Third Girl
SYNOPSIS
It's the first time Poirot has had a request of this kind...a young girl has come to see him because she thinks she may have killed someone. It is also the first time Poirot has been then told his help is not wanted as he is 'too old'! Despite this insult, when the young lady, Norma, then goes missing without any of her friends or family apparently caring, Poirot worries for her and steps in to help.
poirot
Poirot is joined by his friend Ariadne Oliver to helps him throughout this, the 29th novel, featuring the little Belgium detective.
when to read
Although this is an anytime read, there's a lot of darkness to this novel with suicide, insanity and cruelty so I tend to think of it as an autumn/ winter read - but that's just me.
murder mystery
A good murder mystery where the key suspect unusually presents themselves at the start!
england
Set in London we find out about the residents of 'Borodene Mansions' where Norma lives as the third girl in a flat share.
Publishing info
The Third Girl was published in 1966 this follows the 1965 publication of 'At Bertram's Hotel' and precedes 'Endless Night' published in 1967.
overall rating
3.5/5
On Screen
Watching Agatha Christie
Third Girl by Agatha Christie was filmed as part of the ITV feature length episodes and is Season 11 episode 3 starring David Suchet as Poirot.
Third Girl Character List
| Andrew Restarick | Norma’s father whom she hadn’t seen since she was 5 |
| Ariadne Oliver | Mystery writer |
| Chief Inspector Neele | Investigator for the second murder |
| Claudia Reece-Holland | Resident at flat 62 Borodene Mansions with Norma |
| David Baker | Artist who is seeing Norma Restarick |
| Dr John Stillingfleet | Doctor and psychiatrist |
| Felicity Lemon | Hercule Poirot’s secretary |
| Frances Cary | Flatmate of Norma and Claudia |
| George | Poirot’s valet |
| Grace Baldwin Restarick | Norma’s mother who died over two years ago |
| Louise Birell Charpentier | Deceased after falling from flat 76 Borodene Mansions |
| Mary Restarick | Andrew’s young second wife and stepmother to Norma |
| Miss Battersby | Former principle at Meadowbank school to which Norma attended |
| Miss Jacobs | Neighbour to Claudia and lived below Louise |
| Mr Goby | Poirot’s PI |
| Norma Restarick | Third girl staying in flat 62 Borodene Mansions |
| Robert Orwell | Man to met Andrew Restarick in Africa |
| Sergeant Conolly | Policeman |
| Sir Roderick Horsfield | Uncle to Andrew and Norma’s Great Uncle |
| Sonia | Sir Roderick’s personal assistant from herzegovia |
SPOILERS BELOW!
Louise Charpentier and David Baker
Robert Orwell (posing as Andrew Restarick with his accomplis Frances Cary
Louise knew the Restaricks too well to fall Robert’s posing as Andrew so she was killed.
David knew too much – he had painted the new portrait of Robert and was blackmailing him.
Both victims are stabbed.
You may also like...
Join Ariadne Oliver and Poirot in their last novel together as they try to discover the truth of a killing 13 years earlier - the question they must answer for Ariadne's god-daughter is, did her mother kill her father or did her father kill her mother...
Also known as Murder in Three Acts this is a popular Poirot novel with plenty of twists and turns. The characterisation throughout is fantastic and it'll definitively keep you guessing.