Hickory Dickory Dock is a detective novel by Agatha Christie , written in 1955 and first published in the same year by Collins Crime Club . A novel from the series of Hercule Poirot . In Russia, the book was also published under the names “Hickory-dikori”, “The Secret of the boarding house”, “Hikkori-Dikkori-death!”.
| Hickory Dickory Doc | |
|---|---|
| Hickory dickory dock | |
| Genre | Novel |
| Author | Agatha Christie |
| Original language | English |
| Date of writing | 1955 |
| Date of first publication | 1955 |
| Publisher | Eksmo, M |
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| Following | |
Content
Title
The name of this novel, as well as several others [1] , is taken from a children's reading room. However, unlike the novel " Ten Little Indians ", the plot is in no way connected with the account itself, except for the fact that the novel takes place on Hickory Road.
Hickory, dickory, dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory, dickory, dock
Story
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Hickory Road Student Dormitory. The residents begin to disappear things. Poirot is approached by Miss Lemon and her sister, Mrs. Hubbard, who are concerned about what is happening. The list of stolen items looks very strange. And although Poirot usually does not undertake investigations of petty thefts, he became interested in this matter. Starting an investigation, Poirot at first uses not the most subtle methods. By threatening to call the police, he draws a confession from one of the houses, Celia Austin, who confesses to several small thefts committed by her to attract the attention of Colin McNabb, a psychiatrist student who perceives Celia as an interesting case to study. Colin and Celia are engaged, but the next day they find Celia dead. She dies from an overdose of morphine . Poirot immediately realizes that this is a murder that they tried to disguise as suicide.
Poirot reveals a few more minor thefts quickly enough. Poirot turns his attention to the diamond ring. After the ring was found in Miss Valerie Hobhouse's soup, the diamond was replaced with zircon . Poirot accuses Valerie of stealing a diamond. Valerie admits that she was forced to steal a stone to cover a card debt. She also admits that she has advised Celia to commit petty thefts.
Soon, an unknown person kills the hostess of the guesthouse, Mrs. Nicoletis, and then Patricia Lane. Poirot turns his attention to the backpack. He manages to establish that the backpack was used to transport drugs and smuggle jewelry. Poirot remains to establish who was involved in smuggling and who is the killer.
Characters
- Hercule Poirot - Belgian detective
- Miss Lemon - Secretary of Poirot
- Mrs. Hubbard - Miss Lemon's sister, housekeeper
- Mrs. Nicoletis - hostess of the guesthouse
- Inspector Sharp - Investigator
- Celia Austin - Pharmacist at St. Katerina Hospital Pharmacy
- Colin McNabb is a student psychiatrist
- Nigel Chapman is a student student at Hickory Road Boarding School
- Valerie Hobhouse - Inhabitant of the Hickory Road Boardinghouse, hairdresser
- Sally Finch is a student at Hickory Road Boarding School
- Elizabeth Johnson is a student at Hickory Road Boarding School
- Mr. Chandra Lahl - Student, Occupant of Hickory Road Boarding House
- Mr. Akibombo is a student at the Hickory Road Boarding School
- Patricia Lane - Hickory Road Boarding School Student
- Genevieve - student at the Hickory Road Boarding School
- Leonard Batson - Student, Occupant of Hickory Road Boarding House
- Maria - Cook of Hickory Road Boardinghouse
- Jeronimo - Maria’s husband
Screen version
The novel formed the basis of one of the episodes of the British television series Poirot Agatha Christie with David Suchet in the lead role [2] . Despite the fact that the novel takes place in the 50s, the authors of the television series moved the action in the 30s, so as not to interrupt the flow of time in the series. In the Russian translation, the second film of the sixth season of the series is called "Counting . "
Notes
- ↑ “ Ten Little Indians ”, “ Five Piglets ”, “ Twisted House ”, “ One, Two, Three, Button Clasp ”, “Three Blind Mice”
- ↑ Agatha Christie: Poirot Hickory Dickory Dock (1995)