The Big Four

BY AGATHA CHRISTIE

It's a unique story, especially for the Poirot mysteries, but it left me wanting more; that's a good thing, though. Even Agatha was quoted as saying she struggled with this book. The story covers a secret but mighty group of four international figures seemingly with uncontrollable power over the world. Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings get caught up in trying to find out each of the four identities and get captured and almost killed multiple times by the Big Four. But Poirot, our trusty, quirky, mysterious man, always finds a way out. Instead of a traditional murder mystery, it's more of an exploration of international intrigue and espionage.

I remember thinking at one point, could Number Four, the Destroyer, be Captain Hastings? or perhaps Mr. Ingles? I was convinced it would turn out to be someone they knew. I liked how the identity of the Destroyer was one of the main focuses. It was fascinating to follow him through the many characters and faces he would take on. In each new situation, I would try to imagine who involved could turn out to be yet again: Number Four?

Christie fooled me with the chess match scene. I thought for sure the long lost Sonia Davlioff was the intruder in the home, especially after Poirot asked Dr Savoranoff how well he knew Sonia, and it could be a fake given he hadn't seen her in years. Then, when Dr Savoranoff himself turned out to be the elusive Number Four, my jaw dropped! I didn't see that coming. Additionally, when Hastings was on his mission in disguise in Ryland's mansion, and Number Four turned out to be the butler, wow! I can't imagine how this man took on so many identities and could change his face, teeth, and height so smoothly; I need to see it in real life.

I wish we had interacted with Number One, Li Yang Chen, but his ending was quite uninspiring. Well, I found the whole ending quite boring for lack of a better word. I read the last page and turned the page fully expecting another chapter, but to my surprise, that was it! After all that, they simply accepted death? I don't believe it. You know how much I adore Agatha Christie, but maybe she wanted to finish this book as soon as possible, understandable. A more interesting ending could have seen the Big Four fool Poirot again by having impersonators in their mountain bunker and the real team disappearing into the air.

I really did enjoy the narrative of Poirot's brother, though; I believed it as much as Hastings did. The way Poirot impersonated his non-existent brother was so good that the Countess immediately thought it was not Poirot - genius. I did not for a moment expect it to be Poirot himself. Speaking of, I didn't believe for one second that Poirot was dead after the apartment explosion. Probably because there are so many other Poirot novels after this that I have lined up to read. I bet, though, that back when this was the latest mystery, readers would have believed it and been concerned that Agatha was finished with Poirot! I would have been distraught.

Overall, it was a delightful story. I looked forward to each new chapter, where we would have another run-in with the Big Four and get closer to the truth. The only downside, in my opinion, was the ending. I still highly recommend this book for any fellow Poirot enthusiasts, as it's a fresh take on his adventures.