The murder on the links

a Hercule Poirot novel Hercule Poirot (2)

by Agatha Christie

Mass Market Paperback, 228 pages

English language

Published Oct. 29, 1984 by Berkley.

ISBN:: 978-0-425-06794-9
OCLC Number:: 10362043

(47 reviews)

Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is summoned to France after receiving a distressing letter with a urgent cry for help. Upon his arrival in Merlinville-sur-Mer, the investigator finds the man who penned the letter, the South American millionaire Monsieur Renauld, stabbed to death and his body flung into a freshly dug open grave on the golf course adjoining the property. Meanwhile the millionaire's wife is found bound and gagged in her room. Apparently, it seems that Renauld and his wife were victims of a failed break-in, resulting in Renauld's kidnapping and death.

There's no lack of suspects: his wife, whose dagger served as the weapon; his embittered son, who would have killed for independence; and his mistress, who refused to be ignored - and each felt deserving of the dead man's fortune. The police think they've found the cumprit. But Poirot has his doubts. Why is the dead man wearing an overcoat that is too big for him? And who was the impassioned love-letter in the pocket for? Before Poirot can answer these questions, the case is turned upside down by the discovery of a second, identically murdered corpse...

47 editions

Sean Bala reviewed The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot, #2)

Review of 'The Murder on the Links (Hercule Poirot)' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

"The Murder on the Links" by Agatha Christie is the second Hercule Poirot novel. What I think makes Christie so interesting is that she uses fiction conventions I think would have been popular at the time and uses the reader's assumptions to fiddle with the narrative. In fact, that might be the central feature of mystery novel - playing with the conventional to mess with our perceptions. It works well in "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" and in the short story collection "Poirot Investigates." But here, some of the more melodramatic touches (mysterious train journeys, mixed-up siblings, long-lost loves, Hastings' romantic leanings) become too much. That being said, there are many points in which the narrative did surprise me and I enjoyed myself reading it. I think that "Styles" was better. And I think that in this particular novel, Hastings as the narrator got a bit in the way. But …

ManyRoads reviewed The murder on the links by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot (2))

Review of 'The murder on the links' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This is an exceptional Poirot novel. There are more twists and turns than a roller-coaster. It is just a good solid bit of entertainment and intrigue.

Zéro Janvier reviewed Le crime du golf by Agatha Christie

Review of 'Le crime du golf' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Pas forcément mon roman préféré d'Agatha Christie, j'en garde peu de souvenirs.

LemonSky reviewed The murder on the links by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot (2))

Review of 'The murder on the links' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

This is definitely not one of her better books. Poirot gets a letter from Paul Renauld stating, "For God's sake, come!" When Poirot and Hastings arrive, they find that Renauld has been murdered. M and Mme Renauld were supposedly attacked in the early morning hours by two men. Mme Renauld was tied up and her husband was kidnapped. He is later found stabbed to death and buried on the edge of a golf course (the titled "links"). The story gets rather melodramatic and tiresome after a while, especially with the detours regarding Hastings' love life.

If you're a true crime fan, the story will probably sound familiar. That's because a real life killer apparently stole this plot and tried to use it - it didn't work.