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“Nurse Leatheran has been giving me valuable information about the various members of the expedition. Incidentally I have learnt a good deal - about the victim. And the victim, mademoiselle, is very often the clue to the mystery.��

And the victim was ...

“She's not sensual. She doesn't want affairs. It's just cold-blooded experiment on her part and the fun of stirring people up and setting them against each other. She dabbled in that too. She's the sort of woman who's never had a row with anyone in her life--but rows always happen where she is! She makes them happen. She's kind of female Iago. She must have drama. But she doesn't want to be involved herself. She's always outside pulling strings--looking on--enjoying it!��

Murder in Mesopotamia is one of the really good Agatha Christie novels. The great Dame is at her most brilliant with characterisation, depicting all sides of human nature, the nice and the ugly.

The book is written in 1st person, which I am not too keen on when reading a crime story, but here it is spot on. We are offered the story through nurse Amy Leatheren's unashamedly biased perspective. She is sensible and practical without being bright and too clear-sighted: a perfect sidekick to (Dr.) Poirot. She is very British and presented in the classic Agatha Christie style: half in earnest - half poking fun at her own people.

The mystery is very clever and the way AC builds up tension and presents the atmosphere is superb.

Very much recommended.