Third Girl by
Agatha Christie
pbk out September 02
(HarperCollins)
at £5.99
Hercule Poirot has the galling experience in chapter one of this book of being
consulted by a young woman 'about a murder she might have committed', only for
her to depart without confiding in him, because he is 'too old.' This is a tantalising
opening for a novel, although in truth the story is no classic. Poirot enlists the aid of
his old friend, the crime novelist Ariadne Oliver and together they investigate the case
of Norma Restarick, the 'third girl' (ie the third in a flat-share) who may or may not
have perpetrated the killing. Much of the interest of the book to the modern reader lies
in Christie's account of London in the Swinging Sixties. She is somewhat baffled by
the younger generation, but writes about it sympathetically enough. Worth reading,
but no classic.
(
Martin Edwards
- author of the highly acclaimed Harry Devlin Mysteries)
