Sophie Hannah
Teoksen Nimikirjainmurhat tekijä
About the Author
Sophie Hannah was born in 1971 in Manchester, England. She is a bestselling, award-winning poet. Hannah went to the University of Manchester and published her first book of poems, The Hero and the Girl Next Door, at the age of 24. In 2004 she won first prize in the Daphne Du Maurier Festival Short näytä lisää Story Competition for her psychological suspense story, The Octopus Nest. Hannah was recently chosen by Agatha Christie's estate to resurrect her beloved detective, Hercule Poirot. Her subsequent novel, The Monogram Murders, was published in 2014. (Bowker Author Biography) näytä vähemmän
Sarjat
Tekijän teokset
How to Hold a Grudge: From Resentment to Contentment, the Power of Grudges to Transform Your Life (2019) 58 kappaletta
Deadlier: 100 of the Best Crime Stories Written by Women (2017) — Toimittaja; Avustaja — 19 kappaletta
Beauty, Hair, Style: The ultimate guide to everyday, festival, and occasion make-up looks, hair styles and dyeing, and… (2023) 1 kappale
The Dwelling (Spilling CID #10.4) 1 kappale
The Tennis Church 1 kappale
The Monogram Murders | Closed Casket 1 kappale
Bully the Blue Bear 1 kappale
Allerlei 1 kappale
Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot' püha öö 1 kappale
Associated Works
A Spot of Folly: Ten and a Quarter New Tales of Murder and Mayhem (2017) — Johdanto, eräät painokset — 55 kappaletta
Skald: The Short Story Collection: 6 Original Crime & Thriller Short Stories (2018) — Avustaja — 7 kappaletta
Merkitty avainsanalla
Yleistieto
- Virallinen nimi
- Hannah, Sophie
- Syntymäaika
- 1971
- Sukupuoli
- female
- Kansalaisuus
- UK
- Syntymäpaikka
- Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK
- Asuinpaikat
- Manchester, England, UK
West Yorkshire, England, UK
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK - Koulutus
- Beaver Road Primary School, Didsbury, England, UK
University of Manchester - Ammatit
- poet
novelist - Suhteet
- Geras, Norman (father)
Geras, Adéle (mother) - Agentti
- Peter Straus (Rogers, Coleridge and White)
- Lyhyt elämäkerta
- Sophie Hannah is a best-selling, award-winning poet. Her latest collection, First of the Last Chances, was chosen for the Poetry Book Society's Next Generation promotion in June 2004. She regularly performs her poetry to live audiences nationwide and abroad, and recently won first prize in the Daphne Du Maurier Festival Short Story Competition for her psychological suspense story The Octopus Nest. Little Face is her first psychological crime novel. Sophie lives in West Yorkshire with her husband and two children.
From Fantastic Fiction
Jäseniä
Kirja-arvosteluja
Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night (New Poirot #5) bySophie Hannah. This was an adequate mystery novel that I had a hard time with and it was only by reading a Poirot novel by Dame Agatha herself that I discovered the reason for my misgivings. I do not like the narrator. It is as simple as that. I do not care for Inspector Catchpool in the least and I can’t fathom as to why Poirot would put up with the man. And as the Inspector acts as narrator for our tale, I am left is a certain amount of distaste for the entire affair.
Catchpool is supposed to be an inspector with Scotland Yard. Reaching that rank means you have shown an inordinate amount of curiosity as to the things surrounding a crime, especially murder. An inspector is expected to be bold, dynamic, cagy, intelligent and perseverant in his or her duties. Catchpool appears to be none of these. I would say he was the embodiment of the “Inspector Plod” detective character who appeared so many times under so many names throughout the history of the detective novel. I would say it, but here he is out “Plodded” by the local inspector, Gerald Mackle. He manages to be worse than Catchpool by insisting on a ludicrous explanation for the murders. Together they besmirch the noble credit earned by The Yard and the British Constabulary.
Poirot and Catchpool had planned on spending Christmas of 1931 together at Poirot’s flat in London. But, before you can say voila they are whisked off by Catchpool’s mother to a country manor to solve a murder. A man named Stanley Niven as killed while in local hospital. His head was crunched via a large vase to the skull. There are three problems that need to be solved. Who did this terrible thing and why, and how without being seen. According to everyone, Mr. Niven as a jovial man without an enemy in the world. Add to that every doctor, nurse, visitor or patient on the scene swear no one entered his private room during the time he was killed making this a sort of locked room mystery.
The importance of having Poirot on the scene comes from Mrs. Catchpool’s friend, Arnold Laurier, who is due to be admitted to the same ward as the murdered man, only in the next room. His wife Vivienne and their two married sons mostly feel that Arnold, a jolly fellow himself although with a terminal illness, will be the killer’s next victim.
There is a lot of talks and abbreviated conversations (you know the kind that happens just as one person is about to say something vital, the action hinges away, usually by them saying we will talk later) and nothing much happens for the bulk of the story. The descriptions of the characters run to the minimal (tall for one, china doll-like for another, buxom for a third) to the point where you begin to think nothing these people say or do matters.
Poirot solves the case but is assisted by a gimmick that leaves him possessing information no one else has. And the placement of that information is a bit heavy handed as if the writer had no other means of giving Poirot what he needed to solve this. And the reasons for the murders are stretching the bounds of reasonability.
I found this outing rather dull for the most part followed closely by unbelievable for the closing. I can only recommend this if you are one who has to read EVERY! Poirot novel. Everyone else can skip it and be no worse for wear.… (lisätietoja)
Catchpool is supposed to be an inspector with Scotland Yard. Reaching that rank means you have shown an inordinate amount of curiosity as to the things surrounding a crime, especially murder. An inspector is expected to be bold, dynamic, cagy, intelligent and perseverant in his or her duties. Catchpool appears to be none of these. I would say he was the embodiment of the “Inspector Plod” detective character who appeared so many times under so many names throughout the history of the detective novel. I would say it, but here he is out “Plodded” by the local inspector, Gerald Mackle. He manages to be worse than Catchpool by insisting on a ludicrous explanation for the murders. Together they besmirch the noble credit earned by The Yard and the British Constabulary.
Poirot and Catchpool had planned on spending Christmas of 1931 together at Poirot’s flat in London. But, before you can say voila they are whisked off by Catchpool’s mother to a country manor to solve a murder. A man named Stanley Niven as killed while in local hospital. His head was crunched via a large vase to the skull. There are three problems that need to be solved. Who did this terrible thing and why, and how without being seen. According to everyone, Mr. Niven as a jovial man without an enemy in the world. Add to that every doctor, nurse, visitor or patient on the scene swear no one entered his private room during the time he was killed making this a sort of locked room mystery.
The importance of having Poirot on the scene comes from Mrs. Catchpool’s friend, Arnold Laurier, who is due to be admitted to the same ward as the murdered man, only in the next room. His wife Vivienne and their two married sons mostly feel that Arnold, a jolly fellow himself although with a terminal illness, will be the killer’s next victim.
There is a lot of talks and abbreviated conversations (you know the kind that happens just as one person is about to say something vital, the action hinges away, usually by them saying we will talk later) and nothing much happens for the bulk of the story. The descriptions of the characters run to the minimal (tall for one, china doll-like for another, buxom for a third) to the point where you begin to think nothing these people say or do matters.
Poirot solves the case but is assisted by a gimmick that leaves him possessing information no one else has. And the placement of that information is a bit heavy handed as if the writer had no other means of giving Poirot what he needed to solve this. And the reasons for the murders are stretching the bounds of reasonability.
I found this outing rather dull for the most part followed closely by unbelievable for the closing. I can only recommend this if you are one who has to read EVERY! Poirot novel. Everyone else can skip it and be no worse for wear.… (lisätietoja)
Inspector Catchpool is looking forward to a quiet Christmas in London with his friend Hercule Poirot but an unexpected visit from his mother seems likely to disrupt this. She is staying with a family in a house on the Norfolk Coast, the father is terminally ill and due to enter a 'hospice' ain the new Year but a recent murder there has convinced his wide that he will be murdered if he goes. Poirot is intrigued but determined to solve the mystery before Christmas.
This is the lasted in Hannah's rebooted tribute to Christie and it serves up all the well-loved elements. It is a long time since I read a Poirot story but I really enjoyed this one. It is period perfect and the story is suitably twisty. I did guess fairly early on who was the guilty party but the why was the fun part.… (lisätietoja)
This is the lasted in Hannah's rebooted tribute to Christie and it serves up all the well-loved elements. It is a long time since I read a Poirot story but I really enjoyed this one. It is period perfect and the story is suitably twisty. I did guess fairly early on who was the guilty party but the why was the fun part.… (lisätietoja)
This book has an intriguing premise: a woman called Beth who hasn't seen Flora Braid, a former best friend for 12 years after a rift developed in their relationship, decides to drive to her ex-friend's house when a trip to take her son to a football (soccer) match brings her into that neighbourhood. While sitting outside musing about the kind of house Flora now lives in (detached in a private road, big gates etc) and contrasting it to the modest existence they both had 12 years ago, she sees a woman who appears to be Flora drive up in a 4x4 onto the property. Flora gets out and has a fraught telephone conversation, partly overheard by Beth, then coaxes two small children out of the car ... and Beth can't believe her eyes because the children are Thomas and Emily, Flora's small children who should now be in their late teens. This triggers off an obsession in Beth to get to the truth which grows to epic proportions.
At first, this story was very absorbing and a real page turner. More strange details come out, and gradually it is revealed what a controlling personality Flora's husband Lewis was, and various disturbing aspects relating to the couple and their children. Sadly, it becomes derailed about two thirds in.
Firstly, there is a seemingly disconnected small subplot which appears from nowhere, to do with a teacher at the school which Beth's teenage daughter Zan attends. Zan records the teacher having a go at her and her boyfriend and making a remark which is termed racism, but actually sounded more like Islamophobia. The function of this subplot appears to be so that Beth can realise how important it might be at a crucial moment later on to get a voice recording and to influence that recording. It does show her being a supportive and assertive mother at the school, but seems a bit disingenous as it has been made clear throughout the book that the school is pretty awful from a teaching viewpoint - ironically, the teacher concerned is supposed to be one of the few who are actually doing their job - yet she never seems to have done anything to remedy the situation.
Secondly, the action shifts to Florida in the last quarter or so of the book, where Flora's husband now lives, and becomes rather plodding and repetitive. In fact, there was quite a lot of rehashing throughout the story, with Beth constantly going over what she knew so far, how she was going to get to the truth, how it was unfair to keep it from her and other obsessive thoughts. She becomes quite unlikeable by the end of the story because of all this.
Thirdly, the solution to the mystery is completely unbelievable. It's not possible to say why without major spoilers but there are so many levels on which it fails to convince. It would be far more believable if the two young children had been (illegally made) clones of the pair that Beth knew previously, because there are multiple reasons why the solution given in the book is unacceptable. There's a failure also to address certain things which were made much of earlier, such as why are the children of a seemingly prosperous couple wearing items of clothing which Thomas and Emily had worn 12 years previously, Thomas even going to school in shoes that are falling apart.
Fourthly, the character of Flora is so unattractive I couldn't see why Beth had ever been friends with her in the first place, let alone why she was persisting now. Beth herself turns into a bonkers stalker in the course of the story which isn't that attractive either. The only character I really liked was her daughter Zan who is smart and funny.
So sadly, from something I thought in the early chapters would be a 5 star read dropped to 4 by the time the teacher subplot came in, and by the end could only manage a 3 star rating.… (lisätietoja)
At first, this story was very absorbing and a real page turner. More strange details come out, and gradually it is revealed what a controlling personality Flora's husband Lewis was, and various disturbing aspects relating to the couple and their children. Sadly, it becomes derailed about two thirds in.
Firstly, there is a seemingly disconnected small subplot which appears from nowhere, to do with a teacher at the school which Beth's teenage daughter Zan attends. Zan records the teacher having a go at her and her boyfriend and making a remark which is termed racism, but actually sounded more like Islamophobia. The function of this subplot appears to be so that Beth can realise how important it might be at a crucial moment later on to get a voice recording and to influence that recording. It does show her being a supportive and assertive mother at the school, but seems a bit disingenous as it has been made clear throughout the book that the school is pretty awful from a teaching viewpoint - ironically, the teacher concerned is supposed to be one of the few who are actually doing their job - yet she never seems to have done anything to remedy the situation.
Secondly, the action shifts to Florida in the last quarter or so of the book, where Flora's husband now lives, and becomes rather plodding and repetitive. In fact, there was quite a lot of rehashing throughout the story, with Beth constantly going over what she knew so far, how she was going to get to the truth, how it was unfair to keep it from her and other obsessive thoughts. She becomes quite unlikeable by the end of the story because of all this.
Thirdly, the solution to the mystery is completely unbelievable. It's not possible to say why without major spoilers but there are so many levels on which it fails to convince. It would be far more believable if the two young children had been (illegally made) clones of the pair that Beth knew previously, because there are multiple reasons why the solution given in the book is unacceptable. There's a failure also to address certain things which were made much of earlier, such as why are the children of a seemingly prosperous couple wearing items of clothing which Thomas and Emily had worn 12 years previously, Thomas even going to school in shoes that are falling apart.
Fourthly, the character of Flora is so unattractive I couldn't see why Beth had ever been friends with her in the first place, let alone why she was persisting now. Beth herself turns into a bonkers stalker in the course of the story which isn't that attractive either. The only character I really liked was her daughter Zan who is smart and funny.
So sadly, from something I thought in the early chapters would be a 5 star read dropped to 4 by the time the teacher subplot came in, and by the end could only manage a 3 star rating.… (lisätietoja)
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I have invoked "my rule of 60 plus". That is; When the reader has been reading for more than sixty years, and the book doesn't capture the reader in sixty pages (I gave this one almost 114 pages), then the reader is free to move on without guilt, life is short.
Agatha Christie Limited also needs to move on. Sophie Hannah is not up to the assigned task. Characters that add no value to the story, are thinly described, Page after page of fatuous dialog, with very little participation by Poirot at all, seem overtly designed to keep the reader reading in the hope of something of value. Is anyone editing these works?
Not worthy of Agatha, Poirot, or my time.
Fortunately I borrowed it from a library.… (lisätietoja)