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

And Then There Were None (Ten Little Indians)

First Published: 1939

Setting: Indian Island, off the coast of Devon

Starring: Vera Claythorne, Philip Lombard, William Blore, Dr. Armstrong, Justice Wargrave

Important Other People: General Macarthur, Emily Brent, Anthony Marston, Mr and Mrs Rogers, U. N. Owen

Obviously, this is an incredible novel, minus the racism involved in some of the titles and the naming of the island. Apparently, it was meant to create a sense of "otherness," which I think an abandoned island creates anyway. Aside from that, there are a couple of different themes that run through the novel- some are new to Christie's work, and some we have seen before.

One new concept in this book is the multiple narratives used. We've seen two narratives used in The ABC Murders, but never before have we gotten so much insight into so many different characters. There is no central character, and so we get to hear a little bit about everyone is thinking. As people are murdered, the narrative gets more focused, and so we hear a lot from Vera. I especially like how some of the thoughts do not have an owner ascribed to them, so we actually are reading what the murderer is thinking, although we don't know who it is. This style also allows us to get to know and like many of the characters. As in Cards on the Table, it becomes more difficult to believe that some of them are murderers. This case is also similar to Cards in that the person who arranges the whole setup hears about many of the murders through hearsay. Accordingly, I don't think that all of them have the same amount of guilt. I think the ones who felt the least amount of remorse should have been kept longer- Anthony Marston, for example. If he had been longer on the island and subjected to the same amount of terror as everyone else, he may have repented a bit.

Similarly to Murder on the Orient Express, we have a case of individuals meting out the justice that they thought people deserved. In Orient, I would say it was somewhat warranted. In this book, I think the murderer was just crazy.

Interesting facts: Agatha herself developed this into a play. I didn't realize that- I thought someone else changed the ending so that it made more sense for a play, but apparently, she did it herself. It also convinced her that no one was going to adapt her books except for herself. Agatha also said that this was one of the most difficult and complex books to write, and required a huge amount of planning.

Favorite? Yes. Ingenious, suspenseful, and completely brilliant.

Death by: cyanide, chloral, cosh, chopped up, drowned, crushed, shot, hanged

Body Count: 11; Cumulative: 74

The Count: Poirot-17, 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: Once you get to an island you can't go any further. Real peace is to come to the end and not have to go on.

Up Next: Sad Cypress

Appointment with Death

First Published: 1938

Setting: Petra, Jordan

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Sarah King, Boynton family

Important Other People: Jefferson Cope, Dr. Gerard, Lady Westholme, Miss Pierce

Similar to Why Didn't They Ask Evans, the story opens with a phrase that leads to a mystery that must be resolved. In this case, it is a lot more sinister and a bit more urgent- "You do see, don't you, that she's got to be killed?" The speaker of these words, Raymond Boynton, goes on to explain how killing his mother, Mrs. Boyton, would be like killing or putting down a mad dog. One of the characters shows that she has inside knowledge of what actually happened in Murder on the Orient Express, and asks him, like he did in that case, to let it go. Hercule must refuse because, as he says, he does not condone murder. I think, if the murderer had turned out to be someone different, he may have condoned it in a similar manner to how he did in the Armstrong case.

This is different from some of the other family-centric novels. In other novels, the family usually knows who committed the crime, while here, they all suspect each other because they don't know who committed the crime, creating an atmosphere of guilt and suspicion that causes some of the members of the family to begin to crack. Thankfully, Hercule comes to the rescue in time for everyone (who isn't evil) to have a happy ending. He does love playing the matchmaker.

Interesting facts: One of the characters recognizes Hercule Poirot from his work on the ABC case. Colonel Race is mentioned as Poirot talks about his detecting from Cards on the Table. The events from Murder on the Orient Express are also mentioned.

Favorite? Yes, because I really love the characters and because I really and truly am afraid of Mrs. Boyton. It's funny to think that Agatha wrote about all of these murderers, but hardly any of them really frighten me. Mrs. Boynton, while not a de facto murderer, is still terrifying.

Death by: Digitoxin, shooting

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 55

The Count: Poirot-16, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-7, Japp-6, Colonel Race-3, Superintendent Battle-3, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 2, Mrs. Oliver-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: A man who respects himself strikes out on his own and makes something of his life. No one is truly free- there are different degrees of bondage. If you have a belief in yourself and in the rightness of what you are doing, you can often accomplish things that are well worthwhile. One cannot lie all the time. Love is agony on another's behalf.

Up Next: Hercule Poirot's Christmas

Murder on the Orient Express

First Published: 1934

Setting: Somewhere along the line of the Orient Express!

Starring: Poirot, M. Bouc, Dr. Constantine

Important Other People: Armstrong household

Murder on the Orient Express is Poirot in his element. The train is snowed in and cannot be moved, there is no chance of outside help being called in, and the witnesses and suspects are all trapped! The case has to be solved on deduction and intellect only, leading Poirot to triumph in his usual non-humble way, but also showing his compassionate side when he realizes that sometimes, you do have to work outside of the law.

The idea of individuals meting out justice is used again in Appointment with Death, and here, Poirot accepts an official version of the murder. He condones murder because sometimes, man is evil, but goes unpunished. Thus, when justice comes to them, he knows that they deserved it. Which sounds awful, but in both cases, is entirely warranted.

This novel is also rife with stereotypes. The book allowed Agatha to have an international cast of characters meeting in an unlikely place. She was able to assign them to different stations in life based on where they come from- the idea of class with her is quite established. She also exploits stereotypes of different countries, which is useful in assigning them jobs and personalities.

Interesting facts: I cannot find a mention of the book in her autobiography. I don't know why! The book is loosely based off the Lindbergh kidnapping, as well as Agatha's love for the Orient Express. Many parts of her autobiography are about her travels upon it.

Favorite? Of course! I know I say this a lot, but it really is unique among Agatha's novels, and it is so ingenious. (Let's be real; they're all unique.)

Death by: Stabbing (12 times!)

Body Count: 1; Cumulative: 30

The Count: Poirot-8, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-5, Japp-4, Colonel Race-1, Superintendent Battle-2, George-1, Goby-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: The worst of Americans is that they are so sentimental and idealistic. The English are not sympathetic. If the impossible cannot have happened, then the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.

Up Next: Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (The Boomerang Clue)