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| Well, it's no Downton Abbey. |
Captain Hastings often plays second fiddle to the charismatic genius of Hercule Poirot, but in The Mystery of Hunter’s Lodge, he finally gets an opportunity to stretch his detective muscles while flying solo. Well, sort of. As Inspector Japp cheekily remarks, “Rather the case of the cart without the horse, your being here without him, isn’t it?” Rude.
You see, Poirot is laid up with a bout of influenza and can’t take on the case, so Hastings volunteers to go in his stead. He heads to Derbyshire to investigate the murder of a wealthy man at a country estate, only to find that every suspect has an airtight alibi and the clues lead nowhere. Feeling stumped, he somewhat begrudgingly wires Poirot for help.
As with many of Christie’s detective stories, the real draw for me isn’t the "big reveal" at the end. The rapid-fire, witty dialogue keeps the narrative moving at a fast pace, and the enjoyment factor largely resides in watching Poirot’s methodical mind piece it all together through sheer logic and deduction.
I might have mentioned this in other reviews, but Agatha Christie’s stories are my ultimate comfort reads—like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket with a cup of tea on a chilly day. In fact, I recommend doing just that while reading one of her stories. Agatha Christie rarely ever fails to deliver an engaging murder mystery, and while this one may not be my favorite Poirot adventure, it’s still a solid and satisfying read. The ending ties everything up neatly, and though Hastings once again proves he's better at narrating than being a detective, justice prevails as it always does in Christie’s world.
You can read this story HERE.
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