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Agatha Christie: Poirot - Mrs McGinty's Dead - 1st September 2008

Sarah Smart ... Maude

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James Bentley is tried for the murder of Abigail McGinty, the charwoman of Broadhinny who also took in Bentley as her lodger. The evidence is overwhelming, and soon after he is sentenced to hang. Superintendent Spence is not convinced of the man's guilt, and so he visits Poirot, asking him to look into the case. Poirot then heads off to the village, where he becomes the paying guest of Maureen and Major Johnnie Summerhayes. Ariadne Oliver, Poirot's novelist friend, has also come to Broadhinny to collaborate on a stage adaptation of one of her novels with dramatist Robin Upward. With the clue of a bottle of ink purchased by the dead woman shortly before her death, Poirot searches Mrs. McGinty's belongings and finds an edition of The Sunday Comet newspaper, where an article concerning two women connected with famous murders has been cut out. With the story are two photographs of the women. Poirot discovers that Mrs. McGinty had seen one of the photographs before, and knew to whom it belonged to. But which woman was this case connected with? Are any of the people living in Broadhinny related to these women, as one of their children? Or perhaps one of them is one of the actual women? The puzzle pieces begin to fit in, especially after Poirot is shoved into the path of an oncoming train by an unknown entity. But will the murderer strike again?

Credit: shanty_sleuth

When Mrs McGinty is found brutally murdered in her home it looks like an open and shut case, and her introverted lodger James Bentley is swiftly sentenced to death for the crime.

But both his friend Maude Williams and Superintendent Spence have their doubts about his guilt, and so Spence asks Hercule Poirot to investigate and find the evidence that will put his conscience to rest.

In the affluent village of Broadhinny, Poirot is a paying guest of Major and Maureen Summerhayes. He finds that the titled and privileged villagers treat him with disdain, especially the MP Guy Carpenter, his glamorous wife, Eve, Dr Rendell and his anxious wife, Shelagh.

But he is soon reunited with Mrs Oliver, a guest of the dashing young playwright Robin Upward and his elderly mother, and together they realise that Mrs McGinty was silenced after threatening to expose someone connected to a murder committed many years ago.

Ever conscious of the hangman’s noose around Bentley’s neck, the little detective can’t conceal his delight when someone makes an attempt on his own life as it proves there’s more to be revealed.

And when old Mrs Upward is murdered, Poirot finally sees through the deception that has been woven around the case, and is able to reveal a startling truth that turns everyone’s previous assumptions on their heads. But will it exonerate Bentley and save him from the gallows?

Credit: ITV

12/29/2008 • Sarah Smart, Sarah Smart Mrs McGintys Dead, Sarah Smart News Articles, Sarah Smart Pictures • 0 comments