Mrs. McGinty's Dead

by Agatha Christie

An old widow is brutally killed in the parlour of her cottage…

Mrs McGinty died from a brutal blow to the back of her head. Suspicion fell immediately on her shifty lodger, James Bentley, whose clothes revealed traces of the victim’s blood and hair. Yet something was amiss: Bentley just didn’t look like a murderer.

Poirot believed he could save the man from the gallows – what he didn’t realise was that his own life was now in great danger…

Genres: Mystery, Agatha Christie, Fiction, Crime

Unknown Binding

About the author

Agatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.

This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.

Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This year, I am again participating in the Read Christie challenge. This year's theme is "Biggest, Best, Beloved", and February's category is Beloved Characters. With Mrs. McGinty's Dead being the suggested book.

I typically prefer the Marple mysteries to the Poirot ones, but I really enjoyed this one. In Mrs. McGinty's Dead, we have the return of Ariadne Oliver. Ariadne is a famous mystery writer, who has assisted Poirot previously in solving a crime.

In Mrs. McGinty's Dead, Poirot is called in by Superintendent Spence to help solve a crime, the death of Mrs. McGinty. Except Mrs. McGinty's lodger has already been tried and found guilty of the crime.

Poirot books himself into a boarding house in the little village of Broadhinny, where Mrs. McGinty lived, in order to begin his investigations. This is where he runs into Ariadne Oliver, who has come to stay with a respected playwright and his mother.

This was an interesting mystery with lots of potential suspects. I never did figure this one out. Partly because I was a bit baffled by this one. I actually found this mystery somewhat confusing and had to reread parts to try and make sense of it all. But, I enjoyed the characters and the small town setting and having Ariadne back to help Poirot, so I still enjoyed it, even though I was a bit confused.

[Brian Wilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable Hercule Poirot novel that feels different to Agatha Christie's normal works. One that doesn't get the attention it deserves.
Poirot is asked to investigate a murder where the killer has already been caught and sentenced to death.
The cast of characters are wonderful. I took particular delight in Mrs Summer Hayes, owner of Poirots lodgings. She's so disorganised, has pigs, chickens and dogs running around, and she has no qualms about cooking with mouldy ingredients as "its practically just penicillin."
Poirots reactions are great.
I can certainly see why AgathaChristie.com regards this book as having her most beloved characters.
The plot is well laid out and Poirot shines (as always) as he stands alone without any real sidekick in this story. The summation at the end is so well done, with all of the clues so clearly presented it makes me wonder how I didn't work it out immediately.

[Alis Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Mrs McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie, the 28th book in the Hercule Poirot series, originally published in 1952.
Christie’s way of describing things was sublime — I could feel the era come alive. I especially loved her descriptions of Poirot’s home; it practically screamed Art Deco, a period I adore. Her prose guided me methodically through the clues, leaving nothing out, and I appreciated how the mystery unfolded with careful precision.
I particularly enjoyed the character of Mrs Oliver. She was brilliantly chaotic, opinionated, and refreshingly human. Her self-awareness and friendship with Poirot added humour and warmth, and I found myself smiling every time she appeared in the story.
Overall, Mrs McGinty’s Dead was a delightful read. It combined classic Christie mystery precision with charming characters and a vivid sense of period. I finished it thoroughly entertained and reminded why I love returning to Hercule Poirot’s world.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful mess! Poirot is his excessively quirky self but still nobly puts himself out to help a respected police friend who has a gut feeling that the man he arrested for a murder, who was charged with a murder, and was convicted of a murder... is not, in fact, a murderer. It follows a lot of the standard Poirot script with a large cast of suspects, Poirot's grandstand reveal, etc but it also has some singularly unappealing views on the characters and a level of cynicism that can be surprising. But it sticks with there is right and there is wrong, there is justice and that is that. Mrs Oliver reappears and she is a pure delight - even as she breezes through in a tumbled, barely disguised AC insert. It's hilarious to watch her ranting about her quirky, tiresom Finn and just know that AC is venting her own spleen in regards to her persnickety Belgian.

[Tanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm, this one is a bit hard to review. It took me in at the beginning but at the end, I did care less about the solution and the relationships between the characters. What I enjoyed was a glimpse on Poirot's inner self, his frustrations and most of all -- his attitude🤣He had way more personality here, not just this half god as always. But it was worth my time, even though it took me longer to finish it

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a unique style of mystery and I quite enjoyed it all! Poirot, is as usual, very well written and I just love it when Mrs Oliver joins in a case! I liked the mystery of this and the conclusion was very satisfying, and I did absolutely not tie up all of the dots here!

[Jina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reading wasn’t as good as the first one i listened too. It was still fun and I did enjoy it.

[ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was another hit. i had fun reading it

[Steven Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed revisiting this Poirot story of sins that have a long life and then resurface in unexpected ways. Many twists and turns and Poirot and Inspector Spence uncover the truth.

[Victoria Gilmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated in comparison to other ACs. #ReadChristie2026 official pick for February (“Beloved Characters”).

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I

[Sarahlovesbooks76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A twisty turny Poirot, love appearance of Mrs Oliver.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery with a lot of characters involved

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

#ReadChristie2026 February

[Barbara Fynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for "Read Christie 2026" and surprisingly I don't think I've read it before. I enjoyed it but did guess the twist!

[LESLIE J (mrsj_readsbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Around and around and around we go.
Where Hercule Poirot stops nobody knows.

Another great read
Feb Read Christie