This edition published 22nd March 2018 by Harper Collins. Originally published 1935.
From the cover of the book:
At an apparently respectable dinner party, a vicar is the first to die…Thirteen guests arrived at dinner at the actor’s house. It was to be a particularly unlucky evening for the mild-mannered Reverend Stephen Babbington, who choked on his cocktail, went into convulsions and died.
But when his martini glass was sent for chemical analysis, there was no trace of poison – just as Poirot had predicted. Even more troubling for the great detective, there was absolutely no motive…
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Poirot is invited to dinner by the celebrated stage actor Sir Charles Cartwright, at his home in Cornwall, Crow's Nest. Thirteen guests are expected, made up of various friends and acquaintances of Sir Charles, and it proves to be an unlucky number for one of them, as local vicar Reverend Babbington drops down dead after consuming a cocktail.
Sir Charles and young Hermione "Egg" Lytton Gore (his love interest) suspect foul play, while Patron of the arts Mr Satterthwaite (a mutual friend of Poirot's) muses upon suicide, but nothing was found in unassuming Rev Babbington's glass. Psychiatrist Sir Bartholomew Strange and Poirot are convinced that there cannot be a motive for a murder.
Sometime later, Poirot is in Monte Carlo and meets Sir Charles and Mr Satterthwaite, who inform him that Sir Bartholomew Strange has been poisoned during a dinner party he hosted at his home. Many of the same guests from Crow's Nest were present, which casts Rev Babbington's demise in a new light. Sir Charles, young Hermione "Egg" Lytton Gore, and Mr Satterthwaite set about tracking down clues, with the help of Poirot as consultant (who now also looks upon the tragedies as no mere coincidences)...
This is a Poirot I have not read before, and it is a bit of a curious one, because Poirot actually spends very little time in the thick of the investigation. Instead, it is mostly undertaken by Sir Charles (channelling his stage performance as a celebrated detective); thoroughly modern (but with obvious daddy issues) "Egg" Lytton Gore, who hankers after becoming Sir Charles' wife: and the rather odd Mr Satterthwaite who stands-in as Poirot's proxy (largely known from Christie's Harley Quinn Mysteries).
Poirot appears at various points throughout the 'three acts' to give wisdom, consider the clues, and then provide his classic summing up, but I found myself wanting much more of the little Belgian detective to make this work as proper Poirot story. In some ways, I wonder whether Christie thought about making this a mystery for Mr Satterthwaite to solve on his own, as he is not bad at the sleuthing game, but it falls to Poirot to pull everything together in the end. I can see why the decision was made to completely miss out Mr Satterthwaite and replace him with Poirot throughout in the excellent David Suchet adaptation, as this works much better.
Nonetheless, there are some very lovely things about this story, weaving nicely into a delicious plot that takes you all round the (play) houses, before revealing a shocking surprise. Christie beautifully explores the themes of 'acting', performance, deception, and love, and there is a bitter sweet taste to the motive that drives the murders. I absolutely loved the inclusion of playwright Muriel Wills (also known as Anthony Astor), who is a fascinating character, and whose observational skills are a turning point in the tale!
This is my March pick for #ReadChrstie2025, and I listened to the audio book narrated by my favourite, Hugh Fraser. It is an excellent choice to delve into this month's prompt of 'performers'!
Three Act Tragedy is available to buy now in multiple formats.
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