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Quiz about  The Agatha Christie Plot Thickens 3
Quiz about  The Agatha Christie Plot Thickens 3

The (Agatha Christie) Plot Thickens 3 Quiz


Match the Agatha Christie title to its plot description. Hopefully you won't lose the plot. No spoilers.

A matching quiz by MotherGoose. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
MotherGoose
Time
6 mins
Type
Match Quiz
Quiz #
401,149
Updated
Aug 22 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
174
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Guest 49 (10/10), Guest 45 (10/10), Guest 78 (10/10).
(a) Drag-and-drop from the right to the left, or (b) click on a right side answer box and then on a left side box to move it.
QuestionsChoices
1. Hercule Poirot becomes involved in a problem concerning petty theft and vandalism at a student hostel managed by his secretary's sister. However, apparent kleptomania leads to three murders in an effort to conceal an international smuggling operation.   
  Towards Zero
2. The title of this novel alludes to the idea that a murder mystery does not begin with a murder; murder is actually the end point and the story begins long before that. Mr Treves and Lady Camilla Tressilian are both murdered, but their deaths are incidental to a prospective third murder - that of the killer's true victim.  
  Appointment with Death
3. There was nothing suspicious about the death of Richard Abernethie until after he was cremated, when his sister Cora intimated to the family that he had been murdered and it had "all been hushed up very nicely". Nobody took it seriously... until Cora was murdered the following day.   
  The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side
4. After receiving a series of threatening letters, an archaeologist's wife is murdered at a dig. Hercule Poirot realises that the key to the murder lies in the personality of the victim, Louise Leidner. However, opinions about her character are very diverse among the people involved.  
  After the Funeral
5. This novel opens with the trial of Elinor Carlisle for the murder of Mary Gerrard and subsequently the murder of her aunt, Laura Welman. Unfortunately, although innocent, Elinor had means, motive and opportunity and the case against her is strong.   
  Peril at End House
6. Old Mrs Boynton was a sadistic tyrant who terrorised her poor family. When she was found dead in Petra, her family became the obvious suspects, particularly the two who were overheard by Hercule Poirot discussing her potential murder.   
  Sad Cypress
7. During preparations for a children's party, a child boasts that, in the past, she witnessed a murder. She claims she did not realise it was a murder at the time. Nobody believes her as she is known to be an attention-seeking liar, but a few hours later she is found drowned in a bucket of water.   
  Hickory Dickory Dock
8. Gossington Hall is the new home of Marina Gregg, a famous film star. A charity fete is held at the Hall, during which a local resident, Heather Badcock, dies after drinking Marina Gregg's poisoned cocktail. The question is, who was the cocktail intended to kill?  
  Murder in Mesopotamia
9. While on vacation in Cornwall, Poirot and Hastings meet Nick Buckley, who tells them she leads a charmed life because she has just had three escapes from death in as many days. Concerned for Nick's welfare, Poirot suggest Nick invite her cousin Maggie to stay with her. However, this results in Maggie's death instead.   
  The Body in the Library
10. The body of a platinum blonde is found in a most unlikely place and is identified as that of a professional dancer. Meanwhile, a local schoolgirl goes missing after attending a Girl Guide rally. Miss Marple thinks the two incidents are connected.  
  Hallowe'en Party





Select each answer

1. Hercule Poirot becomes involved in a problem concerning petty theft and vandalism at a student hostel managed by his secretary's sister. However, apparent kleptomania leads to three murders in an effort to conceal an international smuggling operation.
2. The title of this novel alludes to the idea that a murder mystery does not begin with a murder; murder is actually the end point and the story begins long before that. Mr Treves and Lady Camilla Tressilian are both murdered, but their deaths are incidental to a prospective third murder - that of the killer's true victim.
3. There was nothing suspicious about the death of Richard Abernethie until after he was cremated, when his sister Cora intimated to the family that he had been murdered and it had "all been hushed up very nicely". Nobody took it seriously... until Cora was murdered the following day.
4. After receiving a series of threatening letters, an archaeologist's wife is murdered at a dig. Hercule Poirot realises that the key to the murder lies in the personality of the victim, Louise Leidner. However, opinions about her character are very diverse among the people involved.
5. This novel opens with the trial of Elinor Carlisle for the murder of Mary Gerrard and subsequently the murder of her aunt, Laura Welman. Unfortunately, although innocent, Elinor had means, motive and opportunity and the case against her is strong.
6. Old Mrs Boynton was a sadistic tyrant who terrorised her poor family. When she was found dead in Petra, her family became the obvious suspects, particularly the two who were overheard by Hercule Poirot discussing her potential murder.
7. During preparations for a children's party, a child boasts that, in the past, she witnessed a murder. She claims she did not realise it was a murder at the time. Nobody believes her as she is known to be an attention-seeking liar, but a few hours later she is found drowned in a bucket of water.
8. Gossington Hall is the new home of Marina Gregg, a famous film star. A charity fete is held at the Hall, during which a local resident, Heather Badcock, dies after drinking Marina Gregg's poisoned cocktail. The question is, who was the cocktail intended to kill?
9. While on vacation in Cornwall, Poirot and Hastings meet Nick Buckley, who tells them she leads a charmed life because she has just had three escapes from death in as many days. Concerned for Nick's welfare, Poirot suggest Nick invite her cousin Maggie to stay with her. However, this results in Maggie's death instead.
10. The body of a platinum blonde is found in a most unlikely place and is identified as that of a professional dancer. Meanwhile, a local schoolgirl goes missing after attending a Girl Guide rally. Miss Marple thinks the two incidents are connected.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Hercule Poirot becomes involved in a problem concerning petty theft and vandalism at a student hostel managed by his secretary's sister. However, apparent kleptomania leads to three murders in an effort to conceal an international smuggling operation.

Answer: Hickory Dickory Dock

The plot of this novel actually bears little relevance to the nursery rhyme, "Hickory Dickory Dock". The rhyme is mentioned twice in the novel but without specific context. The student hostel is located on Hickory Road - a somewhat tenuous link to the title.

However, at least the British title makes some sense in referencing a well-known nursery rhyme, whereas the American title, "Hickory Dickory Death", makes no sense at all.
2. The title of this novel alludes to the idea that a murder mystery does not begin with a murder; murder is actually the end point and the story begins long before that. Mr Treves and Lady Camilla Tressilian are both murdered, but their deaths are incidental to a prospective third murder - that of the killer's true victim.

Answer: Towards Zero

Lady Camilla Tressilian was murdered in her bed, her head crushed with a blunt instrument. But her death was only a means to an end. The real victim was a person whom the killer was "setting up" in order to see that person hanged. Mr Treves dies of a heart attack when he climbs the stairs to his hotel room after the killer placed a false "out of order" sign on the lift (elevator).

He was murdered because, after dinner, he told a story about a child killer, thus letting the murderer know that he had recognised them.
3. There was nothing suspicious about the death of Richard Abernethie until after he was cremated, when his sister Cora intimated to the family that he had been murdered and it had "all been hushed up very nicely". Nobody took it seriously... until Cora was murdered the following day.

Answer: After the Funeral

Richard's friend and lawyer, Mr Entwhistle, was quite unsettled by Cora's remarks concerning her brother's death, so he asked Hercule Poirot to investigate. Hercule Poirot, in turn, enlisted the aid of Mr Goby, a private investigator, to obtain background information about the various members of the family, all of whom had a motive. Poirot concluded that Richard's death was not suspicious but it provided the murderer with a unique opportunity to get rid of Cora.
4. After receiving a series of threatening letters, an archaeologist's wife is murdered at a dig. Hercule Poirot realises that the key to the murder lies in the personality of the victim, Louise Leidner. However, opinions about her character are very diverse among the people involved.

Answer: Murder in Mesopotamia

Agatha Christie's husband, Sir Max Mallowan, was a well-known British archaeologist. When he met Agatha Christie in 1930, he was working as an apprentice to Sir Leonard Woolley at the archaeological site of Ur (Mesopotamia). The character of Louise Leidner was based on Leonard Woolley's wife, Katharine.

In their respective memoirs, Agatha Christie and Max Mallowan described Katharine Woolley's difficult and volatile personality although Christie conceded that Katharine "was to become one of my great friends in the years to come".
5. This novel opens with the trial of Elinor Carlisle for the murder of Mary Gerrard and subsequently the murder of her aunt, Laura Welman. Unfortunately, although innocent, Elinor had means, motive and opportunity and the case against her is strong.

Answer: Sad Cypress

Dr Peter Lord is in love with Elinor Carlisle, even though he knows she is in love with Roderick Welman. When Elinor is accused of murder, Dr Lord approaches Hercule Poirot to prove her innocence.

Poirot: You wish me to look into the facts? To find out the truth? To discover what really happened?
Dr Lord: I want you to find any facts that will tell in her favour.
Poirot: The truth is a two-edged weapon. Supposing that I find facts against the lady? Do you demand that I suppress them?...Supposing she is guilty - do you still want to get her acquitted?
Dr Lord: Yes.
6. Old Mrs Boynton was a sadistic tyrant who terrorised her poor family. When she was found dead in Petra, her family became the obvious suspects, particularly the two who were overheard by Hercule Poirot discussing her potential murder.

Answer: Appointment with Death

No-one regretted the death of the matriarch of the Boynton family. The only surprise was that no-one had murdered her previously. Psychology is a key element in this novel - particularly the psychology involved in Mrs Boynton's personality, the hold she had over her family, and why they did not stand up to her. Also, Hercule Poirot utilises psychological methods to deduce the identity of the murderer, as well as motive and methodology.
7. During preparations for a children's party, a child boasts that, in the past, she witnessed a murder. She claims she did not realise it was a murder at the time. Nobody believes her as she is known to be an attention-seeking liar, but a few hours later she is found drowned in a bucket of water.

Answer: Hallowe'en Party

"Hallowe'en Party" was not one of Agatha Christie's finest works. There is quite an air of vagueness about the novel.

The deaths of Hugo Drake and his aunt, Mrs Llewellyn-Smythe, are central to the issue of who will inherit Mrs Llewellyn-Smythe's estate but it is not made clear whether their untimely deaths are natural or assisted. There are two murderers working together but only Joyce Reynolds' murderer is specified. With respect to the deaths of Leopold Reynolds, Olga Seminoff and Lesley Ferrier, of the two murderers, we don't know who actually committed each murder.

When Poirot speculates as to whose murder Joyce allegedly witnessed, the murders of Charlotte Benfield and Janet White are mentioned. Neither is the relevant murder, however, their murders are not resolved and are left as loose ends.

A substantial amount of the novel also consists of Agatha Christie pontificating (through her characters' conversations) on a number of social issues, including mental health, drugs, the criminal justice system, juvenile delinquency and changing social mores which, as it turns out, have little to do with the motives for the murders and are therefore not particularly relevant.
8. Gossington Hall is the new home of Marina Gregg, a famous film star. A charity fete is held at the Hall, during which a local resident, Heather Badcock, dies after drinking Marina Gregg's poisoned cocktail. The question is, who was the cocktail intended to kill?

Answer: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side

Three murders occur during this novel - Heather Badcock, Ella Zielinsky (Marina Gregg and Jason Rudd's social secretary), and Giuseppe (their Italian butler). Ella was poisoned after she tried to play detective to flush out the murderer. She telephoned a number of people, including the murderer, saying "I saw you". Giuseppe was shot after attempting to blackmail the killer.

A movie version with a shortened title, "The Mirror Crack'd", was released in 1980. Its stellar cast included Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple, and Elizabeth Taylor as Marina Gregg, along with Rock Hudson (Jason Rudd), Kim Novak (Lola Brewster), Tony Curtis (Martin Fenn), Geraldine Chaplin (Ella Zielinsky), and Edward Fox (Inspector Craddock). (And if you watch the movie, keep an eye out for Pierce Brosnan (as Jamie) in one of his earliest acting roles, which was uncredited).
9. While on vacation in Cornwall, Poirot and Hastings meet Nick Buckley, who tells them she leads a charmed life because she has just had three escapes from death in as many days. Concerned for Nick's welfare, Poirot suggest Nick invite her cousin Maggie to stay with her. However, this results in Maggie's death instead.

Answer: Peril at End House

In all, six attempts are apparently made on Nick's life. Upon meeting Poirot and Hastings for the first time, Nick tells them that she has had three escapes from death in as many days. Firstly, a heavy picture hanging over her bed fell in the night, which might have been fatal had she been present in the bed at the time. Then a large boulder rolled down the cliff path to the sea, narrowly missing her. Thirdly, the brakes of her car malfunctioned, resulting in a minor crash into the garden hedge.

Whilst relating these "accidents" to Poirot, Nick removes her hat and leaves without it. Poirot discovers a bullet hole in the hat and a spent bullet nearby (fourth attempt). After Maggie is shot whilst wearing Nick's distinctive shawl (fifth attempt), Poirot arranges for Nick to be hidden at a nursing home. However, while she is there, a sixth attempt is made with poisoned chocolates, supposedly sent by Poirot.
10. The body of a platinum blonde is found in a most unlikely place and is identified as that of a professional dancer. Meanwhile, a local schoolgirl goes missing after attending a Girl Guide rally. Miss Marple thinks the two incidents are connected.

Answer: The Body in the Library

A chance remark about Somerset House by Dinah Lee, the wife of the chief suspect, Basil Blake, set Miss Marple on the right track to solving both crimes. Somerset House in central London is where the Registry of Births, Marriages and Deaths (for England and Wales) was located from 1837 to 1970.

After discovering the existence of a secret marriage, all the clues fell into place and Miss Marple was able to deduce the means, motive and opportunity, and thus break the alibis of the real killers. Miss Marple suspected that the two incidents were connected and she was correct.

The bodies of the dancer and the schoolgirl were switched in order to confuse the time of death and provide the apparent alibis.
Source: Author MotherGoose

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