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The crime writer Agatha Christie remains the best-selling novelist of all time even though her death was almost 50 years ago. Her fictional detective Hercule Poirot has attained legendary status, so for a modern novelist to breathe new life into the character is a considerable challenge. However, the English psychological crime author Sophie Hannah has been doing just that. In 2014 she wrote her first novel using Poirot as the central character and we follow her in 2018 as she prepares her third Poirot novel for publication, entitled The Mystery of Three Quarters.

Taking over another author’s character is a complex business. Sophie has to work with the Christie estate and make sure that they and her publishers are happy with the way the novel progresses - and most importantly, ends.

Felicity next catches up with Sophie as her fifth Poirot novel, Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night, is due to be published and Sophie updates us about her ongoing relationship with the famous Belgium detective.

Producer: Felicity Finch and Emma Kingsley

(Photo: author Sophie Hannah. Credit: Onur Pinar)