The Adventure Of The Egyptian Tomb by Agatha Christie, 1923
The magic trick:
A Scooby Doo plot
This has the hallmarks of a classic Scooby-Doo mystery. There’s something sinister going on. It’s so sinister that the only possible explanation must be supernatural.
Wiser heads prevail, though, and reveal the cause of the problem to be good old fashion human beings committing good old fashioned human crimes.
It’s a phenomenally fool-proof way to build a mystery.
And that’s quite a trick on Christie’s part.
The selection:
“No, indeed, Lady Willard,” said Poirot quickly. “I, too, believe in the force of superstition, one of the greatest forces the world has ever known.”
I looked at him in surprise. I should never have credited Poirot with being superstitious. But the little man was obviously in earnest.
“What you really demand is that I shall protect your son? I will do my utmost to keep him from harm.”
“Yes, in the ordinary way, but against an occult influence?”
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