Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie

In yet another original and intriguing story, Hercule Poirot is drawn into the world of Cloade family, where nothing is as it first appears.

Gordon Cloade, wealthy and generous, has supported various members of the family over the years. Then he married a younger woman and was tragically killed in a bomb blast during World War 2. Overnight the widow inherits his fortune, and Cloade’s relatives lose the source of income they have come to take for granted.

Then rumours claim the widow’s first husband did not die in Africa, as reported. If these rumours are true, her marriage to Gordon Cloade was illegal and she cannot inherit his house and fortune. When a stranger visits the village and is soon found dead in his room, it’s time for Poirot to solve the mystery.

Is he the first husband? If not, who is he and why was he killed?

Hercule Poirot investigates with his usual vigour and finesse to solve a twisting mystery that keeps you guessing to the end. It’s a joy to follow him as he slowly pieces all those little clues together into a comprehensive solution that you should have seen, but didn’t.

This is definitely one of the brighter and better Poirot mysteries with a good cast of intriguing characters and a clever plot that has the essential surprise factor. All the other qualities of Agatha Christie’s writing are present, including the social commentary, touches of humour and her complete mastery of suspense and intrigue.

Description

A man returns from the dead, and the body of a mysterious stranger is found in his room…

A few weeks after marrying an attractive young widow, Gordon Cloade is tragically killed by a bomb blast in the London blitz. Overnight, the former Mrs Underhay finds herself in sole possession of the Cloade family fortune.

Shortly afterwards, Hercule Poirot receives a visit from the dead man’s sister-in-law who claims she has been warned by ‘spirits’ that Mrs Underhay’s first husband is still alive. Poirot has his suspicions when he is asked to find a missing person guided only by the spirit world. Yet what mystifies Poirot most is the woman’s true motive for approaching him…