Hercule Poirot’s Christmas

by Agatha Christie
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas cover
Good Books rating 3.56
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Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99 Hardback • £14.99
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  • ID: 5218
  • Added: 2025-10-22
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
app.thestorygraph.com · Unknown · 2025-10-24
brilliant 4.25

The book starts a bit slow but features great twists and a satisfying ending. The characters are well-developed, and the murder mystery is cleverly crafted. Some parts feel a bit messy, but overall, it's a very enjoyable read.

The book begins a bit slowly, but the twists and turns towards the end make it incredibly engaging. The characters are richly developed, with complex backgrounds that add depth to the story. The murder mystery is particularly well-crafted, showcasing Agatha Christie's sharp and intricate mind. While some parts, like the complications with the granddaughter and the illegitimate sons, feel a bit messy and off-putting, they don't detract too much from the overall enjoyment. By the end, the book becomes impossible to put down, offering a very satisfying and enjoyable reading experience.

Quick quotes

    A little slow to start but some great twists at the end! I audibly gasped when the murderer was revealed - I just didn’t see it coming.

    This entire family needs extensive therapy

    Brilliant. This book was brilliant on so many levels. The storyline was perfectly orchestrated — everything aligned at just the right time and place, which kept me hooked.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-24
good 3.50

The reviewer enjoyed the 1995 adaptation of 'Hercule Poirot’s Christmas' for its holiday atmosphere and strong performances, particularly David Suchet as Poirot and Vernon Dobtcheff as Simeon Lee. However, they felt the screenplay's changes to the plot, including the addition of a South African prologue, weakened the mystery.

The reviewer has been a long-time fan of Agatha Christie's 1938 novel 'Hercule Poirot’s Christmas' and was excited to watch its 1995 adaptation. They appreciated the film's rich holiday atmosphere, thanks to impressive production and costume designs, and the strong performances, especially from David Suchet as Poirot and Vernon Dobtcheff as the tyrannical Simeon Lee. The cast overall was solid, with notable performances from Brian Gwaspari and Sasha Behar. However, the reviewer criticized the screenplay's changes to the plot, particularly the addition of a South African prologue and the substitution of Chief Inspector Japp for Colonel Johnson, which they felt diminished the mystery and made it easier to identify the murderer. Despite these flaws, the reviewer enjoyed the film for its atmosphere and acting.

Quick quotes

    The television movie is rich with a holiday atmosphere, despite the presence of murder.

    David Suchet gave a first rate performance as Hercule Poirot, with his usual mixture of subtle humor and intelligence.

    The addition of the South African sequence and the Stella character made it easier for viewers to eliminate a good number of characters as potential suspects . . . and dimmed the mystery of Simeon Lee's murder.

brtmh.livejournal.com · Unknown · 2024-02-25
decent 3.00

The reviewer found 'Hercule Poirot’s Christmas' to be a decent but not particularly impressive murder mystery. They appreciated the classic elements but felt the plot was predictable and lacked a strong Christmas atmosphere. The characters were well-drawn, but the reviewer wished for more depth and engagement with the protagonist.

The reviewer approached 'Hercule Poirot’s Christmas' with cautious optimism, having read mixed reviews of other books on a list of best Christmas books. While they found the mystery engaging, they were not particularly impressed with the execution. The plot, while classic, felt predictable and lacked the festive atmosphere one might expect from a Christmas book. The reviewer appreciated Agatha Christie's ability to craft a complex family dynamic but wished for more depth in the characters and a stronger connection with the protagonist, Hercule Poirot. They also noted some outdated and sexist elements that detracted from the overall enjoyment. Despite these criticisms, the reviewer acknowledged the book's status as a classic in the genre and suggested it might be enjoyable for fans of murder mysteries and older books.

Quick quotes

    People who do not feel amiable are putting great pressure on themselves to _appear_ amiable! There is at Christmas time a great deal of _hypocrisy_, honourable hypocrisy, hypocrisy undertaken _pour le bon motif c’est entendu,_ but nevertheless hypocrisy!

    And what was he going to get for it in the end? What the good boy of the family always gets. A kick in the pants. Take if from me, gentlemen, virtue doesn’t pay

    If a human being converses much, it is impossible for him to avoid the truth!

vincereview.blogspot.com · Unknown · 2023-12-21
entertaining 3.50

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas is a quick and entertaining Yuletide murder mystery. The story is a seasonal melodrama with typecast caricatures, but the revelation of the murderer is clever and satisfying. The setting lacks festive cheer, but the murder scene is gruesome and memorable.

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas is a delightful holiday murder mystery that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The story revolves around Simeon Lee, a detestable old man who invites his adult sons and their wives home for a Christmas family reunion, only to meet a gruesome end. The murder scene is one of Agatha Christie's more brutal, with blood spattered over upturned furniture and smashed ornaments. The characters are typecast caricatures, each with their own motives and secrets, making it a challenge to pinpoint the murderer. However, the revelation is clever and satisfying, showcasing Christie's mastery of the mystery genre. The setting, though lacking in festive cheer, adds to the overall atmosphere of tension and suspense. Poirot's insight into the psychological strain of the holiday season makes for an interesting dynamic, as he argues that Christmas is a prime time for murder due to the irritability brought on by overeating and indigestion. Overall, the book is a fun and entertaining read, perfect for a cozy holiday mystery.

Quick quotes

    This is arguably a book about reaping what we sow.

    Of course it's almost farcical that Lydia would have been cool and collected enough to drop such a corny line at such a shocking moment, rather than just a one-word oath or a scream.

    I was pleased with the revelation of the murderer. I'd truly been wondering how Christie could pull off her Wow! factor with such standard suspects, any of whom would elicit a 'Meh,' from me.

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