Michael Rogers is a drifter, working odd jobs here and there with no specific goal or purpose, until he chances upon Gipsy’s Acre, a beautiful plot of land with stunning views. He envisions owning that, and building a perfect dream house designed by his architect friend Santonix.
As narrated by Rogers, he meets a wealthy heiress, Ellie, near Gipsy’s Acre. After a whirlwind courtship and wedding, Ellie reveals she has purchased Gipsy’s Acre, and the couple charge Santonix with building their dream abode. Ellie is warned by a cranky old lady that no good comes of anyone owning Gipsy’s Acre, but she ignores the warning at Rogers’ encouragement.
Their house is ready soon enough, and Ellie brings in her chaperone and companian, a German lady called Greta Anderson to live with them as she recuperates from an injury. Ellie takes up horse riding and makes friends in the nearby village. One day, while Rogers is having lunch in the village, Ellie’s horse returns riderless, and she is found dead in the woods, apparently of shock. Now Rogers, as the sole survivor, inherits all her untold wealth.
As it turns out, Rogers had planned an elaborate scheme with Greta to “accidentally” meet and court Ellie, and eventually eliminate her so he could live a rich life with Greta. But no good comes of anyone owning Gipsy’s Acre… their scheme unravels just as quickly as Rogers’ sanity.
This book is a marked departure from Christie’s staple mysteries. The writing and language is decidedly modern, and features working class protagonists front and center, rather than posh nobs. She has written stories narrated by the murderer before, but this book adds a level of intrigue and unpredictability. The ending is also satisfying, as Rogers’ conscience eventually wakes up and pushes him to break down.
Christie wrote this book well into her seventies, and captures the speech and culture of the post-war generation beautifully. The title is drawn from Blake’s Auguries of Innocence. One of her best works.