The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie

a pale horse with spaghetti on the side

The Pale Horse is one of the novels from the Queen of Mysteries, Agatha Christie, that doesn't employ the witty Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot as the detective. In its stead, the novelist of detective stories, Ariadne Oliver appears but only as a minor role. Most of the story is told by narratives of Mark Easterbrook, a scholar and historian, who is the main character of this book.

The enigma revolves around an old inn by the name of The Pale Horse, which is then converted as a residence and occupied by three middle-aged ladies; an occultist, a medium and a witch. Whether it's the house itself, or the occupants, but there's something going on there, something dark and sinister...or maybe black magic? Mark doesn't really know, but he sure wants to find out.

And Mark would've left all the business about the Pale Horse alone if it's not because of a strange list of names he saw from his police-surgeon friend, Jim Corrigan. A reverend was found murdered on the way home from visiting a dying woman who before drawing out her last breath, revealed an important secret along with the list of names to the reverend. What is the secret...and what's with the names? Whatever it is, it is something the murderer doesn't want others to find out, however the list finally lands on Detective-Inspector Lejeune, who then starts an investigation by finding out about the names and looking for witnesses of the murder.

Everything about the case is happening close to Mark. One of the names on the list is his recently demised godmother, another name - he happens to saw the owner at a bar and later knew of her death from the obituaries, and another - Corrigan! Is it connected with his friend? The Pale Horse is mentioned by one of his dinnermates and then his cousin brought him to the place itself. There's the hushed stories of a business in removing unwanted rich relatives ... and it all leads to the Pale Horse and the intriguing characters around the village. Most of the names in the list are rich people who already dead but the cause of deaths are nothing but natural ailments. Mark is torn between his believe for real evidence and the influence of the black magic theory weaved by the Pale Horse occupants. With Lejeune and an acquaintance, he's determined to find the truth and solve the case before the last name on the list becomes a victim.

Title : The Pale Horse
Author : Agatha Christie
First published : 1961, Harper Collins, UK

Brilliant story. I know there must be some sort of physical evidence just I couldn't think of what it is until the end chapter. And I got my criminal wrong too! You can feel the dangerous risk Mark is going through in uncovering the murderous scheme because the character Mark is not a cool detective like Poirot or Miss Marple whom we already know their roles and who they are. He's just a normal person who wants to be certain of things. Love it!