From time to time, I like to go back and reader older mysteries.  The type of books that do not throw all of the characters or side parts at you at once.  Books where there is no jumping to conclusions or where the sleuth actually takes their time to get the reader from the beginning to the end.  I admit that I picked up this book because of the title and the time of year, but to be honest, other than the book beginning at a childs party, it has nothing to do with what the tradition has turned into.

Featuring Hercule Poirot, his friend mystery novelist Ariadne Oliver has called upon him for help when a young girl at a Halloween party recounts her witnessing of a murder.  She claimed that at the time she did not know that it was in fact a murder and that it had only come to her later on.  When this young girl, Joyce Reynolds, is later found murdered at the party, Ariadne relies on Poirot for his insight as to what could have happened.

As it turns out, thirteen-year-old Joyce has a tendency to lie.  Not just a little bit, she is well known for her fibs.  To Poirots mind, just because this young girl has a history, does not mean that there is not some truth to her story.

Calling on his friend retired Superintendent Spence, Hercule Poirot is getting a better idea of residence of Woodleigh Common and it turns out that there was an au pair named Olga Seminoff that had disappeared under suspicious circumstances and now Poirot is starting to put the puzzle pieces together.

Some claim that this is not Agatha Christies best work and I think to each their own.  I find all of her books fascinating and enjoy them each time I pick one up.
From time to time, I like to go back and reader older mysteries. The type of books that do not throw all of the characters or side parts at you at once. Books where there is no jumping to conclusions or where the sleuth actually takes their time to get the reader from the beginning to the end. I admit that I picked up this book because of the title and the time of year, but to be honest, other than the book beginning at a childs party, it has nothing to do with what the tradition has turned into. Featuring Hercule Poirot, his friend mystery novelist Ariadne Oliver has called upon him for help when a young girl at a Halloween party recounts her witnessing of a murder. She claimed that at the time she did not know that it was in fact a murder and that it had only come to her later on. When this young girl, Joyce Reynolds, is later found murdered at the party, Ariadne relies on Poirot for his insight as to what could have happened. As it turns out, thirteen-year-old Joyce has a tendency to lie. Not just a little bit, she is well known for her fibs. To Poirots mind, just because this young girl has a history, does not mean that there is not some truth to her story. Calling on his friend retired Superintendent Spence, Hercule Poirot is getting a better idea of residence of Woodleigh Common and it turns out that there was an au pair named Olga Seminoff that had disappeared under suspicious circumstances and now Poirot is starting to put the puzzle pieces together. Some claim that this is not Agatha Christies best work and I think to each their own. I find all of her books fascinating and enjoy them each time I pick one up.