Mrs McGinty's Dead
Also known as Blood Will Tell
SYNOPSIS
The murder of Mrs McGinty is rather a pathetic case - she was a cleaning lady killed by her lodger for a mere thirty pounds. Or is it. Perhaps there's more to it - that's certainly what Superintendent Spence believes when he approaches Poirot to investigate for fear an innocent man may be hanged for the murder.
poirot
Hercule Poirot is back and with his friend the novelist Ariadne Oliver -having appeared in 'Cards on the Table', Mrs Oliver becomes a regular feature in the following Poirot novels.
when to read
Read this any time but since Mrs Oliver is on the case, why not chomp an apple while reading.
murder mystery
Country village murder mystery
england
Set in a quintessential English village named 'Broadhinny'
Publishing info
Published in 1952 four years after Poirot's last appearance which was in 'Taken at the Flood'.
overall rating
4/5
On Screen
Watching Agatha Christie
Mrs McGinty’s Dead by Agatha Christie was filmed as part of the ITV feature length episodes and is Season 11 episode 1 starring David Suchet.
Mrs McGinty's Dead Character List
| Abigail McGinty | Char-woman and victim |
| Albert Hayling | Local policeman for Broadhinny |
| Ariadne Oliver | Infamous jewel thief |
| Bessie Burch | Mrs McGinty’s niece, married to Joe |
| Croft | Butler to the Carpenters |
| Dierdre Henderson | Edith and Roger Weatherby’s daughter |
| District Judge Stanisdale | Judge presiding over the trial of the murder of Mrs McGinty |
| Dr Rendell | Local doctor in Broadhinny, married to his second wife Shelagh |
| Edith Wetherby | Resident of Broadhinny who had Mrs McGinty as her cleaner |
| Edna | Village shop assistant in Boadhinny |
| Eva Kane | Featured in the Daily Comet article, she influenced her lover to murder his wife |
| Eve Carpenter | Beauty, Married to guy |
| Evelyn Hope | Child of Eva Kane |
| Frieda | German maid at Hunter’s Close for the Weatherby’s |
| Guy Carpenter | Running in politics, married to Eve |
| James Gordon Bently | Mrs McGinty’s lodger and accused of her murder |
| Janet Groom | Housekeeper for the Upwards |
| Joe Burch | Married to Mrs McGinty’s niece |
| Larkin | Village baker in Broadhinny |
| Laura Upward | Mater’ to Robert Upward, she adopted him as her ward |
| Lily Gamboll | Features in the news article in the Sunday Comet about female killers |
| Major Johnnie Summerhayes | Married to Maureen |
| Maude Williams | Young lady who worked at Breather and Scuttle and believes in James Bentley’s innocence |
| Maureen Summerhayes | Runs the guest house in the village |
| Michael West | Employee at the theatre where Ariadne Oliver’s novel is being turned into a play |
| Mr Scuttle | Manager at the Estate Agents, ‘Breather and Scuttle’ |
| Mrs Kiddle | Plasterer’s wife |
| Mrs Scott | Housekeeper for the Rendell’s |
| Mrs Sweetiman | Postmistress at Broadhinny |
| Mrs. Elliot | Resident of Broadhinny and neighbour of Mrs McGinty |
| Pamela Horsfall | Journalist working for the Sunday Comet |
| Robin Upward | Resident of Broadhinny who had Mrs McGinty as her cleaner |
| Roger Wetherby | Dierdre’s father, married to Edith who had Mrs McGinty as a cleaner |
| Sergeant Fletcher | Investigating officer reporting to Superintendent Spence |
| Shelagh Rendell | Dr Rendell’s second wife |
| Superintendent Spence | Retired police officer |
SPOILERS BELOW!
Mrs McGinty and Laura Upward
Robin Upward aka Evelyn Hope the child of Eva Kane
Mrs McGinty recognises a picture of Eva Cane which Robert Underhay has in his possession. He kills her to keep his real parentage a secret.
When Laura Underhay realises that this is why Mrs McGinty was killed, he silences her also
Mrs McGinty is killed with a sugar hammer and Laura Upward is strangled.
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