The Hunter's Lodge Case

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

67160

Title

The Hunter's Lodge Case

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this classic Agatha Christie mystery, Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings investigate the murder of an American uncle in Derbyshire. When the nephew's alibi seems solid, Poirot uncovers a shocking twist involving a missing housekeeper and a daring actress, challenging readers to solve the crime before the detective reveals his brilliant deduction.

Summary up to 500 words

In Agatha Christie's *The Hunter's Lodge Case*, Hercule Poirot is recovering from influenza in London when his friend Captain Hastings receives a desperate summons from the Hon. Roger Havering. Havering's wealthy American uncle, Harrington Pace, has been murdered at Hunter's Lodge in Derbyshire. Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard arrives first, immediately suspecting Roger due to his financial troubles and questionable past. Hastings investigates the scene, where the victim was shot through the head with a revolver. The housekeeper, Mrs. Middleton, and Roger's wife, Zoe, provide consistent accounts of the events, but Mrs. Middleton vanishes shortly after the police arrive, leaving only her clothes behind. Inquiries reveal no record of her at the employment agency, and the revolver found at the crime scene is later discovered discarded in London. Upon Hastings' return, Poirot deduces the shocking truth: Roger Havering is not the killer, nor is the real Mrs. Middleton. The housekeeper was actually Zoe Havering in disguise, acting as an accomplice to her husband. They staged the murder to inherit the fortune, using a decoy revolver to mislead the police. Zoe played a daring double role, first appearing as the frightened housekeeper to establish an alibi for her husband, then transforming into her vibrant self to interview Hastings. Despite Poirot's certainty, Inspector Japp cannot secure enough evidence for a conviction because the physical evidence points to a third party who never existed. The couple eventually escapes justice, only to meet a tragic end in an air crash, satisfying the demands of fate. The story highlights themes of deception, the fallibility of appearances, and the idea that while criminals may evade immediate legal punishment, fate often delivers its own retribution.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Short Stories
• Mystery