Elephants Can Remember

After being informed of a 12 year old double suicide by an old friend Poirot decides to discover what really happened on that cliff so many years ago. As the evidence is not new enough Poirot uses a tactic different from most of his books and that is to interview those that may have known the people all those years ago. From the evidence gathered he has to determine whose memories are nearest and what really happened.

Poirot is not in large sections of this book so it lacks the humour of his earlier books. Also it seems to lack direction and coherence that a more a traditional story would have.

One for Agatha Christie completeists and not to be used as an introduction to her books.


Quite a good read   May 20, 2005
Miguel M. Santos (London, UK)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

For the third time in Poirot's career, and this time with the help of Mrs Oliver, he finds himself dealing with a case that has happened many years ago. In this case the deaths of a retired general and his wife who seem to have died in a strange suicide pact - only there was no reason for it.

This was the last Poirot novel Agatha Christie wrote, since "Curtain" been written many years before. And it feels like an eulogy to memory and to things past. It's not her best novel or even one which surprised me, since I guessed what had happened (and felt really happy because of it). But nevertheless is quite a good read, and I am sure other people will enjoy it as well.


Disappointing beginning   August 12, 1999
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This book takes a long time to really get into - I was well over halfway through it before it sparked much interest, but when it did, the plot became fascinating. The ending was possible to guess, but it was still entertaining.