Agatha Christie's Poirot: Murder in Mesopotamia

June 1, 2022 5:15 PM - Season 8, Episode 2

Poirot and his old friend Captain Hastings arrive at the headquarters of an archaeological dig in Mesopotamia where an Arab worker has recently been found strangled. Soon, a renowned archaeologist's wife is also found murdered and all those working on the dig are under suspicion.
posted by Carillon (5 comments total)

All-in-all very classic. The motive for the murder is super crazy, but sadly not something that I'd disbelieve given the world. It's a solid attempt though, and pretty clever? Drinking hydrochloric acid though, what a terrible way to go. I haven't been around it much but I'm not sure it wouldn't be noticed as not water? Maybe it passes muster as it's dark, and she's sleepy, but still.
posted by Carillon at 5:17 PM on June 1, 2022 [1 favorite]

It smells though. I seem to remember that from chemistry class. That could have been finessed by a few lines about having a cold.

I thought this was a fairly lifeless production and the murder of the wife, though clever, was poorly staged. I mean, her body is in full view of the door. The murderer did not have time to rearrange things before “discovering” it. Even more incredible is that the woman didn’t realize she was remarrying her supposedly dead first husband. That’s on Agatha Christie though. (I guess, I didn’t read the book)
posted by TWinbrook8 at 10:00 AM on June 2, 2022

Yeah apparently quite faithful. But it was what, 15 years later?
posted by Carillon at 9:39 PM on June 2, 2022

Seeings that recently a guy that I have no memory of recognized me from working in the same building 20 years and several pounds ago, newp, not buying it. With only a beard as a disguise? The vengeful brother theory would have worked if provided with sufficient motivation.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:08 AM on June 3, 2022

Seeings that recently a guy that I have no memory of recognized me from working in the same building 20 years and several pounds ago, newp, not buying it.

It happened to me all the time prepandemic when I went out to events like Folklife or street fairs. Or just to QFC. There's nothing like being reminded of past inane antics forgotten not long enough. On the other hand to be greeted fondly by the last person from whom one would expect such is a sweet hit. But in the latter days of masks and isolation, these happen not as much. But now and then, still.
posted by y2karl at 4:54 PM on June 8, 2022