I picked up a copy of Bob van Laerhoven’s Baudelaire’s Revenge (2014) because it won the Hercule Poirot Prize for Best Crime Novel. I didn’t even know there was a Hercule Poirot Prize. And, I’m sorry to report, Baudelaire’s Revenge is 180 degrees from a Hercule Poirot mystery as you can get. The novel is set in 1870 Paris. The Prussians are about to invade the city. There are a series of murders. Each victim has part of a Baudelaire poem on or near his body. Van Laerhoven presents us with some kinky situations, but there’s no real detection in this novel. Brian Doyle’s translation of Baudelaire’s Revenge from the Dutch reads well. But I didn’t find the book very satisfying. GRADE: C
It sounds like an interesting premise, sorry it didn’t live up to expectations.
Maggie, I was expecting something like Agatha Christie and I got something like Andrew Vachss.
Who gives out the Hercule Poirot Prize because, like you, I’ve never heard of it.
Jeff, I suspect the HERCULE POIROT PRIZE is a European award. I had never heard of it before BAUDELAIRE’S REVENGE. But, in terms of truth and fairness in advertising, the HERCULE POIROT PRIZE committee should give the prize to books similar to Christie’s Poirot mysteries and not genre-benders.
Was Poirot Dutch? I know he wasn’t English, but I can’t remember if he was Dutch or from the Netherlands.
Rick, Poirot was a Belgian.
Ah, that’s right!
You are an adventurous guy.
I wouldn’t have touched this one with a ten-foot pole.
Beth, sometimes I’m too adventurous for my own good.
I’ve heard of the poirot prize before, not sure where. Christie’s estate does a prize, but I’m fairly certain it’s not the Poirot.
I think her heir was at malice once, perhaps in conjunction with her being honored or their prize. senior moments are coming fast and furiously
Maggie, after reading a POIROT PRIZE winner, I’m not impressed. Ah, those Senior Moments!
I seem to have more Junior moment these days. Where are my Hardy Boys books, again?
So where the hell is your Friday Forgotten post? I wanted to see it before I went to bed.
Rick, here it is!