Third Girl (1966) Quiz | Christie, Agatha

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The "third girl" referred to in the title; she visits Poirot and states that she thinks she might have committed a murder.

Answer: Norma Restarick

Norma is described as a girl of about 20 years of age with long straggly hair, greenish-blue eyes, a vacant expression and a slovenly appearance. She intends to consult with Poirot about a murder she thinks she may have committed but changes her mind, telling Poirot that she doesn't want to be rude but he is too old.

2. Described as a small shrunken little man who never speaks to anybody directly but instead averts his gaze towards an inanimate object; he collects information for Poirot.

Answer: Mr Goby

Mr Goby appears in five Christie novels. He is an old friend of Poirot's who manages a private investigation service. Poirot uses his service to gather information on people. In this novel, Mr Goby supplies Poirot with information on Claudia Reece-Holland, Frances Cary, and the various members of the Restarick family.

3. An MP's daughter and one of the three girls sharing a flat; she works as a secretary.

Answer: Claudia Reece-Holland

Claudia Reece-Holland is the "first girl" of the three flat-mates. Her father is an MP (Member of Parliament). She works for Norma's father, Andrew Restarick, and is described as a "first class" secretary.

4. One of the three girls sharing a flat; she works for an art gallery.

Answer: Frances Cary

Frances Cary is the "second" girl of the three flat-mates. Mr Goby describes her as an "arty type". His research reveals that she was at RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) for a time, then went to the Slade School of Fine Art. She works for an art gallery and specialises in arranging art shows both in England and abroad. She also poses for the artist David Baker.

5. An exotic young man, a painter, considered effeminate by Mary Restarick, a "peacock" by Mrs Oliver, and "riff-raff" by Chief Inspector Neele; Norma is infatuated with him.

Answer: David Baker

David is described as "representative of the youth of today". "Today" refers to the 1960s, which is indicated by numerous references to the fashions and behaviour of the younger generation, including mention of drug use ("purple hearts, heroin, coke"), long hair, beatniks, the Beatles and "the Chelsea set". (The novel was first published in 1966).

David "wore a black coat, an elaborate velvet waistcoat, skin-tight pants, and rich curls of chestnut hair hung down on his neck. He looked exotic and rather beautiful, and it needed a few moments to be certain of his sex". Poirot likened him to a Van Dyke portrait.

6. A psychiatrist to whom Poirot entrusts the care of Norma in order to hide her from her family and friends.

Answer: John Stillingfleet

Dr John Stillingfleet is described as "a man of perhaps thirty-odd with red hair and a rather attractively ugly face, the kind of face that is craggy but interesting". Dr Stillingfleet rescues Norma from almost being run over in traffic. Unbeknownst to Norma, and everyone else, Hercule Poirot had actually arranged for the doctor to look after Norma as he sensed danger, but was unsure whether Norma was in danger, or whether she was dangerous to someone else.

7. Former principal of Meadowfield Girls' School; she gives Poirot her opinion regarding Norma's sanity.

Answer: Miss Battersby

Norma Restarick was a boarder at Meadowfield Girls' School when Miss Battersby was the principal. Poirot pays a visit to the retired Miss Battersby to obtain her opinion as to Norma's mental status. Miss Battersby tells him that Norma had an unfortunate home life, lacked self-confidence and was "an emotional but normal girl".

She dismisses the suggestion of possible mental instability with one word - "Rubbish!"

8. A manservant or valet whose knowledge of the English aristocracy is invaluable to Poirot.

Answer: George(s)

George (also referred to as Georges) appears in a number of Poirot stories. In this novel, he is described as "a delicate social recorder". By careful choice of words, he can convey to Poirot his opinion as to a person's social status. When Norma Restarick visits Poirot about a murder she says she may have committed, George advises Poirot of her arrival.

He makes a slight pause before describing her as a "young lady" rather than a young person, which Poirot assumes means that George is giving her the benefit of the doubt.

9. A writer of crime novels and friend of Poirot; she visits the girls' flat on the pretext of having promised Norma a copy of one of her books.

Answer: Ariadne Oliver

Ariadne Oliver appears in eight stories, seven with Hercule Poirot and one novel by herself ("The Pale Horse"). In "Third Girl", when Poirot tells Mrs Oliver about his odd visitor, and describes her as "an Ophelia devoid of physical attraction", Mrs Oliver suddenly realises that she herself had inadvertently sent the girl, Norma, to Poirot.

10. A detective with a super-sized ego to match his enormous moustaches. He believes it to be impossible that anybody could not know who he is.

Answer: Hercule Poirot

Poirot's ego is dented by Norma's pronouncement that he is too old. He tells Ariadne Oliver that "it wounded me". Mrs Oliver tries to reassure him, saying "...girls are like that. Anyone over thirty-five they think is half dead".
At the end of the novel, Norma acknowledges her rudeness and admits she was wrong about Poirot being too old.

Source: Author MotherGoose

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Third Girl (1966) Trivia Quiz

Match the major characters in this Agatha Christie novel with their descriptions. (NO SPOILERS)

Questions		Choices
1. The "third girl" referred to in the title; she visits Poirot and states that she thinks she might have committed a murder.		John Stillingfleet
2. Described as a small shrunken little man who never speaks to anybody directly but instead averts his gaze towards an inanimate object; he collects information for Poirot.		Miss Battersby
3. An MP's daughter and one of the three girls sharing a flat; she works as a secretary.		David Baker
4. One of the three girls sharing a flat; she works for an art gallery.		Claudia Reece-Holland
5. An exotic young man, a painter, considered effeminate by Mary Restarick, a "peacock" by Mrs Oliver, and "riff-raff" by Chief Inspector Neele; Norma is infatuated with him.		Ariadne Oliver
6. A psychiatrist to whom Poirot entrusts the care of Norma in order to hide her from her family and friends.		Hercule Poirot
7. Former principal of Meadowfield Girls' School; she gives Poirot her opinion regarding Norma's sanity.		George(s)
8. A manservant or valet whose knowledge of the English aristocracy is invaluable to Poirot.		Norma Restarick
9. A writer of crime novels and friend of Poirot; she visits the girls' flat on the pretext of having promised Norma a copy of one of her books.		Frances Cary
10. A detective with a super-sized ego to match his enormous moustaches. He believes it to be impossible that anybody could not know who he is.		Mr Goby