The list of Agatha Christie books I have not read is dwindling. Christie said that this was one of her favorites to write.

Title & Author

Crooked House, by Agatha Christie (1949)

Summary & Thoughts

After meeting Sophia Leonides abroad and falling in love, Charles Hayward (the narrator) visits her back home in England to properly ask her to marry him. She says she can’t marry him because her grandfather has been murdered (she fears it might be one of the family), and until that is cleared up, she cannot start a new life with anyone. As his father conveniently works with the police (or Scotland Yard? I’m already forgetting which investigative branch he works for), Charles joins the investigation to discover the murderer and clear the air.

And so begin the twists and turns of interviewing the family and staff and looking for clues. Agatha Christie doesn’t disappoint with her usual style of red herrings and confused investigators, and she continues her theme of drawing upon nursery rhymes for titles.

If you haven’t read much Christie, some of my favorites are “Murder on the Orient Express,” “And Then There Were None,” “Cards on the Table,” and “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.” Though maybe you shouldn’t start with those, as they are some of her best, and you may be disappointed if you read all the best first. Maybe sprinkle them throughout your reading.

Rating

★ ★ ★