海角大神

Hercule Poirot has returned.

HarperCollins has announced it will publish a new novel centered on Agatha Christie鈥檚 famous protagonist 鈥� a Belgian detective famous for his carefully tended moustache 鈥� to be written by author Sophie Hannah. The book is authorized by Agatha Christie鈥檚 estate.

The novel by Hannah will be 鈥渁 diabolically clever murder mystery sure to baffle and delight,鈥� according to HarperCollins. The new book, which will be the first work about Christie鈥檚 characters since the author鈥檚 death in 1976, is set to be published next September.

Hannah, who is the author of novels including 鈥淭he Carrier鈥� and 鈥淜ind of Cruel,鈥� said many would call her a 鈥渄evoted鈥� and "some might even say obsessive鈥� Christie fan.

鈥淚t was Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple who, between them, made me want to devote my working life to crime fiction,鈥� the writer said in a statement on Christie鈥檚 website. 鈥淎nd it was Christie's brilliant plotting and deep understanding of the human psyche that shaped my identity as a crime writer. Therefore, it is almost impossible to put into words how honoured I am to have been entrusted with this amazing project 鈥� in fact, I still can't quite believe that this is really happening. I hope to create a puzzle that will confound and frustrate the incomparable Hercule Poirot for at least a good few chapters.鈥�

Matthew Prichard, Christie鈥檚 grandson, said in a statement for the Christie site that he believes it鈥檚 important for a new generation to appreciate Christie鈥檚 work and that he has full faith in Hannah鈥檚 ability to meet what will undoubtedly be high expectations.

鈥淚t was her enthusiasm and respect for my grandmother as an author that convinced us that this was the person to take on the daunting task,鈥� he said.

The last novel in which Poirot appeared was Christie鈥檚 novel 鈥淐urtain.鈥� The Belgian detective first came on the scene in Christie鈥檚 book 鈥淭he Mysterious Affair at Styes鈥� and has been famously portrayed by actor David Suchet in the British television program 鈥淎gatha Christie鈥檚 Poirot.鈥� Poirot died in Christie鈥檚 novel 鈥淐urtain,鈥� which was released in 1975, one year before the author鈥檚 death.聽

Some fans aren鈥檛 happy with the announcement of the new novel because of that decision by Christie, with Katherine Butler of The Independent writing, 鈥淎gatha Christie emphatically killed off Hercule Poirot with a heart attack back in the 1940s. But never mind what Agatha wanted.鈥�

Butler says she feels any iteration of Poirot that isn鈥檛 written by Christie is bound to be 鈥渁s appealing as imitation leather.鈥�

鈥淎 television adaptation of a Christie plot is one thing, 鈥榖orrowing鈥� the product of her extraordinary imagination for your own made-up story is another,鈥� she wrote, referencing the TV adaptation starring Suchet. 鈥淲hat possible pleasure is there for the reader in having a faux version of your favourite novelist or crime hero? And in artistic terms, what is the difference between what Hannah is attempting and those very talented painters in that Chinese village where they do fakes of the Mona Lisa by the dozen?鈥�

Guardian writer John Sutherland also felt bringing back Poirot after his creator killed him was disrespectful to Christie鈥檚 memory. Sutherland discussed how the author wrote 鈥淐urtain鈥� during World War II, placing it in a bomb-proof safe in case she was killed during the bombing of England. After the war ended, she wrote other Poirot works and waited to publish 鈥淐urtain鈥� until she was finished with the character.

鈥淚t isn't just Christie's emphatic full stop on Poirot that makes him out of bounds, it's also the honourable story behind it,鈥� Sutherland wrote, referencing Christie鈥檚 decision to stay in England despite the dangers. 鈥淧lease, let Dame Agatha, and Hercule, rest in peace. Having said that, of course I'll download it 30 seconds after it comes out in 2014.鈥�