Hercule Poirot is travelling by luxury passenger coach from London to the exclusive Kingfisher Hill estate, where Richard Devonport has summoned him to prove that his fiancée, Helen, is innocent of the murder of his brother, Frank. But there is a strange condition attached to this request: Poirot must conceal his true reason for being there. The coach is forced to stop when a distressed woman demands to get off, insisting that if she stays in her seat, she will be murdered. Although the rest of the journey passes without anyone being harmed, Poirot's curiosity is aroused, and his fears are later confirmed when a body is discovered with a macabre note attached... Could this new murder and the peculiar incident on the coach be clues to solving the mystery of who killed Frank Devonport? And if Helen is innocent, can Poirot find the true culprit in time to save her from the gallows?
-When Poirot is summoned to Kingfisher Hill to solve a murder, he has to promise to keep the assignment secret. While investigating, he realizes he is dealing with two complex murders and plenty of distractions. The Killings at Kingfisher Hill is the New Hercule Poirot Mystery by Sophie Hannah, published by William Morrow. The story is set in fictional Kingfisher Hill country estate in Surrey 1922. We follow Hercule Poirot and new colleague Scotland Yard Inspector Edward Catchpool as they are summoned to Kingfisher Hill to solve the murder of Frank Devonport. They travel by luxury motor coach where a seemingly disturbed woman is adamant she will be killed if she sits in a certain seat. Poirot agrees to switch seats and takes her place next to another woman who confesses to a murder. Nothing happens to him and Poirot is both shocked and curious to see if these two occurrences on the coach are linked to the murder he is assigned to solve. Main character Hercule Poirot seems his recognizable self. I enjoy how new details makes him even more interesting while the most important original traits are still in place; maybe with some new twists. I find it charming that he uses more French language. Second main character and narrator is Scotland Yard Inspector Edward Catchpole. I love how he conducts independent questionings of some witnesses. Perhaps a slightly modern way of dealing with investigations, I love how the writing style is so excellently in keeping with the original Agatha Christie novels. An amusing vibe, in parts, does not get in the way of the seriousness of the murder investigation. In the centre of the story is the Devonport family who has an extreme capacity for denial. This might have been customary in the 1920s, so it adds an old fashioned feel to the story. Poirot allows Inspector Catchpool an independent, trusted position which might be a modern touch, but he still has to work with Poirot’s detailed lists. I feel this element adds information, clarifies and drives the plot forward in an amazing way. My absolute favorite part of the story is Poirot’s interaction with amusing character Hester Semley. She is a feisty old lady who is insulted by Poirot’s tendency to interrupt her to dig out more details for the investigation. I am not able to reveal my least favorite part of the story to avoid spoiler. Lets just say it relates to the second murder.
Fans of Agatha Christie will love this new mystery. As will readers of cozy mysteries. Similar author to explore might be Agatha Christie. Thank you to Kristiansand Public Library @krsbib for lending me this book. It gave me the opportunity to share my honest review and all opinions are completely my own. Conclusion: This is the exiting new story where Hercule Poirot solves two complex murders helped by his interesting colleague, Scotland Yard Inspector, Edward Catchpool. They have to deal with a family with extraordinary capacity for denial living in an enclosed country estate. This is the perfect addition to the library of Agatha Christie books for fans old and new. I will be eagerly awaiting Sophie Hannah’s next release.
