Last year, I read my first two Agatha Christie books, which left me wanting to read more! So, this year I joined the Read Christie 2025 Challenge with Agatha Christie Ltd. If you want to take the challenge, you can visit the official website or their various social media channels to learn more.
Synopsis
It was an open and shut case. All the evidence said Caroline Crale poisoned her philandering husband, a brilliant painter. She was quickly and easily convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Now, sixteen years later, in a posthumous letter, Mrs. Crale has assured her grown daughter that she was innocent. But instead of setting the young woman’s mind at ease, the letter only raises disquieting questions. Did Caroline indeed write the truth? And if she didn’t kill her husband, who did?
To find out, the Crale’s daughter asks Hercule Poirot to reopen the case. His investigation takes him deep into the conflicting memories and motivations of the five other people who were with the Crales on the fatal day. With his keen understanding of human psychology, he manages to discover the surprising truth behind the artist’s death.
Thoughts
This was a fantastic murder mystery! Despite having only three Christie books under my belt, I already appreciate a few things about Christie’s stories. They tend to be short and quick reads, which I love. The cast of exquisitely detailed characters leaps off the page. Despite murder being the central focus, the plots and particulars are as entertaining as they are riveting. This was a superb story that kept me guessing up until the end.
★★★★★
Question
Do you have a favorite Agatha Christie book?