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Writer's pictureDhiti Wadhwa

Murder In Mesopotamia- Book Review

Updated: Jun 22, 2021


Fancy yourself a light read , in the middle of your extremely mundane life? Love watching crime/detective shows ? Have always wanted to read Agatha Christie ever since watching “ Murder on the Orient Express”? Well, “Murder in Mesopotamia” seems like the perfect choice for you! A short (it’s only 310 pages!)Hercule Poirot mystery set in an archaeological excavation site in Iraq.



A classic whodunnit, a Belgian detective, the amazing scenery of the archaeological ruins in Mesopotamia and an excavation team full of suspects and mysterious past histories. That’s exactly what Murder in Mesopotamia is in one sentence.

When one thinks of murder mysteries, the first author that comes to mind is Agatha Christie often known as the “Queen of Crime and Mystery”; her books are definitely the best books in this genre and Murder in Mesopotamia is no exception.

The best part about Agatha Christie books is the satisfaction you get after finishing them. The satisfaction of guessing the plot or the satisfaction you get after the killer is caught even if it’s someone you didn’t expect ( which is almost every time, she’s just that good). Then there’s the grand spectacle and the dramatic effect that is ever-present in the books, especially when Hercule Poirot reveals the murderer. The scandals, the gossip, the guilt, the fear, the paranoia surrounding the murder.

One thing that I feel sets apart “Murder in Mesopotamia” was the pyschopathic tendencies of the murderer and how beautifully they were explained. His deduction expertise and the way he uses the psychological aspects of human nature to identify the killer is just awe inspiring. Agatha’s deep grasp over the understanding of human behaviour, motives and the incidents that can trigger extreme responses is quite amazing.

The blurring of the fine line between love and obsession; the facade and the long game played by the murderer. ;the sympathetic manipulations ( so to quote Monsieur Poirot himself) , the controlling nature, the incredible acting of being a scared suspect like everyone else is rather well explained. You can almost see and hear the cogs turning in his head as he deciphers the mystery. The unease,and the fear of every suspect, is extremely evident and makes the plot even more interesting.

Then there is the thrill of the chase, the time constraints, and the majestic reveal, makes for a perfect ending of the mystery.




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