This is one of the early Hercule Poirot mysteries, featuring Capt. Hastings. Agatha Christie is the queen of mysteries and amazing solutions but she really did not create human characters. They are all caricatures, not living, breathing people.
The plot in this book is extremely convoluted; when you read, be sure to keep paper and pencil handy to try to keep up with the twists and turns. I won't even try to outline the plot; it can't be done in less than several hundred words. However, readers will have to keep their wits about them because the story is really that convoluted. Readers will probably enjoy the fact that the famous M. Giraud (from the Surete' in Paris) has to pay 500 francs to Poirot for losing a bet. Another unusual thing about this Agatha Christie book is that Capt. Hastings falls in love.
The plot in this book is extremely convoluted; when you read, be sure to keep paper and pencil handy to try to keep up with the twists and turns. I won't even try to outline the plot; it can't be done in less than several hundred words. However, readers will have to keep their wits about them because the story is really that convoluted. Readers will probably enjoy the fact that the famous M. Giraud (from the Surete' in Paris) has to pay 500 francs to Poirot for losing a bet. Another unusual thing about this Agatha Christie book is that Capt. Hastings falls in love.
