The Pale Horse- A Work Of Pure Genius

The Pale Horse is a work of detective fiction written by Agatha Christie. This novel is notable for many things, from the sheer genius of the story to how this saved at least two lives.

A dying woman gives her last confession to a Catholic priest, and along with it, a list of names and a terrible secret. Shortly after her death, the priest is killed. As the police begin to investigate, a young man begins to piece together evidence that leads him on a converging path.

Father Gorman receives a summon from Mrs. Davis, who gives her last confession along with a list of names and a terrible secret. Shortly afterward, when he sets out to take action, he is struck dead in the fog. The police begin their investigation on the list they discover from Father Gorman, and it appears that the killer searched for the list on his person.

Mark Easterbrook is a historian absorbed in his work and living in his own world, until one day he witnesses a fight between two women in a coffee bar in Chelsea. He soon discovers a sinister connection among seemingly random events.

This novel has quite a few recurring characters, from the famous Mrs.Oliver to Rev. and Mrs. Dane Calthrop (from The Moving Finger). In their own fashion, they aid Mark in unraveling the mystery.

The other characters in the novel are just as refreshing, like Ginger and Detective LeJeune.

This was simply a brilliant piece of work! Christie outdid herself and defied the odds yet again in the setting up of the premise of the story. It was an entertaining and enthralling read. This was quite a page-turner, with the ending having the customary twist. The only guessable aspect of this book was the romance at the end.

My favorite character in this novel would be Ginger. Bold and adventurous, she forms a stark contrast to the stuffiness otherwise present in the people of the book.

This book is notable for its role in saving at least two lives, and in a separate incident, bringing to justice a serial killer whose modus operandi resembled the one in the story, though not this elaborate.

Overall, this was a pleasurable read. Not a book one would easily forget.

My Ratings: 4.5/5⭐

Happy Reading!