This novel begins in an unusual way for Christie, with sections on six people, each of whom had a motive to kill Rosemary Barton. There’s her younger sister, Iris Marie, who would inherit a fortune. There’s her husband George’s secretary, Ruth Lansing, who would like to take her place. There’s Anthony Browne, whose secret Rosemary has discovered, that he is really Tony Morelli. There’s Stephen Faraday, whose career as a policeman will be finished if his wife learns of his affair with Rosemary. There’s Sandra Faraday, who already knows about the affair. Finally, there’s her husband, George Barton, who also knows about the affair. Almost a year ago, these six were together at a party when Rosemary suddenly died from cyanide poisoning.
Rosemary’s death was ruled a suicide. Now, nearly a year later, someone has mailed George letters saying that Rosemary was murdered, so George decides to set a trap by reconvening the same people at the same table. But first, he asks in his friend, Colonel Race. Race things it’s a foolish idea, and it is—for George dies that night, also poisoned.
Colonel Race teams up with Inspector Kemp to try to figure out what happened. Was Rosemary poisoned? Who wrote the letters? How could anyone have poisoned George without touching his drink?
I don’t think the approach used in this novel was very successful. The writing seemed oddly static. It is only when we leave the character bios that the novel snaps back to life, with Christie’s usual clever dialogue and interesting action. Then, it’s quite good and makes you forget the first part.
What? Me Read? 
Huh!, didn’t know about this title, thanks for sharing your impressions.
You’re welcome!
I just started reading all the Battle books, but I see that one of them includes the second Race novel, so I’ve decided to do a Battle Race challenge. I just finished the first Battle book, and my next one will be the first Race book, and I’ll alternate until I’m finished with them all. So, yes, I have this one on my shelf waiting for me to get to it!
I’m not familiar with the Battle books. I might have read one without realizing he was a recurring character.
Well, I’ll be reviewing the first one on Friday, but he’s practically a minor character in that one, but she decided to build on him later.
I have the audio book version of this on my To Be Listened to list for this year. I always feel as if Poirot is the detective in this one— I think they must have made some TV adaptation that swapped him for Colonel Race. So I’m glad you reminded me or I’d probably have spent the entire audio book wondering when Poirot was going to appear…
I wouldn’t be at all surprised. I think the only one where they kept Colonel Race in the TV adaptations was Death on the Nile, where both have a place. Maybe that other one set at an archaeological dig.