Sad Cypress

First Published: 1940

Setting: Maidensford, London

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Elinor Carlisle, Peter Lord

Important Other People: Laura Welman, Roddy, Mary Gerrard, Nurse Hopkins

What I love about this book is that it's not just a crime at the beginning, a series of interviews of everyone involved in the middle, a few twists here and there, another murder or two, and the big reveal. It starts with the trial, and goes back into the whole complicated story. The beginning of this book is entirely different from the beginnings of any of her previous novels, and we get an insight into a trial.

Another aspect of this book that I really like is how we see Poirot detecting and trying to find out the truth, but there are a lot of clues that just get brought up at the trial- we are kind of in the dark about Poirot's methods and movements until the end.

This, to my recollection, is also one of the first times that someone tries to impede the cause of justice in favor of someone they love. This will come up again (The Hollow comes to mind right away), but I don't think it happened before.

I love this book so much. I think a lot of that has to do with Elinor's personality. I also love the plot, and the way the book is set up. It's just so good.

Interesting facts: First of Agatha's courtroom dramas. The title comes from a quote from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Apparently, Agatha said something about how she should not have included Poirot in this novel- I think she's wrong. He isn't too over the top in this novel.

Favorite? YES. One of my two ultimate favorite books.

Death by: morphia

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 76

The Count: Poirot-18, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-7, Japp-6, Colonel Race-3, Superintendent Battle-4, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 3, Mrs. Oliver-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: Love should be a pleasurable emotion- not something that hurts with its intensity. Men don't like devotion and adoration. It's not wise to care too much. Life is rather cheap. Anyone who has never really loved has never really lived. To care passionately for another human always brings more sorrow than joy. People ought to be forced to make wills. One cannot always turn aside and pass by from the unpleasantness of life. Life is not reasonable. Lies tell a listener just as much as the truth. Ordinary things are the best.

Up Next: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe