Read Christie 2021: Peril at End House

My dear Hastings, I decided to retire and, therefore, now I will unravel this mystery that is causing my moustache to go crazy!

Name: Peril at End House

Writer: Agatha Christie

Country: United Kingdom

Year: 1932

Genre: Crime novel

Synopsis:

Nick Buckley was an unusual name for a pretty young woman. But then she had led an unusual life. First, on a treacherous Cornish hillside, the brakes on her car failed. Then, on a coastal path, a failing boulder misses her by inches. Later, an oil painting fell and almost crushed her in bed. Upon discovering a bullet-hole in Nick’s sun hat, Hercule Poirot decides the girl needs his protection. At the same time, he begins to unravel the mystery of a murder that hasn’t been committed. Yet.

Review

Peril at End House is the April book for the Read Christie 2021 Challenge, whose theme is: a story from before WWII.

Hercule Poirot is spending a well-deserved holiday in Cornwall and enjoying the fresh sea air, when a new case crosses him and intrigues him. Nick Buckley is a young woman with a cheerful and festival spirit, who finds herself involved in a series of “accidents” and from which she is miraculously saved. It is through another “accident” that she meets Poirot and he realizes that the young woman is in danger. Together with his faithful companion Hastings, the famous detective starts a fight against time to avoid a crime that has not yet occurred.

It was with great anticipation that I started yet another new mystery by this author. The previous one had not “filled me in”, but it was with enthusiasm that I followed Poirot's holiday season in St. Loo and his fight against an invisible killer. I really enjoyed this work and even more to see Hercule desperate to solve the case. This time Agatha Christie made her detective perspire and walk around.

As usual, her writing is fluid and engaging, taking us to the place and getting us to think together with Poirot.

Regarding the end, this is surprising, as the author has already accustomed us. Usually the simplest explanation is the correct one, in which case this applies. Until the penultimate chapter I had my head spinning without being able to reach a suspect. If there is one thing I have already learned from this author, it is that, generally, the most suspicious are the innocent in the story, while the least approached are the criminals. However, in this story this did not apply because everyone seemed to have reasons to commit the crime. I believe that the correct answer came to me shortly before it was revealed by Poirot, although I still did not know the reason for the crime. Once again, I got part of the mystery right, but I confess that this time it was just luck. Still, I really enjoyed the ending and found it very satisfying.

Whisper of the Heart

Peril at End House is the seventh book written by the author, and was considered by the critic to be "diabolically intelligent", with which I fully agree. Published in 1932, it was later adapted for theater and television, not only in its country of origin but also abroad, namely in Russia, under the title Zagadka Endkhauza. There was a version for a computer video game, where the player plays the role of Poirot and investigates the case, as well as an adaptation in a graphic novel.

Something that I had not seen before in other works, were the various references to old cases of Poirot presented in this book. We can see references to events that occurred in The Mystery of the Blue Train. We also have reference to Poirot's obsession for tidiness, and how much it has helped him solve a case in the past, an indirect reference to the book The Mysterious Affair at Styles; as well as a question posed by Inspector Japp to Poirot about his retirement, brings us straight to the case of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. And the most fun is being able to pick up all these references and easily identify them.

"Relations are too devastating as a rule. They fuss and interfere. It's much more fun to be on one's own." (Nick Buckley, Peril at End House)

Agatha Christie has never been truly alone in her life. As a child she had her imaginary friends and, as an adult, she was always surrounded by friends and family. However, there comes a time in our life when we need our own time, to get to know each other better but also to organize ideas in our head.

However, if there is one thing we have learned from the moment we are going through today, it is that we all need each other. The human being was not made to live alone. He needs socializing, physical contact, just as he needs to breathe. Relationships are a lot of work. We have already talked about it here. All relationships, whether family, love, friendship or work, require work and dedication. And, taking into account that each one has its own personality and does not always put the same effort that we do, conflicts tend to arise, stirring us up inside. Would it be better to be alone? Perhaps, but we know that this is not possible. We all need each other inevitably. In addition, when we are with the people we care about, everything becomes more fun.

"Evil never goes unpunished, Monsieur. But the punishment is sometimes secret."(Hercule Poirot, Peril at End House) "

In all the books by Agatha Christie, or rather, in all the books on crime and mystery, the reader expects the criminal to be blamed, the mystery unraveled and that character that irritates us to suffer some punishment for being just too boring. It is not? However, as in real life, punishment is often secret. How many times do we just want to be happy and respected, that no one disturbs our peace, but there is always that creature who decides to envy us and make life difficult for us because of that?

If there is one thing that I increasingly believe in, it is in Karma, and I think the author also believed, because often the punishments she gives to some characters seem divine. Punishment does not always come when we want to, but it inevitably ends up arriving. The Universe makes sure that happens. And, yes, many times, we don't even see that punishment happen because it turns out to be secret. However, it always arrives. Have you ever heard that expression “What goes around, comes around”? It is called the Law of Return, and believe me that is powerful!

"Really, my friend! But I will not sit back and say 'le bon Dieu has arranged everything, I will not interfere.' Because I am convinced that le bon Dieu created Hercule Poirot for the express purpose of interfering. It is my métier." (Hercule Poirot, Peril at End House) "

And it's a good thing that it is, don't you think?

Rating - 🟉🟉🟉🟉🟉🟉🟉🟉🟉🟉 (10)