The Missing Will

by Agatha Christie

Hercule Poirot is approached by Violet Marsh, a self-assured 'New Woman' whose late uncle, Andrew Marsh, has left a provocative will. Andrew, a wealthy self-made man who opposed Violet's pursuit of higher education, decreed that she may only inherit his fortune if she can prove her superior wits within one year; otherwise, the estate goes to charity. Poirot and Captain Hastings travel to Crabtree Manor to uncover a hidden second will that would secure Violet's inheritance. The investigation leads them through secret compartments and red herrings designed by the uncle to test a logical mind. After an initial failure in Devonshire, Poirot realizes he has been outmaneuvered by a simple ruse involving invisible ink. The story concludes with Poirot successfully locating the true will, validating both his own genius and Violet's wisdom in hiring an expert. The tone is intellectual, lighthearted, and competitive, framed as a battle of wits between the living and the dead.