THE MYSTERY OF THREE QUARTERS

World’s most beloved detective is back. After the success of her first two Poirot novels The Monogram Murders (2014) & Closed Casket (2016) Sophie Hannah is back with her third novel in the series, The Mystery of Three Quarters.

Returning home after lunch Hercule Poirot is accosted outside his home by an angry middle aged woman Sylvia Rule. She accuses Poirot of writing a letter to her accusing her of the murder of Barnabas Pandy, of whom she has never even heard of. Soon he is confronted by three other persons John McCrodden, Miss Annabel Treadway & Hugo Dockerill each claiming to have received a letter from Poirot accusing them of the murder of Barnabas Pandy.

Barnabas Pandy turns out to be the 96 year old grandfather of Miss Annabel Treadway who had accidentally drowned in his bath three months ago. Poirot compares the case to the Church Window Cake prepared by Euphemia Spring, the young waitress at Pleasant’s Coffee House. Each slice of the cake is comprised of four sqaures. Likewise the case seem to have four suspects. When, Poirot starts investigating he is able to establish the connection of only three of the accused to the late Mr Pandy. John McCrodden seems to the only one who has apparently no connection with the case. Hence the name of the novel The Mystery of Three Quarters.

 Was the death of Barnabas Pandy a accident or was it deliberate murder? Who has sent those letters impersonating Poirot and what is his/her motive? Is a murderer on the loose? Will Poirot be able to answer the questions before someone else is hurt? The mystery deepens and family secrets start tumbling out of the closet as Poirot starts digging deeper.

       Here we find the Poirot we have come to know and love from Agatha Christie’s books. His mannerisms, his obsession for neatness, order & method, his love for his mustaches, his use of foreign words and expressions are all there. His eyes turn green when he has hit upon the solution. But instead of Arthur Hastings here we have Inspector Edward Catchpool of the Scotland Yard as Poirot’s sidekick. The story is presented through the eyes of Inspector Catchpool. Sophie weaves a web which is worthy of Agatha Christie in its scope, conception and execution. The Mystery of Three Quarters, is a delight for Poirot fans.  Thanks to Sophie Hannah we are able to enjoy the exploits of the Belgian detective after four decades of his final exit in Curtain which came out in 1975. Eagerly waiting for the next instalment of the series to come up.

SOPHIE HANNAH