Towards Zero by Agatha Christie

(pb; 1944: fifth book in the Superintendent Battle series)

From the back cover

“An elderly widow is murdered at a clifftop seaside house. . . What is the connection between a failed suicide attempt, a wrongful accusation of theft against a schoolgirl, and the romantic life of a famous tennis player? To the casual observer, apparently nothing. But when a house party gathers at Gull’s Point, the seaside of an elderly widow, earlier events come to a dramatic head. It’s all part of a carefully laid plan─for murder.”

Review

Christie turns the mystery novel structure on its head by showing what leads up to the story-centric murder in this fun, clever, fast-moving and character-interesting book, said to be one of her favorites. I can see why, if that is true. This is worth reading, and owning, if you are inclined to collect excellent, fast-read mystery books.

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The resulting film, L’heure zero, was released in France on October 31, 2007. Pascal Thomas directed it, from a screenplay by Clémence de Bléville, Francois Caviglioli, Roland Duval and Nathalie Lefaurie.

Francois Morel played Le commissaire Martin Bataille. Danielle Daurrieux played Camilla Tressilian. Melville Poupaud played Guillaume Neuville. Laura Smet played Caroline Neuville. Chiarro Mastroianni played Aude Neville.

Alessandra Martines played Marie-Adeline. Clément Thomas played Thomas Rondeau. Xavier Thiam played Frédéric ‘Fred’ Latimer. Hervé Pierre played Ange Werther.