I must admit I am not a fan of this kind of book. I don't really 'get' why authors want to use other authors characters, rather than create their own. I know we do it with fanfic, but that's different to my mind because we aren't making money from it. And showing how 'odd' I am, this kind of 'borrowing' bothers me more than the 'rewrite of an old novel' (e.g. P&P) does. I know there's little logic in that, but there you are *g*
I haven't read any of Sophie Hannah's books, nor do I intend to. I have read a couple of Charles Osborne's books, which again have the 'Christie seal of approval' and I wasn't overly impressed.
The 'gathering all the characters together in the library or ballroom or whatever' is a fairly common Poirot thing and happens in several of the real AC books - but it doesn't take chapters to get through it.
Even though the writer does have permission of the AC Estate, personally I think it is bad taste & sharp marketing practise to have the Agatha Christie in such large font at the top of the book. The vast majority of people would think the book was written by AC as that is what grabs you.
I agree with you on paid authors borrowing other author’s characters. Although I fell for the “hook” and spent two dollars on this book, I definitely would not have paid full list price out of curiosity, and I found the use of Poirot more a distraction than a plus. I tend to feel the same way about P&P adaptations, though: that the main reason an author borrowed Darcy and Elizabeth was because she didn’t think her book with original characters would sell.
The monologue was way too long, as well as a bit convoluted, in my opinion. I skimmed through most of it.
I can quite see why you fell for the hook. It really is sharp marketing practise. It's interesting you found Poirot more of a distraction than a plus. I'm sure you're right about the various P&P adaptations.
I haven't read any of Sophie Hannah's books, nor do I intend to. I have read a couple of Charles Osborne's books, which again have the 'Christie seal of approval' and I wasn't overly impressed.
The 'gathering all the characters together in the library or ballroom or whatever' is a fairly common Poirot thing and happens in several of the real AC books - but it doesn't take chapters to get through it.
Even though the writer does have permission of the AC Estate, personally I think it is bad taste & sharp marketing practise to have the Agatha Christie in such large font at the top of the book. The vast majority of people would think the book was written by AC as that is what grabs you.
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The monologue was way too long, as well as a bit convoluted, in my opinion. I skimmed through most of it.
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