Agatha Christie The Unexpected Guest Book Summary

SPOILER WARNING

This review of The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie has spoilers. For non spoiler review visit my blog http://nishprit24.blogspot.com/2025/02/book-review-unexpected-guest-agatha.html

The Unexpected Guest is a classic Agatha Christie novel and a perfect example of a ‘whodunit.’ The story begins with Mr. Starkwedder, whose car gets stuck in a ditch. Seeking help at a nearby house, he is shocked to find Mr. Richard Warwick dead in his wheelchair, shot in the head, and his wife, Laura, standing beside him, holding the gun. But, as with all Christie novels, things are not as simple as they seem.

Instead of informing the police, Starkwedder decides to help Laura navigate the situation. Two years earlier, Richard had run over a child with his car but was acquitted due to strong evidence provided by a witness named Warby, who testified that Richard was within the speed limit and the accident was unavoidable. However, the child’s father, McGregor, was devastated and vowed revenge. To protect Laura, Starkwedder helps her stage the scene to make it appear as though McGregor was the killer.

As the investigation unfolds, the police discover that McGregor died shortly after his son’s death in Canada, casting suspicion on everyone in the house—including the unexpected guest, Starkwedder. Tensions rise as it becomes clear that everyone is hiding something.

Just when the situation seems most dire, Benny, a housemaid, turns the tables. She provokes young Jan, Richard’s stepson, into admitting that he killed Richard because Richard had threatened to send him to a boarding institution. Jan, driven by false pride, confesses to the crime. The police, listening behind the door, rush in, leading to a chaotic struggle. In the commotion, Sergeant Cadwallader is shot in the arm, and Jan accidentally shoots himself in the heart, dying instantly.

With Jan’s death, the suspense appears to be over. Laura blames herself for the tragedy, believing that if she had allowed Richard to send Jan away, none of this would have happened. However, just when it seems the mystery is solved, Christie delivers her signature twist.

Starkwedder reveals that Jan may not have been the killer after all. He suggests that McGregor could have faked his own death, assumed a new identity (Starkwedder’s), and come to the house to kill Richard. However, his car got stuck in the ditch, forcing him to seek help at the very house where his intended victim lived. Starkwedder then confesses his love for Laura and departs, leaving the truth forever ambiguous