Queen of crime's little grey cells

October is just a stone’s throw away, and with the spooky season looming around the corner, there’s one surefire way to usher in spine-tingling vibes – a good old-fashioned murder mystery. So, when it comes to the maestro of the genre, none other than Agatha Christie reigns supreme.

- ANWESHA SANTRA

Kenneth Branagh is once again gracing the silver screen resuming his role as the moustachioed Belgian sleuth in A Haunting in Venice, which has already hit the theatres. This cinematic venture has drawn inspiration from Christie’s literary masterpiece, Halloween Party. However, for those of us who have diligently followed the queen of crime, it’s a tad disheartening that the film merely tips its hat to Halloween Party, rather than fully immersing us in Christie’s intricate storyline.

Ah, that memorable moment when I first dipped my literary toes into the tantalising waters of Halloween Party! I was a mere 14-year-old, my mind still abuzz from the whirlwind of Murder on the Orient Express, a Christie masterpiece I had devoured just a week prior. As I voraciously searched for another hit of that enchanting Christie sorcery, little did I know that Halloween Party would be the rabbit hole that would plunge me headlong into a world of perplexing puzzles, devious culprits and tea cups filled with suspense.

To tell the story — during a Halloween party, Joyce, a rather pugnacious 13-year-old, boldly claims to have been a witness to a murder. However, her unsettling revelation is met with scepticism, and she departs the party in a huff. Astonishingly, within a matter of hours, her lifeless body is discovered within the same house, submerged in an apple-bobbing tub. As the night descends, Hercule Poirot is summoned to unearth the enigmatic “evil presence” lurking in the shadows. But, before he can tread further, he must ascertain whether he’s in pursuit of a lone murderer or the elusive spectre of a double homicide. The game of mystery, my dear readers, is afoot.