Towards Zero by Agatha Christie

This book starts with someone planning a murder in the prologue. This person plans on the theory that people can be manipulated to behave in ways which will bring about a perfect murder. The main story starts with various characters going about their daily life. The police man, Battle, goes off to rescue his daughter from school where she has been unjustly accused to stealing. Another unrelated individual who is introduced at the start is a man who survived a suicide attempt.

The young tennis player and his new wife are discussing travel and holidays at his relative’s home. The new wife is unhappy about this, as she is sure that the old lady does not like her and also because the ex-wife is also going to be there at the same time. There are other people introduced from the old lady’s household and visitors who gather at this particular time. Everything seems normal but there are undercurrents in the atmosphere that make everyone feel on edge. The ex-wife seems to be holding herself in tight control. A distant relative has come from abroad for a short while and is in love with the ex-wife. The old lady’s companion, who is efficient at running the household and caring for her aunt, seems worried. There are a couple of people staying at the local hotels but are invited for dinner. Then one morning there is news that an elderly gentleman from last night dinner party was found dead in his hotel room. Was it natural causes as the doctor says? After all he had been hinting at recognising a murderer at the party.

In a couple of days, the old lady is found murdered in her room. The maid had been drugged so she cannot be summoned. The police are called in and Battle, who is staying with his nephew the local policeman, gets roped in to help out. There is a lot of routine tedious work of inspecting the scene, going over the house for clues and talking to each one who was at the house the evening before, explained in detail. So all the clues point to the tennis player but he was supposed to be across the bay at a hotel. Is he being framed? If so who is the real killer? Who has a motive? Is someone in need of the money that is bequeathed by the dead woman? Who had the opportunity to commit the murder? It is clear this was an inside job, as an outsider would not be aware of certain things involved in the committing of this murder.

The plot is based on the psychology that people can be manipulated. Given the right circumstances a perfect murder can be committed or at least get someone else blamed. You are kept wondering right up to the end as to who could have done it and why? Help comes from unexpected quarters to give Battle the right answers.

I enjoyed this book but kept waiting for Miss Marple, as in the TV series this role of Battle has been replaced by Miss Marple, who is shown to be the old lady’s friend. She has been asked there by the old lady who was concerned about the meeting up of the various people as guests in her home. The story works well with Battle in charge of the investigations and so not sure why it became a Miss Marple story. However, I have enjoyed both versions and am sure if you will too.