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A review by mborer23
The Clocks by Agatha Christie
4.0
A young woman is summoned to a contract typing job only to find that the owner of the house never called her, that the sitting room has several clocks set to the wrong time, and that there's a dead man behind the couch. It's up to Hercule Poirot, with the help of Colin Lamb, a mysterious young man who happened on the scene, to sort out what happened.
Interestingly, Poirot himself never ventures to any of the locations connected with the murder, nor does he speak to any of the witnesses or suspects personally. Colin Lamb (who is hinted to be the son of Superintendent Battle from Cards on the Table and other Christie novels) investigates, takes notes of all conversations, and reports back to Poirot.
For those (like me) who love these little allusions, Poirot refers once more to the "Nemean Lion" case from The Labours of Hercules. There is also a reference to "the Girl Guide murder" (featured in Dead Man's Folly.) A character called Miss Bulstrode is mentioned; there is also a character in Cat Among The Pigeons by that name.
This novel shows definite signs of being written in the 1960s; the murder is not one among the rich among whom Poirot is used to working, but in a quiet suburb. Cold War talk is definitely present, and there's a reference to illegitimate birth no longer being the stigma it once was. An interesting book, and very much recommended.
Interestingly, Poirot himself never ventures to any of the locations connected with the murder, nor does he speak to any of the witnesses or suspects personally. Colin Lamb (who is hinted to be the son of Superintendent Battle from Cards on the Table and other Christie novels) investigates, takes notes of all conversations, and reports back to Poirot.
For those (like me) who love these little allusions, Poirot refers once more to the "Nemean Lion" case from The Labours of Hercules. There is also a reference to "the Girl Guide murder" (featured in Dead Man's Folly.) A character called Miss Bulstrode is mentioned; there is also a character in Cat Among The Pigeons by that name.
This novel shows definite signs of being written in the 1960s; the murder is not one among the rich among whom Poirot is used to working, but in a quiet suburb. Cold War talk is definitely present, and there's a reference to illegitimate birth no longer being the stigma it once was. An interesting book, and very much recommended.