Towards Zero (Agatha Christie Collection)

Product Information

He helped himself to the aforementioned viands and poured out a cup of coffee. There was a companionable silence for some minutes. In 1930, Christie married archaeologist Max Mallowan (Sir Max from 1968) after joining him in an archaeological dig. Their marriage was especially happy in the early years and remained so until Christie's death in 1976. Well, perhaps I was going a bit too far. But at any rate once the thing had happened, there it was. You’ve got to accept these things!’ Loving a Shadow: Thomas Royde's affections for Audrey are mostly based on the image of the girl he once grew up with, and not the woman she is now. Audrey then asserts that he'd be better off with Mary Aldin as she prepares to go to South America with Angus, feeling she's a far better match for him.

Amateur Sleuth: While his line of work is not specified, it is quite obvious that Angus MacWhirter is not an officer of the law. However, when he became involved in Lady Tressilian's murder via Audrey, he did some snooping around (without the police knowing) with some help by Mary Aldin by finding and securing the damp rope used by the murderer, and managed to deduce the truth of the murder while presenting it as an eyewitness account. Averted in the Radio 4 adaptation, which merges Superintendent Battle into his character and makes him a disgraced ex-detective with the Met. Nevile may have been behind two other deaths (Mr Treves and Adrian Royde) but there is insufficient evidence to prosecute. With his confession, the rope, and the ruse with the bell pull explained, Battle charges him with the murder of Lady Tressilian. Audrey seeks out MacWhirter to thank him, and they decide to marry. They will travel to Chile where he begins his new job. Audrey expects that Thomas will come to realize that he really wants to marry Mary Aldin instead. He said gently as he came towards her: ‘Last time I had my hands on you, you felt like a bird– struggling to escape. You’ll never escape now…’ Adrian Royde: brother to Thomas; barrister, loved Audrey Strange, recently killed in road accident.I like a good detective story,’ he said. ‘But, you know, they begin in the wrong place! They begin with the murder. But the murder is the end. The story begins long before that– years before sometimes– with all the causes and events that bring certain people to a certain place at a certain time on a certain day. Barnard, Robert. A Talent to Deceive – an appreciation of Agatha Christie (revised edition, p. 208). Fontana Books: 1990; ISBN 0-00-637474-3

You don't need to know much about the plot ahead of time. Basically a group of people are staying at a seaside home. A tennis player, his current wife, as well as his ex-wife are among the guests, and well, that makes things a bit awkward. Manipulative Bastard: Neville manipulated the entire situation and carefully planned the murder to frame Audrey. All Love Is Unrequited: Ted is in love with Kay, who is married to Nevile, who still seems to have feelings for his ex-wife Audrey. Audrey's own feelings for Nevile is ambiguous, but she certainly does not reciprocate Thomas' love. While he is quite bitter about his failed suicide at first, Angus's life ends up turning for the better by an eccentric millionaire who admires his integrity, and find a new love.If I see any weaknesses in this book, this is without a doubt the last scene. It is completely sentimental and unrealistic and in my opinion spoils the entire effect of this book. This story would be great without this silly scene. Fortunately, that's basically the only thing that annoyed me. Same with Audrey, she attempts suicide when it seems she's going to be arrested for Lady Tressilian's murder but Angus saves her and helps the police finding the real killer. In the end she agrees to marry him. Enfant Terrible: There was an incident in the past where a child had murdered their friend using a bow and arrow. The case was ruled as an accident, but an eyewitness account that the child had practiced using the weapons beforehand suggested otherwise. Agatha Christie herself adapted the book plays for the stage twice, once in 1945 and a second time in 1956. Pascal Thomas began his career with estimable French comedies; then, in the naughties,he began to adapt Agatha Christie,with "Mon Petit Doigt M'a Dit" feat Thomas and Tuppence Beresford (the names were Frenchified ) and he used again the husband-and-wife detectives in his latest effort "Le Crime Est Notre Affaire".