Thursday, August 2, 2012

Penchant for Poirot

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Who are some of your favorite fictional detectives of all time? Sherlock Holmes of course comes to mind, and everything from Film Noir to Children’s stories abound with heavy mystery/detective elements. But for me, there’s one character who stands above all the rest.

My wife and I love watching/reading Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot detective stories. This Belgian detective solves mysteries in the decades before WWII with a cunning mix of attention to detail and a heavy dose of psychology. Poirot is such a beloved character that when Agatha Christie died major newspapers ran an obituary for Poirot, one of the few fictional characters anywhere to receive such an honor.

So what mystery books have you read lately? If you want to get into a Poirot story/short film, I suggest something exotic like The Mystery of the Egyptian Tomb or Death on the Nile for starters. I of course greatly prefer the David Suchet versions. Enjoy, mon ami! 


18 comments:

  1. I haven't watched any of those.
    My favorite is probably Holmes. The BBC series is great and I like the books and Downey movies.

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  2. Hello Mark:
    We do so agree with you about David Suchet's portrayal of Poirot whose character he has very much made his own. For holiday reading we have often enjoyed P.D. James, the creator of the somewhat urbane and highly civilised Dalgleish.

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  3. I watched one of those and enjoyed every moment. I really should read more Agatha Christie :)

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  4. Is it horrible that the only detective I can think of is Inspector Clouseau? LOVE The Pink Panther films. So funny!

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  5. I admit I'm rather terrible when it comes to fictional detectives. I haven't had a chance to read much but Holmes and Alex Cross are two I'm familiar with.

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  6. I've caught a few of these on TV when I have insomnia. I like them very much but could never remember the name of the show. Now I know. Thanks!

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  7. I might have to give Poirot a try. But that mustache - oh my!

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  8. I'm not big Poirot fan, but he is one of the great fictional detectives.

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  9. My husband and I too are Poirot fans. One reason we like them is that the series went on for so long, and Christie wrote so many of the Poirot mysteries, that it seems like there's an endless supply to feed our addiction. We watch a lot of the British mysteries and are always on the lookout for a new series we'll enjoy.

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  10. Love Poirot, Holmes et al, but I have a strong interest in David Robicheux, the James Lee Burke character.

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  11. Gotta go with Holmes. :) Though I'm not sure I know many others... haha

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  12. Love Holmes, but will also give Poirot a chance after your recommendation.

    Mark, how are things with you? Please email me as to how is the rewriting going? Are you working on something new now? Any news from agents.

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  13. I've never read Poirot; I'll have to check out those books, once I'm done going through all the Sherlock Holmes stories/novels again. :P

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  14. I've not read Poirot either, though I'm pretty sure I've seen a movie with him... maybe. My fav is Sherlock Holmes. He is awesome.

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  15. Dude, Poirot is the man. I remember watching these mysteries after that awful polka show on PBS Sunday nights -- Masterpiece Theater MYSTERY! Lately, I've gotten into the BBC's new Sherlock miniseries, which is top-notch.

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  16. Anything Agatha Christie has our attention! Love Suchet, Joan Hickson--the perfect choices for their characters.

    I do admit a deepening fascination for Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes.

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  17. Gotta love the Poirot, but some of you bring up great points about Sherlock, who is of course my runner up detective:)

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  18. Hi Marc -- I am a huge Agatha Christie fan here is a link to one of my posts where I wax eloquent http://wp.me/p1d8Rw-1B; Poirot has to be her best detective with Miss Marple a close second. Great blog - I enjoyed browsing!

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