Where's the 'ummpth' Aggie?? (Ordeal by Innocence - Agatha Christie)

Member Name: idodoyou

Product:	Ordeal by Innocence - Agatha Christie
Date:	02/11/01 (167 review reads)
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6 pages in I knew I'd already read this. What I didn't know was, why was it on my pile of 'to reads' (the pile consists of brand new, never been opened books) and, more importantly, who the murderer was. That would have really screwed up the ending. And literally speaking, been a total waste of time reading an Agatha Christie. Because, let's face it, isn't the biggest part of the thrill reading a Christie, the on going battle you have with yourself to see if you can actually name the culprit before she does? To see if you can just, not beat exactly, but to see if you 'stay' with Christie and her ingenuous criminal mind. Gwan with ya, you know that you?d like to beat her, just once?

There aren't many Christie books that I haven't read. And I have to say; Hercule Poirot is my favourite character. Jane Marple just doesn?t cut it for me. Oh, don't get me wrong, she is readable, but I prefer Poirots intricate little ways. He makes me laugh.

But, why I'm talking about Miss Marple and Poirot I don?t know. Cos, you see, this book doesn't actually feature either of them. Yep, it is 'genius sleuth less' (?)
Which does make a change. Not necessarily a bad change. Nor a good one though. Just a change.

Of course, the style of writing isn't changed any. And considering this book was written in 1958, there is really no indication to the age of the story.
Christie still manages to pull you in, and handcuff you to the story line. As much as you want to leave, get on with your life, you are chained to the book. The handcuffs are of course metaphorical, the book doesn't actually come with a piece of policing apparel (or S & M wear!?!) I'm talking about the actual story line. It captures you. It chains you to its words. It entices you in. Kinda like, the pages are mini carrots and you, me, the readers are mere donkeys. And the ending is the biggest bloody car
rot you ever did see. We, the donkeys can't wait to get to it.

Well, I couldn't. But then again. I'm always like that when it comes to an Agatha Christie novel. I can't help it. She brings out my competitive streak. I always want to beat her. I never do. (B***h ; ) ) This novel was no different. She won again. I thought that I might have stood a chance this time, what with Poirot and Miss Marple missing, but no, the concept, the plot and the ending are as infallible as ever. Christie is as infallible as ever. Hurrah for Aggie I say ...

As with the majority of Christie novels, a crime has taken place, (you don't say??) and it's the job for the hero or heroine to find the culprit. This time, the crime has already taken place, the culprit is known and has been sentenced, found guilty and has died in prison of pneumonia. All rather neat don't you think? And of course, if the story was as simple as all that, there would be no reason for the rest of the book would there? But, it ain't as simple as all that. The culprit wasn't guilty. He was innocent. His imprisonment was wrong. He didn't bludgeon his mother over the head and steal her money. So, the next question must be, if he didn't do it ... who the bloody hell did?

To find out who and why, enter Dr Arthur Calgary as takes up the case, and the position of chief 'finder outer'. Well, why not? He was the one that held the key to the culprits, Jacko Argyle, acquittal. He feels it's his place to bring the real culprit to justice. If only he had been 2 years earlier with his evidence (he missed the bus?)? Evidence that would have probably saved a young mans life, and brought the real murderer to justice. But he didn't, unforeseen circumstances prohibited him. And so, the real murderer is still going unpunished.

As a total stranger, Dr Arthur Calgary knows nothing about the family. Nothing about life
in the big house on the hill. So he enlists the help of the family Doctor. This is good, and bad. For although the information that the Doctor puts forward is helpful to Calgary, it manages to re-open old wounds in the family. And as the wounds are once again exposed to the air, the likelihood of the real murderer striking again is increasing.

So, at this moment in time, you are thinking that this Calgary chap has jumped into the shoes (and a pretty bad fit at that!) of Poirot or Marples. Yes, he does, but .... always a but ain't there? But, he's sharing shoe space with another would be detective, Philip Durrant.
This time he has the information that Calgary is lacking, you know, the stuff about the family and such. He's actually the only member of the family that isn't still under suspicion. He's a cripple you see, used to be a pilot but struck down by polio. But while his legs no longer work, his brain is very much active, and he relishes the chance to try and solve this re opened murder case. He's not actually a family ~ family member. More of a family member by marriage. An in-law.

The two 'super sleuths' don't work together, in fact, they don?t even know that the other one is on the trail. It doesn't make much of a difference though, because unlike other Christie novels, there really aren't that many clues given. There was no way I was going to get the culprit this time. She gave nothing away. Nothing I tell you.

And so, as we follow the two amateur sleuths as they fumble for leads. Trying to make sense of what little information Agatha has given us, and them it seems, we, the reader arrive at the end of the book, plumped, primed ready and waiting for the totally unexpected but custimary big ending that we have all come to expect from Agatha Christie. It was delivered. But ... but, it just wasn't exciting as the others. Now, I know that you are all saying, 'Well
it wouldn't have been, she's read it before'. Yes, that's true, but at no point during the reading of this book did I remember any of the plot. It was all new news to me!

I'm not sure why it didn't end with the usual 'ummpth' that Christie usually closes her novels with? But come to think of it, and looking back, the whole story lacked a certain amount of the 'ummpth' factor. This, I think is due to the lack of the initial murder. Ok, yeah, so we get to hear about it during the story, and of course at the end when the murderer is found, but because the story doesn't start with a death, I guess you feel as if you have missed out on something. Well, I did. So, although Agatha has you hand cuffed, and is dangling carrots, this book ain't as manacled as tightly or dangled as enticingly as I have come to expect from the mistress of mystery.

Anyway, back to the story line ... Will Calgary get to the real culprit before it's too late? Will he be able to decipher, deliberate and digest the bare facts that he has gleaned from out side sources?
Or will Philip Durrant be the first to uncover the culprit and beat Calgary to it? Will the fact that he has inside information help him in his quest.

<cue Psycho music as description of story line comes to a dramatic end!!>



As with a couple more of Christie novels, we do have a tinsy winsy smidgen of a love story. But as I said, it is a very tinsy winsy one. And throughout the book, you can be forgiven for not noticing it. It only really comes apparent in the closing sentence. Sorta like a final kick in the teeth before you close the book. Well, you didn't twig the murderer, the least you could have done was to pick up on the love element!!

This isn't one of her best. However, that's not to say that you need to stay away from it. Don't. Read it. If only to be beaten again by her master crim
inal mind, read it. If only to appreciate her other works more, read it. If you are a newer reader to Christies optical offerings, read it, just be aware that she can, and has done better than this. If you are a fan of Christie, don't let my opinion put you off, you might find the 'ummpth' in this book that I missed. Read it.

Despite the lack of the 'ummpth' this book did entertain. I can't deny it. And why would I want to? I've read better. I've read worse. Just not from the hand and mind of Agatha Christie. Worse that is?

I will most probably read it again, although, not for a while. Of course, I suppose if I read it again next week I would have some sort of chance of actually 'beating' her to the murderer!! teehee.
No, it will be read again. When will depend on the size of my 'to read' pile. But, at the rate I'm going, it won't be anytime soon ....

Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 218
Price: £3.99 from www.Amazon.co.uk
ISBN: 0 00 617067 6

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