Dumb Witness is a detective fiction novel by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 5 July 1937[1] and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year under the title of Poirot Loses a Client.[2][3] The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6)[4] and the US edition at $2.00.[3]
The book features the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and is narrated by his friend Arthur Hastings. It is the last book to feature the character of Hastings until the final Poirot novel, 1975's Curtain: Poirot's Last Case, which he also narrates.
Reviews of this novel at publication in 1937 were generally positive, though several pointed out what they considered to be plot weaknesses. The author does "this sort of thing so superlatively well",[5] while The Times in London questioned one of the actions by the murderer: "who would use hammer and nails and varnish in the middle of the night near an open bedroom door?"[6] In the New York Times, this novel was not considered "Mrs Christie's best, but she has produced a much-better-than-average thriller nevertheless",[7] which is a view shared by "Torquemada" (Edward Powys Mathers), who called this "the least of all the Poirot books" and then concluded "Still, better a bad Christie than a good average."[8] By contrast, Mary Dell considered this novel to be "Mrs Christie at her best".[9]The Scotsman felt the author deserved "full marks" for this novel.[10] A review in 1990 found this novel to be not very interesting, with obvious clues.[11]
^The Observer, 4 July 1937 (p. 6)
^John Cooper and B.A. Pyke. Detective Fiction – the collector's guide: Second Edition (Pages 82 and 86) Scholar Press. 1994. ISBN 0-85967-991-8
^ abAmerican Tribute to Agatha Christie
^Chris Peers; Ralph Spurrier & Jamie Sturgeon (March 1999). Collins Crime Club – A checklist of First Editions (Second ed.). Dragonby Press. p. 15.
^Cite error: The named reference Guardian1937 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference LondonTimes1937 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference NYTimes1937 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Observer1937 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Mirror1937 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Scotsman1937 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Barnard19990 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
DumbWitness is a detective fiction novel by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 5 July 1937 and in...
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Collins & Sons 1937 Cards on the Table Dodd, Mead & Co Hercule Poirot – DumbWitness 1937 William Collins & Sons 1937 Poirot Loses a Client Dodd, Mead & Co...
dog to hold on to." Peter was also the subject of the dedication of DumbWitness (on the dustjacket of which he is pictured), published in 1937, one year...
the Clouds The A.B.C. Murders Murder in Mesopotamia Cards on the Table DumbWitness Death on the Nile Appointment with Death Hercule Poirot's Christmas Murder...
the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award. Later that year, Witness for the Prosecution received an Edgar Award for best play. In 2013, she...
place United Kingdom Media type Print (hardback & paperback) Pages 288 (first edition, hardback) Preceded by Cards on the Table Followed by DumbWitness ...
(1995, TV Movie) – Miss Dean Agatha Christie’s Poirot (1996, TV Series) “DumbWitness” - Julie Tripp Heaven on Earth (1998, TV Movie) – Elizabeth McKenzie...
Agatha (1980). The Mysterious Affair at Styles; Ten Little Niggers; DumbWitness. Sydney: Lansdowne Press. ISBN 0-7018-1453-5. Late use of the original...
Murders (1936) Murder in Mesopotamia (1936) Cards on the Table (1936) DumbWitness (1937) Death on the Nile (1937) Appointment with Death (1938) Hercule...
Danvers. In 1996, she played Emily Arundel in Agatha Christie's Poirot - DumbWitness . In the autumn season 1964, she acted at the Bristol Old Vic (Colston...
Bruce-Partington Plans"), Boon, Bugs, The Bill, Agatha Christie's Poirot (DumbWitness), Peak Practice and Heartbeat. According to an article in 2007, Newth...
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