Dumb Witness
Also known as Murder/Mystery at Little Green House and Poirot Loses a Client
Synopsis
Based on a short story Agatha Christie wrote called "The Incident of the Dog's Ball" Emily Arundell, a wealthy spinster with a group of young relatives with 'expectations'...is injured after falling down the staircase at her home Little Green House. The assumption is that she tripped over her dog's ball however Emily writes to Hercule Poirot asking him to come to her aid as she is fearful. Poirot arrives...but too late Emily has since died and left all her estate to her companion much to the chagrin of her family. With the assistance of Hastings and the pet dog Bob, Poirot investigates...was it an accident or was it all planned?
poirot
when to read
With references to Easter I aim to read this in the spring or even over Easter weekend.
murder mystery
A great 'who done it' murder mystery
england
Set in Berkshire
Publishing info
Agatha Christie wrote this novel in 1937 just after Death on the Nile.
overall rating
On Screen
Watching Agatha Christie
Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie was filmed as part of the ITV feature length episodes and is Season 6 episode 4 starring David Suchet.
Dumb Witness Character List
| Captain Arthur Hastings | Friend of Hercule Poirot |
| Bella Tanios | Emily Arundell’s other niece and cousin of Charles and Theresa |
| Bob – the dog | Fox Terrier belonging to Emily Arundell |
| Charles Arundell | Nephew of Emily Arundell, brother of Theresa |
| Dr Grainger | Emily Arundell’s doctor |
| Dr Jacob Tanios | Bella’s Greek husband working in Smyrna |
| Dr Rex Donaldson | Theresa’s fiancé |
| Edward Tanios | Bella and Jacob’s son |
| Ellen |
| |
| Emily Arundell | Elderly, wealthy woman and victim. | |
| Isabel Trip | Neighbour of Emily Arundell, sister of Julia | |
| Julia Trip | Neighbour of Emily Arundell, sister of Isabel | |
| Mary Tanios | Bella and Jacob’s daughter | |
| Miss Caroline Peabody | Friend of Emily Arundell | |
| Theresa Arundell | Niece of Emily Arundell, sister of Charles | |
| Wilhemina Lawson | Emily Arundell’s companion |
SPOILERS BELOW!
Emily Arrundell
Theresa Arundell
Theresa hopes to inherit from Emily which would enable her to leave her husband whom she is tired of but when the money goes to Whilhemina Lawson, she sets out to implicate her husband instead and persuade Lawson to share the money.
Theresa first tried to kill Emily by setting a trip wire on the stairs, when this didnt work, she kills her with phosphorus put in her liver capsules.