Review: The Murder on the Links

The Murder on the Links (Hercule Poirot #2)
by Agatha Christie
Mystery
Amazon  /  Goodreads

Plot Summary:

An urgent cry for help brings Hercule Poirot to France. But he arrives too late to save his client, whose brutally stabbed body now lies facedown in a shallow grave on a golf course.

But why is the dead man wearing an overcoat that is too big for him? And for whom was the impassioned love letter in the pocket? Before Poirot can answer these questions, the case is turned upside down by the discovery of a second, identically murdered corpse.…

Review:

This is another ingenious mystery of course.  Even though I'm re-reading this (albeit many years later), there was a shocker moment when the real murderer was revealed.  I was just not expecting it at all.  And I love that Christie can always surprise in her mysteries!

The building of this mystery was especially good I think.  Because there are so many details to go over, and Christie masterfully parcels out all the information and then gradually starts explaining parts of it.  Yet there is still that surprise in the end.  The story also introduces a French detective - Giraud  - who is a counterpoint to Poirot and his methods, and it's fun to read about their antagonism.  Especially when you know Poirot will triumph in the end.

This story is also an important one for the character of Captain Hastings.  I thought the romance was a little swift between him and his 'Cinderella', but it is very sweet and I love that Poirot is always looking out for Hastings, even if Hastings is not exactly up to doing the same for Poirot.  That point was a bit sad for me actually - that Hastings could not trust Poirot enough.  But their friendship has always had a bit of an edge, because Poirot can be exasperating sometimes.  But in a good way to me!

This is a well crafted and mystifying mystery and it is so easy to fall in love with the setting, the storytelling and the character of Poirot.