Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

This has never been one of my favourite books, and I keep forgetting the plot and everything else despite having read it many times. But there is nothing essentially wrong with the book, except that I found it a little dry.

Poirot and Hastings meet for the first time in this book on page. I think much of the pleasure from a Poirot mystery comes from Hastings, and Hastings wasn't as well developed here as the one I would grow used to.

It is the middle of World War I and Mrs Inglethorp is hosting the refugees from Belgium, of whom Poirot happens to be one. Hastings has been sent to the war and has returned to his old friend's place to recuperate, his friend being the stepson of Mrs Inglethorp. Then she dies. It is obviously murder. A large cast of characters are available to pick your suspects from. And Poirot does pick them right! And well, I got it wrong. There certainly are some red herrings in this book.

Certainly worth a read if only to see the little Belgian solving his first crime in England.