"Sparkling Cyanide" by Agatha Christie. The book is published by Harper in 1992 and is 226 pages long. This is neither a Hercule Poirot mystery nor a Miss Marple mystery. The detective is Colonel Race, a rarity. A classic whodunit.
Rosemary, a rich and extremely beautiful heiress, who received all her money from her godfather, dies after drinking glass of sparkling wine laced with cyanide after a toast during a party in a restaurant. She was married to a man older than her (George) and had extra marital affairs. Police term her death as a suicide.
There are a number of suspects. Ruth Lessing (Agatha's pun does not go unnoticed) secretary of George, who secretly wants to marry George. Antony Brown, Rosemary's lover who has done jail and whose past is now reveled. Steven Faraday, a politician and Rosemary's lover who is annoyed that she wants him to divorce his wife, forgo his career and marry her. Alexandra (Sandra) Faraday, Steven's wife, who knew about the affair. George Barton, Rosemary's husband, who knew and accepted her love affairs. Iris, Rosemary's younger sister who will inherit her fortune when she turns 21?
George gets letters indicating that Rosemary did not commit suicide but was murdered. Instead of going to police George devices a trap and invites Colonel Race to investigate. Everything appears to be set when there is another murder exactly in the same fashion. Now police come into the picture and Inspector Kemp starts investigations with Colonel Race.
Were these murders? Or were they suicides? Who was the second victim? Can the investigators succeed in pinning down the murderer? Whodunit?
It was interesting to read Agatha mystery without Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple. It's a classic case where everyone seems to have a motive but no one seems to be the murderer. The story is laid decently, though not spectacularly, as usual.
The murderer is not the least suspected in this story but the most suspected for a change.
An OK read. Read if you have time.
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