The ABC Murders Agatha Christie

The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie
This tale is set in 1935 and is after Captain Arthur Hastings (normally referred to by Poirot as Hastings) has come back from Argentina to tie up some affairs and visit with his old friend. Hercule and Hastings joke about getting the old team back together during a visit with Inspector Japp the posit the type of crime that would tempt Poirot out of retirement and provide entertainment while Hastings is in the UK. Hastings jokes he would like a scene like a detective story – ladies in peril, secret lovers, mysterious gems and multiple murders to perk up the story – little did he know it was tempting fate.
Our story starts with Hercule receiving a mysterious taunting letter concerning a murder about to be committed and it gives the town – they pass it onto the police but consider it likley to be a hoax untill the body is found.
This story is unusual as Poirot forms a sort of group of people concerned in the murder victim’s lives to help him gather evidence – they name themselves the Special Legion.

Megan Barnard – Sister to the 2nd victim
Donald Fraser – Finance to the 2nd victim and potential suspect
Mary Drower – niece of the 1st victim and the idea for the Special Legion is hers but does she have an ulterior motive for bringing them together?
Franklin Clarke – brother of 3rd victim – but does he have a motive of his own?
Thora Grey – secretary to victim 3 – but was she angling to be his wife?
Alexander Bonapart Cust – we follow him in his travels and difficulties with illness but is he the villain or yet another victim of the murder’s plotting.

Another twist in the tail is several of the friends and relatives could be potential murders as well – was it a jealious sister wanting her fiance for her own? A brother wanting an inheritance to win the beautiful girl? Or the girl herself clearing the path for her lover?

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