Ariadne Oliver is a mystery novelist who is staying with a friend. A neighbour hosts a hallowe’en party for the youth of the village, and the youngsters come in to help with the decorations and setup. While there, a young girl, purpotedly to impress Ms. Oliver, boasts that she once witnessed a murder. She was known to make up stories, so everyone dismissed her. The next day, she is found drowned in the bucket for bobbing apples.
Ms. Oliver brings in her friend Poirot, who has to identify who killed the girl, as well as what she supposedly saw, and that murder as well, since the two seem inter-connected. He discovers a wealthy aunt of the hostess who deceased recently, and a forged will in favour of her au pair. The au pair herself is missing as well.
In typical Poirot fashion, he keeps all cards close to his chest, and reveals how all the pieces fit together only right at the end. The premise seems a little far fetched though, at least in the modern day-and-age. I suppose these inheritance-related murders were common enough in Dame Agatha’s time, that it made sense to hinge the whole novel upon. On the whole, the plot is confusing with several key players and witnesses, who all seem interconnected only tenuously. Still, a quick and enjoyable read.