Part of Hercule Poirot, book 7
First published 1961
Sir Claud Amory has developed a dangerous secret: the formula for an atomic bomb. The physicist gathers his household together, but before he can reveal his plans for the deadly discovery, someone slips poison into his coffee. Hercule Poirot arrives to investigate the murder and finds himself navigating a web of family secrets and hidden motives. Each member of the Amory household had reason to want Sir Claud dead, and each had access to his evening coffee. Poirot must unravel the truth through careful observation and deduction, following clues that twist in unexpected directions. The Belgian detective faces a case where scientific innovation collides with human greed and fear, testing his methods against a killer who strikes close to home.
Genres: 20th-century, mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: deception, murder-mystery
Setting: England
Period: 20th Century
142 pages · Paperback · Samuel French, Inc.