Mrs. McGinty's Dead, Agatha Christie
The Book
Hercule Poirot is back, baby! One day, as Poirot is contemplating how much he likes to eat and his inability to eat more than 3 meals a day, his ennui is broken by his friend the soon-to-be-retired Superintendent Spence. Having solved and his evidence having convicted James Bentley of the murder of his landlord the char woman Mrs. McGinty, he remains unconvinced of Bentley's guilt in the crime. Poirot agrees to help.
He arrives in the itty bitty village of Broadhinny, he sets up residence at the only place taking in visitors, the farm of Long Meadows run by the Summerhayes family. Mrs. Summerhayes is a disastrous hostess, losing things, without the ability to cook, and absent-minded to an alarming degree. But she is sweet and a talker. Poirot settles in, albeit unhappily. He learns a little about Mrs. McGinty from Mrs. Summerhayes because Mrs. McGinty used to work there.
He arrives in the itty bitty village of Broadhinny, he sets up residence at the only place taking in visitors, the farm of Long Meadows run by the Summerhayes family. Mrs. Summerhayes is a disastrous hostess, losing things, without the ability to cook, and absent-minded to an alarming degree. But she is sweet and a talker. Poirot settles in, albeit unhappily. He learns a little about Mrs. McGinty from Mrs. Summerhayes because Mrs. McGinty used to work there.
From here, Poirot, going quite as himself, and humorously tries to convince everyone he is, indeed, THE Hercule Poirot, only to be told over and over again, sorry, never heard of you. He talks to all four of the other families in Broadhinny who had employed Mrs. McGinty, the Carters, the Upwards, the Rendells, and the Weatherbys. All of which attest to how sad it was that the no-good James Bentley murdered such a nice lady. Poirot announces he is not satisfied with that answer and is here to discover the truth.
He goes to the post office, where he finds out that Mrs. McGinty had purchased ink the Monday before she was killed. He then remembers that at the crime scene a newspaper from the day before had an article missing. He researches until he finds that article was about four tragic women who had been wrapped up, but not guilty of, murders in the past. Poirot then realizes one of these women, or their child must be living in Broadhinny, where everyone has moved there (except for the Summerhayes) since WWII ended.
Through a complicated process of elimination, the murder of Mrs. Underhill, and the attempted murder of Poirot himself, he uncovers the killer and unveils the truth in Mrs. Summerhayes' living room.
He goes to the post office, where he finds out that Mrs. McGinty had purchased ink the Monday before she was killed. He then remembers that at the crime scene a newspaper from the day before had an article missing. He researches until he finds that article was about four tragic women who had been wrapped up, but not guilty of, murders in the past. Poirot then realizes one of these women, or their child must be living in Broadhinny, where everyone has moved there (except for the Summerhayes) since WWII ended.
Through a complicated process of elimination, the murder of Mrs. Underhill, and the attempted murder of Poirot himself, he uncovers the killer and unveils the truth in Mrs. Summerhayes' living room.
My Thoughts
This was a fairly straight forward Agatha Christie puzzle mystery. An astute reader and someone who follows the mystery genre, might guess the killer. The clue on which all of this hinges, names that the name of one of the Tragic Women can be either a masculine or a feminine name, has been used to both dramatic and comedic effect in the years going forward. I had a similar reaction when I was told as a child (by watching Gone with the Wind) that Ashely is a gender neutral name. Yes, I've known a male Ashley or two, but I have known far more female Ashleys than male. And although this is a different name, I would say that same of that.
This was a light, quick, read, I zoomed through the second half of the book, reading nearly a hundred pages despite the fact I needed to be up early the next morning, and I was struggling to keep my eyes open because I had taken melatonin.
This was a light, quick, read, I zoomed through the second half of the book, reading nearly a hundred pages despite the fact I needed to be up early the next morning, and I was struggling to keep my eyes open because I had taken melatonin.
How Much My Library Card Saved Me
This book came to me from Wilmette Public Library. After a little bit of flipping through the book and some luck, it looks like this book was purchased from library wholesaler Baker & Taylor and entered their collection on 2/23/21. Published by William Morrow, it's in pretty good condition. I saw no marks or dog ears in the book. The cover is in great shape. I am not the first to read it, but the pages aren't loose yet. I bet this book has many more gentle reads in it. The back cover says the book was $15.99, that is the price I will use.
This Book $15.99
This Book $15.99
Items Reviewed This Year $351.95
Private Books
This Book $0.00
Total of Private Books $44.89
Total of All Items Reviewed This Year $398.72
Still Here?
I am now a published author. You can pick up a *FREE COPY* of my novella The Big Intersection here.
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