Hercule Poirot and his good friend Captain Hastings are holidaying at a resort in Deauville, France. A wealthy local businessman, Paul Renauld, approaches Poirot and tells him he believes his life is in danger from Chileans who are trying to defraud him. That night Renauld's wife is found tied up in their home, with Mr Renauld feared abducted. The next day Renauld is found stabbed to death on the golf course of the resort. While suspicion immediately falls on the nameless, faceless Chileans, Mr Renauld's stepson also had a motive, and had threatened to kill his stepfather. However, some of the neighbours and other parties have connections with the Renauld family that make things decidedly more complex. Poirot investigates but is hamstrung by a bullying egomaniac from the French Police, Monsieur Giraud. Giraud is no fan of Poirot and believes he is a better detective than Poirot and they take a bet on who will solve the case first. Meanwhile, Hastings falls in love.
Interesting, with some good twists and a nice romantic touch. Some of the connections are obvious and some of the big reveals can be seen a distance away. However, there is still more than enough mystery and detail that you won't figure out to make this quite intriguing.
The introduction of Giraud was an interesting change, as the police are normally in awe of Poirot and try to help him in any way. Giraud being so anti-Poirot and clearly stymieing his efforts makes for an original and refreshing change of pace.
The Hastings romance was also interesting and welcome. Hasting was always the romantic fool in the Poirot movies, often putting sentimentality and his feelings for a woman ahead of rationality and the thought that they could be involved in the murder. Here the romantic side gets dialed up a notch, and it is good to see.