Death in the Clouds: “The September sun beat down hotly on Le Bourget aerodrome as the passengers crossed the ground and climbed into the air liner Prometheus, due to depart for Croydon in a few minutes’ time.”

Also Published as:  Death in the Air

Detective: Hercule Poirot

Published:  March 1935

Length:  253 pages

Setting:  London, Paris

Hercule Poirot is a passenger on a flight from Paris to Croydon Airpot in London when a murder is committed.  The woman, Madame Giselle a French moneylender, had been dead for awhile, as the steward assumed that she was simply sleeping.  Who, of the eleven passengers and crew, is the murderer?  The mystery writer, Daniel Clancy; Cicely countess of Horbury, James Ryder, businessman; Doctor Bryant; Norman Gale, dentist; Armaud Dupont and his son Jean, both of whom are archaeologists; the Honorable Venetia Kerr; or Jane Grey. Although a wasp was heard and speculation is that she died from a wasp sting, Poirot finds a dart by the dead woman, and is incensed when the blowpipe turns up right next to his seat.  Vowing to expose the murderer, he sets to work.

Giant Wasp at Heaton Park ~ source Wikimedia Commons

Assisted by Jane Grey, Poirot finds out some interesting information with regard to some of the passengers which make them possible suspects, although it is acertained that only Clancy and the stewards passed the victim during the flight. Employing the help of Inspector Japp in London and Inspector Fournier in Paris, Poirot pursues leads in both places and finds that Giselle had a daughter who had recently married.  When she turns up dead as well, the case becomes even more confusing.

Airplane on the Runway (1992) Holosiy
~ source Wikiart

Poirot outdoes himself with this convoluted mystery, using powers of deduction that are not only unique but very effective.  Once again, the murderer is found and everyone is stupefied at the magic brain of our Belgian detective.

By confining this crime to an airplane, Christie challenged herself and the resulting mystery was very entertaining indeed.  She also made the writer, Mr. Clancy rather absurd, and he is very well portrayed in the A&E series movie, starring David Suchet as Hercule Poirot.  It’s definitely worth a watch!

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