November's Book of the Month: Third Girl

Three young women share a London flat. The first is a coolly efficient personal secretary; the second is an artist; and the third interrupts Hercule Poirot’s breakfast of brioche and hot chocolate insisting that she is a murderer – and then promptly disappears.

Slowly, Poirot learns of the rumours surrounding the mysterious third girl, her family – and her disappearance. Yet hard evidence is needed before the great detective can pronounce her guilty, innocent or insane…

This November we’re reading Agatha Christie’s novel Third Girl which was first published in the UK 50 years ago this month. The story begins when a young lady goes to Hercule Poirot for help, but ends up insulting him by saying, “I’m awfully sorry and I don’t want to be rude… but – you’re too old. Nobody told me you were so old,” before disappearing out of the door, leaving Poirot both shocked and intrigued. With that, Poirot teams up with fictional crime writer Ariadne Oliver and their hunt for the girl begins.

Is she a very clever little actress, acting a part? Or is she a genuine semi-moronic suicidal victim?

Third Girl.

Written towards the end of Agatha Christie’s career, Third Girl is the thirtieth full length novel to feature her famous Belgian detective, and is notable for being one of Christie’s first novels in many years where Poirot is present from the very beginning to the end. The story contains a couple of Christie’s other characters, including Mr Goby who appeared in a few books including After the Funeral.

Whilst Third Girl isn’t seen as one of Christie’s greatest accomplishments, the story gives readers an insight into how Agatha Christie viewed the swinging sixties with the story populated by sex, drugs and hippies.

Did you know? It is thought that the art deco block of flats that the girls live in was based on Christie’s own flat in Chelsea, which went on sale in 2016 priced at £1million!

Find out more about Third Girl here.