Towards Zero

First Published: 1944

Setting: Gull's Point, Saltcreek

Starring: Superintendent Battle, James Leach, Nevile, Audrey, and Kay Strange

Important Other People: Lady Tressilian, Mary Aldin, Thomas Royde, Ted Latimer, Mr. Treves, Andrew MacWhirter

I love this book. I love the whole concept of "zero hour" and how Agatha works backwards from it, giving us the whole picture of the events leading up to the murder. A lot of the time in her other novels, I am disappointed that we don't know more of the backstory before the murder is committed and we are thrown right into the investigation. In Towards Zero, we get to know a little bit of everything about what is going to happen before it happens. I love how Agatha ties every detail, even the small ones, together to show how all of these events converge in the zero hour. One thing about the telling of all of those events at the beginning, is that it means that we, as readers, know that all of them are important for some reason. All of the small things come together when the murder is committed, although that is the end of the story. The beginning is long before the murder happens.

I also like how in this book, characters take the law into their own hands. Similar to Appointment with Death, Murder on the Orient Express, and Curtain, characters know that the actions they take can prevent a horror from happening. They realize that the police are powerless to prevent something from happening, and so they know they must take action on their own.

I love the setting, the flow of the plot, the characters, and the interactions between them. Agatha writes really well on the juxtaposition of Audrey and Kay, the two Mrs. Stranges'. (PS- did women not change their names back after divorce in those days?) The entire atmosphere of the novel revolves around the interaction between these two women, although they rarely talk to each other. All of the other characters are affected by the atmosphere that is created in the house, and I don't think that is something the murderer really took into consideration beforehand. I know the murderer knew they both would be there, but I don't think they really thought about how everyone else's interactions would be changed based on "Rose Red and Snow White."

The movie Crash reminds me of this book because, in it, we are shown the climax of the interactions, and then go back to see all of the events that led up to that moment. I'm sure many other books and movies make use of the idea of going back to show all of the small details that led to a moment; although Agatha doesn't actually start with the murder- we still know it's going to happen. She writes the best, for sure.

Interesting facts: Hercule Poirot is mentioned, although Battle is the star of this book. Instead of the usual numbered chapters we get from Agatha, the book is divided into separate parts.

Favorite? YES. It is one of Agatha's favorites, and definitely one of mine.

Death by: Placard on elevator (which caused too much exertion on the part of the victim, causing his heart to give out, so I may attribute this to "heart"), cosh

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 89

The Count: Poirot-21, Miss. Marple-3, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-3, Superintendent Battle-5, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 3, Mrs. Oliver-1, Albert- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: Murder is the end- the story begins long before that. Fathers don't know much about their children. The dog-like devotion of a lifetime does sometimes get its reward. A little malice adds a certain savor to life. Women possess little or no pride where love affairs are concerned. There are worse things than boredom. We've got to go on living our lives in the present. A minute can be a very long time. Love turns very easily to hate. Some things matter more than the truth. Think of the most difficult thing you can, and then set about doing it.

Up Next: Death Comes As the End