The Clocks

SYNOPSIS

Sheila Webb arrives at the house on Wilbraham Crescent to which she has been requested as a typist only to find the door open and no one at home - no one living that is - for there is the body of a dead man lying on the living room floor...Poirot sets out to prove he can solve any crime by using just the power of the little grey cells and without even having to meet the suspects or visit the scene. Now that's just showing off...

poirot

Poirot makes a late entrance in this novel but is still the master sleuth we've come to know and love.

when to read

Set towards the end of summer holidays before the children have returned to school - any frazzled parent could read this at the same time and empathise with Mrs Ramsey I think.

murder mystery

A murder mystery novel with notes of espionage thrown in.

england

The novel is set in England in 'Crowdean' in Sussex.

Publishing info

Published in 1963 in between two Miss Marple novels; 'The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side' in 1962 and 'A Caribbean Mystery' in 1964.

overall rating

 3.5/5

The Clocks Character List

Angus McNaughton	Resident of 63 Wilbraham Crescent and retired professor
Bill Ramsay	Mrs Ramsey’s young son
Colin Lamb	British Intelligence agent
Colonel Beck	Colin Lamb’s boss in the British Intelligence service
Dick Hardcastle	Investigating officer
Dr Rigg	Local doctor who examines the body
Edith Waterhouse	James’ sister at 18 Wilbraham Crescent
Edna Brent	Typist at the Bureau
Geraldine Brown	10 year old girl living across from 19 Wilbraham Crescent who has a broken leg
Gretel	McNaughton’s au pair
James Waterhouse	Resident of 18 Wilbraham Crescent
Josiah Bland	Resident at 61 Wilbraham Crescent and a builder
Katherine Martindale	Owner of Cavindish Secretarial Bureau and sister of Valerie Bland

Merlina Rival	Actress and person who identifies the body as her estranged husband
Millicent Pebmarsh	Blind teacher living at 19 Wilbraham Crescent. Teaches at local school for the blind (Sheila’s Webb’s estranged mother)
Mr R H Curry	Idetification found on the victim
Mrs Hemming	Resident at 20 Wilbraham Crescent with her many cats
Mrs Lawron	Sheila Webb’s aunt
Mrs McNaughton	Resident of 63 Wilbraham Crescent, Agnus’ wife
Mrs Ramsay	Resident of 62 Wilbraham Crescent whose husband is away
Quentin Duguesclin	Friend of the family of Mrs Bland
Sergeant Cray	Policeman
Sheila Webb	Young typist at the Secretarial Bureau who finds the body
Ted Ramsay	Mrs Ramsey’s young son
Valerie Bland	Josiah’s second wife, resident of 61 Wilbraham Crescent and sister of Miss Martindale

SPOILERS BELOW!

VICTIM(S)

Quentin Duguesclin, Edna Brent and Merlina Rival

MURDERER(S)

Katherine Martindale kills Edna while Mr Bland killed Quentin Duguesclin and Merlina

MOTIVE(S)

Mr Bland’s first wife, the one due to inherit from her Canadian relatives actually died and Valerie is his second wife. They fooled the solicitors into thinking she was the original Mrs Bland so she could get the money but the couldnt fool an old family friend so they killed him.

Edna figured out no call was put through requesting Sheila Webb and Miss Martindale was therefore lying so she was killed.

Merlina was killed as she was losing her nerve about lying when identifying the body.

METHOD(S)

Merlina was stabbed, Quentin Duguesclin was drugged and then stabbed and Edna was strangled with her scarf.

the big four

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one, two, buckle my shoe

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poirot's early cases

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The Clocks

SYNOPSIS

poirot

when to read

murder mystery

england

Publishing info

overall rating

The Clocks Character List

SPOILERS BELOW!

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