Missy’s Reviews > The A.B.C. Murders > Status Update

Ch 23: in Doncaster. Franklin shows Poirot a letter, claims there was nothing going on between Car and Thora. Hastings to escort Mary Drower, since her name begins with a D (not her first name though??? Alice Ascher, Elizabeth (Betty) Barnard, Carmichael Clarke??? Like is Mary a nickname?)

Ch 22: Mrs. Marbury, Cust’s landlord notices he seems ill. He insists on traveling, on being dependable. To Cheltenham. Packs “flat cardboard boxes”. Lily (Mrs Marbury’s daughter) comments that he needn’t say goodbye like he will never see her again. Cust was in Churston (6-7 miles for Torquey) when Car was killed! Tom Hartigan saw Cust at Euston (not how to get to Cheltenham!), his tockey said Doncaster.

The murder will take place during St. Leger (a large sporting event; maybe a horse race?) in Doncaster.

Ch 22: the “strange” man Thora was speaking to was selling silk stockings. Mrs. Barnard had just bought stockings for Betty before she died. Mrs. Ascher had a pair of silk stockings in her house. Mrs. Fowler complained of door to door salesmen. Poirot believes the murderer scouts his victims by selling silk stockings door to door.

Ch 20: Lady Clarke calls Thora a liar. Says she was speaking to a “strange” man at 11 the day Car was killed. Hastings defends Thora to Poirot, who claims he is only doing so because she is pretty. Don admits to Poirot he has a recurring dream where he strangles Betty with her belt; only once she’s dead, he sees it is actually Megan. Letter arrives, Doncaster on Sept. 11 (mentions Tipperary).

Ch 19: Poirot notes Franklin has taken a liking to Megan, and Thora is annoyed by it. Thora reveals Lady Clarke had her post revoked after Carmichael was killed. Poirot notes Thora is very fashionable. Poirot seems to tease Hastings regarding Thora.

Ch 18: Franklin proposes forming a “special legion” composed of himself, Megan, Donald, Miss Grey, and Mary Drower. Megan & Don are to get info out of Milly Higley (Megan by being offensive and Don by flirting). Mary to talk to children in Andover. ABC may be a Londoner (based on Thora’s post observations). Franklin will put out an ad to try to entice ABC; Poirot doubts it will be effective.

“I make the assumption that one—or possibly all of you—knows something that they do not know they know.”

Ch 17: all 3 murders are publicized. P receives copycat ABC letters. Press claims to quote P & H. P & H argue about whether P should be out doing something. P remarks that at least the family members aren’t living under suspicion for the murders (Mike! You might be right!!!!) Mary Drower writes P saying she is in London. Clarke is also in London and will be paying P a visit. Megan of course lives in London.