Published in 1938, this is a great example of Poirot at work. A wealthy man invites his family to his home for Christmas, and proceeds to stir things up by letting them think he is on the verge of changing his will. He remains in his room while the rest of the family has a Christmas Eve dinner, when they hear furniture tipping over and then a horrible scream, and it appears to be coming from their father's room.
They all rush to the room, and find the door is locked. After breaking the door down, they discover their father's body, with his throat slit, and blood all over. There is no one else in the room, the windows are locked, and the door had been locked. Luckily, a police inspector had been ringing the bell just as the incident happened, and he immediately took over.
Poirot is asked to help with the investigation, and solves the murder. He discovers several secrets among the suspects, and at the end comes up with the perpetrator. I didn't figure out who it was until quite a way into the book, and wasn't sure how it was done until the end.
Really enjoyed this story, but then I've been a Poirot fan since I was a teen.
This is part of my 2014 Vintage Mystery BINGO Challenge--Golden--G--Locked Room.
It is also part of my 2014 Read It Again, Sam Challenge.
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