The A.B.C. Murders

This book is one another Agatha Christie detective fiction classic starring the Belgian investigator Hercule Poirot. Arthur Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp – Agatha’s equivalents of Dr.Watson and Inspector Lestrade are also main characters in the novel.

The novel begins when Poirot receives a letter challenging him to solve an upcoming murder mystery from a man initialled A.B.C. The serial killing which follow were committed at places and victims’ names matching the alphabetical order. Poirot exercises his “little grey cells” as he normally puts it and solves the mysteries. In doing so, he saves the innocent Mr. Alexander Bonaparte Crust – the accused, from the chair.

Mrs. Ascher – the tobacco shop lady, Miss Betty Bernard – waitress at an hotel, and Mr. Clarke were the victims of the murders. Mary Drower – Mrs. Ascher’s niece, Miss Megan Bernard – Elizabeth’s sister, Franklin Clarke – Mr.Clarke’s brother and Miss Thora Grey – Mr.Clarke’s secretary are the notable characters.

Agatha Christie’s novels differ from Conan Doyle’s in a way that they appear to be more believable in nature. Sherlock Holmes is more dependant on his extra ordinary observation abilities and his knowledge of the scientific instruments necessary for investigation purposes, whereas Hercule Poirot is a man who gets inside of a criminal’s head, thinking psychologically and making assumptions. Agatha’s novels feel more real and more enjoyable.

According to Hercule Poirot, the unforgivable error while doing an investigation is overlooking the obvious. This simplicity which we fail to notice and which Poirot does makes one admire the intelligence of the author who created him. This novel, one of Agatha’s best, once again justifies her naming the Queen of Crime.