Book Club

Poirot Stories

Poirot is Agatha Christie's most famous and popular detective.  No doubt he would agree that he deserves that accolade!

Here is the place to discuss all of his stories in detail with other fans.  The most insightful comments will be added to the Stories pages.  But remember to beware spoilers!

If you can't find your favourite Poirot story here, don't worry - we'll be adding them all soon.

Warning: These discussions may contain spoilers!

Dumb Witness

Jemma 25 Sep 09 at 3:46 p.m. GMT

It was nice for Emily Arundell to be visited by her family; it was just a shame that relieving her of her money seemed to be foremost in their minds. When Poirot receives a letter from Miss Arundell, even though it was written two months before, asking him to call on her, he does, only to find that she has died. However, a job is a job and he makes it his business to find out what was troubling Miss Arundell so much that she felt compelled to call for the great Hercule Poirot.   

Did Christie's love of dogs mean that Bob is maybe given too much of a 'human' role in this book? Is there too much emphasis placed on Dr Tanios being 'a foreigner' or is that reasonable grounds in the context of this Christie novel for being ostracised? 

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23 replies

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Angelina_ 06 Dec 11 at 5:59 a.m. GMT

I liked "Dumb Witness", on the whole. It was an interesting and pleasant read. Its disadvantages, for me, were mostly 1) the "talking" dog scenes - so unlike AC and so uninteresting, 2) the misleading clues about Miss Arundell 's companion and the fact that greek Dr Tanios is considered sometimes a Turk! But that has to do with the fact that I am greek, I admit.

Also, when was this book written? Since there have been no Greeks living in Smyrna after 1922.

LadyMary 29 Oct 11 at 11:08 p.m. GMT

AC quite often points to someone's status as a foreigner as a negative quality.  I have always found this to be a humorous sign of the times of her era.  English people have traditionally been quite proud of their national heritage, emphasizing their education, advanced culture, social heirarchy, etc., and were a bit prejudiced against people who might not live up to their high standards.  Foreigners were people to be suspicious of.  AC makes some reference to foreigners in many of her stories.  I think it is reasonable in this story, considering much of the evidence would seem to point to him as well as his not being totally accepted by the family from the beginning because of his Greek heritage and the fact that they are not comfortable around him.  It is natural for them to suspect him.  As for Bob being given too much of a human role, no, I don't think so.  English people are famous for their love of dogs and Bob is a part of the family. 

ananya2410 24 Oct 11 at 8:50 a.m. GMT

could have never figured out araballa was it. i loved it a lot and i reccomend it for all readers.

i liked bob the dog but he could have been playing a much more  important role which would make the novel more interesting.

Epsilon14 11 Aug 11 at 6:08 a.m. GMT

Just finished the book 10 mins. ago. What asurprise in the end. All along the meek character is the murderer. I never rested my suspicion on Arabella Tanios. Honestly I thought the delusions that Dr. Tanios talked about was a clever way to put off whatever Bella said. But it was Dr. Tanios who suffered all along. It is superb the way Poirot solves the case. Now its time to read 'Sad Cypress'.

Epsilon14 02 Aug 11 at 6:35 a.m. GMT

Got the book in a mall yestersay with 'Sad Cypress'. Cant wait to start reading it!!

Quin90 15 Jul 11 at 5:40 a.m. GMT

Dumb Witness turned out to be the exact opposite of what i thought when i first got hold of it. For starters,the title itself didn't make much sense cause i kept thinking, who's the dumb witness in this case,Bob or Miss Arundell's companion?

Anyways, I never could have figured that Mrs. Arabella Tanios was the murderer all along.I honestly thought that she was the pityful wife who stood terrified of her husband but yet in actuality he was the one worried for the other. It was a really good plot that made me go round in circles which goes to show just how Poirot always stands out to me as my favourite sleuth!!?

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mountebank 30 Mar 11 at 4:33 a.m. GMT

I enjoyed "Dumb Witness" very much.  AC combines murder and humor in a rather unique way in this novel.  The idea of using a pet dog (Bob) to provide clues to HP rather than another character is a great twist among the usual tricks AC uses, many of which also come into play here.  A great read and David Suchet and Bob do a great job in the movie version as well!

DANIEL_ZAITSEFF 10 Nov 10 at 7:08 p.m. GMT

Attica, if I might not agree to your statement about you were disappointed with film version of Dumb Witness? It goes without saying David Suchet, of whom I am an admirer for ever,it is for ever that I am, is the greatest actor in the world! The greatest! in saying so I mean there is no one unsuccessful film version. All them are absolutely perfect. First  because of the great David Suchet just do take part. And every  film is determined to become a masterpiece! 

Cicely 14 Sep 10 at 1:26 a.m. GMT

I'm not sure if i've read this book or not, but I have seen the movie several times (I own it!).  I love the Tripp sisters!  They are sooo  funny!  We quote them all the time at our house in situations where the quotes fit.  Also the references to Dr. Tanios being a foreigner are so AC!  In almost every book, she has some kind of reference to a "foreigner".  I have always thought this was amusing and a nod to the British superiority complex.  It is endearing, in my opinion. 

Tommy_A_Jones 10 Aug 10 at 4:27 p.m. GMT

I totally sympathise with you ctown28, when I first started reading Agatha Christie books it never occurred to me that you had to read the books in a certain order, I read Curtain before Styles and Curtain sort of gave away thge Gender of the main Murderer (Yes I know that is a bad example) but I also fairly recently read Dumb Witness and I was horrified to find the same thing fortunately for me I have read all but one of the books mentioned but as soon as I come across that Character I will knowe they are The Murderer.

I came to the conclusion that because I think AC came from a Wealthy background she would assume that people would find getting hold of books relatively easily, I think Publishers would be doing her a service if they were to put the number of Poirot book or MM or T&T or Bundle book on the book like on my Thanet books.

Because the person she was referring to wasn't a Murderer she must have thought it was clever misdirection without thinking of the Possible Consequences for readers, It nearly spoilt a great Book.

ctown28 10 Aug 10 at 3:43 p.m. GMT

I've just finished this one.  I am trying to read all the Poirot stories in the order taht they were published but occasionally have to go out of order.  This was the case with Dumb Witness, the only one I hadn't read was Death In The Clouds.  Imagine my dismay when I started to read Death in The Clouds and realized that Dumb Witness gave away the killer to that book, along with several others, Murder of Roger Ackroyd was one, can't remember the others.

I just wonder why AC would give away clear things like that within her books.  I know she haws referred to other cases in some books, but never gave away who the killer is!

InspectorGrant 07 Jul 10 at 3:16 p.m. GMT

Bundle_

Wow! Have you read The Secret of Chimneys or The Seven Dials Mystery, MissQuinn? Anyway they have made Bundle (aka Lady Eileen Brent) in her 40's as well, whereas in the books she was in her 20's! Why do you suppose they change their ages?

I agree it was awful the way they took such liberties with The Secret of Chimneys especially regarding Bundle's age in the Marple TV production, but I thought that The Seven Dials' Mystery (which was filmed at Greenways in a lovely, arty, shadows everywhere style) was very, very good indeed, and Cheryl Campbell as Bundle was excellent, and certainly not too old for the part.  I particularly liked the actor who played Superintendent Battle - he really looked the part, and this film followed the plot of the original novel very closely indeed. 

MissQuin 13 Jan 10 at 5:32 p.m. GMT

yes, Ive read The Secret of Chimneys. It's not my type of book though, the international/political story. I did like Bundle's character, I'm not just saying that to please you Bundle! She's a smart young woman, Ive no idea why she'd be in her 40's on TV! I cant fathom out half the changes they make on the TV/film adapts.

Bundle_ 13 Jan 10 at 5:16 p.m. GMT

Wow! Have you read The Secret of Chimneys or The Seven Dials Mystery, MissQuinn? Anyway they have made Bundle (aka Lady Eileen Brent) in her 40's as well, whereas in the books she was in her 20's! Why do you suppose they change their ages?

MissQuin 13 Jan 10 at 5:06 p.m. GMT

Yes, Charles must have been about 20? in the book. I think that the TV Charles was...over 40! I havnt looked him up on IMDB for his age. The sister wasnt glamourous like the character, she seemed much older too.

Bundle_ 13 Jan 10 at 5 p.m. GMT

Did they get actors that were older than the characters?

MissQuin 13 Jan 10 at 4:54 p.m. GMT

Charles was a good looking charmer in the book, but not in the TV programme. I was disapointed. Its usually the opposite way around- a actor or actress that is younger and more attractive than the books character!

Bundle_ 13 Jan 10 at 4:43 p.m. GMT

Oh I liked Charles Arundel! I found him handsome and charming at least in the book I felt this way; I've never seen the adaptation of it becasue eveyone says it's pretty bad.

But I agree about Bella, I couldn't stand he either: I thought that she was rather scary and weird looking and had a goolish disposition!

I liked Bob the dog but he wasn't in the book that much which was a little dissappointing.

MissQuin 13 Jan 10 at 4:16 p.m. GMT

Attica I completely agree with you. You said all the things that I had thought.

I loved Bob, who was adorable, sadly Charles wasnt! I don't want to be unkind to the actor, but he was much older than Charles and wasnt the hunk AC described! His sister was dull. The two meduims were rather too OTT for my liking. There were as you put it creepy! Also a tragic storyline was added, where the companian? found the man she loved had been murdered. I much prefer the books end, where Hastings adopts Bob. They were so well suited! I didn't think giving the dog to those strange sisters was a good move.