“Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night” - Sophie Hannah

 (New Poirot book 5)

🎄Nothing says Christmas like a Hercule Poirot Yuletide adventure! HPSN takes us from September through Christmas of 1930. On the pivotal question of whether secrecy was the motive for the murder, our bon amis Poirot and Catchpool disagree; Poirot says yes, Catchpool thinks not.

🎄Catchpool is rather more verbose than Hastings - sometimes tediously so. Poirot’s famous case summation is also more meandering than the original Poirot’s were.

🎄One thing is certain: Catchpool’s mother Cynthia is a narcissist through and through. She’s totally unpleasant. I was shocked that Poirot allowed his plans to be unceremoniously upended by Cynthia. It’s not in keeping with his nature; Poirot may be occasionally taken in by beauty and charm, but he’s never one to allow himself to be bullied.