In October 1929, Athelinda Playford is hosting a house party at Lillieoak, her home on the banks of the Argideen River in the Irish Free State. Hercule Poirot, the renowned private investigator, and Edward Catchpool, an inspector with Scotland Yard, have accepted invitations to attend.

She announces at dinner on the first night that she’s signed and had witnessed a new will, leaving her entire fortune to her male secretary. Later that evening, a body is discovered in the library. Inspector Arthur Contree and Sergeant Daniel O’Dwyer of the Garda Síochána arrive to investigate. Poirot and Catchpool offer their services.

A member of staff claims they saw a member of the family commit the murder.

Contree decides it is too early to make an arrest based only on that testimony. Other possible suspects need to be exposed and their motives and opportunities assessed.

The killing method would seem to be beyond doubt: a body with a caved-in head and a club with blood and brain matter all over its wider end.

Athelinda is the widow of the Viscount Playford of Clonakilty and by changing her will has dispossessed her son, the Viscount, of his inheritance. Although he appears to be taking the news calmly, his wife’s certainly not. She is livid, and expresses her displeasure vociferously. The Honourable Claudia Playford, Athelinda’s daughter, finds it all highly amusing.

Sophie Hannah’s second book, in a series that resurrects Agatha Christie’s beloved Belgian-born detective, is complex, clever and full of tantalising clues. The diagram of the rooms in Lillieoak, Athelinda’s palatial home, is especially useful.

Although Closed Casket is an ingenious mystery, it needs robust editing. It plods along when it should soar, and there are too many reiterations. I missed the Christie style.

Reviewed by Clive Hodges