Sheila Webb is a stenographer who has been sent by her agency to Miss Pebmarsh’s house and told to walk in if no one answers the door. When she does, she finds the body of a man dying on the floor. As she’s standing there, Miss Pebmarsh comes in from outside. She is blind, and she’s just about to step in the blood when Sheila screams and rushes outside.
She runs right into the arms of Colin Lamb, who is looking for an address on the crescent that he can’t find. He goes in, finds the body, and calls the police. It just so happens that he is friends with Detective Hardcastle, who arrives.
The dead man, who is elderly and well dressed, has no identification, just a business card that proves to be bogus. On the mantelpiece are a bunch of clocks that Miss Pebmarsh says are not hers, all set to the wrong time, 4:13. Miss Pebmarsh says she has never seen the man before.
Colin, it turns out, is not a policeman but is in a related service, I presume intelligence. He begins helping Hardcastle investigate, and he also consults his friend Hercule Poirot.
I had no clue what was going on in this one, which was a combination of standard mystery and espionage. An added aspect was Colin falling immediately for Sheila when there is still a question of whether she’s involved in the crime.
Although this isn’t by any means my favorite Christie, it has a lot going on and a likable hero. I enjoyed it.
What? Me Read? 
Similar to my own reaction to this one – not a favourite, but enjoyable to read. I did love the bit about Miss Pebmarsh nearly stepping in the blood – lovely little bit of horror!
Yes, and of course a bizarre setup.
I don’t remember this one but Christie and I both love clocks!
This is one of the few Poirot novels I still need to read. It sounds good even if it isn’t one of her best!
I find it interesting that she wrote another mystery that involves a bunch of alarm clocks going off as a prank, The Seven Dials Mystery. She must have had something about clocks.