United By Pop received a free copy of Death Knocks Twice in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are our own.
Title: Death Knocks Twice
Author: Robert Thorogood
Purchase: Available in the UK and the US
Overall rating: 4/5
Great for: Fans of Agatha Christie, John Enright, and Clive Cussler
Themes: Adult, contemporary, thriller, mystery, crime,
Review: Detective Inspector Richard Poole is as out of place in the police force of the tropical Caribbean island of Saint-Marie as it is possible to be. He finds the petty crimes and slow crawl of life unsuitable, and longs for the action and adventure of solving the British city mysteries he is used to.
It seems all his macabre wishes are answered when a victim’s body is discovered in one of the outer-buildings of a local coffee plantation. With no discernible point of entry, no initial suspects to question, or any clue to how the murder was carried out, Poole must puzzle out this seemingly perfect crime before the perpetrator escapes, or exacts his vengeance again.
This is an almost satirical approach to the image of the quintessential English detective. His carefully maintained ‘Britishness’ is portrayed by his bumbling personality, his blunt assessment of others, and in his predilection for the heavy, dark suits he favoured whilst living in Croydon. Every factor of his outward appearance, as well as the inner-workings of his mind are unsuited to the Caribbean climate and laid-back locale he now finds himself working. His refusal to cooperate and acclimatise himself can be seen as his stubborn grasping of the previous particulars from his life. It creates points of hilarity in the novel when both the reader and other side characters are aligned in noticing his self-made discomfort.
His alternative way of both doing things and noticing what others perceive as trivialities ultimately allows him the insight needed to solve the case. His approach might be unusual to his new team but cooperation between them all proves the only way to success. There is a heartening side to this dark, crime story in the visibly strengthening bond created within the police force, which provides a reprieve from the tensity of the surrounding scenes.
The tropical location gives this a different vibe from the usual, British-penned, detective stories and, as such, has much to offer the reader that differs from the expected. The way of life, as well as the inner-workings of the police force, are drastically different and this gives an interesting and detailed insight into the contrasts between the two. The British detective is the link between the two geographical settings, and it is his perceptions that allow the multiple dissimilarities to become known.
The assembly of the known with the unknown of ‘Death Knocks Twice’ allows this to feel like a cosy, comfortable read whilst also allowing the growing suspense to defecate this facade, as the plot spirals into darker and darker territories. The crime is unsolvable, the locale is dissimilar, but the detective is immediately lovable. This assimilation of the recognised provides both a fixed point of entry to the unknown and a safe face in which to assuage our growing fears. This gives the plot a classic crime feel, once found in the works of the renowned Agatha Christie who often played with similar structures. It is thrilling to see her signature style re-awoken and reworked into this modern-day, tropical climate, and this growing series gives us a lot to get excited for in the future.
The brilliant DI Richard Poole returns in all-new @deathinparadise mystery #DeathKnocksTwice– out TODAY! @robthor https://t.co/atK6IoZsfz pic.twitter.com/aJNhqdqH3Z
— Story HQ (@HQstories) July 27, 2017
