Reliving the mystery over and over again

DAPHNE LEE ( right) is an editor at Scholastic Asia and a great fan of Agatha Christie.

Recalling the first time she picked up a Christie book, Lee said: “I was in primary school, maybe 10 or 11 years old then, and it was The Mysterious Affair at Styles, which [was] the first book Christie published.

“It also introduced readers to Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. I really liked the story that’s set in a large house, and featured a large cast of characters.

“[For] me, [Christie’s books] are comfort reads, as I read most of them for the first time when I was a child and in my teenage years.”

When asked about the enduring quality of Christie’s books, Lee said: “Like all popular works, her novels have interesting plots and characters, and are easy to read. They are perfect to take on holiday, for re-reading when you want something simple and entertaining.” Of Christie’s detectives, Lee’s favourite is Poirot because of his style of detecting and his idiosyncrasies. “Interestingly, the two [books] that I have re-read the most are not Poirot mysteries. They are The Pale Horse and By the Pricking of My Thumbs. “I like them because they have this underlying eeriness that is quite unsettling. “And, once again, they have the most excellent and original plots, memorable characters.”

Lee is not exactly a big fan of adapations of Christie’s works.

“I haven’t seen that many, but David Suchet is the best Poirot of the lot. I liked the 1974 Murder on the Orient Express film because of its star-studded cast, but Albert Finney was not a convincing Poirot.

“I will not be watching the Kenneth Branagh adaptation because the idea of Branagh as Poirot is nothing short of ridiculous.”

She also has no intention of reading The Monogram Murders.

“[I] don’t intend to, mainly because I have a huge reading list, and don’t think I want to make time for this.” and