The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie

To understand the strange events at The Pale Horse inn, Mark Easterbrook knew he had to begin at the beginning. But where exactly was the beginning? Was it the savage blow to the back of Father Gorman's head? Or the priest's visit, just minutes before, to a woman on her death bed? Or was there a deeper significance to the violent squabble which Mark Easterbrook had himself witnessed earlier?The novel is the only one to feature Ariadne Oliver where she solves a crime in the absence of Hercule Poirot. It was published in 1961 by William Collins Sons & Co. in London, and in 1962 by Dodd, Mead & Co. in New York. It was adapted by Anglia TV in the UK in 1996. The title of this book comes from the Revelation of St John the Divine, chapter 6, verse 8. "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him..." This is another novel where Christie is able to indulge her interest in the supernatural.

O sa ma intorc candva la ea, oricum am uitat deja ce am citit...

I didn't see that coming... again.... All hail the Queen of The Who-dunnits

Agatha Christie’s The Pale Horse is an enjoyable mystery, though not her best work. As with most of her novels, readers know exactly what they’re in for: a twisty, suspenseful ride with high stakes. Christie excels at building tension and keeping readers guessing until the very end, and The Pale Horse delivers on that front. While the story may not rank among her most iconic works, it’s still a fun read. Christie’s trademark clever plotting and the eerie atmosphere make it a worthwhile addition to any mystery lover’s bookshelf. Overall, The Pale Horse is a solid four out of five stars—a good example of Christie’s writing that any fan of hers would appreciate. It may not be the pinnacle of her career, but there’s no such thing as a Christie novel not worth reading!

This is an example of a mystery with the all the right elements that isn't executed well enough. I am three-quarters of the way through reading all of Christie's mysteries and this one came up short. Not only did I guess the murderer a quarter of the way into the book, I also rolled my eyes more times than I could count.

What if you could make someone die just by willing it? What if science advanced enough for our brainwaves to combine with sound waves so that we could kill each other with our minds?

If that sounds at all ridiculous to you, get ready because sentiments such as these are what you will be reading the entire book. All of the puzzle elements of the mystery are replaced with superstitious mumbo jumbo telling of the time, reminding you of how they used to hide under desks under threat of nuclear bombs.

In the end, the solution is the obvious one. The one you have been muttering to the protagonist since the beginning, but he's too caught up in his fear of MAGIC that he doesn't see what is right in front of him.

That said, it probably would make a better movie. It's very theatrical.

Update: Prime did make a film adaptation and, yes, I enjoyed it better than the book. Actually, I have enjoyed all of their Christie adaptations.