The Hollow

A Hercule Poirot Mystery

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

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.

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.

world's best narrator

Wonderful story of course, but the narrator...! I can't believe how amazing he is. I slowed down the narration because I enjoyed each different voice of each character so much I wanted to savor this audiobook! I hope he has done plenty more! Really...this guy is amazing. It's like having the world's best dessert...painful when it's over. How can anyone be this talented and do voices so well? God. All those different accents, just the right tone at all times, Staggering. I bet Agatha would be pleased.

Emotional

Somehow, even though this is about my 30th Poirot novel, I found it very moving and emotional. It made me cry in many places. Outstanding novel. Perhaps my favorite thus far.

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!

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.

Wowsuhs

Holy smokes where did that come from, Agatha? Even though she herself agrees with critics that Poroit was unnecessary, I didn't mind him at all. And just...woo. I loved the whole thing. This definitely wouldn't have been possible early on in Christie's career. Well worth listening to if you're interested in humans.

Not A Favorite

It was a long, drawn-out story. Too long in fact.
She kept going back into the lives and relationships of the individuals once too often for my taste.
And sadly it seemed that Poirot was an afterthought to the entire book.
Almost as if she didn't know what to do with his character.

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!

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.