I’m pretty sure that I’ve read “Three Blind Mice” before. I couldn’t remember any of the details but it just felt familiar, and I wasn’t surprised by the ending.

A blinding snowstorm was not an auspicious beginning, but Molly and Giles Davis were determined to make a go of their new guest house, but among their first guests at Monkswell Manor was a murderer. The man, or woman, had already killed one “blind mouse” and is planning on catching number two and three.

Christie does an excellent job of making the atmosphere menacing. You can understand why the character’s jump at every little noise, why they each suspect each other. She makes all of the people in the Manor plausible suspects,and interesting characters. It’s interesting to see how they each become more and more scared, more suspicious of the others, but at the same time some enjoy the mystery, the tension, the excitement. It’s a departure from the ordinary. The twist at the end is excellent, and I won’t say anymore than that.

“Three Blind Mice” is longer than an average short story, about 70 pages. Christie also transformed the story into a play, “The Mousetrap” which opened in London in 1952 and has been running continuously since then, making it the longest running show of the modern era.

You can purchase Three Blind Mice and Other Stories at Amazon or an Indie bookstore.

First published 1950

5 out of 5 stars

John hosts Short Story Monday at The Book Mine Set. Head over there to see what he and others have been reading.

I borrowed my copy from the library and the above is my honest opinion.

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