The Hollow by Agatha Christie

"The Hollow" by Agatha Christie. This book is published by HarperCollins in 2002.

There is a gathering of distant cousins, friends and their families at Lady Lucy and Sir Henry Angkatell's estate, 'The Hollow'. Guests include Midge - Lucy's cousin, Dr. John and his beautiful but stupid wife Gerda, Henrietta - a sculptor, Edward Angkatell, another cousin David and Hercule Poirot. Veronica, John's ex, also gate crashes.

There's a murder. Who is murdered? What is the motive? Whodunit?

It's a typical Agatha mystery with a large house of rich people, many characters, murder in the house, many suspects, scattered clues and mystery.

What I liked most of this book was the fantastic characterization. It's an assortment of peculiar characters. Lucy who is absent minded, vague, has hyper active mind. Henrietta who is devoted to work, slightly ruthless, in love with John. Gerda who is slow and stupid, but not as much as everyone thinks. Dr. John, a magnet for women, who has had a number of affairs and is passionate about finding cure to Ridgway's decease. Edward who is book lover and would not marry if not Henrietta, Veronica a typical egotistical star who gets what she wants with her charm etc.

The interrelations between characters are also curious. There are tangled feelings of love, care, protectiveness, sympathy between the characters. Some questions remain with the readers. Why John did not marry Henrietta? Why did John marry Gerda? Why did Gerda worship John? Why Henrietta cared for Gerda? Did Edward love Midge?

While reading the book I learned a new word Yggdrasil. Search for the meaning yourself :) !!

One important thing that is almost missing from this book is the investigation, that tantalizing cat and mouse game, gathering of clues and deductive reasoning. Readers are left unsatisfied because murder mystery is not only about finding the murderer but also the process of finding the murderer. The mystery is revealed on its own. As a result Hercule Poirot's role is much smaller as compared to other Agatha mysteries. End is also unconvincing.

The buildup is good but then the remaining story and climax does not live up to the expectation. I sort of fizzles out.

An OK book. Not a must read.

Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie

"Sparkling Cyanide" by Agatha Christie. The book is published by Harper in 1992 and is 226 pages long. This is neither a Hercule Poirot mystery nor a Miss Marple mystery. The detective is Colonel Race, a rarity. A classic whodunit.

Rosemary, a rich and extremely beautiful heiress, who received all her money from her godfather, dies after drinking glass of sparkling wine laced with cyanide after a toast during a party in a restaurant. She was married to a man older than her (George) and had extra marital affairs. Police term her death as a suicide.

There are a number of suspects. Ruth Lessing (Agatha's pun does not go unnoticed) secretary of George, who secretly wants to marry George. Antony Brown, Rosemary's lover who has done jail and whose past is now reveled. Steven Faraday, a politician and Rosemary's lover who is annoyed that she wants him to divorce his wife, forgo his career and marry her. Alexandra (Sandra) Faraday, Steven's wife, who knew about the affair. George Barton, Rosemary's husband, who knew and accepted her love affairs. Iris, Rosemary's younger sister who will inherit her fortune when she turns 21?

George gets letters indicating that Rosemary did not commit suicide but was murdered. Instead of going to police George devices a trap and invites Colonel Race to investigate. Everything appears to be set when there is another murder exactly in the same fashion. Now police come into the picture and Inspector Kemp starts investigations with Colonel Race.

Were these murders? Or were they suicides? Who was the second victim? Can the investigators succeed in pinning down the murderer? Whodunit?

It was interesting to read Agatha mystery without Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple. It's a classic case where everyone seems to have a motive but no one seems to be the murderer. The story is laid decently, though not spectacularly, as usual.

The murderer is not the least suspected in this story but the most suspected for a change.

An OK read. Read if you have time.

Towards Zero by Agatha Christie

"Towards Zero", a murder mystery by Agatha Christie. 

This is one of the rare Agatha Christi novels where neither Hercule Poirot nor Miss Marple appear. The detective is Superintendent Battle.

A man visiting a widow at her estate dies and the widow is murdered. A number of guests, relatives and accomplices are in the house and everyone seems to be a murderer. Story goes through ups and downs, twists and turns and reaches climax to reveal the killer.

As typical of Agatha, a number of small clues scattered around the book like bread crumbs converge in the climax. A classic whodunit.

This story has a lot of characters; as is usual for Agatha novels. You have to concentrate hard in the beginning till all the characters are introduced and their relations to others are established.

Although the name has modest relevance to story, it has all the characteristics of usual Agatha mystery and keeps you interested till the end.

Although '10 little Indians' or 'Murder on orient express' are better, recommend reading this one.