Crooked House

by Agatha Christie first published in 1949

Pocket Book edition

POISON BY PRESCRIPTION
The old man suffered from diabetes. He had regular injections of insulin – until someone switched the insulin for eserine. Anyone in the house could have done it. Everyone had a motive. The old man was enormously rich. And his wife was beautiful. Of course, beauty is no crime. But his wife was fifty years younger – and in love with another man!

I read this one getting ready for the film version due out December 22 in the US. I can’t wait! When I got to the end I remembered reading it a long time ago!

Charles Haywood is in the Diplomatic Service and comes home to England after a couple years away from his sweetheart Sophia, whom he met in service in Cairo. They were planning on getting married. But Sophia’s rich, patriarchal grandfather had just been murdered and she isn’t sure she can marry him now.

“Their suspicions may be quite unjustified. But putting that aside, supposing that they are justified, how does that affect you and me?”

“It might under certain circumstances. You’re in the Diplomatic Service. They’re rather particular about wives. No-please don’t say all the things that you’re just bursting to say. You’re bound to say them-and I believe you really think them-and theoretically I quite agree with them. But I’m proud-and I’m devilishly proud. I want our marriage to be a good thing for everyone–I don’t want to represent one half of a sacrifice for love! And, as I say, it may be all right…”

 “You mean the doctor-may have made a mistake?”

“Even if he hasn’t made mistake, it won’t matter-so long as the right person killed him.”

And when he asked her to tell him about it She said…

“No, Charles. I don’t want you to see us from my angle. I want you to see us unbiased from the outside point of view.”

   “And how am I to do that?”

 She looked at me, a queer light in her brilliant blue eyes.   “You’ll get that from your father,” she said.

Charles’ father is Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard! So Charles starts tagging along with the detective as he investigates. He gets to know her family from the eyes of investigation.

Of course this is an Agatha Christie book so its going to be great. What is there not to like her books! This one is a stand-alone, no Poirot or Miss Marple or Tommy and Tuppence. I really enjoyed it. Very clever plot and a house that seemed almost a character. My edition was a 9th Pocket Book printing. You can look at all the different covers of this book here.

Glenn Close and Gillian Anderson star in the movie. Glenn Close will be a perfect Aunt Edith! If I’m not mistaken I heard this is the first time this book has been made into a movie, is that correct?

Watch the trailer for the movie…

 

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This fulfills the “red object” (Red hat and gloves) category on the Golden Vintage Scavenger Hunt card for Bev’s Vintage Covers Scavenger Hunt