Tragedija u tri čina

The novel explores themes of deception, jealousy and carefully planned crime, with Christie's signature twist at the end. Poirot's deduction and psychological analysis are key to the solution.

• Act One: At a party at the home of the famous actor Sir Charles Cartwright, the priest Stephen Babbington dies suddenly after drinking a cocktail. There is no evidence of poison, so death appears to be natural. Poirot, present at the party, begins to have doubts.

• Act Two: A few months later, dr. Bartholomew Strange, a psychiatrist and friend of Cartwright's, dies in a similar manner at a party at his house. Autopsy reveals nicotine poisoning. Poirot connects the two cases, investigating the guests present at both parties, including Cartwright, his friend Hermione Lytton Gore and aspiring playwright Muriel Wills.

• Act Three: Poirot discovers that the key to the puzzle lies in the killer's motive and method. The murders were staged to cover up the real goal – the elimination of a specific victim. After analyzing the relationships between the characters and subtle clues, Poirot exposes Sir Charles as the murderer. He poisoned Babbington and Strange to cover up the murder of his wife, which he kept secret, and the motive was the desire for freedom and a new life.