A Poirot travesty

What disappointed you about The Monogram Murders?

Every single aspect. The many non-English accents used by the narrator were grating on the ear, The plot was- frankly - awful. Fiction requires the 'willing suspension of disbelief' and while some lack of realism is acceptable, this book was too ridiculously unrealistic for comfort. A Scotland Yard detective who leaves corpses in an unguarded crime-scene overnight and goes home to mope.... one of the many badly written scenarios presented in the first hour of listening, Characterisation was shallow and anyone with a concept of Poirot needs to avoid this book at all costs because in this book, the weak and inconsistent character presented jars on the listener. Every scene is drawn out to beyond tedium - so much so that summoning enthusiasm and commitment to the story is impossible, and the elaboration so extensive that you forget what the original premise of the scene was supposed to be.

What could Sophie Hannah have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not written it.

It was dire - the worst book I've encountered in a long time.

How a publishing house editorial team allowed something with such glaring weaknesses to reach publication, is quite beyond me.One example, taken from several I could quote: the mysterious sherry is referred to as 'Harveys Bristol Cream'. That phrase jarred on the ear - would it have been known as such in the 1930s (or whenever this farago was apparently set)? Quick online research suggested that this marketing phrase to describe the product was developed in the 1960s. Before mass-media advertising, products would rarely have been referred to in this way.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Although Rind-Tutt has a pleasant voice, it does lack variety in tone. In his defence, he had long boring, dull passages to read so it was an uphill task to enliven the text.. Many actors have dismally failed to deliver Poirot in a realistic, non-caricatured way, and Rind -Tutt has now joined their ranks (Only David Suchet and John Moffatt have succeeded.) However, the accents of the boiler maker and restaurant staff were equally caricatured and I found them unpleasant to hear. The boiler maker mocking Poirot's accent was particularly grim.

What character would you cut from The Monogram Murders?

All of them. The only interesting character was Fee, the waitress, who showed some insights and made some telling statements which - exasperatingly - were not followed up by Poirot. You had the feeling that if she had only stated what she knew, she could have solved the mystery without troubling Poirot or poor pitifully drawn Catchpole.

Any additional comments?

I live in Holland and had an unexpected day of driving ahead of me so swiftly downloaded an audiobook to keep me engaged and chose this one because of misleading ratings. I've asked Audible to restore my credit under the Great Read Guarantee as this was far from that. I endured 5 hours of it because I had no alternative - but deleted it from my device at the end of the journey. I very rarely give up on a book, feeling that you have to judge it as a whole - but my life is too precious to waste another moment listening to such tosh.

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74 people found this helpful

The Boring Monogram Murders

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Some one who is not an Agatha Christie fan, even then, maybe not.

What will your next listen be?

Any other Agatha Christie to get the mood back.

What three words best describe Julian Rhind-Tutt’s performance?

Sorry, too much over the top as Hercule Poirot

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The story could have been OK if it had been a good deal shorter

Any additional comments?

I found it long winding and boring. At one point I thought the conclusion was drawing near i noticed there were over three hours left. It just goes on, and on, and on.
In no way would Agatha Christie have written this book.
I am really disappointed as one critic said that Agatha Christie fans would nor be disappointed, well, the critic was wrong.

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51 people found this helpful

Appalling

What would have made The Monogram Murders better?

Perhaps if the reader was not treated as a complete imbecile.

Has The Monogram Murders put you off other books in this genre?

I will not purchase any further books by this author.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Julian Rhind-Tutt?

The narrator was great.

What character would you cut from The Monogram Murders?

In this book both Hercule Poirot & Catchpole

Any additional comments?

Very disappointing novel

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38 people found this helpful

Not the Poirot I knew and loved

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

Any additional comments?

Very rarely can any modern author catch the flavour and elegance of stories written in the past (the exception being Jill Paton Walsh's Lord Peter Wimsey stories) and so it is with this attempt to write a new Poirot. There is no feeling for the period in which it was supposed to take place. Catchpool, the detective who acts as Poirot's new companion, is no Hastings not even a Japp! The story needs a lot of editing, it rambles uninterestingly, through a tale which never catches fire and there is far too much Catchpool and not nearly enough Poirot. I gave up out of boredom about half-way through, unusual for me.

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33 people found this helpful

Disappointed

The only connection to Agatha Christie in this book is the name Poirot together with references to his well known personal habits. The rest is a long drawn out improbable murder plot which was endured and not enjoyed.
Can't imagine how the Christie Estate went along with it.
Linda Abbiss

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28 people found this helpful

Great disappointment

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?
Someone who hasn't read the originals.

Has The Monogram Murders put you off other books in this genre?
No, but would hesitate to read this writer's other books.

Which character – as performed by Julian Rhind-Tutt – was your favourite?
None - all dreary

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Monogram Murders?
last third - rewrite the massive exposition as to what had happened

Any additional comments?
Not since I finished Anthony Horowitz's novel Moriaty have I felt so disappointed with an anticipated good read. But Horowitz’s novel was at least great fun until the author seemed to loose interest and resolve the plot with a sudden last minute, rushed exposition. This Poirot novel takes its final third of an overlong homage to set up both the solution and the many incorrect alternatives. Hastings, dull but endearing, is replaced by a banal and charmless Catchpool who recounts the story for much of the time, though without Dr Watson’s humanity or everyman intelligence. The village where the saga effectively starts has none of the interest of St Mary Mead, and the London hotel has none of the fascination of Bertram’s. If I hadn’t purchased this I would probably have abandoned this by half way, but determined to get my money’s worth with the vain hope that there might be a wonderful resolution I ploughed on. Convinced I must have missed a major aspect I even went back over the last third, to no avail. This is over-long, over-written (I now know what this phrase means), and far too convoluted. Poirot is a caricature with the worst aspects of his original character brought to the fore and played for all they are worth, yet with strangely anomalous aspects (he travels by London bus, writes with a finger in the mud, enjoys café coffee). The main theme seems to be that in a hotel not everything is what it seems, and those who are not chronic liars are merely pathetically naïve. This is hardly new, and was dealt with by Agatha Christie herself long ago in her exploration of the Great Train robbery. Read Miss Marple’s musings on the hotel as a simulacrum for a far more sophisticated discussion of authenticity and evil. Give this a miss, or return to your favourite original Christie novel.

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23 people found this helpful

There's a good plot here…somewhere

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Sadly only parts of this book grabbed my attention and I was relieved when the narration finished. It seemed to go on for ever, and even the denouement lasted for more than three hours. Not good use of my time.

Would you recommend The Monogram Murders to your friends? Why or why not?

I wouldn't recommend this book to ardent Christie fans. Although parts were reminiscent of Christie's excellent Poirot stories The Monogram Murders was overlong, over-complicated and had too many characters, many of whom served no real purpose.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt?

Julian Rhind-Tutt had a difficult task in trying to make so many characters sound unique. By and large he managed and produced a credible Hercule Poirot voice. On this basis I'd listen to other books narrated by him.

Could you see The Monogram Murders being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

With very heavy editing this might make a half decent 'made-for-TV' film, but who could be cast as Poirot if David Suchet turns the part down?

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22 people found this helpful

Oh My Goodness

A long winded, rather boring story, that goes on and on and on...conversation between Poirot and his side kick being the most of it...far too much detail, and too many obvious clues, Also too many red herrings.. not at all like Agatha Christie.

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21 people found this helpful

Far Too Long Winded!

What would have made The Monogram Murders better?

A more straightforward plot to follow, I dont remember many of Agatha Christie's books being this complex.

What was most disappointing about Sophie Hannah’s story?

Extremely good author, just too long!

Have you listened to any of Julian Rhind-Tutt’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Ive always like this narrator, not a Sean Barrett, but very good nevertheless.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Monogram Murders?

The third act seemed to go on and on.

Any additional comments?

I think with some historic authors, the works should just be left and not reinvented. I realise this is a personal view but after reading House of Silk (sherlock holmes)too, I have reached this conclusion

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18 people found this helpful

Reveal as long as the tale

what started as a good mystery ended in an endless reveal, and very unlikely set of deaths.

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16 people found this helpful