A collection of short, clever cases for Hercule Poirot, narrated by his loyal friend Captain Hastings, from stolen jewels to a vanished banker
Short cases, sharp solutions
In these early short stories, Hercule Poirot works from his London rooms with his friend Captain Hastings at his side. The cases range widely: a famous diamond under threat, a suspicious insurance death in a country house, a flat rented at a suspiciously low price, a kidnapping of national importance, a banker who disappears without trace and a curse on the members of an archaeological expedition. Each story is a compact puzzle with Poirot's characteristic flourish at the end.
Who will enjoy it
Readers new to Christie who want a quick taste of Poirot, fans who enjoy bite-sized puzzles, and anyone looking for mysteries to read in short sittings.
What you will get
An early collection of short, playful Poirot cases narrated by Captain Hastings, each a compact puzzle with a neat twist and plenty of the detective's vanity.
Poirot Investigates Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Mystery & Thriller · Hercule Poirot · Short stories · Captain Hastings
Length
272 pages · ≈ 8 h
More about this book
These stories show Christie learning the craft of the short mystery, and many are delightful. Each sets up a problem quickly, scatters a few clues and lets Poirot explain everything with a flourish. The Hastings and Poirot partnership is at its most comic here: Hastings jumps to conclusions, Poirot gently mocks him, and the reader enjoys watching both.
Highlights include the case of the cheap flat, which has a clever and surprising premise, and the story of the vanishing banker, which Poirot solves without leaving his armchair. The tale of the Egyptian tomb plays with the idea of a curse while keeping firmly to rational explanations, in true Christie style.
Short stories leave little room for character or atmosphere, and some of the solutions rely on disguises or coincidences that would not satisfy in a full novel. Story lists vary between editions, so check which version you are buying. As a light introduction to Poirot, or a treat for fans, it is very enjoyable. The stories also work well read aloud, one per evening, since most can be finished in under half an hour and each ends with a satisfying reveal. About 272 pages in the William Morrow paperback.
The Murder on the Links
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Partners in Crime
Murder on the Orient Express
The Man in the Brown Suit
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
Lord Edgware Dies
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
Dumb Witness
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and a Selection of Entrées
Death in the Clouds
A Murder Is Announced