie's deep understanding of human behavior and societal environment of the period. The characters are sketched to perfection.

The plot is kept pretty well knit throughout the book. This is yet another book where the reader gets to enjoy the usual quirkiness of the Little Belgian detective and his extraordinary powers of deduction while piecing the most intricate puzzle together. The climax is brilliant with simple explanations to the most complicated questions. In a classic "whodunnit" fashion, the reader is kept in the dark till the very last moment and the curtains are raised in the very end.

Murder On The Links is the story of the perils of love, passion and greed. The plot is brilliant, the deceptions fabulous and the revelations leave you speechless. Many cozy mysteries of today fall short when compared to the works of Agatha Christie. This second novel features a wealthy family inhabiting a French country house, the violence of past catching up, and the intense romantic entanglements that confuses human decisions.

And what a re-run of my journey in the world of Agatha Christie its been so far. ...more

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Jan 13, 2018 Jill rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: agatha-christie

This being the second of the Poirot series, was just as good as the first. It really was quite complicated, with a lot of characters. Don't think anyone could have liked Giraud, and all the time I was cheering on Poirot. Told from Hastings point of view, did make himself seem more dumb than we imagine, but it did mean that Poirot explained some of his thoughts along the way as opposed to leaving all explanations to the very end. Did like the happy ending. ...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Leslie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries

2021 reread via Kindle edition
I was surprised by Hastings in this reread - not due to his romance but by the number of times he actually deduced something correctly! Of course, he still managed to be off base lots of times too...

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