“A is for Mrs. Ascher-fatally attacked in Andover. B is for Betty Barnard-strangled on the beach in Bexhill. C is for Sir Carmichael Clarke-now a corpse in Churston.”
The man investigating this unusual murder mystery is none other than Dame Agatha Christie’s most famous detective, Monsieur Hercule Poirot. Most of the book is narrated by Poirot’s old friend, Captain Hastings, though some of the chapters are not. What makes this mystery interesting is that Poirot actually gets letters from the murderer telling him where and when he is going to strike. Also, like all of Christie’s novels, there are many characters in this book, all with different personalities.
The A.B.C. Murders is set during 1935 and takes place all over England. Poirot hasn’t had many cases in a while and needs to excise “his little gray cells.” Not before long, a mysterious letter arrives for Poirot. It actually gives him the date a crime will be committed, and also the town (Andover). Poirot, unlike the police, takes this note seriously, fearing murder.
The given day arrives and sure enough, Mrs. Ascher, an old lady, is found dead in her shop in Andover. Near her body, the police find an A.B.C. Railway guide. Poirot soon scrambles to the scene of the crime and investigates by taking to the neighbors and such.
A few days pass and Poirot gets another letter. This time, the murderer is going to strike in Bexhill. The police get on the case and warn everybody in Bexhill whose name begins with “B”. However, this is enough to avert the murder. A young girl, Betty Barnard, is found dead-stangled by her own belt. Again, a brand new A.B.C. Railway guide is found near her body. Again, Poirot and Hastings probe the area, hoping to find clues. They talk to her parents, and her sister, Megan Bernard. Poirot is still intrigued by the case and the murderer.
Eventually, the third letter arrives in Poirot’s hands. This time, the murder is going to take place in Churchston. The victim is an elderly man who ones a huge estate. Sure enough, a copy of a railway guide is found, opened to the page of “Churchston”. Poirot gets to work by questioning the victim’s secretary, Miss Grey, and brother, Mr. Clarke.
Poirot realizes that the only way to help solve the mystery and find the murderer is to gather all the victims’ family members and talk about the murders. Poirot interrogates Mrs. Ascher’s niece, Mary Drower, Betty Bernard’s sister, Megan, Betty’s fiancé, Donald Fraser, Sir Carmicheal Clark’s secretary, Miss Grey, and Mr. Clarke. Through many conferences, Poirot uncovers many clues as to whom the murder might be.
Just when you think you have discovered who the killer is -- Christie skillfully throws in a major twist at the end of the novel. The novel is absorbing, and hard to put down. The read can almost feel Poirot’s presence and actively try to solve the mystery. I always like the contrasting character personalities portrayed by Christie; this makes her novels more interesting to read. Although I wouldn’t consider this novel one of her best, it is pretty interesting and a must read for all Agatha Christie fans!
”As to the solving of the A.B.C. mystery, I can only say that in my opinion Poirot showed real genius in the way he tackled a problem entirely unlike any which had previously come his way.”