After the Funeral - Agatha Christie

In "After the Funeral" we are presented with a novel which not only manipulates our preceptions and forces us to question that which we took for granted, but which may also be viewed as representative of the growing differences between the era that this book is set in and those of Christie's earlier works. More than thirty years has elapsed since the first novels and short stories were written and society has changed dramatically since, for example, "The Secret of Chimneys". "After the Funeral" concerns primarily a family which has previously resided together in a large manor house, in the 1920's and 1930's and who have now all scattered, ...  Read the complete review

This was a review I posted here a few years ago. Deciding it needed an update, I checked to see what amendments needed to be made and was horrified to find it was only three paragraphs long. And some of my other reviews weren't exactly stellar either! Anyway, on with the (extended) review. After the Funeral was published in 1953, and was also the 53rd Agatha Christie book to be published. Although it was written at a time when Christie's work was as popular as ever, it is a less complex story than afficionados might be used to. The story starts after the funeral of Richard Abernethie, owner of Enderby Hall and a vast fortune. His ...  Read the complete review

'After the Funeral' is a book by Agatha Christie, about an upper class English family - the Abernethies - who become suspects in a murder. Hercule Poirot is the detective who is brought in to investigate the murder of Cora Lansquenet, a widow who is killed savagely with a hatchet. Her murder comes days after the funeral of her oldest brother, Richard Abernethie, the heir to the family fortune and business. During the reading of the will, Cora had cast some doubt over the nature of her brother's death by saying "It was hushed up very nicely ... but he was murdered, wasn't he?". The story that ensues follows Poirot and the family solicitor, Mr Entwhistle, as they ...  Read the complete review

After the Funeral is a Hercule Poirot mystery and being my favourite detective I perhaps had too high hopes of this book. That’s not to say that its terrible, just not as good as I expected. The story circles around the Abernethie family. The funeral described in the title is that of wealthy Richard Abernethie. During the reading of his will, his sister Cora (who is well known for being tackless) innocently says: “He was murdered, wasn’t he?” Although ignored at the time, the rest of the family were forced to think about it the next day when Cora is found murdered. The family solicitor decides to call in Hercule Poirot. ...  Read the complete review