This is another satisfying mystery starring Hercule Poirot and set in the Middle East. Poirot is vacationing but is called in to help solve the murder of Mrs. Boynton, a very unpleasant and controlling woman who is traveling with her five stepchildren. The children, all but one of whom are adults, want to get away from her but they've been beaten down for so long that they can't manage to do anything without her approval. Poirot has some insight given that he's overheard two of the children saying that Mrs. Boynton should be killed. The murder doesn't take place until 100 pages into the book; up to that point Christie is just setting the scene, introducing the characters, and delving into their interactions and motivations. Poirot is brought in to the plot in Part 2 and promises to identify the murderer within 24 hours, which he does, of course.
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