Four Stars

Best for:
Those looking for a quick read that challenges one to think about who the real culprit is.

In a nutshell:
Michael Starkwedder has run his car off the road and is looking for a phone to use. He finds a house, lets himself in, and sees a woman with a gun and a man dead.

Worth quoting:
N/A (I listened to this as an audio book)

Why I chose it:
I’ve enjoyed the films based on Christie’s writings, and so wanted to read one for myself.

Review:
Laura’s husband Richard is dead. He’s a wheelchair user, and has been shot through the head. When Michael comes through the window, he sees Laura holding the gun. After some conversation, he decides he’s going to help make sure that she doesn’t go down for this crime. Michael learns that Richard is not really a nice person, and suggests after getting some details of his life that they set up someone who may have been wronged by Richard in the past.

The police initially seem to buy this story, but interview the other members of the house – Richard’s mother, his valet, his nurse, and his half brother, who is developmentally delayed (and unfortunately referred to using the r-slur once.)

I thought I saw the various twists coming, and I sort of did, but there was more in store. I was initially quite annoyed with the ending as it seemed a bit too … convenient? Unimaginative? But I should have known to hold on for more.

What’s next for this book:
I know this is a play originally, and I think it would be an interesting one to see performed live.