‘The Monogram Murders’: Poirot mystery reboot lacks Christie’s touch

When I was in junior high, I had one essential life goal: to read all of Agatha Christie's novels.

I made a decent run at it before other interests - both reading and otherwise - displaced the best-selling novelist of all time on my to-do list. I dove into book after book in which Christie proffered a delicious combination of character and plot, and I vividly remember the pleasure I took in trying to follow along as Tommy and Tuppence or Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot untangled a twisty puzzle.

With these memories in mind and with some trepidation, I read Sophie Hannah's 'The Monogram Murders” (William Morrow, 302 pages, $25.99), which brings the great Hercule Poirot back on stage. Happily, Hannah, who has written nine psychological thrillers, finds a solution to the tricky problem of writing another author's most beloved character.

That solution is the introduction of an entirely new narrator for this tale. Edward Catchpool is the Scotland Yard detective who teams up with Poirot to solve a triple homicide at an upscale hotel. While longtime fans might be disappointed not to be in the company of Captain Hastings - a frequent narrator of Poirot's adventures - the switch to Catchpool allows Hannah to focus on her plot and on getting Poirot just right rather than on mimicking Christie's narrative approach.

Hannah gives Catchpool some psychological back story that gives him some depth, and he serves as a good foil to Poirot throughout the story.

As for the plot, it is driven by misdirection and misinterpretation and is sufficiently complex to satisfy readers who enjoy trying to spot and understand the clues. Poirot's explanation of the whole sequence of events is lengthy, but Hannah brings the reader along carefully.

All in all, 'The Monogram Murders” is a good read that feels true to Christie's character. I found, however, that the book's success didn't make me eager for another installment. I found myself wanting to return to Christie's own work.