It’s time to put our little gray cells to work once again with good ol’ Papa Poirot!
Agatha Christie has written dozens of classic mystery stories. Many of which were quick one-off short stories starring everyone’s favorite Belgian detective: Hercule Poirot. There was quite the supply to choose from.
So I just picked one out of a hat and read it. No joke.
Successful banker and financial advisor Mr. Davenheim has disappeared. At the same time, someone broke into his home and robbed him. The police are utterly stumped. Luckily for them, Hercule Poirot is bored and decides to take a bet on the case. How will Papa Poirot solve this one?
This is a relatively laid-back mystery. No murders, no compelling twists, no exciting chase or hunt for clues. For the most part, it’s just Poirot and Hastings sitting in a room together and talking about the case. It’s very reminiscent of certain Sherlock Holmes stories; just two dudes sitting down and solving a mystery with only their wits.
The mystery itself is definitely one of the less engaging of Christie’s works. It isn’t especially hard to figure out once you have all the pieces. On top of that, the low stakes make this one more relaxing than it is engaging. Odd to feel relaxed by a mystery story, but there you go.
Not to say that it’s bad. We may not get an especially exciting mystery, but we do get plenty of Poirot being a snarky Belgian. Which is always a good time.
The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim isn’t the most incredible Poirot story out there. But it’s still a charming little mystery that you can get through in less than an hour. If you need something to read while you wait for public transportation or you just need to kill some time, this is an excellent choice.
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