Book Review: The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie

The Murder on the Links.  Agatha Christie. 1923. 227 pages.  Genre:  Mystery.

First Line: "I believe that a well-known anecdote exists to the effect that a young writer, determined to make the commencement of his story forcible and original enough to catch and rivet the attention of the most blase of editors, penned the following sentence:  ''Hell!' said the Duchess.'"

Summary:  Captain Hastings has just returned to London, where he shares rooms with his friend, Belgian ex-detective, Hercule Poirot.  Nothing interesting has come in the post for some time.  Poirot laments, "...nothing of interest arrives nowadays.  The great criminals, the criminals of method, they do not exist."  But wait!  There is a letter that was overlooked.  It is from a Mr. Renauld and is begging Poirot to come to him, he is in urgent need of a detective.  Hastings and Poirot catch the next train (and boat) to Merlinville-Sur-Mer, France.

When they arrive at the home of Mr. Renauld they find that they are too late.  Mr. Renauld has been murdered.  Poirot is well acquainted with the Commissary of Police, Monsieur Lucien Bex and finds him already at the scene of the crime.  M. Bex is delighted to have Poirot assist on the case and is sure Mrs. Renauld will wish to retain his services as well.  They are expecting Monsieur Giraud from the Paris Police as well and are sure that Poirot and Giraud will work well together.  However, Poirot is not so sure about that.  Giraud goes about his investigation in completely the wrong way.  He uses all of his senses to gather clues.  Poirot thinks that method is inferior to using "the little gray cells".  

Mr. Renauld was found stabbed in the back, lying face downwards in an open grave on the golf course near his home.  When the servants at his home came down to start work for the day, they found the front door ajar and soon discovered that Mrs. Renauld had been gagged and tied up.  She was quite weak and on hearing the news of her husband's death had to be sedated.

As Poirot and Hastings begin to investigate, things just don't add up.  And there is something vaguely familiar about the details of the case.  Will Poirot's "little gray cells" be able to solve the mystery and bring the killer to justice?

My thoughts:  The crime seems pretty straight forward - two masked men enter a home, tie up the wife and take the husband by force.  But as the case unfolds, it becomes more and more complicated.  

I always enjoy Poirot and getting to know him better.  Hastings, who is not always quick to see what Poirot is seeing (much like the reader!) was portrayed as a little too slow at times in this one.  But that was a minor concern.  The addition of M. Giraud as Poirot's nemesis was interesting and humorous.  Giraud leaves no stone unturned - literally - when he investigates a crime scene.  Hastings finds it fascinating to watch him.  But Poirot thinks his methods are inferior and doesn't hesitate to make his opinion known.  Giraud clearly dislikes Poirot and is also not afraid to make this known.  There is a race between them to discover the killer.

The mystery is complex and full of twists and turns.  Until Poirot explained the case, I was in the dark on several points.  There is also a bit of a romance in this one.  As always, Agatha Christie doesn't disappoint!  Highly recommended.

Quotes:

"Elsewhere, I have described Hercule Poirot.  An extraordinary little man! Height, five feet four inches, egg-shaped head carried a little to one side, eyes that shone green when he was excited, stiff military moustache, air of dignity immense! He was neat and dandified in appearance.  For neatness of any kind he had an absolute passion."

"'I know you by name, Monsieur Poirot,' he said.  'You cut quite a figure in the old days, didn't you? But methods are very different now.'   'Crimes, though, are very much the same, ' remarked Poirot gently."