Third Girl (Hercule Poirot)
by Agatha Christie

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Book Reviews of Third Girl (Hercule Poirot)

Book Review: A mystery that might not be a mystery
Summary: 3 Stars

Weaving together several subplots from her previous works, Agatha Christie tried to create a new setting for her recurrent characters: Hercule Poirot and Oliver Ariadne.

The Third Girl referred to a term used to advertise for a third female tenant to share the rent of a London apartment. She was also the "Orhelia devoid of physical attraction" who insulted Hercule Poirot. It was later realised from his indignant outpouring to Oliver Ariadne that she was probably the one who recommended Poirot to this girl.

Thus began the mystery that might not have been a mystery. Poirot's connections to the police did not reveal any possible candidate for the murder mentioned by Norma Restarick, youthful daughter to one Andrew Restarick. Andrew Restarick had abandoned his wife and daughter fifteen years before and left for Africa with another woman. The deaths of his wife, then his brother, brought him back to England, with a new wife, and took over the family business.

Between their visits to Norma's flat and Restarick office in London, and the visit to their home in Crosshedges, Long Basing, Poirot and Ariadne composed a picture of a family challenged by the "revolution" of the 60s. Yet there was something beyond the normal angst, and as Poirot and Ariadne continued in their pursuit, they realised there was a very real danger. There were gossips of guns, knives and bloody stains, but no murder victim to account for; which begged the question whether Norma was guilty, innocent or insane.

But the questions like what was the danger, who was in danger and from whom, remained frustratingly vague, resisting most attempts of illumination. This is a departure from most detective genres and fans seeking a good old crime would be exasperated at the development of the story.

Nonetheless, fans of Agatha Christie would be able to garner clues if they had learned how the Queen of Mystery usually placed them subtly.

There were two perspectives to the deception; as a male, I uncovered the male perspective of the deception so easily that I did not realise there was a female perspective deception in place. Certainly it was nothing to complain about for as a reader, I received my entertainment of being mystified and surprised.

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