Poirot "The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor" #3.6 (1991) (TV)

"One hundred and twenty-five miles, Hastings, we come on a wild gooseberry hunt.", 3 July 2015

Poirot and Hastings are summoned by a man who says he needs help with a murder. Poirot is outraged when he discovers there is no real crime, only a writer trying to finish a mystery novel. But before Poirot and Hastings can catch the train, an unusual death does occur in the small village. At first, the death appears to be the result of natural causes. But Poirot notices things that don't seem natural and begins investigating a murder.

What a nice episode! I know that I've read the short story on which The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor is based, but fortunately, I couldn't remember anything about it. I say fortunately because I was treated to a lovely mystery with red herrings, ingenious clues, supernatural elements, and possible insanity. And when Poirot makes the final reveal, I was guessing wrong the whole time. Very well done. Sure, there is a cheat or two in the clues, but nothing that ruined things. The acting is good. The highlight for me has to be Geraldine Alexander - a very fine performance. I often talk about period details in these little reviews and you won't find an episode better than this one. The livestock market in the town square was a nice touch. Marsdon Manor is beautifully filmed, both inside and out. And the bits of comedy in The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor are often very funny. I really got a kick out of Poirot's reaction to being tricked into making a journey to solve a murder under false pretenses. Overall, this one easily deserves an 8/10.

8/10