The Peril at End House (Hercule Poirot #8)

Title: The Peril at End House (Hercule Poirot #8)

Author: Agatha Christie

Published in: 1932

Date read: Not yet read

Score: 5/5

Genre: Classic, Detective, Mystery

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
Published in 1932, this is the seventh novel featuring Hercule Poirot (there is a play in there too). Set on the scenic Cornish coast, it begins with what appears to be a series of "accidents" and evolves into one of Poirot’s most celebrated cases of psychological manipulation.

The Plot:
While vacationing at a Cornish resort with Captain Hastings, Poirot meets the charming and impulsive Nick Buckley, the young mistress of a crumbling estate called End House. Nick mentions in passing that she has recently survived several brushes with death: a falling picture, a car brake failure, and a heavy rock falling near her.

When a bullet hole is discovered in Nick's hat while she is talking to Poirot, the detective realises these are not accidents, but cold-blooded murder attempts. He vows to protect her and moves her friends and family into End House to keep a close watch. Despite his efforts, tragedy strikes during a fireworks party: Nick's cousin, Maggie Buckley, is found shot dead, apparently mistaken for Nick because she was wearing her coat.

And stop!

Having read this book, I have now decided that I am not going to give away any more of the plot. Don't try to find out what happens, go and get/download a copy, find a comfy chair and read the magic for yourself.

Comments:
I have just finished the audiobook version of this book and I am in a difficult mindset. I have measured all of Agatha Christie's against The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, however, I think that book may have met its match. I often read about Roger Ackroyd being the best, however, this one is excellent and I loved it throughout. I had never heard of this book except when researching the works in chronological order (which is how I am now reading them). Please give this lesser-know gem a read, you won't be disappointed.

Books that we've read by Agatha Christie (12):
The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot, #1) (1920), The Secret Adversary (Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries, #1) (1922), The Murder on the Links (Hercule Poirot #2) (1923), The Man in the Brown Suit (Colonel Race, #1) (1924), Poirot Investigates (1924), The Secret of Chimneys (1925), The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot, #4) (1926), The Big Four (1927), The Mystery of the Blue Train (Poirot #6) (1928), The Murder at the Vicarage (Miss Marple #1) (1930), The Thirteen Problems (Miss Marple, #1) (1932), And Then There Were None (1939)