While vacationing on the Cornish coast, Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings encounter Nick Buckley, the young owner of a decaying estate called End House. After Nick narrowly avoids several freak accidents, Poirot discovers a bullet hole in her hat, confirming an active plot against her life. The investigation shifts from the sun-drenched garden to the dark corners of the Buckley family history as a murder finally occurs during a firework display. Poirot must analyze the movements of a small circle of houseguests and neighbors to uncover a motive involving a hidden will and a secret engagement.
Fans of golden age detective fiction read this book for its puzzle-centered narrative and focus on psychological misdirection. Readers walk away with a demonstration of how a detective uses logic to see past obvious evidence and identify social performances designed to mask criminal intent. It appeals to those who enjoy tracking specific timelines and physical clues alongside a detective who treats human behavior as a solvable equation. The final reveal provides a technical explanation for how a killer can manipulate both the victim and the investigator simultaneously.
Clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1932
- Language
- EN
