A Hercule Poirot novel — narrated again by his friend Arthur Hastings…the last, as I understand it, where Hastings narrates until the final Poirot book in 1975.

Basically, a wealthy older woman (never married) and owner of Little Green House, Emily Arundell is the last survivor of five siblings. The novel opens with her point of view and some vague concerns, a letter written to Poirot asking for his assistance, and her death. Cut to Poirot, who receives the letter months later than intended, and far too long beyond when it would’ve helped Emily. And, as one would expect, he and Hastings trot along to Little Green House in Berkshire to deduce that, not only was Emily’s death not due to natural causes, but she had been murdered.

He solves.

Pretty good little mystery from Christie. I can see why this one isn’t a more famous one, but also have no big issue with it. Delightfully predictable in Christie-ish ways, but not (I don’t believe) super easy to discern the guilty party.

As with any Christie, I approached Dumb Witness with a modicum of trepidation. Like Ms. Gump’s box of chocolates, you just never know what you’re gonna get. The issues can vary from just expected criticisms of the plot to now-wholly inappropriate (and sometimes racist) characterizations. I was especially concerned given the title…dumb, of course, often used for a long time to refer to someone who is nonverbal. And while not entirely offensive itself, given the time in which it was written, you never know what else that brings with it. However, I’m happy to report that this one had no big issues in it. And the dumb witness, as you could surmise, is the victim’s fox terrier, Bob, featured on the cover.

I feel like I’ve been trying to get to the next one, Death on the Nile, since forever and ever amen. So…soonish, finally.