HOME READING REPORT

I. Title: Third Girl (A Hercule Poirot Mystery)

II. Author: Agatha Christie
III. Classification/Genre: Mystery, Fiction
IV. Point of View: Third Person Omniscient
V. Setting: London, 1960s
VI. Characters:
a. Hercule Poirot – the detective
b. Ariadne Olivers – the detective story writer
c. Norma Restarick – the “third girl”
d. Claudia Reece-Holland – the “first girl”, the owner of the apartment, a secretary
to Norma Restarick’s father
e. Frances Cary – the “second girl”
f. David Baker – the boyfriend of Norma Restarick
g. Andrew Restarick – the father of Norma Restarick
h. Mary Restarick – the stepmother
i. Sir Roderick – the uncle
j. Sonya – the au pair girl
k. Mr. Goby – the informant
l. George – Poirot’s well-trained servant, butler
VII. Plot:
Chapter 1
Hercule Poirot was sitting at the breakfast table…
The story starts with Hercule Poirot enjoying his relaxation time and is now looking
for other things to do when a young lady walks in seeking help because she thinks she
may or may not commit murder. However, when she saw Poirot, she said that he is
too old and rushes out immediately leaving Poirot upset and annoyed.
Chapter 2
The telephone rang…
Ariadne Oliver, a well-known detective story writer called and invited Poirot to an
annual dinner. Poirot shares his upset feelings about being told “old” and Mrs. Oliver
inviting her to tea. Before going to tea, Poirot called Mr. Goby to gather some
information about the mysterious girl that left him upset. Then, that afternoon he went
to Mrs. Oliver for tea. They talked about a lot of things and about the girl when Mrs.
Oliver realized she was the one who sent the girl to Poirot. She said that the girl’s
name was Norma Restarick. Later, she explained the events and details on why she
knows the girl, about the girl, and its family.
Chapter 3
Mrs. Oliver drove into the inner court of Borodene Mansions…
Ariadne Oliver does her investigation to help Poirot and visits the London flat where
Norma lives. Norma wasn’t there. Only Claudia Reece-Holland and Frances Cary
were there.
 Chapter 4
Hercule Poirot walked along the main street of Long Basing…
Hercule Poirot also does his investigation and visits the house in the country.
VIII. Theme:
Understanding oneself
IX. Vocabulary:
(check the planner)
X. Lessons/Messages:
Don’t go meddling to other people’s business
XI. Quotes:
Chapter 1
 “And now? He had had a pleasant interlude of relaxation, very necessary after
his intellectual labor. But one could not relax forever, one had to go on to the
next thing. Unfortunately, he had no idea what the next thing might be. Some
further literary accomplishment? He thought nor. Do a thing well then leave it
alone. That was his maxim. The truth of the matter was, he was bored.”
Chapter 2
 “Murder desired … but not yet committed.”
Chapter 5
 “Where there is murder, anything can happen. I tell that to you, I, Poirot.”
Chapter 7
 “She saw stretching before her a day with nothing to do. Having packed off
her completed manuscript with a highly virtuous feeling, work was over. She
had now only, as many times before, to relax, to enjoy herself; to lie fallow
until the creative urge became active once more.
Chapter 8
 “That is most interesting. There are many different names for these things.
Very grand names … But when you say crazy, that describes very well what
the general appearance may be to ordinary, everyday people. Eh bien, then,
you are crazy, or you appear crazy or you think you are crazy, and possibly
you may be crazy. But all the same that is not to say the condition is serious. It
is a thing that people suffer a good deal and it is usually easily cured with the
proper treatment. It comes about because people have had too much mental
strain, too much worry, have studied too much for examinations, have dwelled
too much perhaps on their emotions, have too much religion or have a
lamentable lack of religion, or have good reasons for hating their fathers or
their mothers! Or, of course, it can be as simple as having an unfortunate love
affair.”
 “People change.” “But ought people to change so much?”
 “People are never like what you remember them. You make them, as the year
go by, more and more the way you wish them to be, and as you think you
remember them.”
Chapter 9
  “Well, really, the only thing was to try it out myself – because until you try
things out yourself you can’t really tell what it’s like.”
Chapter 10
 “Love can turn to hate.” “Sounds like a melodramatic ballad. But remember
hate can turn to love, too. It works both ways.”