The Clocks
{4.5/5} “Inspector Hardcastle was professionally prejudiced against people who found bodies. Finding the body avoided so many difficulties for a murderer — it saved the hazards of arranging an alibi; it accounted for any overlooked fingerprints. In many ways it was a cast-iron position — with one proviso only. There must be no obvious motive.”
The Clocks by Agatha Christie, published in 1963
A man is found dead in Miss Pebmarsh’s living room. The woman who found the body, Shelia Webb, was asked to go there by her boss to do some typing. But Miss Pebmarsh, who’s blind, didn’t call for any typing. The dead man seems to be an insurance agent, but no one knows him. And there are four clocks in the room that weren’t there before, all set to 4:13.
It’s gripping all the way through — a terrific mystery.
Hercule Poirot, of course, appears in many of Christie’s works. I was expecting 1 or 2 of the other characters to continue on as well, but that’s not the case — making one of the subplots a bit odd, as it doesn’t seem complete.*
There is a clue to be found, if you are very keen eyed.
This is the 1st book by Christie I’ve read. I previously reviewed the movie Murder on the Orient Express, based on her novel.
Spoiler alert
*Colin Lamb’s investigations were fine, but his retirement and certainty that he would wed Sheila Webb came out of nowhere.