Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie

It's a 'Poirot' Christmas, so instead of festive snow, Santa, and presents, we have greed, deception, and a bloody murder. Poirot is in top form, including three twists and an ingenious final reveal.

Wealthy Simeon Lee has invited his family to Gorston Hall for Christmas—to vent his spite, feeling none of them worth a penny. Alfred and his wife Lydia remain living with him, caring for his needs as an invalid. George is an MP with a glamorous young wife, and estranged son David has not visited for many years. His wife feels it will be good for him to see his father again. Ne'er-do-well Harry was long thought dead, but returns to announce he is home for good. They are wary of their tyrannical father, who consistently states he is going to change his will. He is now an invalid, but they say his philandering is what killed their mother. His daughter Jennifer is also deceased, but he has invited her child for Christmas; Pilar Estravados has traveled all the way from Spain to meet her grandfather. On Christmas Eve, another guest arrives: Stephen Farr, the son of his South African mining partner where he made his fortune. Simeon is pleased to see both of them and shows off his collection of rare uncut diamonds.

After Christmas Eve dinner, they hear a terrific smash of breaking furniture being tossed around in their father's room, followed by a cry like a soul from hell. Locked from the inside, they bust the door to find the room in shambles and Simeon dead—his throat slashed.

No one else was in the room; the diamonds are gone.

Superintendent Sugden arrives, followed by Chief Constable Johnson, who has brought his friend Hercule Poirot. With only nine in the house, there is a case against every one of them, and in no time there are false alibis and shocking deceptions. Sugden and Poirot make a good team as they run through the list of possibilities.

How Agatha Christie manages to pull off three shocking twists, and Poirot's amazing revelation of the killer, showed the true signs of a master at the top of her game. Marple, Poirot, and Christie are always recommended, but this was a special treat.

Also known as Murder For Christmas and Holiday For Murder

1938 / Tradeback / 304 pages