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The ominously named End House is the setting for deadly deception in this feature-length adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel. As so often happens, supersleuth Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) is charmed by a woman--in this case, Magdala "Nick" Buckley (Polly Walker, who later starred in Enchanted April and Restoration). Nick jokingly mentions three recent close calls with death, piquing Poirot's investigative instincts. A murder does occur; however, the murderer isn't the only criminal in this multilayered mystery. The path to the truth takes several unexpected twists before reaching its conclusion. In fact, this is one case Poirot's little gray cells may not have solved but for the help of his assistants. Although Poirot teases Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) about his crime-solving abilities, it is Hastings's childish word-association game that provides the crucial piece to the puzzle. And Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran), who in previous episodes has resorted to tarot cards and hypnotism to aid her employer, holds an impromptu séance during the final scene. A highly enjoyable (if somewhat improbable) addition to the Agatha Christie's Poirot series.

The DVD transfer has excellent picture and sound quality. Special features include an interactive trivia game, biographies of David Suchet and Agatha Christie, and a link to the official Agatha Christie Web site. --Larisa Lomacky Moore

From the Back Cover

Sleuth Superbe! Murder and a missing flying ace attract the attention of Agatha Christie's detective extraordinaire in this elegant installment from the classic hit series shown on PBS' Mystery! and A&E. While on holiday in Cornwall, Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) suffers a fall and stumbles onto more than just a turned ankle when he encounters the pretty Nick Buckley, an accident-prone heiress of a local estate and the survivor of several near-fatal mishaps. Poirot suspects more than mere chance is behind these events when strange connections surface between distant relatives, an absent pilot and a local gang of friends. Also starring Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon. DVD SPECIAL FEATURES AND EXTRAS INCLUDE interactive menus, scene index, biographies of Agatha Christie and David Suchet, Poirot trivia, cast filmographies and Agatha Christie materials.