Elephants Can Remember: A Hercule Poirot Mystery
- Book Review,
by Agatha Christie
From Library Journal
Did General Ravenscroft kill Lady Ravenscroft or was she the one holding the gun? Many years later their daughter would like to know, so her godmother, Ariadne Oliver, asks Hercule Poirot to investigate. Working in tandem, Mrs. Oliver and Poirot identify and interview an ever-increasing list of witnesses (the elephants of the title). Poirot painstakingly reconstructs long-vanished relationships, and his deductions eventually lead him to one final witness. Even the great Christie recycled concepts from time to time; this mystery is one of several "remembered death" titles, characterized by long, descriptive conversations that can be tedious. In this case the contrast between Poirot's severe, analytical style and that of the charming but erratic Mrs. Oliver adds life to what would otherwise be a rather dull tale. John Moffatt delivers the competent if unexciting reading one expects from this producer. Christie at her worst (which this is not) is still better than most mystery writers. Recommended for all mid- to large-sized libraries.DI. Pour-El, Des Moines Area Community Coll., Boone, IA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From AudioFile
Though some diehard Christie fans may be a bit disappointed with the large role played by crime novelist Ariadne Oliver in this mystery, thereby reducing the importance of their favorite, Hercule Poirot, no listener should be even slightly displeased with the narration by reader John Moffatt. He is outstanding as he tells us about how first Oliver, then Poirot, gets immersed in finding the truth about a "double suicide" that occurred 12 years earlier. He handles Poirot's accent and mannerisms perfectly and consistently, even down to the sniff when the great detective meets someone who has not heard of him. Moffatt captures status differences among all sorts of folk, from French nannies to wealthy London dowagers, and uses pauses, laughs and stammers to superb effect. T.H. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
Book Description
With the help of Detective Poirot, mystery writer Ariadne Oliver must solve a murder from her past--before the tragic piece of history repeats itself.
Download Description
"E-book exclusive extras: 1) Christie biographer Charles Osborne's essay on Elephants Can Remember; 2) ""The Poirots"": the complete guide to all the cases of the great Belgian detective.""The Ravenscrofts didn't seem that kind of person. They seemed well balanced and placid."" And yet, twelve years earlier, the husband had shot the wife, and then himself - or perhaps it was the other way around, since sets of both of their fingerprints were on the gun, and the gun had fallen between them. The case haunts Ariadne Oliver, who had been a friend of the couple. The famous mystery novelist desires this real-life mystery solved, and calls upon Hercule Poirot to help her do so. Poirot is now a very old man, but his mind is as nimble and as sharp as ever and can still penetrate deep into the shadows. But as Poirot and Mrs Oliver and Superintendent Spence reopen the long-closed case, a startling discovery awaits them. And if memory serves Poirot (and it does!), crime - like history - has a tendency to repeat itself."
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