Death In The Clouds
Also known as Death in the Air
SYNoPSIS
Hercule Poirot has been back in France and while on the flight back to England, one of his fellow passengers, a money lender - is murdered! With a host of suspects on the flight including a novelist whose on stories include a murder using similar methods...there is plenty for Poirot to investigate.
poirot
The 10th novel to feature the popular detective using his 'little grey cells'.
when to read
Another summer read, either on holiday or if you've seen the ITV adaptation with David Suchet, why not read with the tennis on in the background?
murder mystery
A closed circle mystery as only one of the other passengers could have been the murderer.
england-france
The third of the French novels - the two other books set in France are 'The Mystery of the Blue Train' and 'Murder on the Links'.
Publishing info
Published in 1935 - the same year as 'Three Act Tragedy' and 'Why didn't they ask Evans'. It was also titled 'Death in the Air'.
overall rating
4/5
On Screen
Watching Agatha Christie
Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie was filmed as part of the ITV feature length episodes and is Season 4 episode 2 starring David Suchet.
Death In The Clouds Character List
| Albert Davis | Steward on the Prometheus |
| Anne Morisot | Daughter of Madam Giselle |
| Armand Dupont | Archaeologist and father of Jean Dupont, passenger on the plane where the murder was committed |
| Betsy | Lord Horbury’s dog – a spaniel |
| Constable Rogers | English policeman working with Japp |
| Detective-sergeant Wilson | Investigating officer who finds the blowpipe |
| Dr Bryant | Doctor and flautist |
| Dr James Whistler | Doctor called in to examine the body of Mme Giselle |
| Elise Grandier | Madame Giselle’s maid |
| George Leman | Deceased husband of Mme Giselle |
| Georges | Concierge at the building where Madame Giselle lived |
| Gladys | Another assistant at the hairdressing salon where Jane Grey works |
| Henry Mitchell | Senior steward on the Prometheus |
| Honourable Venetia Kerr | Friend of the Horbury’s and passenger on the plane where the murder was committed |
| Inspector Japp | Scotland Yard detective |
| Jane Grey | Hairdresser and passenger on the plane where the murder was committed |
| Jean Dupont | Archaeologist and son of Armand Dupont, passenger on the plane where the murder was committed |
| John Gale | Norman Gale’s uncle |
| Jules Perrot | Works at the airlines company where seats are booked for the Prometheus |
| Lady Cicely Horbury | Married to ……and passenger on the plane where the murder was committed |
| Lord Horbury | Husband of Lady Cicely and friend of Venetia Kerr |
| Madame Giselle | French money lender and victim |
| Madeline | Maid for Cicely Horbury |
| Maître Alexandre Thibault | Madame Giselle’s solicitor |
| Mère Angélique | Principle at the institut where Mme Giselle sent her daughter, the Institute de Marie in Quebec |
| Miss Ross | Secretary to Normal Gale at his dentist practice |
| Monsieur Antoine | Owner of the hairdressing salon where Jane Grey works |
| Monsieur Fournier | French detective at the Paris Surete |
| Monsieur Georges | Employee at the hairdressing salon owned by Antoine where Jane Grey works |
| Monsieur Gilles | Chief of Police for the Paris Surete |
| Monsieur Henri | Employee at the hairdressing salon owned by Antoine where Jane Grey works |
| Mr Clancy | Mystery writer and passenger on the plane where the murder was committed |
| Mr Ffoulkes | Solicitor for the Horburys |
| Mr Henry Winterspoon | Government analyst and poisons expert |
| Mr Ryder | |
| Mrs Mitchell | Wife of the steward Henry Mitchell |
| Norman Gale | Dentist and passenger on the plane where the murder was committed |
| Raymond Barraclough | Friend of Lady Horbur, an atractive actor |
| Zeropoulos | Owner of the shop on Rue St Honoré in Paris where the blowpibe is purchased |
SPOILERS BELOW!
Madame Giselle and later in the novel Anne Morisot her daughter
The dentist Norman Gale is the killer
Norman marries Anne so that when her mother dies she will inherit and then when she dies, leave it to him. Whether he intended to kill her from the start or only decided to do it after meeting Jane Grey is for debate.
Madam Giselle is killed with a poisoned dart which is pushed into her neck. Her daughter Anne is later poisoned too on the boat-train to Boulogne.
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