Sophie Hannah to Write New Hercule Poirot Mystery

William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, has announced that a new Hercule Poirot mystery will be published in September 2014, to be written by Sophie Hannah. The book, which will feature the Belgian private detective in "a diabolically clever murder mystery", has been agreed to by the estate of Agatha Christie, who created the character.

"It was pure serendipity that led to Sophie Hannah being commissioned to write this book," notes Mathew Prichard, Chairman of Agatha Christie Ltd and the author's grandson. "Her agent happened to approach HarperCollins in exactly the same week that my colleagues and I started discussing a new Christie book. Her idea for a plot line was so compelling and her passion for my grandmother's work so strong, that we felt that the time was right for a new Christie to be written."

"It is almost impossible to put into words how honored I am to have been entrusted with this amazing project —in fact, I still can't quite believe that this is really happening!" added Hannah. "I hope to create a puzzle that will confound and frustrate the incomparable Hercule Poirot for at least a good few chapters."