Description
The classic murder mystery novel by Agatha Christie, “The Sittaford Mystery,” published for the first time in 1931, is characterized by suspenseful twists and by an engaging plot that carries the reader into secrets and deceptions combined with irresistible revelations.
The story unfolds in the little, snow-covered English village of Sittaford. In a séance arranged by Mrs. Willett and her daughter at Sittaford House, a shocking message comes to the participants: Captain Trevelyan, one of the village’s local rich residents, has been murdered. Though it seems like just an eerie message from the séance, things take a serious turn when Captain Trevelyan is found dead hours later on the same day.
The long-awaited apprehension of the crime was faced with the nephew, James Pearson, being picked up for the murders, as he would be the inheritor of the Trevelyan’s vast fortune. His fiancée, however, Emily Trefusis, could not believe in her fiancé’s guilt. She starts an investigation herself, seeking to discover the real killer of Captain Trevelyan and clear his name.
Major Themes:
Deception and Secrets: As usual in most Christie novels, it’s never what it seems. The individuals involved all have secrets, and the truth is gradually revealed during the investigation.
Detective Work: There is one main detective figure in this novel: Emily Trefusis, who, with her wit, intelligence, and determination, finally unravels the mystery of the case.
The authors play on the contrast presented between supernaturalism, in this case séance, and rational explanations, thus keeping the readers’ curiosity alive about the role of séance in mystery.
Summary:
“The Sittaford Mystery” is a sensational murder mystery, rich in suspense, red herrings, and sparkling twists; and I would look for the same in the character of Emily Trefusis-one like a strong and resourceful heroine who overturns the police’s assumptions about the case. Agatha Christie has once again wove a narrative that keeps one in suspense until the very end, well concluded with a twist that is both surprising and satisfying. Classic whodunits deserve this read.
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