The Pale Horse by
Agatha Christie
Most untypically for a Christie, this excellent mystery opens in a setting very much of
the late fifties or early sixties, a Chelsea Espresso Coffee Bar 'with the name Luigi
written in red neon light across the window.' Mark Easterbrook is an author (working
on a book about 'certain aspects of Mogul architecture'), taking a break from his
manuscript and ruminating about the nature of evil. He witnesses a fight between two
girls and learns that one of them is called 'Tommy Tucker'. A week later she is dead,
but Mark attaches no importance to the incident and it is not until a late stage in the
novel that the connection between the girl's demise and apparent black magic at the
Pale Horse, home to three women said to be witches, becomes apparent.
This excellent novel is one of the best of Christie's later works. Mark Easterbrook is
an appealing amateur detective and, together with Mrs Ariadne Oliver, a number of
minor characters from earlier books make an appearance. The plot is ingenious and
satisfying, but the most remarkable feature of the story is the unusual murder method,
which has attracted an extraordinary degree of attention over the years, especially
since it has been referred to in at least two real-life murder cases. Highly
recommended.
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