The ABC Murders

Hi, this is Hamako.
I'd like to write a book report.


The ABC Murders / written by Agatha Christie / 70000words YL10 ★★★★☆

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Hercule Poirot received a letter from a person who calls
himiself (or herself) “ABC”.
The letter tells him to 'look out for Andover.'
Then, an old woman (but she was 60's. What an "old!?")
of the name of Alice Ascher has been found murdered at Andover.

The second letter come and it tells 'your attention to Bexhill-on-Sea.'
Then, an young girl who name was
Betty Barnard has been murdered on the beach at Bexhill.

It seems like that the victim as well as the place
might be selected by an alphabetical system.

The third letter come and it tells ‘Churston on the 30th’
‘Today is the 30th!’
Unfortunately the letter had wrongly addressed and delayed delivery.
Then an old man who name was Sir Carmichael Clarke
has been found with his head bashed in at Churston.

In each case an open “ABC railway guide” has been placed
face downwards on the dead body.
Is the “ABC” homicidal maniac who has an alphabetical complex?
Or does he (or she) have a hidden meaning?
Why did he find it necessary to commit these murders?
Why did he select Poirot for his adversary?

Can Poirot catch the homicidal criminal till next murder?

Also we can see a man who name is Mr.”Alexander Bonaparte Cust”.
His name and act are very suspicious.
(‘But poor Mr Cust wouldn’t hurt a fly, laughed a girl
who is a daughter that his lodging house’s landlady.)

On the other hand, there are five young people
who composed of the friends and relatives of the murdered people.
The extraordinary fair beauty of Thora Grey.
The dark intensity of Megan Barnard,
with her strange Red Indian immobility of face.
Mary Drower, neatly dressed in a black coat and skirt,
with her pretty, intelligent face.
Franklin Clark, big, bronzed and talkative.
And Donald Fraser, self-contained and quiet,
make an interesting contrast to each other.

Poirot said ‘romance can be a by-product of crime.’
Is there….?

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The plot of the story is very exciting and the ending is very surprising.
When this case was solved you learn the meaning of the line
that Poirot said where at the beginning,
‘There is something about that letter, Hastings, that I do not like…
Not instinct. Instinct is a bad word. It is my knowledge —my experience
—that tells me that something about that letter is wrong—’