This was turning out to be one of my favorites during my read-through of the Poirot novels--until I got to the last chapter! Wow, what a horrendous denouement. The mystery itself is terrific, hence my four star rating. But it's impossible to recommend the book to anyone after that. A perfectly good novel ruined by a horribly misguided (and completely unnecessary to boot!) "romantic" development. Laughably awful. ( )

Agatha Christie loves to deal with mistaken identities like Shakespeare did in so many of his plays. With Taken at the Flood, we have two young lovers posing as brother and sister to receive an huge inheritance. The imposter, Rosaleen Cloade, presents herself as the young widow of Gordon Cloade. Gordon and a few other individuals died in a bombing raid in London. The real Rosaleen actually died with her new husband, and her maid took her identity to claim the inheritance. The Cloade family depended on Gordon for financial support and with Rosaleen alive, their money has evaporated. Enter Hercule Poirot to find a solution. The plot thickens deliciously. Agatha Christie never fails to entertain the reader with her twists and turns, and of course, Hercule Poirot and his self importance reign royally. ( )

I was somewhat amazed to find a Hercule Poirot book that I had never read before! Pleasantly convoluted with plenty of surprises in the final exposition by Poirot. ( )

The relatives of a very wealthy man who was killed in the Blitz shortly after marrying a widow and before he had a chance to make a new will start to wonder if his wife's first husband really did die.

I did recognise a clue but not its significance, just thought I hadn't been paying enough attention earlier. ( )

Another banger from the Dame. Multiple deaths, lots of suspects, and a sort of double love triangle. Excellent stuff. ( )