Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie

The snow is flying, the grandchildren have gone home and you can take time to yourself, with a cup of tea or a glass of Christmas cheer. Curl up on the couch, in front of the fire, with a good book.

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie is a great choice for an escapist read, and perfect for this time of year.

The story begins three days before Christmas, in London, and we meet Stephen Farr as he arrives at the station platform, “large engines hissed superbly, throwing off clouds of steam into the cold raw air.”

And we are off! Into one of Agatha Christie’s most perfectly plotted mystery novels.

The aged Simeon Lee has called his family home for Christmas. One son and his wife, live in the house with Simeon. The others are far flung, and some have not seen their father for many years. They are all, more or less, apprehensive about coming home and having all of the family together for Christmas – as well they should be.

Simeon Lee may have become infirm but he is still a man who likes to be in control. He boasts to one and all that he has as many children conceived outside the bedcovers as within.

Alone in his room, Simeon Lee says, to himself, “I’m old, they say, and ill, but I’m not done for. Lots of life in the old dog yet. And there’s still some fun to be got out of life. Still some fun…..”. The stage is set.

If you think your family is a little dysfunctional, especially during the holidays, just read this book, and you will feel so much better! Any difficult dynamics in your family will pale in compassion to what goes on in the home of the Lee family.