I've already written separate reviews for each book, so if you're interested, I've left links to the longer version in the titles. And A Poirot Twofer.
I've already written separate reviews for each book, so if you're interested, I've left links to the longer version in the titles. And while The Mysterious Affair at Styles has the honor of being Poirot's first book, I much prefer the story in Five Little Pigs. But you can't really go wrong with Poirot mysteries, so I'd still recommend both of them.
Actually, pretty easily. This simply isn't Agatha Christie's best work. And that's mainly due to this being her first book. Yeah, so not only was she still figuring out who Poirot was, she was still figuring out this whole mystery writing gig. I mean, for her first stab at it, she did a phenomenal job. But if you go into this thing thinking you're going to get her best story, you'll more than likely be disappointed. Sorry, Hercule.
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Five Little Pigs Poirot reopens a murder case that everyone assumes has been solved. And solves it for real. Because of course he does! But don't let the title get your hopes up, there are no pigs in this story.
A slow burn novel about forced introspection that went on a tad too long. Which seems like a weird thing to say since this is a relatively short book, A slow burn novel about forced introspection that went on a tad too long. Which seems like a weird thing to say since this is a relatively short book, but there was a dragging quality to it. There was a point where both the character and I realized where this was going, but the plot itself kept spinning its wheels while Joan spun out in the desert with her thoughts.
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This was the age of duty above all else - or for most people it was. Joan had just finished visiting her daughter in Iraq and was on her way back to England when she ran into an old acquaintance. This woman did what she wanted, much to her detriment, and damn the cost to others. She popped from one man to another, abandoned her children, and never worried about doing the right or honorable thing. Naturally, Joan is scandalized by her old schoolmate's blasé behavior toward her past, and the unrepentant way she lives her life now.
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They soon part ways, but some of the things the woman said to her begin to fester in her mind, especially after problems with the train trap her in a small village with nothing to do but think. To the reader and to herself, Joan seems like a loving and much-loved wife and mother, at first. However, as she reflects back on different moments in her life, she starts to doubt not only the true feelings of those that she claims to love most, but her motivations, as well.
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Again, this was a different time, and Agatha Christie was a fairly traditional woman. So not all of Joan's ahah! moments are going to hit with a modern audience. Especially some of the conclusions Joan comes to about her duty as a Christian wife to acquiesce to all of her husband's wishes as to how they live their life.
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The ending was a bit of a wet blanket for me, but the more I think about it, the more realistic it seems. (view spoiler)[So, Joan realizes she's micromanaged her husband and children's lives to the point that they actively avoid her and keep her in the dark about pretty much everything in their lives, lest she interfere. She also realizes that her husband fell in love with another woman (who died), not because she was more beautiful or charming, but because she was an unconventional woman who followed her heart, and because they were genuine friends. They never had an affair, though, because they were both the kind of people who wouldn't have broken their marriage vows.
So, once she realizes all the mistakes and oversteps she's made in the past, she vows to make it right by asking forgiveness and starting things anew. However, once she gets home and gets back into her comfortable routine, she decides that everything she learned about herself and her family was just due to the heat and exhaustion. And she goes right back to doing things the same way as always. It's sad. And yet, how many of us have the courage to own up to our mistakes and try to change? (hide spoiler)]
Recommended for Agatha Christie completionists....more
Wonderful collection of Christie's shorts. Now, this doesn't have every single short story Christie ever wrote, but it has most of them. You could be pWonderful collection of Christie's shorts. Now, this doesn't have every single short story Christie ever wrote, but it has most of them. You could be pretty happy with this. And by pretty happy, I mean this would make a great Christmas gift for some of her fans. And by some of her fans, I mean me. So if you're asking if I'm adding this to my list of books for my husband to buy me for Christmas, the answer is yes. My god, you are so nosy!
When the widowed Mrs. Ferrars admits that she not only killed her awful husband but is being blackmailed by someone in the village to keep it a secret, Roger Ackroyd is understandably upset and backs away quickly. When she kills herself and mails a letter naming her blackmailer, though, he feels it is his duty to avenge her. However, before he can do so, he's stabbed to death in his study.
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Murder on the Orient Express I'm not gonna bore you with a plot synopsis, but if you're a fan of stories that take place on trains, child killers getting shanked, and plenty of stereotypes thrown in for good measure...then this is the book for you!
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Murder in the Mews Poirot and Japp investigate a murder that has been made to look like suicide. Badly made to look like suicide. Poirot has to untangle quite a few knots to unravel a blackmailer's scheme gone wrong. But unravel them he does.
The gist is that Poirot is staying with his friend Colonel Johnson during the holiday. As they discuss the particulars of a case they were both involved with (Three Act Tragedy), a knock sounds on the door. What can it be other than news of a brand new murder just asking to be solved?!
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There are links to longer reviews for each story if you are interested, but the main thing to take away is that this is a fun collection of Poirot stories.
Sleeping Murder & Murder at the Vicarage both some of the best Marple books, imho. I've already reviewed both books elsewhere (links above), but if you're new to Agatha Christie or Miss Marple, this would be a great place to start!
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Murder at the Vicarage is Miss Marple's first book (yes, the short stories were 1st-first, but you know what I mean, nerd!) and Sleeping Murder is that last full-length Marple story. So. Yeah. Highly Recommended.
Ariadne Oliver has a bad feeling about the murder she's planning.
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Of course, Mrs. Oliver is only killing for charity. As a famous mystery writerAriadne Oliver has a bad feeling about the murder she's planning.
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Of course, Mrs. Oliver is only killing for charity. As a famous mystery writer, she's been asked to plan a fake murder and organize the hunt for clues. But there's just something indefinably wrong with the situation. And when she thinks about it for a second? Hey! I know a guy...
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In typical Mrs. Oliver fashion, she informs Poirot that he needs to immediately pack his bags and head her way whether he wants to or not. And in typical Poirot fashion, his curiosity gets the better of him and he shows up in time to meet everyone involved before all the murdering starts.
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Ok, so as much as I love good old Hastings, Ariadne Oliver is my absolute favorite Poirot sidekick. I think it's because it's almost like a funny version of Agatha Christie interacting with her own character on the page.
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The mystery is pretty decent, too. Disguises, secret histories, blackmail, and scary foreigners! Good stuff.
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In case you were wondering: Dead Man's Folly was an expanded version of Hercule Poirot and the Greenshore Folly, which was published posthumously as a short. There are differences between the two stories, but the reason Christie originally abandoned Greenshore Folly was that it was too long to be in a magazine. So? <--you say Well, the proceeds of the magazine story were supposed to go to her church for renovations. Instead, she ended up writing Greenshaw's Folly - a Miss Marple Short Story and giving the money for that one to the church. You're welcome for this useless bit of trivia.
Merged review:
Ariadne Oliver has a bad feeling about the murder she's planning.
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Of course, Mrs. Oliver is only killing for charity. As a famous mystery writer, she's been asked to plan a fake murder and organize the hunt for clues. But there's just something indefinably wrong with the situation. And when she thinks about it for a second? Hey! I know a guy...
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In typical Mrs. Oliver fashion, she informs Poirot that he needs to immediately pack his bags and head her way whether he wants to or not. And in typical Poirot fashion, his curiosity gets the better of him and he shows up in time to meet everyone involved before all the murdering starts.
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Ok, so as much as I love good old Hastings, Ariadne Oliver is my absolute favorite Poirot sidekick. I think it's because it's almost like a funny version of Agatha Christie interacting with her own character on the page.
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The mystery is pretty decent, too. Disguises, secret histories, blackmail, and scary foreigners! Good stuff.
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In case you were wondering: Dead Man's Folly was an expanded version of Hercule Poirot and the Greenshore Folly, which was published posthumously as a short. There are differences between the two stories, but the reason Christie originally abandoned Greenshore Folly was that it was too long to be in a magazine. So? <--you say Well, the proceeds of the magazine story were supposed to go to her church for renovations. Instead, she ended up writing Greenshaw's Folly - a Miss Marple Short Story and giving the money for that one to the church. You're welcome for this useless bit of trivia....more
All of Miss Marple's stories in one collection? Yes, please! I've left links to a longer review of each story if anyone is interested in a particular boAll of Miss Marple's stories in one collection? Yes, please! I've left links to a longer review of each story if anyone is interested in a particular book.
The Body in the Library I figured it out! I knew whodunnit! I was smugly chuckling and congratulating myself on finally beating Agatha Christie at her own game as I listened to the end of the book drawing near, knowing that I had beaten the Queen of Mystery.
Alright, before the internet gave birth to trolls, there were the poison pen writers. What's that? <--ask the kids Well, back in the day, the same sort of unbalanced idiots who like to make obnoxious anonymous comments online were forced to send out (gasp!) anonymous letters via the mailbox.
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And that's what this Miss Marple mystery is about!
Ok, the gist is that there is an advertisement in the local paper to come to Letitia Blacklock's house for a Murder that evening. Of course, they all suppose that it's one of those Murder Parties where they play as victims and detectives.
But not really. The point of this one is that not everything is what it seems. Like an illusionist's trick - they do it with mirrors.
A Pocket Full of Rye A rich dude chokes on his tea, and in his pocket the fuzz find...RYE. Nefarious, I say!
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Or maybe not. For some reason, Pocket Full of Rye seemed like a more complex story than what you normally get from one of Agatha's murder mysteries. <--I have no evidence for that statement, it's just this feeling I got while I was reading it. I mean, there are always red herrings in Christie's books. Sometimes even blue and yellow herrings. All those delicious, delicious herrings...
4:50 from Paddington Lucy Eyelesbarrow is the best thing about this book. Loved her. Why is she not in more books? She and Miss Marple were just an unbeatable team! Psst - This book is also known as What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw!
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The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side A really good Christie mystery for Marple fans. The victim, Heather Babcock, is one of those idiots who gets on everyone's nerves. You know, a pushy do-gooder who forces their help on everyone? It's not sad when she bites it.
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A Caribbean Mystery The magical Miss Marple does it again! Only this time, she does it on a tropical vacation.
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At Bertram's Hotel Bertram's Hotel is a bastion of never-changing, respectable, old English perfection. Or is it?
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Nemesis Agatha isn't known for her sequels, but that's almost exactly what Nemesis is...in a way. Remember A Caribbean Mystery?! No? Yeah. Well, it was somewhat forgettable. But for whatever reason, Christie decided to use one of those characters that Jane teamed up with to kick start this mystery. And while most of them have absolutely nothing to do with her current Nemesis, you do get a tiny peek at what some of those guys are up to now. <--kinda cool
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Sleeping Murder The main characters are newlyweds Gwenda & Giles, but Jane Marple is introduced early on as the elderly aunt of Giles's cousin (some of you will recognize Raymond West from other books!). And when Gwenda begins to think she's losing her mind due to some startling coincidences at her newly purchased house, and a frightening reaction to the line of a play... *rubs hands together* Well, naturally, Miss Marple sticks her nose (delicately) into Gwenda's troubles, and steps in to help her sort things out.
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20 Shorts: The Tuesday Night Club The Origin of The Marple! Yes, this is the first Miss Marple story, and I don't really think you can call yourself a superfan if you haven't read this one. #loser
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Ingots of Gold Once again, the Tuesday Night Club meets up, and this time it's Miss Marple's own nephew, writer Raymond West, who tells a story. He hopes that the group (well, actually Miss Marple) can figure out what happened when his friend, John Newman, was kidnapped while his salvage ship was robbed of its treasure.
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The Bloodstained Pavement This time, when the Tuesday Night Club meets, Joyce (Raymond West's future wife) tells the story of her time painting in the small coastal village of Rathole. She witnesses a husband and wife go off on a bathing trip with a woman they ran into when they got to the hotel. Without realizing what she was doing, Joyce painted blood stains onto her painting. When the wife drowns a few weeks later, Joyce wonders if she had some sort of a premonition.
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The Idol House of Astarte Miss Marple and her Tuesday Night Club friends listen to the clergyman of their group tell a story about the time he witnessed a man killed by seemingly supernatural forces. The beautiful young socialite, Diana Ashley, convinces the other guests to play dress up and go out to the supposedly sacred grove of Astarte (on the property) that had a small temple/house there. It's all fun and games till the owner of the house, Sir Richard, falls over dead with a stab wound, and there's no knife to be found. How did this toga party go so wrong?!
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Motive v. Opportunity What is it with so many of Christie's characters getting taken in by spiritualists all the time!? I'm guessing that was probably a very talked-about THING back in the day. Ooooh! Did you hear about Gertrude? She's been seeing that Madame Zartan on the regular since her husband died, and I'm pretty sure that wacky bitch is bleeding her dry. I'll bet her kids won't inherit a pot to piss in by the time she's done. Or something along those lines. Point is, vulnerable people have always existed to become the prey of unscrupulous snake oil salesmen.
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The Blue Geranium When Arthur & Dolly Bantry ask Sir Henry Clithering who he would like to invite over as a dinner guest to round out their house party, he shocks them by asking for Miss Marple to be included. When he tells Dolly about the uncanny way the elderly spinster solved the mysteries of the Tuesday Night Club the year before, she starts to think maybe Miss Marple could help her solve a seemingly paranormal murder mystery.
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The Four Suspects Sir Henry Clithering, a member of the Tuesday Night Club, takes his turn and tells a story. The title refers to a running theme in Agatha Christie's mysteries, where the goal of solving a murder isn't just to punish the guilty but to free the other parties who might be suspects from the suspicion of their friends, neighbors, and loved ones.
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The Companion Miss Marple solves the case of the lady's companion who drowned off the shore of Gran Canaria Island. How? She noticed a bit of weight gain for what it was.
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A Christmas Tragedy Miss Marple knows a murdering husband when she sees one. Even if she can't prove it right away. Jane Marple recounts the time she couldn't save an adoring wife from her treacherous spouse. Without any proof and only her intuition to go on, she couldn't convince the young woman that her husband was eyeballing the windfall he would receive upon her death.
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The Herb of Death It's Mrs. Bantry's turn to tell a story to the Tuesday Night Club and she's not at all sure she can make her's sound interesting. And to be fair, she hems and haws and does a fantastic job of messing it up. It's a case of (gasp!) poisoning where everyone got sick but only one person died. Was it an accident that there was foxglove in the sage, or did something more nefarious happen?
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The Affair at the Bungalow This is the last mystery told by a member of the Tuesday Night Club, and this time, it's the ditzy but beautiful actress Jane Helier who offers a crime for the group to solve. It seems as though a local bungalow was burgled and the man in custody for the robbery has a crazy story to tell...
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The Thumbmark of St. Peter This is a good one for 2 reasons. 1) Miss Marple takes her turn and tells the Tuesday Night Club of a murder that she helped solve. 2) In an adorable twist, Ramond West teases his Aunt Jane that there is at least one thing she doesn't know. But she pops back and shocks him by telling him that she does know he proposed to Joyce (the artist in the group) that very evening.
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Death by Drowning A local girl, rumored to be pregnant by an out-of-town architect, is found drowned. The locals assume it was suicide because her father is known to be an unreasonable man.
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Sanctuary A man dies from a gunshot wound in the parson's wife's arms, whispering the word sanctuary with his dying breath. A little dramatic, no?
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Strange Jest This is the story of a rich uncle who leaves his niece and nephew (who want to get married) to hunt for his fortune after he dies. To be honest, it felt a bit like Manx Gold because in that one, you have two cousins who want to get married but have to hunt for the treasure that their rich old relative leaves for them, as well. However, that one is more of a real treasure hunt with clues, and this one is that he didn't trust banks and they're just hunting around in the house for what the crazy old fart did with all of his money.
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Tape Measure Murder Not my favorite Marple. And yet, is any Marple a bad Marple? So. This one deals with a woman whose husband is the main suspect in her murder, mainly because he isn't showing the appropriate amount of emotion.
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The Case of the Caretaker Miss Marple, recovering from a bad bout of the flu, was feeling depressed. I guess that's a thing? Anyway, it took a lot out of her, and she'd started to fall into a funk. So her good friend and physician, Doctor Haydock, brings her a file with a case he recently had so she can solve the whodunnit.
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The Case of the Perfect Maid Miss Marple knows. She's like Santa Claus or something when it comes to who has been bad or good, and her friends and neighbors would do well to listen to her advice when it comes to the hiring and firing of servants. Or employees, as we call them these days.
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Miss Marple Tells a Story I loved the way Miss Marple narrated the story in a hilarious, humblebrag kind of way. When a lawyer brings his client to Jane and asks her to listen to the story of the events leading up to him finding his wife dead in their hotel room, the client in question thinks it's a waste of time. However, just as her lawyer friend hoped, the fluffy old lady manages to see a few things that everyone else missed and ends up saving his bacon.
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Greenshaw's Folly Raymond West, Miss Marple's lovable nephew, brings home a mystery to his Aunt Jane. While trying to entertain a friend from the city with the local sight of an oddly built local house, he stumbles into a family drama and a murder-to-be decades in the making.
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Highly Recommended for fans of Miss Marple....more
It starts with the suicide of Ackroyd's girlfriend.
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When the widowed Mrs. Ferrars admits that she not only killed her awful husband but is beingIt starts with the suicide of Ackroyd's girlfriend.
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When the widowed Mrs. Ferrars admits that she not only killed her awful husband but is being blackmailed by someone in the village to keep it a secret, Roger Ackroyd is understandably upset and backs away quickly. When she kills herself and mails a letter naming her blackmailer, though, he feels it is his duty to avenge her. However, before he can do so, he's stabbed to death in his study.
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Poirot, who has retired to this sleepy town to garden and enjoy the simple life, comes out of retirement to solve the case. Oddly enough, he's not as happy with his vegetable marrows and their growth as he thought he would be when he was planning his retirement, so this case provides a welcome break from taking it easy. With the town doctor, James Sheppard, acting in the role of Hastings, Poirot goes over the evidence with a fine-tooth comb, finds out what everyone is hiding, and comes up with the solution. I know I say this quite a bit, but... This mystery goes down as one of Agatha Christie's best.
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I've also heard that Dr. Sheppard's gossipy sister, Caroline, who knows the skinny on everyone in town, was an early incarnation of her famous Miss Marple. Which, hey. That's mighty damn cool!
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I don't want to give anything away in case someone hasn't read this one yet, so I'll just say this: TRUST NO ONE. Recommended.
Three Execellent Marple Mysteries! I've left links to longer reviews of each individual book for anyone who is interested.
The Murder at the Vicarage MisThree Execellent Marple Mysteries! I've left links to longer reviews of each individual book for anyone who is interested.
The Body in the Library I figured it out! I knew whodunnit! I was smugly chuckling and congratulating myself on finally beating Agatha Christie at her own game as I listened to the end of the book drawing near, knowing that I had beaten the Queen of Mystery.
Alright, before the internet gave birth to trolls, there were the poison pen writers. What's that? <--ask the kids Well, back in the day, the same sort of unbalanced idiots who like to make obnoxious anonymous comments online were forced to send out (gasp!) anonymous letters via the mailbox.
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And that's what this Miss Marple mystery is about! Except, like a lot of Miss Marple mysteries, she's not exactly the star of the show. The main character is an injured fighter pilot (Jerry) who moves to a village with his sister (Joanna) to recover from his injuries. There he meets up with an entire cast of small-town bananas characters and gets caught up in a mystery.
This is a great collection. Recommended for fans of Miss Marple....more
The 1st Poirot story & the 1st Tommy & Tuppence story. Plus, Murder on the Links and quite a few shorts. I've left links to longer reviews for each indThe 1st Poirot story & the 1st Tommy & Tuppence story. Plus, Murder on the Links and quite a few shorts. I've left links to longer reviews for each individual story if you're interested in a particular one.
Actually, pretty easily. This simply isn't Agatha Christie's best work. And that's mainly due to this being her first book. Yeah, so not only was she still figuring out who Poirot was, she was still figuring out this whole mystery writing gig. I mean, for her first stab at it, she did a phenomenal job. But if you go into this thing thinking you're going to get her best story, you'll more than likely be disappointed. Sorry, Hercule.
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The Secret Adversary Secret Adversary is the first Tommy & Tuppence novel. Ta-da!
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I'm not going to claim that it's great, but it was entertaining. And Christie managed to make me think I KNEW who the hell dunnit, only to jerk the rug out from underneath me...again. <--to be fair, that's kind of her thing, you know?
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The Affair At The Victory Ball An influential man is murdered at the Victory Ball. Simultaneously, his girlfriend overdosed on crack (<--not crack) the same night after leaving the ball early due to a fight with the now-dead man. Whodunnit and whytheydunnit? Enter Poirot! <--and Hastings
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The Adventure Of The Clapham Cook One of my personal favorites! Poirot is such a snob. And in this one, he waves away an annoying middle-class woman, Mrs. Todd, who wants him to find her missing cook. Or he tries to anyway. When she points out that her cook is worth just as much to her as some rich woman's priceless jewels, he realizes she's right and agrees to take the case.
The Adventure Of Johnnie Waverly Poirot locates a child being held for ransom. When the child of a wealthy family is kidnapped right under the noses of the parents and the police, Poirot is called in to help.
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The Double Clue Double Clue!? <--That's 2 clues too many, bitches. And everyone's favorite Belgium detective is onto that shit.
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The King Of Clubs The King of Clubs is one of those fun Poirot shorties where he discovers what really happened, but the police never do.
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The Lemesurier Inheritance The cursed inheritance! The story opens with a friend of Hastings & Poirot getting killed almost immediately after he learns of his father's death...and right before he inherits his estate. Supposedly, there's a curse attached to the family that (because of some wrongdoing by an ancestor) won't let any firstborn son inherit.
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The Lost Mine Poirot visits an opium den. So that shouldn't be boring, right? But it is. I've read and listened to this story multiple times over the years, and it's never managed to keep my interest.
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The Plymouth Express An heiress is murdered on a train, and her grieving father hires Poirot to find her killer.
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The Chocolate Box Poirot outwitted?! Say it ain't so! But it is so. Sitting around together one evening, Poirot tells Hastings of the one case that he failed to solve. And Poirot tells Hastings to say the words chocolate box if he ever feels that Hercule gets a bit too big for his britches. I'm sure Hastings was tempted to walk behind Poirot with a megaphone, repeating those words at the top of his lungs for most of the time they spent together. He didn't. Such is the power of friendship.
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The Veiled Lady A hot chick wearing a veil walks into a bar... How do you know she's hot, my rotund Belgian friend? Shut up. My mustache gives my little grey cells super-deduction skills.
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The Submarine Plans Whodunnit? Poirot and Hastings get called to a politician's house when the plans for a hush-hush submarine get stolen. Lord Alloway, a mover and shaker in England's political circles and possibly the next Prime Minister, is hosting a house party when he realizes that top secret plans for the Allies' new Z-type sub. And who should be one of the guests but Mrs. Conroy, a beautiful woman who is already suspected of being someone who sells secrets to England's enemies. Case solved, right? Mais non! Because she has the alibi unshakable!
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The Market Basing Mystery Is a suicide sometimes just a suicide? That's what Poirot wonders when he, Hastings, & Japp get called in to look at a potential locked room murder that has the local constable scratching his head.
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The Murder on the Links I thought this was going to be about a golfer getting murdered. SPOILER ALERT: It was not.
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A good collection of Christie's short stories, but the first two full-length novels aren't her best. However, Murder on the Links is fun, so this is a pretty good value. Recommended for fans of Agatha....more
Contains two of Christie's Poirot stories. Both of these also have Ariadne Oliver, which is why I'm assuming they were put together in a collection. I'Contains two of Christie's Poirot stories. Both of these also have Ariadne Oliver, which is why I'm assuming they were put together in a collection. I've left links for longer reviews of each story if anyone is interested in a particular one.
When a rude woman asks a highly impertinent question about the death of Ariadne Oliver's goddaughter's parents, it piques her interest in what was originally thought to be a murder-suicide. And if anyone can help her get to the bottom of things, it's her old friend Hercule Poirot.
[image] Dead Man's Folly Ariadne Oliver has a bad feeling about the murder she's planning.
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Of course, Mrs. Oliver is only killing for charity. As a famous mystery writer, she's been asked to plan a fake murder and organize the hunt for clues. But there's just something indefinably wrong with the situation. And when she thinks about it for a second? Hey! I know a guy...
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Dead Man's Folly is a pretty good story, but Elephants Can Remember was written toward the end of Christie's life and tends to ramble on too much. Recommended if you find it on sale....more
This is the adapted version of Agatha Christie's Dead Man's Folly, so I won't do another review of the story. I will saEnjoyable dramatization!
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This is the adapted version of Agatha Christie's Dead Man's Folly, so I won't do another review of the story. I will say that John Moffatt & Julia McKenzie do an excellent job as Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver, and the rest of the cast is great, as well.
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If you don't know, dramatized versions of books are shortened into (basically) plays, and include music and sound effects. You aren't getting the full book, but you will get the same story. Because of that, I'd recommend this to people who have already read and loved the book and would like to experience it in a new and different way, and not those who want to experience the "real" Agatha Christie. I would also recommend it to people who are on the fence as to whether or not this is their type of story, and want to give it a shortened test run....more
Good collection of Christie's mysteries. I've left links to the longer reviews for anyone who is interested in a particular book.
Murder is Easy Some peoGood collection of Christie's mysteries. I've left links to the longer reviews for anyone who is interested in a particular book.
When Luke Fitzwilliam decides to sit near a fluffy old lady because she reminds him of his favorite aunt, he has no idea that action will set him on the scent of a murderer. For those of you who saw Benedict Cumberbatch in the episode of the Miss Marple tv show, this story does not have her in it. They lied. Sorry.
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Dead Man's Folly Ariadne Oliver has a bad feeling about the murder she's planning.
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Of course, Mrs. Oliver is only killing for charity. As a famous mystery writer, she's been asked to plan a fake murder and organize the hunt for clues. But there's just something indefinably wrong with the situation. And when she thinks about it for a second? Hey! I know a guy...
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The Man in the Brown Suit I love Anne Beddingfeld. So while this may be titled Colonel Race #1, the main character is most definitely the wonderfully independent Anne Beddingfeld. She's easily one of my favorite Agatha Christie heroines. If I had to describe her in one word, it would be plucky. Which is such an underused word these days, you know? Let's bring that one back.
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Anyway, Anne isn't rich, but she manages to make her way through the world just fine. Thank you very much. So, where does Colonel Race come into this? Well, he falls for Anne while they're on a boat to...South Africa? <--don't quote me on that. They meet while Anne is embroiled in a mystery to find a killer, make a name for herself as a reporter, and save the man she (inexplicably) loves. <--who is not Colonel Race, btw.
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This would be a nice collection of books to take on a trip, I think. None of these are her famous mysteries, but I thought all of them were good. Recommended....more
5 of Agatha's stories in one collection. I've left links to longer reviews for each book for anyone who is interested.
The Murder at the Vicarage Miss M5 of Agatha's stories in one collection. I've left links to longer reviews for each book for anyone who is interested.
But beyond that, this is really just a fabulous example of Agatha Christie at her best. This was my first time reading (actually listening) The Murder at the Vicarage and I was blown away by how enjoyable it was. Especially considering I've read a ton of her books and pretty much knew what to expect out of her mysteries.
Dead Man's Folly Ariadne Oliver has a bad feeling about the murder she's planning.
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Of course, Mrs. Oliver is only killing for charity. As a famous mystery writer, she's been asked to plan a fake murder and organize the hunt for clues. But there's just something indefinably wrong with the situation. And when she thinks about it for a second? Hey! I know a guy...
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Sad Cypress b>A courtroom drama told in flashbacks, mostly through the eyes of the accused.
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Elinor Carlisle hated Mary Gerrard. Why? Because the love of her (entire) life, Roddy Welman, took one look at Mary's beautiful face and broke off his engagement to her. Ouch. My goodness, that stings. So when her aunt dies after telling her that she wanted Mary provided for, but legally leaves everything to Elinor, what's a girl to do? If you're Elinor, you grit your teeth, give her £2,000, and hope she hits the road. OR! Maybe you hand her a plate of poisoned sandwiches.
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Towards Zero Superintendent Battle's daughter is a liar. But the reason she lied will also prove to be the key to helping him solve a murder.
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Nevile Strange (no relation to Doctor) is a handsome tennis star who is married to a young hottie. But when he meets his ex-wife in the park, it's decided that they should all just try to get along and be friends again. Which translates into staying at his aunt's estate at the same time over the holidays. Seriously? Does that sound like a good idea to anyone? Well, it certainly doesn't sound like a good idea to his new wife.
At least 50% of the time, I'm disappointed with the way Agatha wrote couples. The worst offenders for me were a woman who happily gave up her successful business to be married, and a woman who felt her heart flutter with love when her man proved how much he cared by trying to strangle her. However, in N or M Christie nailed it. Tommy's respect for Tuppence is pretty amazing in that he doesn't expect her to sit at home docilely, and he's quite proud to have her working with him. And Tuppence is so sure of herself and secure in who she and Tommy are together that she doesn't do some of the silly things you see women in older books do. <--fainting, screaming, flittering about making things worse, etc.
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So it's WWII, and Tommy and Tuppence are being told they are too old to do anything to help with the war effort. Which is really funny because they're only in their late 40s early 50s. I think retirement age is what...85 or 90 now? Times have certainly changed. Anyway spoilery things happen, they eventually end up working undercover to try and ferret out two of the top German spies out there. Known only as N and M, they were traced to a small town by a British operative who was killed before he could report his full suspicions.
This is a nice collection of books that showcases some of her different detectives & recurring characters - Marple, Poirot, Superintendent Battle, Ariadne Oliver, and Tommy & Tuppence. I don't think any of these are her "best" books, but all of them are very good. Recommended....more
Ariadne Oliver has a bad feeling about the murder she's planning.
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Of course, Mrs. Oliver is only killing for charity. As a famous mystery writerAriadne Oliver has a bad feeling about the murder she's planning.
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Of course, Mrs. Oliver is only killing for charity. As a famous mystery writer, she's been asked to plan a fake murder and organize the hunt for clues. But there's just something indefinably wrong with the situation. And when she thinks about it for a second? Hey! I know a guy...
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In typical Mrs. Oliver fashion, she informs Poirot that he needs to immediately pack his bags and head her way whether he wants to or not. And in typical Poirot fashion, his curiosity gets the better of him and he shows up in time to meet everyone involved before all the murdering starts.
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Ok, so as much as I love good old Hastings, Ariadne Oliver is my absolute favorite Poirot sidekick. I think it's because it's almost like a funny version of Agatha Christie interacting with her own character on the page.
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The mystery is pretty decent, too. Disguises, secret histories, blackmail, and scary foreigners! Good stuff.
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In case you were wondering: Dead Man's Folly was an expanded version of Hercule Poirot and the Greenshore Folly, which was published posthumously as a short. There are differences between the two stories, but the reason Christie originally abandoned Greenshore Folly was that it was too long to be in a magazine. So? <--you say Well, the proceeds of the magazine story were supposed to go to her church for renovations. Instead, she ended up writing Greenshaw's Folly - a Miss Marple Short Story and giving the money for that one to the church. You're welcome for this useless bit of trivia....more
An angel shows Mary what will happen to baby Jesus when he grows up and then gives her the option to let the angeThe ending made it worthwhile.
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An angel shows Mary what will happen to baby Jesus when he grows up and then gives her the option to let the angel take him to Heaven right then. Each vision she gets is only a snippet without any context, and by the end of it, she's understandably upset.
Of course, this is The Virgin Mary we're talking about here, so she reasons out that God must know what He is doing and opts to keep Jesus. <--I don't think that's exactly a spoiler BUT! (view spoiler)[As the angel turns away to leave he discusses with his minion how he will still have another chance to derail Jesus in the desert when he gets older, and we learn that the angel was actually...LUCIFER!
A mother prays for her son to be normal. Don't we all? In this case, her 13 year old son has the mind of a child much younger and she wants God to heal A mother prays for her son to be normal. Don't we all? In this case, her 13 year old son has the mind of a child much younger and she wants God to heal him. Her husband wants her to accept what they can't change.
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Meanwhile, there has been some kind of a chemical spill or radiation or something that happened a while back. And this boy spends his time naming mutant animals that he finds in their woods. And guess who is helping him? I'll give you a hint: it's not Godzilla.
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Apparently, the mutant lizards and frogbirds are all part of God's plan, and this child is one who can see and understand that God does not live in the church building. There's a new world coming and these strange creatures have a place in it. So, that's nice.
Recommended for Christie completionists like myself....more
Christie writes another religious short, this time about a group of saints that ask to come back to earth to help make a difference. It seems to be setChristie writes another religious short, this time about a group of saints that ask to come back to earth to help make a difference. It seems to be set in the futuristic year 2000, as they talked about some rule that would allow them to do this at the turn of each millennium. The saints didn't feel they had done enough to earn the glories of Heaven and wanted to do more for humanity. Something along those lines. It was too wonky for me, but having read some of Christie's other religious stories, this seemed very on par with how she liked to imagine things.
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I didn't find it particularly interesting but it probably makes sense if you are more familiar with the backstories of the saints. <--I only knew who St. Thomas and St. Peter were and the rest were only ringing very distant bells. I'm trying to be a Christie completionist, so it was nice to tick this one off the list....more
Unbelievably, I've never read any kind of biography on Agatha Christie. So all of this (or most of it) was new to me. And it made me want to read more aUnbelievably, I've never read any kind of biography on Agatha Christie. So all of this (or most of it) was new to me. And it made me want to read more about her life. So good job, Maureen!
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I've read almost everything Christie has ever written, but I'm still missing the romance books she wrote under her pen name and her autobiography. I know. How can I even call myself a fan?! I'm working on remedying that now, and am especially looking forward to reading Unfinished Portrait, as it is apparently loosely based on her and her second husband's love story.
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Seems to be a great jumping-off point for anyone who is interested in reading about Christie, but I don't know how it stacks up for those who have already done a deep dive into her life.
On a side note: Corrigan goes out of her way not to spoil the plots of any of Christie's books when she talks about the impact of certain ones. It's hard to talk about why so many people were upset over The Murder of Roger Akroyd while not spoiling why they were upset. That level of attention lets you know what a huge fan of Christie's work Corrigan is and adds that little extra something to the lecture.
