Mystery Review: In which French (not Belgian) former chief of police Hercules (not Hercule) Popeau prevents a crime. Probably written in 1926 or 1929, the short story "Popeau Intervenes" presents one of the possible antecedents of the far more famous homonymic detective. Popeau is an ex-Chief of Police in Paris and an ex-secret agent, who worked for the Criminal Investigations Branch. I have to emphasize that he's nothing like that other detective, who is a retired Belgian policeman. In this case Popeau has it easy as everything is overheard or falls into his lap; no legwork needed. There's a gentle humanity to the story that is endearing. Christie's Poirot also had a notable case in which he prevented a crime, recorded as the short story "Wasps' Nest" (1928). "Popeau Intervenes" was originally titled "The Dark Lady." [3½★]
No comments:
Post a Comment