One, Two, Buckle My Shoe - Agatha Christie

Published in an omnibus edition: "Ordeal by Innocence"; "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe"; "The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding" as part of the "Agatha Christie Crime Collection" by Lansdowne Press: Australia, 1985 (1973). First published in omnibus edition 1970.

First published individually 1940.

Another Poirot mystery, I picked up this book as a 'light read' following my successful completion of Can You Forgive Her? Like most Poirot mysteries, the plot is so twisty that it is unlikely anyone would be able to unravel it entirely on their own; however, I did manage to pick up on some hints and clues so felt not-entirely-worthless-as-a-detective by the end.

Poirot visits the dentist, and notices a little bit of suspicious behaviour going on in the waiting room. When the dentist is later found dead by suspected suicide, Poirot feels like murder was more likely, even as motives for a suicide come to light. Suspects include a vanishing missionary, a politician, two ne'er-do-well boyfriends, and the second dentist in the establishment. 

Unlike many Poirot mysteries, this one sees Poirot at a bit of a loss for much of the proceedings. His first major clue has to do with a shoe buckle (yes, the story has vague references to the children's rhyme of the title), but - and this is where I felt okay about my powers of deduction - I was able to come up with possible solutions quicker than he was, which felt different to most Poirot stories.

However, by the end Poirot had made some connections I had failed to, and the mystery was wrapped up in the usual satisfying manner.

More straightforward than some, but still enjoyable for what it was.

Completed 2 November 2024.

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