The Hollow

By: Agatha Christie

Narrated by: Hugh Fraser

Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

A far-from-warm welcome greets Hercule Poirot as he arrives for lunch at Lucy Angkatell's country house. A man lies dying by the swimming pool, his blood dripping into the water. His wife stands over him, holding a revolver.

As Poirot investigates, he begins to realize that beneath the respectable surface lies a tangle of family secrets and everyone becomes a suspect.

This title was previously published as Murder After Hours.

©1946 Agatha Christie Limited (P)2002 HarperCollins Publishers

Hugh Fraser excellent narrator for Agatha Christie

This is one of Agatha Christie's books that features Hercule Poirot. But oddly, only scarcely. His role is very slight, and the book could easily have been written without him.

He has taken a summer place near two houses where the main characters are staying. John Christow is doctor who brings his wife Gerta to a weekend party at the Angkatell's house. There are a few other people: Midge, a cousin, Edward a son, David--who considers them all snobs, Henrietta, a sculptress, and a movie star who appears into the doctor's life after many years, and a couple of loyal servants.

There are a lot of interactions between the characters, even (unusually) a fair amount of internal, private thoughts for some of them. Poirot happens to be visiting for lunch on the day of the murder, and arrives just seconds after it has occurred, and becomes involved for that reason. But this never turns out to be one of his classic mysteries, where he lines everyone up at the end, and reveals the murderer. He does figure it out, but the style is just so different, I felt some disappointment to miss the usual presentation. Christie is always good, but this is one of the weaker ones, in my opinion. Recommend, but with that observation about it.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

One of my favorite Poirots!

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. Hugh Fraser is so talented, the story is good, and the mystery surprising. Loved it!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Deeper characters in The Hollow

This really stood out for me as a different type of Christie mystery, and a very different Poirot mystery. This is probably not for fans of Poirot, because he is really just barely involved in the story or the mystery, and, if fact, the author once said she was sorry she even put him in this story at all. But I loved it. The characters were deeper and more complex, and the story line seemed to take precedence over the mystery, if that makes any sense.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Excellent

Dane Christie's understanding & portrayal of human emotion, and human weakness is striking and profound as ever in this story. And now I don't like anyone reading her besides Hugh Fraser - he's truly masterful.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Always keeps you guessing

What about Hugh Fraser’s performance did you like?

He is able to keep my attention.

Any additional comments?

I have enjoyed each of these books, always a good read.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great Mystery

This was the first Poirot book I’ve read where I was actually happy when the victim was finally murdered! The characters are well developed and, in some cases, quite despicable! Loved this installment and would highly recommend. Cheers!

My Favorite Agatha Christie

If you could sum up The Hollow in three words, what would they be?

An excellent mystery

Who was your favorite character and why?

Henrietta is such an interesting character, it is intriguing to see what she will do next.

What does Hugh Fraser bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hugh Fraser's narration is one of the best parts to me. I find his voice very comforting and easy to listen to. As a part of the Poirot show for so long and as a narrator of so many of the books, I think he brings a special understanding of Poirot to his narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I have easily listened to most of this book at once, it is one that I have listened to many times.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend for any cozy mystery fan.

Strange Agatha Christie book

This book wasn't the usual Agatha Christie book. It takes awhile for the mystery to begin and I'm not sure she knew what she wanted to do with it.It meanders and gives each person more than usual time to emote, to wallow in misery.So I don't know whether she couldn't cut it or wanted to prove she could do a serious mystery.But instead we got cliches ,and a muddle of a mystery.If you want a good Agatha Christie don't listen to this one and as always Hugh Frasier does an excellent job.I don't know where her brain was when she wrote this book. She wrote it during WW2 maybe that was the problem.

My Favorite Poirot Novel

What made the experience of listening to The Hollow the most enjoyable?

Hugh Fraser's expert narration makes this a most enjoyable listen. He reads well and does the voice of Poirot very well.

What did you like best about this story?

That Agatha Christie had fun with Poirot's characer. In this novel, you get to see the amusing side to Poirot while solving a mystery.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I think that first and foremost, Christie wrote to entertain. So her writing style and plots vary.

not the great mystery as some of the stories

storyline was a bit dull and not up to some of her writings. and okay listen