Reading The Big Four

Agatha Christie called her 1927 novel The Big Four “that rotten book” and one she felt financially (and, I would imagine, creatively) pressured to produce. Critics of the day were not kind, with one describing the novel as “more like an exaggerated parody” of detective stories.

The Story In The Big Four

Arthur Hastings in back in England on an extended business trip and visits his old friend Poirot to find his friend packing for a move to South America. Poirot is relocating, he explains, because he has been hired by a wealthy businessman named Abe Ryland, believed to be the richest man in the world. Ryland has offered Poirot a “stupendous” sum of money to ferret out financial inconsistencies in his company and Poirot is seriously contemplating retirement after he closes the case.

Poirot also mentions being in the early days of quietly investigating the shenanigans of an international crime gang known as The Big Four. A moment later he and Hastings apprehend an intruder who is filthy, emaciated and incoherently muttering Poirot’s name and address. The man seizes a pen and paper and begins to write the number 4 over and over.

Poirot and Hastings leave the intruder in the care of the doctor and board a train, with Hastings intending to accompany Poirot to Southampton. But just as they pass the station at Woking, Poirot is struck by an idea. He and Hastings jump from the train as it stops at a signal, then head back to London to begin a serious investigation into The Big Four.

My Thoughts On The Big Four

The Big Four was originally a collection of short stories that Christie and her brother-in-law reworked into a novel and, unfortunately, that’s exactly how it felt to read it. I found myself stopping and going back to re-read various passages in an attempt to keep the story straight and to remind myself who the various characters were.

Having said that, though, I don’t think the novel was all that bad. I suspect much of the criticism it receives is more a consequence of the high bar to while we hold Agatha Christie’s other works than this book’s numerous weaknesses.

Hugh Fraser’s performance, though, was another home run.

I’d like to revisit The Big Four after my Year With Agatha Christie challenge is over. I have a feeling it just might grow on me.

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