Written by Agatha Christie
SUMMARY:
First published in 1944, sporadic re-releases include this large-print, 316-page 1988 G.K. Hall & Co. paperback edition.
Set in England during 1943-44, a series of seemingly unrelated and ordinary events unfold across several months. In September 1944, the participants subsequently converge at Lady Camilla Tressilian’s posh estate, Gull’s Point, at Saltcreek. Among the scenes depicted are:
- Retired criminal defense attorney Mr. Treves contemplates his ‘zero hour’ concept of crime (i.e. homicide) where a collection of individuals (the culprit, the victim, and possible witnesses) will inexplicably converge upon the same place at the same time.
- After his botched suicide attempt, a despondent Andrew MacWhirter resentfully endures further indignity during his recuperation in a British hospital.
- An unknown psychopath sets out sinister plans for a date later that year in September.
- Scotland Yard’s Superintendent Battle ‘rescues’ his teenage daughter, Sylvia, from a private boarding school after she falsely confesses to a series of petty thefts.
- Pro tennis player Nevile Strange tries coaxing his much-younger current wife, Kay, into establishing a friendship with his ex-spouse, Audrey. Hence, he suggests that they holiday together that fall at his stepmother’s riverside estate, Gull’s Point.
- The elderly Lady Tressilian is hostile towards Nevile’s (her late husband’s ward) likely self-serving intentions.
Assembled that fall at Saltcreek are: Nevile and Kay Strange; Audrey Strange; Ted Latimer (Kay’s friend); Thomas Royde (Audrey’s cousin); and trusted family friend Mr. Treves, as proximity intermingles their vacations. Lady Tressilian and her distant cousin/live-in companion, Mary Aldin, invite these guests for dinner a September night at Gull’s Point. Jealousy and simmering old wounds reopen amongst them, as one person inexplicably dies before the next morning.
Far more shocking is a second death where the victim is brutally murdered in a locked-room mystery. Soon called upon is Superintendent Battle, who is presently visiting his nephew: Saltcreek’s Inspector James Leach. In their criminal probe, Battle and Leach recognize that the crime scene implicates Nevile Strange. Yet, resolution isn’t so easy, as Battle suspects that someone is cleverly framing Nevile.
Once the preponderance of evidence shifts again, Battle must initiate his own decisive endgame to ensure justice prevails.
Notes: This title is Superintendent Battle’s fifth and final appearance in Christie’s works (though Poirot later mentions him). Battle had previously appeared in 1925’s The Secret of Chimneys; its 1929 spin-off sequel, The Seven Dials Mystery; 1936’s Cards On The Table team-up with Poirot, Ariadne Oliver, and Colonel Race; and a cameo in 1939’s Murder Is Easy (aka Easy To Kill).
As far as Towards Zero’s recent TV adaptations go, there is a same-named 2007 TV episode of Agatha Christie’s Marple where Battle is replaced by a generic Superintendent. A loose French interpretation is a 2019 TV episode from Les Petits Meurtres d’Agatha Christie (aka The Little Murders of Agatha Christie / Agatha Christie’s Criminal Games).
At this time, a new BBC TV mini-series is in production. The casting of Battle (or another surrogate) hasn’t been disclosed; given the announced cast, the actor is most likely Matthew Rhys. Interestingly, still another Battle is in progress. Currently, Netflix is filming a mini-series adaptation of The Seven Dials Mystery. Sherlock’s Martin Freeman reportedly has been cast as Battle – a rare instance of the character appearing on screen.
REVIEW:
Considering this novel’s 80th Anniversary, one at least gets a decent read. Yet, as to why Towards Zero frankly rates among Agatha Christie’s middling works, there are multiple reasons:
- The potential for intriguing plot threads is undermined by a relatively bland whodunnit bearing too few actual surprises.
- Towards Zero’s gimmickry suggests a Hercule Poirot-style mystery. As Christie fans know, Superintendent Battle’s low-key presence falls far short of her legendary Belgian sleuth’s star power. More so, even substituting Poirot in for Battle can’t make the culprit’s devious methodology any less implausible.
- Aside from a mostly dull Battle, the novel lacks memorable characters to make one sufficiently care about the mystery’s climax – let alone the fates of various players.
- In reference to the above reasons, late plot contrivances will leave readers’ eyes rolling, regardless of generation.
If anything, various plot elements (i.e. how Daniel Craig’s flamboyant sleuth, Benoit Blanc, comes off like an amalgam of Battle and Poirot), makes Towards Zero perhaps the closest Christie work resembling Rian Johnson’s 2019 Knives Out film.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
A table of contents is included. The 18-point Plantin font, as expected, is easily readable.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5 Stars
