After the Funeral (After the Funeral - Agatha Christie)

Member Name: princessjaney

Product:	After the Funeral - Agatha Christie
Date:	30/08/08 (23 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Keeps you guessing, wonderfully written

Disadvantages: Can be confusing at times

'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 try to work out who murdered Cora, and in fact if Richard Abernethie was himself killed.

This was the first time I had read an Agatha Christie novel, and I was pleasantly surprised. I have watched a few film and television adaptations, and enjoyed them, but have never really felt that I would enjoy reading a murder mystery. I was, however, mistaken. This novel had me gripped from start to finish, and, with a plethora of characters introduced throughout the story, I had no idea who had murdered Cora until the final reveal. I am now about to start my next Christie mystery, and can see myself reading them all!

Summary: Fantastic Poirot mystery!