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Saturday, September 10, 2022

Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie

 "The dog hunts rabbits. Hercule Poirot hunts murderers. We have here a murderer--a murderer whose crime failed, yes, perhaps, but nevertheless a murderer. And I, my friend, am going into the burrow after him--or her as the case may be."
 

Emily Arundell's nieces and nephew want her money. After a suspicious fall down her stairs, she begins to suspect that one of them is willing to kill her for it. So, she writes a letter to Hercule Poirot requesting his help. Only he doesn't get the letter until 2 months later, and by that time, Emily is dead. Her doctor claims it was from natural causes, but Poirot and his friend, Capt. Hastings, head to Market Basing to investigate her death for themselves. 

I've been reading my way through Agatha Christie's mysteries these past few years, but this is the first one that I've read in 2022. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. But then I'm always entertained by how Hercule Poirot digs into a murder investigation. He's such a fun character! I do have to say, however, that my favorite character in this particular book was Bob, Emily Arundell's wirehaired terrier. The way he likes to play ball from the top of the stairs made me smile. Capt. Hastings is a good foil for Poirot as well. And the mystery itself kept me guessing as Poirot's suspicions moved from one character to another. Any one of them could have done it. I enjoyed seeing how Poirot figured out the truth at the end. If you like Agatha Christie, this mystery is an engaging one.

Happy Reading!


38 comments:

  1. I loved this one too - I usually enjoy the books with Captain Hastings. He and Poirot have a great partnership. And Bob is a wonderful character!

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    1. Hastings and Poirot do make for a very fun team. :)

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  2. Haven't read AC's books in a long while. This story sounds like a good one; and all the more featuring a wirehaired terrier. :)

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  3. I know I've read this one, but I think it has been a really long time ago. Glad you liked it and now I think I might have to try it again.

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    1. There are several Christie mysteries I could go back and read and enjoy...and still not know whodunnit! ;D

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  4. This sounds so good. I can't believe I've never read a book featuring Poirot. I'm gonna have to remedy that soon. :)

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  5. I already like Bob too! Terrific review, Lark

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    1. Bob was the best and added some fun humor to this one.

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  6. I don't know if I've heard of this one but I like that premise. And I like that Poirot has a foil, someone to bounce his ideas off of. I jsut recently rewatched the 70's movie version of Death on the Nile and that was one of my favorite parts of the story.

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    1. Poirot is a fun character. I like him better in the books than in the movies, but the movies are still fun.

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  7. This is one of my favorite Poirot episodes to watch, and it's precisely because of Bob. I love that dog! (Of course, it doesn't have a thing to do with once having two wire-haired fox terriers named Tommy and Zack!)

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  8. This sounds like it was good, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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    1. It's a fun one, and one of my favorite Poirot mysteries now.

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  9. I loved this one too! I think I've also watched a film adaptation of this with David Suchet. He's the best Poirot, IMO.

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  10. You can't lose with Agatha. Her books are always good reading.

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  11. Agatha was sort of my "entry drug" for reading and I have loved her all my reading life. This one was always one of my favorites.

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    1. It's a very fun one. I love her books because her writing and her characters are always so good.

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  12. It wasn't until you mentioned Bob the dog that I twigged as to which book this is. The TV episode was wonderful with a lovely dog playing the part. :-)

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    1. I need to watch that episode just to see Bob in action. :)

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  13. Agatha Christie is such a brilliant mystery writer and I am curious about Bob. It's not easy to make a cat or a dog an interesting character in a novel. Darcy Coates did it in Ashburn House and Agatha Christie I have no doubt has done a good job with Bob.

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  14. Totally agree with your thoughts! And I love the Hastings/ Poirot duo. One website I really like for their screencaps: https://isaypoirot.tumblr.com/ :D

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  15. As interesting as the book sounds, i cannot get over its title! It’s the unlikeliest title for a Christie book, i have ever seen!!😁 Verushka from Pop. Edit.lit

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    1. Isn't it a weird title for a mystery? Dead Witness would have been better. ;D

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  16. Love it. Regine
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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  17. Bob is one of my favorite characters and I love his little game with the ball on the stairs. I haven't read this one in ages so thank you for reminding me how much I loved it! I'm going to be restarting my Agatha Christie rereading next year and this is one I'm looking forward to reading.

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    1. I loved Bob! And Poirot, too, of course. I want to start buying my favorite Christie books to add to my personal library, and this definitely makes that list.

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  18. I've enjoyed Christie's books with Captain Hastings. He reminds me a bit of Nero Wolfe's assistant, Archie Goodwin in Rex Stout's books.

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  19. Oh this does sound good. I love it when a writer really does such a good job to cast doubt upon a lot of characters.

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