
This is how we do it: Kenneth Branagh’s new “Death on the Nile” film might send viewers back to enjoy the (better) 2004 version starring David Suchet.
I am not one of those people who thinks that nothing new can ever improve on a beloved old favorite.
And to be honest, I’m not even that much of a fan of Agatha Christie’s mystery stories and novels.
But two new entries into the mystery entertainment genre make me feel that the older versions were better.
First up is the new novel by Anthony Horowitz, who is one of my favorite mystery writers — but not in print. He’s the writer behind many of the best Agatha Christie BBC productions, and the creator and writer of the completely genius “Foyle’s War.”
He is also the writer of the very popular Young Adult Alex Rider adventures.
‘A Line To Kill’
Generally I have enjoyed his new mystery novels, two of which feature Susan Ryeland, a retired publishing executive; and two of which feature Horowitz himself, and the fictional detective Daniel Hawthorne.
The newest title in the Hawthorne series is “A Line To Kill” (which is a publishing “in” joke; Horowitz likes “in” jokes and puzzles within puzzles and stories within stories).
The first two mysteries in this series were fine but a little rough around the edges. In this newest title, it became clear to me that even Horowitz, who wrote so many great television mystery scripts, hasn’t quite nailed down what Christie did so well, in creating the character of Hercule Poirot.
As much as Poirot is egotistical and annoying, he’s also lovable in his own way, and his brilliance is apparent. When he solves a mystery, you feel as though he truly and actually is smarter than everyone else.
Sherlock Holmes is the same way: Annoying but admirable.
Horowitz’s detective Hawthorne is mainly offensive, and doesn’t seem particularly gifted as a crime solver. He comes across mainly as what English detective novels often call “a plod.”
The latest Horowitz/Hawthorne mystery, while perfectly fine and enjoyable, makes me above all nostalgic for Christie and for Hercule Poirot and his sidekick, Captain Arthur Hastings.
In sum, if you’re undecided about whether to try out the new Horowitz book, I’d politely say, “Have you read all of Agatha Christie’s yet?”
‘Death on the Nile’
I have similar feelings about the lush new “Death on the Nile” from director/actor Kenneth Branagh.
There have been many versions of this film and they’re all charming in their own way, but this one falls short. The casting in particular seems like it was done blindfolded, with darts; and while we know that Branagh is a gifted director, his gifts are not wildly in evidence in this latest film version of a classic Agatha Christie.
And so in addition to saying, “Have you read the original Christie novel?” for this one, I’d also suggest that you find the “Death on the Nile” starring actor David Suchet. His versions are unparalleled, in my opinion.
You can find most of the Suchet productions on DVD at your local library, on various streaming services and sometimes on Hoopla, which is the streaming service offered by most of our area libraries. You can also find many full-length Suchet Poirot’s on YouTube.
The Branagh version is not available on streaming yet, but apparently will be on either HBO Max or Disney Plus.
Bill Dinneen, left, and Ivan Kotchoubey, age 7, place a recently restored grave marker at the headstone of David Mallery, a Revolutionary War veteran, in Cornwall Sunday, May 25.
CORNWALL — On Sunday, May 25, Cornwall held a powerful ceremony to honor local veterans of the Revolutionary War.
At the cemetery on Route 4, about 25 attendees gathered to witness the placement of 10 grave markers. Bill Dinneen of the Cornwall Historical Society and Warren Stevens led the ceremony.
“These markers had gone missing from the cemetery, we don’t know when,” Dinneen said, showing six bronze and four cast iron markers that were recently restored and painted.
He explained the markers were found in bushes at the edge of the cemetery by Gene Swanson, of Washington Depot. It was unclear why they were removed from the gravestones, and Dinneen said there could be more elsewhere in the cemetery.
Bill Dinneen, left, and Warren Stevens explain the history, discovery and restoration process of the grave markers to attendees May 25.Photo by Riley Klein
“Today we have 10 markers. We have 32 names” of buried Revolutionary War veterans, Dinneen said. “The bronze markers will go to ranked soldiers,” such as sergeants, and “the cast ones will go to the oldest” of the infantry soldiers.
The restoration process included sandblasting, priming and painting. He was not certain, but Dinneen said the markers may have been originally placed by the government around World War I, at which time the original tombstones were replaced with harder stone.
Stevens explained the symbolism of the markers: A big star in the middle represents one of the colonies, 13 little stars represent all the colonies, the years 1775 and 1783 show the duration of the war, the words “A Patriot’s Grave” and “E Pluribus Unum. From many, there is one,” he said.
Susan Hellmann placed a bronze marker at the grave of her ancestor Noah Harrison. Photo by Riley Klein
Attendees, some of them descendants of the veterans, assisted in the placement of the markers.
Susan Hellmann, of Cornwall, said she would be placing a restored marker at the grave of “my great, great, great grandfather Noah Harrison” who served in the Revolution. “I feel like I’m going to cry. It’s just very touching, very powerful,” she said.
Dinneen read the rank, company and lifespan of each veteran as the markers were being placed, then Stevens fired a blast from his musket. When all the markers were set, the names of the other Revolutionary veterans buried in town were read aloud.
Warren Stevens fires his musket.Photo by Riley Klein
The ceremony was held as part of Memorial Day remembrances in Cornwall. It also marked the first official event in town for the nation’s 250th birthday with more to come.
As the occasion came to an end, a light rain began.
A bronze marker was placed at the grave of James Bierce, who lived to the age of 94 after serving in the Revolution with Captain Smith's Company. Bill Dinneen noted many of the Revolutionary War veterans buried in Cornwall lived to old ages. "The average age that these veterans died was 72 years old," he said.Photo by Riley Klein
LAKEVILLE — The Hotchkiss School girls lacrosse won the 2025 Founders League championship with an 11-10 victory over Choate Rosemary Hall May 21.
The Bearcats battled back from behind by as many as four points.
MaryHelen McCooey scored the game-winning goal with about two minutes remaining.
The win marked the fourth consecutive Founders League title for Hotchkiss girls lacrosse.
The Marvelwood lacrosse team poses for a group photo May 20 after winning the HVAL title for the second year in row.
KENT — On Tuesday, May 20, Marvelwood School lacrosse defeated Woodhall School 15-9 in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League tournament final.
It was second straight HVAL championship win for the Pterodactyls and their fifth league title since 2018.
Marvelwood and Woodhall played twice this past season with Marvelwood winning both games. They met in the championship as the first and second ranked teams in the league.
In the pre-game huddle, Marvelwood Coach Zach Maizel pumped up his players and urged them to “be aggressive early.”
Eli Jamieson, No. 4, congratulates teammate C. Jones after a goal.Photo by Lans Christensen
Taking his message to heart, attackman Eli Jamieson scored in the first minute of game play. He scored twice more in the first period, which ended with Marvelwood ahead 6-3.
Woodhall played aggressively and stayed on the attack, but the first half ended 9-4 in favor of Marvelwood.
Jamieson was the key player on the Marvelwood squad, and he scored twice more in the final period to maintain the Pterodactyls’ lead.
Woodhall fought hard and possessed control for most of the final period, scoring five goals but falling to a final 15-9 Marvelwood victory.
HVRHS sophomore Ryan Segalla went three-for-three May 17 with Berkshire League gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m races. He was also on the gold-winning 4x400m relay team.
Berkshire League track and field wrapped up a season of competition with the league finals in Litchfield May 17. The BL festival followed with decathlon, heptathlon, steeplechase and hammer in Falls Village May 20 and Thomaston May 21.
The events included athletes from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Gilbert School, Lakeview High School, Nonnewaug High School, Northwestern Regional High School, Shepaug Valley High School, Terryville High School and Thomaston High School.
In the gold medal tally, Nonnewaug led with 12 golds, Housatonic won 10, Northwestern won six, Thomaston won six, Lakeview won five and Shepaug won three.
For Housatonic, Senior Mia Dodge won the girls 300m hurdles.
Mia DodgePhoto by Riley Klein
Sophomore Ryan Segalla won the boys 100m, 200m and 400m races.
Senior Kyle McCarron won the boys 800m and 1600m races.
The boys 4x400m relay team of Anthony Labbadia, Patrick Money, Kyle McCarron and Ryan Segalla won gold.
Junior Anthony Labbadia won the boys triple jump by a margin of more than three feet. He also earned second place in the boys 400m race.
Senior Patrick Money won the decathlon.
Senior Gabi Titone won the steeplechase. Junior Olivia Brooks took bronze.
The girls 4x400m relay team of Mckenzie Lotz, Harper Howe, Mia Dodge and Maddy Johnson took silver. The same team took bronze in the 4x100m relay.
Harper Howe took silver in the girls 400m race.
Gabi Titone took silver in the girls 800m race.
The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Class S state track and field meet will be held in New Britain on June 2.
Patrick Money
Photo by Riley Klein