Lord Edgware Dies, Agatha Christie
When a man is murdered, it's not unusual for his widow to be a cursory suspect. However, when the wealthy and powerful Lord Edgware is found murdered, it takes less than a moment for the police to suspect his not-so-grieving widow, Jane Wilkinson. This is one of Agatha Christie's most popular books, partly because it delves into the exciting world of cabaret and theater, mixing make-believe theatrics with real-life murder.
Jane Wilkinson is a beautiful actress and she knew the moment she agreed to marry Lord Edgware that she'd made one of the biggest mistakes of her life. She confides to Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian detective, that she's begged the odious Lord Edgware for a divorce but he has steadfastly refused. She is now in love with another man and only wants to be free to live her life and start anew.
Then what was the actress doing when she entered her husband's study one dark night? Did she have murder in her heart? As in any good Christie mystery there are other suspects who might want Edgware dead but none of them were at the murder scene. Poirot must solve the case of how Lord Edgware died and who, in reality, caused his death.
First published in 1933, a film version was released a year later in Britain starring Austin Trevor. The story was adapted into a made for TV movie in 1985 with an updated plot. The television version had actor, Peter Ustinov, as Poirot, meeting actress Jane Wilkerson (Faye Dunaway) on the set of David Frost's TV show. Interestingly enough, the role of Inspector Japp was won by actor, David Suchet. Of course, Suchet would later gain fame in the late 1990's by playing Poirot in a series of made-for-television adaptations of Poirot mysteries produced by LWT in England and broadcast in America on the A&E network.
Read our biography of Agatha Christie.
