REVIEW: Dumb Witness

 Dumb Witness
Author: Agatha Christie

Dumb Witness was first published in serial format in the Saturday Evening Post in 1936 and Women's Pictoral Magazine (abridged) in 1937. It came out in book form in both the US and UK in 1937. 

This book and Poirot's final appearance, Curtain, are the last appearances of the character Captain Hastings as a narrator. 

During my research before reading the book, I discovered something interesting about this story! It is actually based on an unpublished short story that was lost for a very long time. The story, The Incident of the Dog's Ball, was supposedly found by a family member in a trunk filled with some of Agatha's personal effects in 2004. It was first published in 2009 in Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks by John Curran and in The Strand Magazine! Now I have to go searching for the original story so I can read it! [I checked my bookshelves, and I have a copy of Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making. I will read the full novel first, then circle back to read the short story which is in the back of this book in the Appendix along with another short story! I don't plan to read Secret Notebooks until I'm done reading all of the books/stories first. Then I will delve into the autobiography, The Grand Tour and Secret Notebooks, etc.]

I have an old paperback copy of this book from 1984 on my shelf that I'm going to read while listening to an audio book version (HarperAudio, 2012). The audio book is narrated by Hugh Fraser. I enjoy his narration of Poirot stories, so happily enjoyed his performance. The audio is just a bit over 7 hours long. Fraser does an excellent job of voice acting, as usual. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It is very very much Christie-esque. Poirot is called in to investigate a situation, arrives too late to save his client but is on the case anyway, and systematically picks through the BS to solve the case. I loved Bob the Dog. Every time he was in a scene and bump-bump-bumping his ball down the stairs I really wished that I could be there at the bottom of that staircase to toss his ball for him to catch! Incidentally, the book is dedicated to Agatha Christie's own wire haired terrier, Peter. I think that's why Bob is written with so much love and kindness in the words. 

Here is a picture of Christie with her beloved terrier: 

Isn't he cute? I looked up the dog while I was reading the book, so definitely saw Peter in my head as I enjoyed Bob's antics [Don't tell my Chiweenie GusGus....he might feel jealous!]

I read a review by a reader who took offense at Christie's use of the word "Dumb" to refer to a dog. She isn't talking about the dog's intelligence, but referring to the fact that he can't speak and give evidence about the killer. He factors into Poirot's investigation, but the clues have to be sorted out by Poirot's little grey cells as a key witness can't talk. Bob is a very smart and good boy....but I would imagine Poirot wished he could interview him like the suspects!! 

I did not guess the killer's identity in advance on this one. I sort of had the person in my mind as Agatha started dropped hints in the last 1/3 of the book....but I still wasn't completely sure. The reveal was very enjoyable and tied up all the loose ends. 

The Incident of the Dog's Ball: Definitely a shorter version of the basic plot of Dumb Witness with some plot differences. Very interesting to see how Agatha fleshed the story out into novel length. So glad I got to read it! 

There are several adaptations of this book. The television series Poirot did an episode (Season 6, Episode 4). A french television show also made an episode in 2013. BBC Radio 4 made an audio drama adaptation in 2006. And, a graphic novel was published by HarperCollins in 2009. 

I could not find a copy of the graphic novel. I did my best. Never even found an example of the art. I will keep looking and add information to this review if I ever manage to find a copy to read. I don't speak French so didn't even try to find the French television episode. I have seen reviews in a couple places that state the show did a very good job with its adaptations, so it's worth looking for, if readers are interested. 

The Poirot episode and the BBC audio drama I do have access to. So I enjoyed both! 

    BBC Radio 4 Audio Drama: The audio play is just shy of 1.5 hours long. So far I've listened to several of these radio plays based on Agatha's books, and each one has been very well produced and entertaining to listen to. This one was enjoyable as well! 

    Poirot Episode: Well, the first thing I need to say is that Bob in the episode is incredibly cute! And, he was in the story more than in the book. Fully in favor of more Bob! [The doggie actor's name was Snubby.] There were some fundamental changes in the plot -- how Poirot became involved is completely different than in the novel, the ending is altered, as well as several other plot points and character backgrounds and development are changed. I don't think any of these plot changes were necessary....and I think actually hurt the episode rather than helped it.  There are some minor changes (like adding in speed boats/a water speed record attempt to add some excitement, the setting is different, and Bob's new home at the end of the story is altered) that I really didn't care about. But fundamentally messing with Agatha's plot? Never necessary. Ick.

This is one story of Agatha's that I wish had a movie length film! I would love to watch the investigation unfold exactly like in the book with a cute fuzzy dog-actor playing Bob! But, all in all, this isn't one of my favorite Christie books. Entertaining read and I did like the story (and Bob!), but Poirot makes a decision at the end of the book that seems a bit odd. The Poirot episode changed the ending and left this bit out. The unpublished short story and the novel both have this plot point. I'm not sure Poirot would have taken justice into his own hands in such a fashion as I think he would have known what the outcome of his action was going to be. Just seemed like it verges on immoral, maybe?