“It is the quietest and meekest people who are often capable of the most sudden and unexpected violences for the reason that when their control does snap, it goes entirely.”
Simeon Lee has gathered his family back home for Christmas. Four sons, their wives and one granddaughter are present the day that ends with him being murdered. First an old friend’s son arrives, then his uncut diamonds go missing, he taunts his family by letting them overhear that he wants to make a new will and then tells them that the only one worth anything in the whole lot is the granddaughter. After dinner, which he eats in his room, they all hear a ghastly scream and crashing furniture, but when they break down his locked door, they find no one inside except for the dead Simeon.
I have enjoyed many Agatha Christie books. I saw Hercule Poirot’s Christmas for sale one day as an ebook and bought it to include in my holiday readings. I usually read mostly holiday themed books in December to get into the Christmas spirit. My husband read Hercule Poirot’s Christmas with me.
Hercule Poirot was visiting his friend, the local constable, when the constable is called to investigate the murder. Poirot goes along and helps question everyone in the house. Unfortunately, the questioning only eliminates three people in the household and Poirot must think of other methods of getting the murderer to reveal himself or herself.
Mystery lovers will enjoy Hercule Poirot’s Christmas. It’s not an overly holiday-themed read, it just happens to take place at Christmastime. It could be read at any time of the year. I had a small inkling of who had committed the murder, but did not guess the entire ending, which made for a very fun mystery to read.
Do you have a favorite Agatha Christie book? Share in the comments!