This month’s theme for the Read Christie challenge is ‘medical professionals’ and One, Two, Buckle My Shoe is the perfect choice as it begins with the murder – or could it be suicide? – of a dentist. His name is Mr Morley of Queen Charlotte Street, London, and our old friend Hercule Poirot just happens to be attending an appointment on the day of Morley’s death. It seems that Poirot has a fear of visiting the dentist, but despite being nervous and preoccupied he still has his powers of observation and notices a young man in the waiting room who ‘looks like a murderer’. Learning of Mr Morley’s death later that day, however, it seems that the young man is not the only suspect. All of the patients who attended appointments in the hours before the body was discovered are under suspicion, along with the dentist’s family and servants.
Poirot works with Chief Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard in the early stages of the investigation, but when Japp uncovers information to suggest that Morley’s death was a suicide, Poirot is not satisfied. Too many things don’t make sense. Why, for example, did Morley’s secretary receive a fake telegram summoning her to an aunt in Somerset, ensuring that she would be absent from work on the day of the death? Poirot decides to continue investigating on his own, but it’s only when he begins to question whether he’s fallen into a trap that he is able to solve the mystery.
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe was published in 1940 and was the final Poirot novel to feature Inspector Japp. I do like the books where Poirot has someone else to work with and discuss some of his theories with, whether that’s Japp or (preferably) Captain Hastings. It’s also one of several Christie novels with titles based on nursery rhymes (Hickory Dickory Dock, Five Little Pigs and A Pocket Full of Rye are some of the others). Christie uses lines from the One, Two, Buckle My Shoe rhyme as the chapter titles and each line has some relevance to the events of the story – for example, in the first chapter we see a buckle fall off a woman’s shoe as she steps out of a car, although we won’t understand the significance of that until much later.
Published during the war, there are strong themes of political and financial instability and people with different views of how the world should move forward. One of the suspects, Alistair Blunt, is a prominent banker; another, Howard Raikes, is a political activist from America; and a third, Mr Barnes, worked for the Secret Service. However, this is only one part of the story and the book never becomes excessively concerned with politics. There are other suspects and other clues and motives as well and although I couldn’t solve the mystery myself, I enjoyed seeing Poirot explain it all in the denouement!
The Read Christie theme for September is ‘religious figures’ and the recommended title is At Bertram’s Hotel, which I’ve read relatively recently. I’ll wait to see what other options they suggest before deciding if I’ll take part.
Book 19/20 for 20 Books of Summer 2025.
She Reads Novels 
Hello Helen, I am pleased to hear you enjoyed this Poirot mystery. 🔍 I have not read it myself… I really need to read more Christie and/or Poirot! I hope you are able to find an alternative novel for next month’s theme. 🤞
Blessings, Jessica 💌
Thanks, Jessica. I love the Poirot mysteries and this is another good one. I hope you’re able to read some more Christie/Poirot books soon.
I really enjoyed this one and loved Poirot’s thoughts on the people around him.
Yes, it’s a really good one. I’m glad you enjoyed it as well.
I like the nursery-themed books by Christie. This one sounds good.
Yes, I enjoyed it. The rhyme element was fun.
After the tv series we just assume that Hastings and Japp (and Miss Lemon) are always around but it’s surprising how often they’re missing; this sounds a good one (of course!) and I do like Japp!
Yes, we see very little of them compared to the TV versions! I like Japp too and wish he had been in more of the books.
I don’t think I’ve watched the David Suchet episode that adapts this title, as none of the details ring any bells. It’s nearly time though for me to pick up another Christie, but I rather fancy The Pale Horse this time.
I can’t remember seeing an adaptation of this one either, so the plot was new to me. I hope you like The Pale Horse – I found it very atmospheric.
I’m hoping so too, Helen, if only to wipe out my memory of the dreadful BBC adaptation of it a few years back (despite the presence of Rufus Sewell); I see it’s still available on iPlayer…
That adaptation was nothing like the book. I gave up after the first episode.
I still need to try something Christie although I have seen the new Poirot films at least. I think the way that the nursery lines are incorporated into the story sounds interesting. I can also see how Poirot having someone to discuss ideas with could be a helpful feature too.
Christie is one of my favourite authors, so if you haven’t tried her yet I think you have lots of great books ahead of you! Poirot is a good place to start, but I also love the Miss Marple series and her standalones.
I’ve got a feeling you recommended The Pale Horse to me as a good potential starting place based on some of the books I’d enjoyed. I think there was one other too but I stupidly managed to lose the phone note that had that – and some other titles – I’d jotted down to add to my priority list 🙈 I’m glad I remember at least one of the names though.
I still need to read this one. But I do love Poirot. 😀
I love Poirot too! This is a really good one.