Re-born Poirot shines light on Cork mystery

IF, for some reason, you’ve been introduced to the world’s best-selling author by the latest television adaptations of her work by the BBC you’d be forgiven for thinking that the books are grim and staid affairs where everyone is a suspect and most are morally corrupt.
The TV versions of And Then There Were None and The Witness for the Prosecution were critically acclaimed for their realism and grit, and rightly so – they were well-written and acted productions that stripped the material back to its barest bones, revealing the hard truth and consequences (or lack thereof) of dastardly deeds – but nonetheless I prefer my Agatha Christie with a dash of spinsterly sleuthing or a sprinkle of Belgian moustache-twirling.
In Closed Casket, everyone is still a suspect and probably morally corrupt, but there’s a lightness of touch and a little wink and nod to the reader that although murder most horrid is the subject you need not be too tasked with being judge and juror of the accused; suspension of disbelief is required, and a removal from any outrage and ethical dilemma you may be faced with in a real life homicidal incident.

Read Aoife Burke's full review of CLOSED CASKET by Sophie Hannah in this week's edition