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Review
A wonderful little tranche-de-vie, a pleasant but otherwise unremarkable day in the combined households of Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings. There is a minor playful mystery to solve, but the real focus of the game is Hastings’ and Poirot’s relationship, their shared history, and the warmth and subdued tenderness they feel for each other.
The Little Four truly excels in its use of scenery descriptions as a means to convey background and delve into the characters’ personalities. Many moving memories and small anecdotes are revealed in this manner. The contrast between the content and Hastings’ British matter-of-factly narrative tone, which stout-heartedly tries but fails to cover the deeply felt fondness for his children and his friend, and the heartbreaking sorrow over the untimely death of his dear “Cinderella”.
I was expecting a bit more interaction with Hastings’ son Thomas, since solving the mystery is set up as a shared challenge for the both of them. Nevertheless, I was pleased with all the minor NPCs’ characterisation in a few well-chosen sentences.
Poirot himself is clearly identified, his tics and idiosyncracies emphasised without becoming clownesque, always with the utmost respect for the maître of zee little grey cells.
A beautiful little exploration of two men’s loyal friendship.
