Agatha Christie’s most captivating mystery may be one she didn’t even write. Her eleven day disappearance in 1926 remains a source of endless fascination, and Agatha and the Truth of Murder is the latest project to speculate on the brief gap in the author’s life. The movie suggests that she was simply off doing what she did best and took it upon herself to solve the murder of nurse Florence Nightingale Shore (Stacha Hicks), bludgeoned to death on a train, in order to take a break from troubles at home and at the writing desk.
We meet Christie (Ruth Bradley) at a low point. Facing an unwanted divorce, she finds her situation made more unbearable because of her husband’s (Liam McMahon) affair. She can’t fall back on her writing, which has grown stale and has drawn criticism from readers bored by the predictability of her plots. She seeks guidance from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Michael McElhatton), but he just offers bizarre advice about golf course design. Christie understandably is in no mood to entertain nurse Mabel Rogers (Pippa Haywood) when she comes calling about her friend’s murder six years earlier. The author ignores Mabel’s pleas at first and is reluctant to help on account of her not being an actual detective. However, when she realizes that Mabel and Florence are in fact partners, she sympathizes with Mabel’s feelings of loss and agrees to at least investigate the death.
Together they concoct an outlandish plan, one worthy of a Christie novel. The pair somehow commandeer Florence’s country estate and then invite the suspects, all of whom think they have been summoned to sort out an inheritance from a distant relative. These include cousin Randolph (Tim McInnerny), who stood to inherit the family’s trust upon her death, and Daphne Miller (Bebe Cave), a young nurse at risk of losing her career over a mistake that Florence spotted. Travis Pickford (Blake Harrison), a small time thief, and Zaki Hanachi (Luke Pierre), a loner whom Florence took pity on, also find themselves in the party along with Pamela Rose (Samantha Spiro), the woman Florence was visiting at the time of her death. To carry out the scheme, Christie takes on the identity of legal representative Miss Mary Westmacott while Mable disguises herself as a maid. The writer barely has time to corral and interrogate the suspects before things take an unexpected turn. One of the guests is murdered, throwing the proceedings into disarray and prompting the arrival of Detective Inspector Dicks (Ralph Ineson). With the whole scheme on the verge of collapse and hearing the news that her adventure has kicked off a massive search effort, Christie draws on all her creativity to solve both murders as quickly as possible.
Creativity, unfortunately, is in short supply when it comes to the story’s writing. What could have been a fascinating country house mystery is instead a disorganized shambles. From sloppy character introductions to ill-timed and erratic plot development, the movie does its best to throw off viewers, and not in a good way. It takes far too long to figure out who’s who amongst the suspects, and the unexpected arrival of Daphne’s dad, Wade (Dean Andrews), and Pamela’s son, Franklin (Joshua Silver), adds to that confusion. There’s at least one glaring inconsistency regarding witnesses, and it’s unclear whether or not Mabel is on the train when Florence is attacked. One could also question Christie’s detecting skills since she rushes to a conclusion about Florence’s murder after interviewing just one suspect, a move that even Mabel finds premature. The movie’s not without its exciting moments, but the spotty storytelling drags down the entire mystery. The story also lingers a little too long on the golf course business, cutting into time that could have been used to flesh out of the supporting characters. The film still leaves an emotional imprint, and the latter half draws on the tragedy that underlines many of the characters, but in the end, it’s a wasted chance to weave a truly Christie-esque mystery.
**Spoilers at end of post
Released: 2018
Dir: Terry Loane
Writer: Tom Dalton
Cast: Ruth Bradley, Pippa Haywood, Ralph Ineson, Tim McInnerny, Samantha Spiro, Bebe Cave, Dean Andrews, Luke Pierre, Blake Harrison, Joshua Silver, Liam McMahon, Michael McElhatton, Brian McCardie, Stacha Hicks, Derek Halligan, Clare McMahon, Seamus O’Hara
Time: 93 min
Lang: English
Country: United Kingdom
Network: Channel 5
Reviewed: 2021
** SPOILERS **
Spoilers: Pamela Rose planned and assisted in Florence’s murder, which was ultimately carried out by her son, Franklin, because she was angry that Florence had saved the man who killed her other son, James. Florence had also tended to James, and so Pamela invited the nurse under the pretense of thanking her for her care. In fact, Mrs. Rose was on the train, keeping watch and ensuring that Franklin would be alone in the compartment with Florence.
Agatha solves the case after looking through Florence’s diaries again. She finds a reference to Captain Dieter Keller, who killed James, and also concludes that the Roses were the only suspects who knew Florence’s train schedule. She and DI Dicks conspire to force a confession out of mother and son. Agatha asks Pamela and Franklin to check in on an emotional Daphne but instead corners them in Ms. Miller’s room where she confronts Franklin about his role in the murder. He gives a cold, detailed account of the crime and expresses no remorse. Dicks enters, having overheard the conversation through the thin walls, which are how the Roses came to know that Daphne murdered her abusive father. They blackmailed the young woman into framing Mabel for their own crime. Pamela, under threat of arrest, says that the police have no physical evidence tying her or her son to Florence’s murder, prompting Dicks to declare that she’s being arrested for Wade Miller’s murder. The rest of the guests come forward with statements implicating the two, showing that everyone is willing to lie to ensure that the Roses are held accountable one way or another.
Randolph admits that he was wrong about Mabel and even wants to have tea with her while she acknowledges that she needs to find a way to live without Florence. Agatha, upon hearing that the army will be soon join in the search for her, returns home, her disappearance explained with the help of Dicks. She agrees to a divorce and is seen finishing the manuscript for Death on the Nile.
Fits of Fury 