Poirot Bk3: Poirot Investigates (3/11)

The adventure of the Cheap Flat

Mystery:
Mr Robinson's family read about an advertisement of an apartment of the Montagu Mansion, which is next a big handsome looking building, Knightsbridge. That particular apartment is renting out at ridiculously cheap rate of £80 per month instead of £350. No premium. The furniture is sold at £50 and new occupants are to move in immediately. Mr Robinson and his family got this deal! What a catch!

Curious:
-> The explanation of the dirt cheap rental rate= the place could be haunted or the owner is lunatic with a taste of philanthropy.
-> The advertisement has been up for some time, Mr Robinson was definitely not the first to enquire about the flat. Neighbour of the flat would think that it is a scam to trick people in making futile trip here and then reject them.

Leads:
-> Shortly after Mr Robinson's family settled into their new apartment, Poirot inquired from the housing agent that Robinson had moved into the apartment 6months. Thus, it is likely that the previous owner used the name Robinson and wanted their new occupants to have the name Robinson.

Poirot Bk3: Poirot Investigates (2/11)

The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor

Murdered:
Northern Union Insurance company had asked Poirot to investigate the death of Mr Maltravers whom have insured his life with £50,000 only a few weeks ago. Mr Maltravers was found lying dead near a stone chair in his house garden. He had blood in his mouth and was initially suspected of internal bleeding, Haemorrhage, since there wasn't any external gunshot wound on the body. The verdict of heart failure was later altered to a unnatural death when a constable pointed out that there was bullet wound through the head. Mr Maltravers' rook rifle which was used to poach birds, was found beside him. Two shots fired from the little rook rifle.

Suspects:
1) Mr Maltravers committing suicide-> Perhaps Mr Maltravers was not very rich currently at all because he was on the verge of bankruptcy and all that he can leave for his young wife, was the insurance money of £50,000.
2) Mrs Maltravers-> A young lady of the age 27, with extraordinary beauty being married to the middle aged Mr Maltravers. She could possibly have persuaded her husband to take up insurance scheme with great returns and then murdered him and then remarry to a young loving man. (Based on the movie), at the time of murder, she was painting a picture of the garden infront of the house when one of the gardener broke out the news of the death of Mr Maltravers to her. Her account, before the verdict of unnatural death, that Mr Maltraver had strong premonition about his death and hence bought the insurance policy, was suspicious.
3) Captain Black-> same trade as Captain Hastings, police officer. Captain Black has been carrying a touch for Mrs Maltravers. He could possibly in cahoot with Mrs Maltravers in the murder. He was seen near to the mansion on the day of the murder. Being familiar with interrogation, Poirot had to conduct psychoanalysis on Captain Black. Poirot would think that Captain Black passed his test.

Leads:
->(Based on the movie), the overshadows in the painting of Mrs Maltravers does not reflect the time she claimed to have drawn it.
->There are some tales of the Mansion being haunted. The ghost of a deceased lady still lingers.
->Mrs Maltravers claimed to have encounters with the ghost.

Poirot Bk3: Poirot Investigates (1/11)

The Adventure of the Western Star

Mystery: The precious jewel, 'The Western Star', which was insured with 50,000pounds, was stolen. Prior to it's disappearance, there were three letters suggesting that the previous owner wants it back. The letters were believed to be from a chinaman, who was originally the keeper of the jewel, which was known to be the left eye the temple of God.

The tale of the Western Star: Two precious stones came out from the eyes of God. The left eye is called the Western Star and it shall travel around the world in west direction, while the right eye, known to be the Eastern Star, travels in east direction. When the two jewels meet again, God will come and take both of them back. Now the two jewels have arrived in England and a mysterious chinaman came to warn the owners in letters that the jewels will be taken from them.

1st Victim- Lady Yardly, the owner of the Eastern Star.
-> She was wearing a necklace with the precious Jewel on it. Just before she was about to enter the living room, she was robbed by a Chinaman from the back of the door. The robber must have pulled her while Lady Yardly's hand was on the door knob, such that Lady Yardly banged the door when she was being pulled. The robber took out the Eastern Star and threw the necklace on the floor. A small piece of a chinese looking garment was caught by the backdoor where the robber fled from.

2nd Victim- Mr Rolf, a fiance of Miss Mary Marwell. The owner of the Western Star.
-> Mr Rolf kept the Western Star in a safe deposit in the hotel. The Hotel worker, who was in charge of safe guarding the Western Star, withdrew the Jewel for a man whom he was mistaken to be Mr Rolf. On the hotel staff's account, the man had produced a signature which was identical to Mr Rolf.

Suspects:
1) The Chinaman-> He was trying to claim back the jewel. The whole story of the Western and Eastern Star could be a hoax and he was after the two expensive jewels or his purpose of helping God to recover his eyes, genuinely true. He could also try to get the jewel at a cheaper cost by coming out with the tales. Lord Yardly was willing to sell the jewel a tenth of its' originally value. No one has ever seen him, except for Lady Yardly who has seen his pigtail.
2) The owner of the Jewels, especially Mr Rolf-> they could have stolen the jewels themselves and ask for compensation from the insurance company of 50,000 pounds for the jewel being stolen by the chinaman.

Leads:
-> Lady Yardly came to Hasting with regards to the Jewel and Hastings shared with her the threatening letters from the Chinaman. Lady Yardly produced the same stories about receiving the letters from Chinaman, however she claimed that she had destroyed those letters.
-> The news about the lost of the Eastern star was published on the Newspaper. Shortly after the publish, the Western star was too reported to be lost.
-> Mr Rolf was not in a very good relationship with Miss Mary Marwell.

Poirot Bk : Double Sin and other stories (3/5)

Theft of the Royal Ruby

Mystery: The prince Farouq of Egypt foolishly gave a royal ruby necklace to a seductive lady to wear, but she simply walked away with it. Thus the prince hired Poirot to retrieve the Ruby. Poirot went to the Colonel Lacey's house to search for the ruby. The night before the eating of pudding, Poirot found a warning message. 'Don't eat none of the plum pudding.' The pudding was distributed to everyone and everyone, who ate the pudding, were fine. The family made a Christmas pudding and a New Year pudding. The Christmas pudding was knocked by the children and the New Year pudding was served instead. Colonel Lacey found a ruby in the New year pudding.

Suspects:
1) Desmond Lee-Wortley-> One of the house guest. He helped the family in making the pudding.
2) Colonel Lacy-> A famous Egyptologist, one of the few who knows the royal ruby is here with the Prince of Egypt in England. He was caught in financial difficulties.

Poirot Bk : Double Sin and other stories (2/5)

Wasp's Nest

Mystery- Poirot can foresee a murder which is going to take place.

Victim:
Harrison, an author and also a friend of Poirot
-> Usually looks grim and carries a uncomfortable smile.
-> Engaged to Molly Deane who was Claude Langton's ex-girlfriend
-> Is a good friend to Claude Langton
-> Could have drunk a cup of tea, added with potassium cyanide which was mearnt to destroy the wasp's nest in Harrison's house.

Suspects:

Claude Langton
-> bought potassium cyanide for destroying wasp's nest.
-> Kind person, is helping Harrison in destroying the wasp's nest.
-> Admitted that he is still in love with Molly
-> Fails to destroy the wasp's nest after a few attempts using petrol

Leads:
-> Harrison is visiting a doctor and is likely to suffer from illness.
-> Harrison is later found with poor health and has only a month or two left.
-> Molly Deane is back with Claude Langton
-> (On Langton's account)- He bought the cyanide at Harrison's request
-> Harrison preferred the use of petrol to cyanide to destroy the wasp's nest as cyanide was seen to be dangerous.

Mystery Solver: Superintendent Battle

If there are some geniuses in our midst who are able to guess the murderer of a Marple or Poirot's mystery cases, I would like to challenge you in guessing the murderer for superintendent Battle stories. The writing style for Battle's stories is very much different from Marple and Poirot. The lead character in Battle's stories is Bundle. Alot of attention is being focused on Bundle, a girl who is hot-headed in seeking justice and solving mystery on her own. Bundle's investigation often overshadows Battle's and causes reader to have little knowledge on what is going on in Battle's investigation. And of course, we will be taken by surprise on how Battle's solve the mystery at the end of the book.

Character:

Well, some of Battle's books had been filmed but the detective was not Battle himself, but Marple. It hasn't been in the record of who starred Battle before. Hence the photo of 'Battle' is hard to find. To my delight, there are many other fans who are also eager to watch a Agatha Christie film, featuring Battle and his stories.

Superintendent Battle lives in Scotland Yard. He is a big man, stolid-looking with a wooden face. (That is the often expression Agatha Christie uses.) He looks extremely unintelligent and looks more like a commissionaire than detective. Commissionaire is often being referred to Hotel's porter and messenger in Europe. No doubts, Agatha wanted to mock another of her brilliant detective to the fullest.

Battle's cases (being revealed in seven dials mystery) are more political in nature. He largely being involved in cracking down of syndicates. However, the irony is that he maintains a bizarre relationship with the syndicates. He would join them over a coffee table top talking about the rivalry in gangster hood and would only come in when there is a crime.

In some angles, Battle may be no more than what he looks. He would have given Bundle a list of syndicate if she asked for it from him. That is so much of a trouble inviting; allowing Bundle to meddle around in her own investigation despite knowing the danger.

Nevertheless, Battle never need to kill steal (KS) Bundle's credit in the investigation of the murderer.

Poirot Bk : Double Sin and other stories (1/5)

Double Sin

Mystery: Poirot met Mary Durrant on a coach. They had lunch together at a peak stop. Mary Durrant ran after a man whom she thought taking her suitcase. However, Mary Durrant she found that his suitcase was not hers. Just when she thought everything seems fine, she found out that her dispatch suitcase's lock was broken and it's content, the valuable miniatures was stolen. The miniatures have managed to reach the designated buyer's hand 30 minutes before Mary reached the station where she wanted to meet the buyer, Mr J.Buklet Wood. An old tall woman, with grey hair brought the minatures, and sold them to Mr J.Buklet Wood.

Victim: Mary Durrant is working for her Aunt, Miss Penn, trading valuable miniatures. Miss Penn, was old lady but wheel chair bounded. The stolen miniatures worth 500 pounds.
- She seems to be foolish to confide to strangers about her assets and her purpose of travel so quickly. (Thinking that theif will only steal money)
- Her Aunt have had a rough time taking over the business left behind by her late father. However, she became successful in this business.
- When she was in the resturant having lunch, she saw a man taking a suitcase which was similiar to hers through the window.

Suspects:
1) Mr Nortan Kane, a rude man with a grown moustache, had alighted early at the peak stop despite paying for the full ride. He was seen by Mary taking his own suitcase from the coach at the peak stop. He could have overheard easily about the value of the miniatures from Mary. He met a lady at the peak stop and drove a fast car. It seems possible for them to steal the miniatures and went on a fast car to sell them to Mr Wood before Mary.
2) Mr J.Bucklet Wood, rich and ostentatious man, could have gotten someone to steal the miniatures and lie about buying the miniature with good faith.

Curious:
->Mr Nortan Kane took something from his luggage shortly after he put his in while the rests are eating lunch.
-> Mary sitting facing the window in a restaurant, not a feminine manner.
-> The thief would have stolen the whole dispatch suitcase contenting the miniatures from Mary's luggage, rather than spending the effort of breaking the lock of the dispatch suitcase.

Leads:
The return trip is faster because the coach goes in a loop.