Review on 01st Dec 2024
 

This is the 31st book featuring Hercule Poirot as per one list and the 35th according to Goodreads. It also has the famous crime novelist and Poirot’s friend Adriane Oliver. It was adapted into a TV show (episode 3 of season 13 of Poirot) with David Suchet as Poirot. 

Adriane attends a mock murder hunt hosted by Sir George and Lady Stubbs in their village (Devon). Something feels wrong, so the novelist asks Poirot to come down. Her instincts turn out correct when the pretend victim ends up dead, really dead. Now, it’s up to the greatest detective to solve the case. 

The story comes in third-person POV. 

Turns out, I read and reviewed this book in 2018. Well, it’s too far back in the past for me to remember much. I felt little bits sounding familiar once I started reading. However, I, too, spent a lot of time in the fog like Poirot. 

Our dear detective had become older and felt he didn’t give his best initially. Too many things to know and not enough time to prevent the murder he was supposed to. Happens! 

Inspector Bland had a substantial role though it was Poirot who solved the case, as he should. I could faintly remember who the killer was supposed to be but wasn’t sure if I was on the right track. 

The main characters were well-defined (though it would take some time to figure out who the main ones were). One has to separate the subplots from the central plot and follow the right threads. 

I’ve come to enjoy Adriane Oliver’s character more as I became a writer. Not that I’m that messy, but yeah, the plot wouldn’t make sense when I describe it but it will when I write it. Her flair is something I’m yet to achieve, lol. 

The language and opinions are outdated. That's expected. I wasn't distracted by it (not much). 

To summarize, Dead Man’s Folly is yet another Christie classic in her trademark style but also different from the rest. It is more muted in some ways and a delightful read presenting human fallacies in various ways. 

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I'd take a Christie book any day, any time. That is how much I love reading her works. 
I was a little disappointed that Poirot wasn't as active as ever. He did not lead the charge and did not speak to all the suspects the way he usually does in other books. 

The thing about Christie- she gives us enough hints to identify the killer but we keep missing those at times. Once we read the ending, all the hints align themselves in the mind. :) 
This story is no exception. The location of the folly, the uprooted tree, the old man, Miss. Brewis's remarks about Hattie, all come together at the end. And as Poirot keeps saying, Mrs. Follat is the key. 

Mrs. Oliver is her usual self. She senses the undercurrents of trouble as ever and is right.