After the Funeral: B2 (Collins Agatha Christie ELT Readers)

In the haunting echo of a solitary bell tolling, we enter the domain of “After the Funeral.” Richard Abernethie, the wealthy head of the Abernethie clan, has drawn his last breath. After his funeral, his eccentric sister Cora Lansquenet raises a startling question. Her claim of Richard’s death not being natural sends a wave of unease through the family. The next day, Cora is found murdered, her brutal death a clear indicator that she might have hit the truth closer than anyone expected. Hercule Poirot is introduced in the story at this point. Summoned by the Abernethie family lawyer, Mr. Entwhistle, Poirot starts to dissect this complex puzzle, his every move as calculated as a grandmaster’s in a game of chess. The members of the family possess some secrets which they want to hide from everyone. From Richard’s brother Timothy to the beautiful widow Helen, every member harbors secrets that could be the key to solving the mystery. Roger May’s narration was fabulous in book so there is no need to worry about the voice quality. His voice adds an extra layer of suspense which previously existed in Murder in Mesopotamia and The Moving Finger. In “After the Funeral,” Agatha Christie has woven a tale where every word counts, every clue matters, and every character could be the culprit. The plot’s complexity is its beauty, as it draws you into the heart of the mystery, making you a silent observer in Poirot’s investigation.