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"Three Act Tragedy" by Agatha Christie centers on the mysterious death of guests at parties hosted by the famous actor Sir Charles Cartwright. During a gathering in Cornwall, Reverend Babbington dies after sipping a cocktail. Initially deemed an accident, suspicion arises when a similar death occurs at a subsequent party held by psychiatrist Sir Bartholomew Strange, where Cartwright, along with other guests from the first party, are present. This time, Sir Bartholomew himself is the victim, dying from nicotine poisoning with no trace of the poison found in his glass.
With Hercule Poirot involved, together with Mr. Satterthwaite and the young Hermione "Egg" Lytton Gore, they delve into the intricate web of relations among the guests, searching for motives. The investigation reveals a complex plot by Cartwright, who had impersonated a butler at Sir Bartholomew’s dinner, to eliminate threats to his desire to marry Egg despite already having a wife confined in an asylum. His meticulous plan involved testing the method of administering poison during the first party and ensuring his presence was unnoticed during the second.
Poirot exposes Cartwright after reconstructing the crime at a staged gathering, demonstrating how the poison was likely administered. Despite the elaborate setup, Poirot discovers clues leading to Cartwright, including a connection to a draft of blackmail letters and his possession of rose spray used to distill the nicotine. Cartwright's plan unravels, revealing his actions driven by a desperate desire to secure a future with Egg by removing anyone aware of his marital status.
In the end, Cartwright is left to face the consequences of his actions, pondering over Poirot’s suggestions about his fate, while Egg, shaken by the revelations, turns to a friend, leaving Satterthwaite to comment on the chilling potential victims of the poison, including himself and Poirot. This conclusion underscores Christie's theme of the disastrous lengths to which personal secrets can drive an individual, encapsulating it in a tragic tale of deception and murder disguised under the veneer of high society gatherings.