A too cunning criminal is challenging Detective Hercule Poirot, (a favorite detective of Agatha Christie novels) by notifying the date and place of the murders. It happened that the first murder was in Andover and the name of the person who got killed as Ascher, an old woman. They don’t get much clue out of the episode except an ABC directory. The next murder is told at Bexhill and the person got killed was young Betty Barnard. With this murder, the police and media is all in their vigil but the criminal manage to kill the third person also, i.e. Sir Carmichael Clarke in Churston. Still no clue is received and the media and police are wondering where this game will find its end; When the Alphabet reaches Z? The criminal is all determined but Detective Poirot is no less talented for a detective. He has to prove not only who the criminal is, but also his/her motive. Is he/she a psycho path? Why he/she selected the particular person in each time, why not somebody else? Why he sends messages to Detective Poirot, did he have a score to set off with him? As the enquiry progresses we are all eager to know the culprit where everybody is a possibility and so is the motive where every option is open. In the climax, Agatha Christie creates a thrilling end.
A fast paced page turner, The ABC Murders keeps the interest going with events, one after another. If pace of the novel was quite good, efficiency of the detective was reserved for the finale. Many a time the detective was helpless for the author didn’t permit the criminal to give any direct clues. One of the best plus of the novel is the character creation of Mr. Cust. (Oh, you have to read the novel to know more about Mr.Cust.) Also some of the observations and few one liners worth special mention. Also the narration is experimental in the sense there are first person and third person narrative combinations.
While reading the novel, I had two thought sets for the criminal and I wished the Agatha finds another reason for the criminal, but I was little disappointed where the plan of the criminal was one of my thoughts. I was hoping that it be different, so that I can use the idea in a story, if I write one, some future time. Sadly, the climax became my favorite thought while reading the novel. Never mind, I have the alternative thought set. Agatha Christie used the right thought set for the criminal here, I have to say. While approaching the climax I was wondering whether Agatha is going to spoil all the fun by giving a mediocre ending, though I was doubtfully sure it is not likely to be. Luckily AC made it up all well in the final chapter.
Another plus of the novel is that even when it is first published in 1936, it is readable as if it is happening somewhere around us. The plot seems unique and the author didn’t give out any serious clues but small ones, that kept engaging our mind to find out the mind of the criminal that I felt is an interesting experimentation by Agatha Christie.
On the minus side, it was suicidal on the part of the criminal to engage an efficient inspector like Poirot in such a case and the reason mentioned as the motive is not convincing. Also, the stock sale clue finding was little too dramatic and over the board kind.
A simple to read easy page turner, The ABC Murders is a fine read for detective story fans.
My rating: 3.5 stars