Hickory Dickory Dock

In this story, Poirot's sense of ennui seems to push him into the mystery more eagerly. Does his mood affect his detective work or is it just a character quirk?

The story seemed to drag a bit before the final reveal. Was that intentional to build suspense or a pacing choice that didn't quite land for me?

The setting feels so ordinary yet becomes the backdrop for such an intricate puzzle. I'm curious if the hotel was inspired by a real place or purely fictional.