{also published as Come and Be Hanged}
Agatha! This book was so much fun! Seriously, this might be one of my favorites.
When you read the account of a murder - or say, a fiction story based on murder, you usually begin with the murder itself. That's all wrong. The murder begins a long time beforehand. A murder is the culmination of a lot of different circumstances, all converging at a given moment at a given point. People are brought into it from different parts of the globe and for unforeseen reasons... The murder itself is at the end of the story. It's Zero Hour."
That comment by Superintendent Battle at the end of the story brings Mr. Treves's comment at the beginning of the story full circle:
"Even now," thought Mr. Treves to himself, "some drama - some murder to be - is in course of preparation. If I were writing one of these amusing stories of blood and crime, I should begin now with an elderly gentleman sitting in front of the fire opening his letters - going, unbeknownst to himself - towards zero..."
That of course, is exactly how the novel played out brilliantly.
One more amusing thing - I love how Battle gave nod to Poirot, who makes no appearance in this novel, but he is certainly there in spirit - inspiring Superintendent Battle.
Loved this, Agatha, reading it in nearly one sitting (finished over two days). Thanks for the ride.
b.
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