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Closed Casket

The New Hercule Poirot Mystery

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About this listen

Hercule Poirot returns in another brilliant murder mystery that can only be solved by the eponymous Belgian detective and his ‘little grey cells’.

‘What I intend to say to you will come as a shock . . .’

Lady Athelinda Playford has planned a house party at her mansion in Clonakilty, County Cork, but it is no ordinary gathering. As guests arrive, Lady Playford summons her lawyer to make an urgent change to her will – one she intends to announce at dinner that night. She has decided to cut off her two children without a penny and leave her fortune to someone who has only weeks to live . . .

Among Lady Playford’s guests are two men she has never met – the famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, and Inspector Edward Catchpool of Scotland Yard. Neither knows why he has been invited . . . until Poirot starts to wonder if Lady Playford expects a murderer to strike. But why does she seem so determined to provoke, in the presence of a possible killer?

When the crime is committed in spite of Poirot’s best efforts to stop it, and the victim is not who he expected it to be, will he be able to find the culprit and solve the mystery?

Following the phenomenal global success of The Monogram Murders, which was published to critical acclaim following a co-ordinated international launch in September 2014, international best-selling crime writer Sophie Hannah has been commissioned by Agatha Christie Limited to pen a second fully-authorised Poirot novel. The new book marks the centenary of the creation of Christie’s world-famous detective Hercule Poirot, introduced in her first book The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

 Cosy Crime Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Murder Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Women's Fiction Classics

Critic reviews

‘Sparkling second outing for Hannah's reimagined Poirot. The setting (posh Irish country house), the characters (country lawyers, creepy male secretary, stroppy flapper, etc) and the period vocabulary are all spot on, but it's the utter fiendish unpredictability of the plot that makes Sophie the new Agatha’ Sunday Times

‘An ingenious solution to the mystery of Closed Casket represents another satisfying addition to the Agatha Christie canon’ Irish Times

‘Top-class entertainment’ Woman & Home

‘Closed Casket is deviously plotted, deeply satisfying and does the grande dame of crime proud’ Good Housekeeping

‘A brand new (and fiendishly puzzling) case for Hercule Poirot – seriously, what could be more blissful?’ Saga Magazine

‘This mystery is enormously compulsive – keep ‘em coming! 5 stars’ Heat

‘Christie’s boots as a crime writer are hard to fill, but Hannah achieves it quietly and intelligently with Poirot-sized steps once again in Closed Casket… The whole book will not only delight Agatha Christie devotees but anyone who loves a good, well written murder mystery’ Devon Life

‘A brand new (and fiendishly puzzling) case for Hercule Poirot – seriously, what could be more blissful? … Gorgeous’ SAGA

‘This cunningly executed Christie tribute taps into the current vogue for Golden Age crime with its vintage plot, numerous possible motives and neatly contained setting’ METRO

'a literary marriage made in heaven!’ THE TIMES

‘a novel fizzing with ideas and spikey dialogue’ SUNDAY EXPRESS

‘an absolute gem for murder mystery fans’ CLOSER
All stars
Most relevant
Although I enjoyed it, there was too much detail and I kept thinking oh do hurry up. It took a while to get used to the fact that poirot was really not the main character, however I can see why as otherwise it would try to be a copy of Christies which is impossible. If this idea is to repeated cut down the description and padding out. Poirot's books were so good because they were the right length and you could still imagine all the characters

Good but not Christie

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the story dragged on for a bit - the reason I like Agatha Christie novels in the first place is because the narration was no longer than 6 to 7 hours otherwise I start to lose interest . Whilst I found Closed Casket to be more enjoyable than Monogram Murders , it was still way too long . Julian Rhind-Tutt seem to be improving as the narrator and his Poirot almost sounds like David Suchet , which I was impressed with . I hope the next new Poirot novel from Sophie Hannah will be slightly shorter .

Dragged on for a bit

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I was really looking forward to this story - the narrator is great and very comforting to listen to. I did enjoy the story as well, although I found it a bit predictable. Hoping for more Poirot stories from Sophie Hannah!

Great narrator

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Fabulous setting, great characters and lots of twists and turns.

Thoroughly enjoyed......downloaded the next one !!

Realy good Poirot story

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Wished it never ended. I will miss the characters.of the playford family and they will forever be in my memory and in my favour for bringing joy to me as I listened to this wonderful masterpiece.

It was thrilling

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