One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (distributed as Patriotic Murders and An Overdose of Death in the US) is a part of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot series first published in 1940.
Poirot visits his dentist for a regular check-up one day, and is later surprised by a report from his friend Chief Inspector Japp that the dentist, Henry Morley, had committed suicide some time after Poirot's departure. The man was not entangled in any form of financial or relationship troubles, nor did he seem particularly depressed on the day of his death. The only possible alternative of Morley's death is murder, but who could have killed him, and why? Among Morley's patients is Alistair Blunt, a major political figure whom many would love to see gone. Perhaps he's the intended target?
In 1992 it was adapted to TV for the 4th season of Poirot. Tropes unique to this adaptation are listed on the series page.
This novel provides examples of:
- Accidental Misnaming: Morley's bellboy, Alfred, always gets his customers' names wrong. For example, a certain Colonel Abercombie becomes "Arrow-bumby", while Poirot he calls "Peerer".
- Affably Evil:
- The killer is genuinely pleasant, and remained polite after Poirot reveals their schemes. They attempted to offer a deal to Poirot so that they could be set free, and when Poirot refuses, they gracefully (albeit regretfully) resigned to arrest.
- Amberiotis is a sleazy blackmailer, but is willing to buy lunch for an impoverished old acquaintance he doesn't really like and politely listen to her. He also plans to use part of his blackmail proceeds for generous deeds like helping a friend with his struggling restaurant.
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: Frank Carter is an obnoxious, good-for-nothing bully, but his lover Gladys is devoted to him, believing that her love would influence him for the better.
- As the Good Book Says...: In the final chapter, when Poirot and Mr. Barnes discuss Alistair Blunt's downfall, Poirot quotes a verse from the first book of Samuel (which he heard earlier in the book during a church service): "Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king."
- Because I'm Jonesy: Mr Barnes is the actual Albert Chapman, which is why he's interested in the story as he's well-placed to know that "Mrs. Chapman" isn't who she says he is, as he's unmarried.
- Blackmail: Amberiotis is a known blackmailer and tries to blackmail Blunt for his bigamy. Unsurprisingly, he gets killed for it.
- Blackmail Backfire: As is virtually always the case in the Agatha Christie canon, a blackmailer gets killed. Here it's Amberiotis, killed by his target, Blunt.
- Brits Love Tea: Deliberately employed by Poirot when he goes to interview the secretary, Miss Nevill, only to find her exceedingly jumpy and nervous.Profiting by a long experience of the English people, Poirot suggested a cup of tea.
- Buxom Beauty Standard: Poirot thinks London girls are too thin. He prefers "the rich curves, the voluptuous lines."
- Chekhov's Gun: As Poirot was leaving his dentist, he took a particular notice of a lady's buckled shoes. This plays a significant part in deducing who the murderer is.
- Continuity Nod:
- Poirot is reminded of the case he called the Augean Stables, where he hushed up a politician's embezzlement despite utterly despising the man. Here, a similar choice is given to him and he refuses to let the politician get away even though he agrees with most of his opinions.
- There's an offhand reference to Blunt having arranged a "Herjoslovakian Loan." This is the Ruritania country that is also mentioned in The Secret of Chimneys.
- Poirot sees a pretty girl in a park and thinks she's no comparison to Countess Vera Rossakoff, Poirot's crush and a character in the novel The Big Four and a few short stories.
- Dedication: The book is dedicated to Christie's friend Dorothy North "who likes detective stories and cream, in the hope it may make up to her for the absence of the latter."
- The Dentist Episode: Starts with Poirot visiting his dentist, who subsequently gets murdered.
- "Eureka!" Moment: The solution comes to Poirot all of a sudden while singing a hymn in church.
- Feet-First Introduction: When Poirot encounters Mabelle Sainsbury Seale for the first time, the latter was just coming out of the taxi, sticking out her buckled shoe. In fact, Poirot's first impression of her was what a well-shaped foot she had, though he was not much impressed by the rest of her.
- Graceful Loser: The killer didn't get angry, or try to make excuses, or attempt to harm Poirot when the latter confronts them with the truth of the murder. When Poirot refuses to withdraw from the case, they calmly respond:Then I'm in for it. It's in your hands, Poirot. It's up to you.
- He Knows Too Much: Mr Blunt killed Amberiotis and Mabelle Sainsbury Seale because the latter knew Blunt's first (and secret) wife, whom he did not divorce before his famous marriage to the wealthy Rebecca Arnholt and told Amberiotis about the fact, which he then used as blackmail material.
- Jerkass:
- Frank Carter is a rude, obnoxious bully who can't hold down a job and borrows money from his lover. When he was framed for the murder of Morley and the attempted murder of Alistair Blunt, Poirot was quite tempted to not clear his name and let him hang.
- Howard Raikes was similarly unpleasant and extremely fanatical about his leftist ideals.
- Kill and Replace: Mabelle Sainsbury Seale was murdered, and (one of) the killers took her identity after her death. Likewise, Alistair Blunt murders Morley and pretends to be the dentist in order to kill the next patient, Amberiotis.
- Kissing Cousins: Subverted, Blunt's cousin is actually his first wife in disguise.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Poirot suggests that Miss Sainsbury Seale's corpse might have been weighted down and thrown in the Thames. Inspector Japp answers "You're talking like a thriller by a lady novelist!"
- Mathematician's Answer: Poirot decides to pick the brain of his valet, George. He tells the whole story of how the dentist got killed and who was seen going in and out of the office and the timing that determines who could have done it. He asks what George thinks, and George says that Poirot will have to find another dentist.
- The Needs of the Many: The killer's justification for committing the murders. He is the last remaining conservative among the political circle, whom many are trying to bring down. If he falls, he asserts, the nation would go down with him. He killed Amberiotis and Ms Seale because they knew about a scandal that would surely destroy his work. Morley's death is just a means to achieve the other two murders.
- Never One Murder: Morley the dentist commits suicide, but it's actually revealed to be a murder. Poirot and Japp go to interview Mr. Amberiotis, one of Morley's last patients, only to discover that he's dead too. Mand later Miss Sainbury Seale is found dead, stuffed in a trunk—but is it really her?
- Never Suicide: Morley commits suicide after accidentally killing a patient with an overdose of painkillers. Or so the official report reads. He was murdered so the killer could kill the patient without being suspected.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Sort of. Amberiotis treats a woman to lunch and learns one of the country's leading men of finance was in a bigamous marriage for years from her. He actually thinks about the rewards of being kind to others, although this leads to him attempting blackmail on the killer and promptly getting killed.
- No Hero to His Valet: Like most, normal mortals, Poirot is deathly afraid of the dentist, and is fully aware of the indignity of going through the dental procedures. He lampshades this in his monologue, saying that the idiom "no hero to his valet" would be more suitable when applied to one's dentist.
- Overly-Nervous Flop Sweat: "Sweat broke out on his forehead" as Frank Carter finally caves and tells Poirot that he walked in to the office and saw Morley dead on the floor.
- Sadistic Choice: At the end of the investigation, Poirot is faced with two unpleasant choices: to reveal the truth and arrest the otherwise pleasant and unassuming character who stands for Poirot's own ideals, and who also happens to be the last Conservative champion whose removal from power could lead to economical instability and unrest on a national level, or keep silent and let the scapegoat — a crass, unpleasant individual whom Poirot considers a waste of space that the country could do without, but is otherwise innocent of the crimes pinned on him — take the blame and be hanged for it.
- Stepping Stone Spouse: The killer's first wife Gerda turns out to be a subversion. Not only has he remained with her even during his marriage to his second wife Rebecca, she also serves as his accomplice in covering up his bigamy.
- Strawman Political: Agatha Christie was of a conservative political bent. She would on occasion insert left-wing characters in her books, and they would be always be obnoxious assholes. Here we have Howard Raikes the socialist who is incredibly abrasive and off-putting. (There's a similar obnoxious Communist in Death on the Nile.)
- Two Aliases, One Character: Mabelle Sainsbury Seale is actually Mrs. Albert Chapman, who herself is really Alistair Blunt's first wife, Gerda, who's been posing as his cousin! This is convoluted even by Christie standards.
