Sparkling Cyanide
By Agatha Christie
1st published in 1945 in the UK and in the US as Remembered Death.
The plot of this novel expands the plot of a short story, Yellow Iris.
It was All Souls Day, the Day of the Dead
In a luxurious hotel, six people sat down to dinner at the table in the alcove, a table laid for seven.
In front of the empty place was a sprig of rosemary—in memory of Rosemary Barton who had suddenly sprawled dead across that same table exactly a year before.
George Barton raised his glass of champagne. ‘I don’t want to recall past sadness, but I ask you to drink a toast. To Rosemary, my wife, for remembrance,’ They drank. There was a pause—then one of the party slumped down in his chair, his face turning purple as he fought for breath.
It took him a minute and a half to die.
~ Agatha Christie, Sparkling Cyanide
I have often said, “I love a good murder,” and, in my opinion, they rarely come any better than those written by Agatha Christie. Here you have six choices as murderer. Not long into the book, I thought I had it. Yes, that had to be the murderer. But no, a little further I changed my mind. Then, no, no, that’s not it, but I have it now. And so it goes . . .
Set in London, probably in the 1940’s, I have to marvel how she can weave the details of a story. Yes, you can get dizzy. I love the estate homes, “old families,” old fortunes, maids, less than honorable characters, and those from the “right families” that can do not wrong—or so they believe.
This is the fourth book where Colonel Race helps solve the case. He is good, but, to me, not quite as colorful as Hercule Poirot, or as innocent as Miss Marple.
Regardless, as always, you cannot go wrong with an Agatha Christie mystery. Read Sparkling Cyanide. It is an old book. And it is still very enjoyable!