May 18, 2024

#BookReview–> Hercule Poirot #37- Elephants Can Remember By Agatha Christie


I can’t say that I have not loved any of Agatha Christie’s
books and
Elephants Can Remember
is no exception.
A very bossy woman, Mrs Bourtan-Cox confronts Mrs Ariadne
Oliver, a famous detective fiction novelist, at a literary event and asks her the
mysterious question

‘Did her mother kill her father or was it the father who
killed the mother?’


The question is in retrospect of two deaths that occurred
fifteen years ago of General and Lady Ravenscroft. Both shot dead but
were they
murdered?
Who killed who? Was it a suicide pact? A crime of passion?  Or A cold blooded murder?

The police had left an open verdict and now Mrs Oliver
decides to take the help of her friend, Hercule Poirot and solve this cold
case. The case is old and the trail has gone cold with no witnesses apparent
but as they delve into the past they discover that ‘Old sins leave long shadows’ and that people like elephants, can remember!

Every time I read an Agatha Christie novel I am wowed and
each time I feel like asking her
‘How did you think about this?’

The mysteries that she thinks of and executes in her books
are fantastic and work of genius. In this book also, Christie displays an in depth
knowledge of human nature and delivers a mystery which is unique, baffling and
which leaves a haunting effect on us.

This book, Elephants Can Remember, one of the last written by Agatha Christie is as
sharp and captivating as its predecessors. Mrs Ariadne Oliver’s character seems
close to Christie and it seems like she is baring herself to her readers
through this character. Poirot is showcased in a supporting role as compared to
Ariadne Oliver which is interesting to note given his habit of self -importance and his pride. The story is sad and Christie challenges the reader to solve it
by not having many people to pin the murders on. But still one is unable to
clear the mist of the mystery till the end!

I give this a full 5 on 5 for being splendidly written, the
challenge of not having many suspects, a twisted crime that leaves us both sad
and amazed at the levels of complexity of human nature and a story where there
is love, sacrifice, caring, jealousy, execution, hopelessness, sadness,
unhappiness, mysteries and finally truth and peace.



Buy From: Amazon | Amazon IN | Flipkart

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