Poirot Loses a Client (Dumb Witness)

First Published: 1937

Setting: Market Basing

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Hastings, Emily Arundell (deceased)

Important Other People: Miss Lawson, Charles and Theresa Arundell, Bella Tanios, Bob (the dog, and possibly the greatest character in the book)

I love Bob. In a rather unusual move for Agatha, she gives us an insight into Bob's narrative within the overall narrative that is provided by Hastings. I can't think of another time that she does this, or another time that an animal really features prominently in a novel. I'm not sure why she didn't focus more on animals with the fantastic way she writes Bob and the insights that she gives us into his personality. They are really spot-on for an English terrier.

In the novel, we are told that "It's no good making a fuss after things have happened." Obviously, this is untrue considering the way that Hercule Poirot takes on this case and fights for his client, even though she is dead and buried without any suspicion of foul play. Of course Hercule would be able to find the mystery and pinpoint the murderer without ever having met Emily Arundell and without the support of an investigation by the police. He does get support from Bob- I think the only time an animal helps to elucidate a case for Poirot.

Interesting facts: According to Matthew Bunson, Bob was probably based off a Agatha's own dog named Peter. The book was also dedicated to Peter. Plot idea originally came from one of Agatha's short stories, "How Does Your Garden Grow." Hastings' last appearance until Curtain (sniff!)

Favorite? A very good one. I love Emily Arundell, even though we don't really get to meet her in the sense that she isn't alive during the book, but I love her feisty attitude. I also love Bob. I don't know why Agatha didn't feature more dogs in her books, because she really writes them well.

Death by: Phosphorus poisoning, chloral

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 48

The Count: Poirot-14, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-7, Japp-6, Colonel Race-2, Superintendent Battle-3, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 2, Mrs. Oliver-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: Old people don't understand what it is to live (I disagree). People are prepared to be unscrupulous if paid. The law has a lot of latitude. One must go not by one's feelings but by facts. Every man for himself. Those that isn't married don't know what trouble is. Taste is one thing, brains are another. It's a great drawback to be so sensitive (I can vouch for that!). It's no good making a fuss after things have happened. Sometimes tomorrow is a long way off. Tomorrow succeeds today with monotonous regularity. (those last two directly contradict each other, but both have good advice)

Up Next: Death on the Nile

The ABC Murders

First Published: 1936

Setting: Andover, Bexhill-on-sea, Churston, Doncaster, London

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Hastings, Japp, Inspector Crome

Important Other People: Alexander Bonaparte Cust, Megan Barnard, Donald Fraser, Franklin Clark, Mary Drower, Thora Grey

I feel like Agatha wanted to take on a story about a serial killer, then realized that it would have to be about the human element (that she understands so well), and so made a serial killer with a twist story that we love so much. There is discussion in the book about the motivation for serial killers, which I don't know how much of I agree with. Poirot basically says that it is a very specific niche that serial killers fall into, so it's quite difficult to be a true one. It is far easier to find a murderer who commits a murder for their own personal motive- going back to the discussion on motives and why these crimes are committed.

Another aspect of this book that I really like is that it is very much in the public eye (in the world of the novel). I often wonder how much people know about these cases that Poirot deals with. Mention is often made about it being in the papers and people remembering various cases, but this is one that was made extremely public and, what's more, it was thought to be a homicidal maniac on the loose, killing people based on an alphabetical complex, and so there was a chance that people in other places could be affected by it (and not just relatives of the victim, as is usually the case with Poirot).

I enjoy the dual narrative of the story because we get to hear about the case from different points of view, which lets us have additional insight. I always enjoy when Hastings narrates because we get to see his thoughts on the case (which are remarkably similar to my own: as in, 'what's going on??'), but I like that we also get to hear about it from the point of view of the...murderer (kind of). A plot device from The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, but different this time because we feel like we're getting two sides of the story, yet there still is something missing...

Interesting facts: Talks about Poirot's idea of a perfect murder- his "crime to order," with 4 people playing bridge ad someone gets murdered. Cards on the Table coming soon! Presented in a dual-narrative form. A VIDEO GAME was made based on the book- what??? Why have I never played it??

Favorite? Yes. (one of them)

Death by: Cosh, strangulation, stabbing

Body Count: 4; Cumulative: 41

The Count: Poirot-11, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-6, Japp-6, Colonel Race-1, Superintendent Battle-2, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: Time is remorseless. Even the most sober person is liable to have his head turned by success. You can't catch a train earlier than when it leaves. Words are the outer clothing of ideas. A hobby is a great consolation to a man. There is nothing so dangerous for anyone who has something to hide as conversation. Speech is an invention of man's to keep him from thinking. Intuition is really an impression based on logical deduction or experience.

Up Next: Murder in Mesopotamia

Thirteen at Dinner

First Published: 1933

Setting: London

Starring: Poirot, Hastings, Lady Edgware

Important Other People: Japp, Carlotta Adams

First of all: I will never understand why people in Agatha's fictional world constantly call Hercule Poirot in to look into some mystery, when they are the ones culpable in the end. Why do so many people think so little of him?? You think they would have learned by now. Sigh.

The plot of the book revolves around the personality of Lady Edgware, and how self-absorbed she is, to the point of total disregard of the rest of humanity. She is similar to Nick Buckley in that they both know what they want and they don't care who gets hurt so that they can get it.

This is the first of Agatha's books with what I call the "three death pattern." One person is murdered, for some specific motive, and then two other people are eventually killed, usually for safety reasons. Both the second and third murders in this book are purely for the murderer's safety, whereas the first murder is solely for gain. Many of Agatha's next books follow this three death pattern, and while it keeps the book moving and the plot full of twists, it becomes kind of a standard.

There are a lot of allusions to other books in this story. There is a mention of the one clue Poirot ever found, which happened in Murder on the Links. There is also the idea of a chance statement by a stranger leading to the discovery of the crime (The Boomerang Clue). We'll explore that in a few books.

Interesting facts: Dedicated to archaeologists who Agatha and her husband (Max Mallowan) were on a dig with at the time. There was some consternation over an expensive table she wanted to write the book on, and Dr. Thompson was not happy about it. He eventually gave way, which lead to Agatha dedicating the book to him. Also, according to her autobiography, a skeleton they dug up was named Lord Edgware. Oh, archaeological humor!

Favorite? Eh. I like the questions posed by Poirot, although it takes so long for them to get resolved!

Death by: Stabbing, veronal

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 29

The Count: Poirot-7, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-5, Japp-4, Colonel Race-1, Superintendent Battle-2, George-1, Goby-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: People interested only in themselves lead dangerous lives. Every human being has the right to live. One will stand a good deal from a beautiful woman. Everyone has got to put up with something. The less said in life, the better. Each individual should develop his own powers to the utmost, not try to imitate those of someone else (even though Carlotta Adams was praised in the book for her imitation skills). It is a great misfortune for a man to have a wife who loves him. Sons never want to marry the girls their mothers want them to marry.

Up Next: Murder on the Orient Express

Peril at End House

First Published: 1932

Setting: St Loo, Cornwall

Starring: Poirot, Hastings, Nick Buckley

Important Other People: Japp, Freddie, Commander Challenger

There are a lot of allusions in this story to some of Poirot's past successes (as well as to his one failure!) The number of references to The Mystery of the Blue Train make me wonder- was she trying to play up the book so we forgot how bad it was? Or maybe it was just to establish a frame of reference in Poirot's life so we know what he's been up to since his last book. Poirot also talks about himself; how he's "not a stage favorite who gives a dozen farewells." Such lies from Poirot.

Nick, as the central figure in the story, continually thought she knew better than Poirot. Although she often got the best of him or made him look foolish, she was never able to predict his reactions, and thus she could not really understand him and get the best of him.

One theme thoroughly explored in this book is that of motives. The main ones mentioned are: homicidal mania (which Poirot dismisses in pretty much every case), hate, temper, gain, jealousy, fear, and the crime passionnel. This is the fullest explanation we've been given so far about motives, and we'll have to watch out for more mention of it.

One thing I noticed: Hastings is always the one to give evidence at the inquest if they need someone; Poirot rarely gives evidence. Hasn't anyone become suspicious of this man who constantly is on the spot when there is a murder?? Has no one thought that Hastings might be a serial killer?? Just a thought.

Interesting facts: The book is dedicated to a friend who first really critiqued Agatha's writing and gave her constructive feedback. As to the story itself, she says, "Peril at End House was another of my books which left so little impression on my mind that I cannot even remember writing it. Possibly I had already thought out the plot some time previously, since this has always been a habit of mine..."

Favorite? Eh. Good twists, for sure. Reinforcement of the idea that we aren't supposed to trust anyone or take anything someone says as true.

Death by: shooting, cocaine overdose

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 26

The Count: Poirot-6, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-4, Japp-3, Colonel Race-1, Superintendent Battle-2, George-1, Goby-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: The sleeping dog can be roused. Anything young is beautiful. There is always something to live for. Evil never goes unpunished, but sometimes it's secret(ly punished). How often the simple explanation is the true one.

Up Next: Thirteen at Dinner

The Big Four- Day 8

First Published: 1927

Setting: England, Paris, Belgium, Italy

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Hastings

Important Other People: Japp, Countess Vera Rosakoff, The Big Four, Achille Poirot

One thing I do appreciate about this particular book is that, because it is a novel about spies, secret societies, and an international mystery, there should be plenty of dead bodies lying around. Many accidents are mentioned (like the submarines sinking), so we know that the Big Four is at work outside of what we read, but Hercule and Hastings also become directly involved in a number of deaths. I count 11 for sure deaths in this book- the most, I think, of any of her novels.

One main annoyance: Poirot goes on about what a wonderful actor Number Four must be that he is able to assume all of these different characters. We see him as an asylum worker, a butcher, a doctor, a manservant, a chess master, and idiot son, a man who plays with salt on Hastings' plate, and a tourist. Out of all of these different disguises, I find it hard to believe that there are barely any similarities Poirot and Hastings notice about the man (aside from the one tell). His appearance is said to be medium and fair, which means it's easy for him to change what he looks like, but I can't imagine there are no physical features that they can recognize about him.

At the end of the adventure, Poirot tells Hastings that he will retire now that he has solved this most illustrious case, and that he will go grow vegetable marrows in the country (a vegetable marrow, by the way, is a squash). Something is out of sequence here then, since he went and grew marrows in Roger Ackroyd.

Interesting facts: This book came out right after Agatha's husband had ditched her for another woman, her mother had passed away, and she had mysteriously disappeared for a few days. So, a rough time in her life, but she still made it through!

Favorite? So-so. It is entirely different from almost all of her other books- international intrigue abounds.

Death by: Prussic acid (Mayerling), Stabbing (Whalley, Ingles' servant), Poison (Paynter), Electrocution (Wilson), Run over (Flossie), Drowning (Ingles), Explosions (The Big Four)

Body Count: 11 (that we know of for sure); Cumulative: 20

The Count: Poirot-4, Miss. Marple-0, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-3, Japp-2, Colonel Race-1, Superintendent Battle-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: What you think is always so important to yourself (Poirot to Hastings). One must not permit oneself to be obsessed by one idea. Forecast the probable result of the deal. If one is prepared in advance all is simple. It is the greatest mistake to underestimate your adversary. A man who keeps calm has always a great advantage. Everyone has his price.

Up Next: The Mystery of the Blue Train

Murder on the Links- Day 4

First Published: 1923

Setting: Merlinville-sur-mer, France

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Arthur Hastings

Important Other People: Cinderella, The Renaulds, Giraud

Reading Agathas throughout my life, I had never really heard of Murder on the Links until I sought it out on my own. I didn't typically find it in bookstores or at tag sales; instead, I only found it at a used book store once I knew it existed. This is odd to me because it is such a good story and so unique in its plot. Also, Hastings finds his lady love in it! We always hear about his penchant for auburn hair and ladies in distress, and he is forever musing about how lovely different ladies he meets throughout the cases are, but here we actually meet his future wife! And no one ever talks about this book. I would like to point out one more thing about Hastings: we meet Giraud, who not only is the human foxhound whose methods Hastings finds better suited to his idea of what a detective should be, but he also has an auburn mustache and hair! Definitely not a coincidence.

The plot of this book is significantly different from most of her other books because Poirot reveals most of the truth halfway through the book. Usually, he saves all of his secrets till the end, dropping Hastings and the reader some hints that of course are too obscure for us to understand, and continually chastises Hastings (and us) about our lack of intelligence and our misuse of the little grey cells. Murder on the Links is different because, in order to fully develop Hastings and Cinderella's relationship and thus find the true murderer, almost all of the case is revealed halfway through. The only key point held back by Poirot is who the actual murderer is, which he needs to get evidence on anyways.

We also get Poirot's theory on motives in this book. In later books, he expands on his theory, but for now (in Agatha time), we just hear three motives:

1. Money

2. The crime passionnel

3. Mental derangement

Think back to all of the murders that have occurred so far throughout Agatha's books, and see if there are any motives that do not fall into one of these three categories (and usually into only the first 2). In later books, there are some, but Poirot expands on this theory later on and adds a few more. Only then do we see murders occurring for different motives.

Agatha also makes a point of stressing the modernized view of women in this book. Along with her depictions of Tuppence, we see Cinderella as a lower class girl who has to work to earn her living and is also willing to stand up for herself and her family no matter what. This image strays from the views of the time that showed women to be meek and feminine to the utmost degree.

Interesting facts: Japp is also briefly mentioned in this book! Also, we get to see the human foxhound in progress.

Favorite? Kind of. I love that Hastings finally finds his lady love (although she doesn't have auburn hair!)

Death by: Stabbing (Mr. Renauld). I will not count the epileptic fit of the tramp, or the bashed in hid of the murderer (or murderess???) since they fell.

Body Count: 1; Cumulative: 3 (again, the natural deaths do not count, only the murders)

The Count: Poirot-2, Miss. Marple-0, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-2, Japp-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: "If a girl respects herself, it's up to her not to let herself get slack." (thanks, Cinderella!) Always look under the mats (good for housekeeping as well as life). Crimes are very much the same everywhere. You can't help who you fall in love with (probably the most realistic life lesson of the book)

Up Next: The Man in the Brown Suit

The Mysterious Affair at Styles- Day 2

First Published: 1920

Setting: Essex

Starring: Poirot, Hastings

Important Other People: John and Mary Cavendish

In The Mysterious Affair at Styles, we are introduced both to Hastings and to Poirot. The time period is after the first World War, during which Hastings had been injured and Poirot had fled to England from Belgium. We also find out that Hastings and Poirot knew each other even before this time period, and that Poirot "had been in his time one of the most celebrated members of the Belgian police." Meaning, of course, that Poirot is past his prime, which lets me know that in the 70s, when the last books are published, that Poirot is at least 50 years past his prime. But I don't really care about the timeline, since Poirot has some supernatural elements about him anyways.

Styles also introduces us to Enquire Within Upon Everything, a book that I wonder why is not in everyone's household these days. Regardless, it's on its way to being in my house so that I can learn all about how Victorians solved all their problems.

Agatha makes use of her extended knowledge of poisons to show how a murder can be successfully committed, although I don't understand why so many regular people know so much about strychnine. Everything I know about poisons I learned from Agatha, so I can't imagine that too many people know all about poisons. Maybe I'll get that knowledge from Enquire Within.

There is one thing about this book that bothers me very much. Why does Hastings consistently belittle Poirot's skills, only to reassert over and over again that he guesses he hasn't actually lost his touch? It's so annoying. Obviously Hercule never loses his touch and never will, but Hastings thinks he does over and over again. I know Hastings is supposed to be kind of an idiot, but come on. It gets old and this is only the first book.

Interesting facts: Poirot has Belgian roommates (where do they go after this book?) Japp's first name is Jimmy.

Favorite? Of me, no, but probably because it's not the first one I read. If it had been, I think I would have appreciated the plot twists more. BUT, it did ensure that I would have a nearly endless supply of books to read throughout my lifetime. Of Agatha, I think so.

Death by: Strychnine

Body Count: 1

The Count: Poirot-1, Miss. Marple-0, Tommy and Tuppence-0, Hastings-1, Japp-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: A tragedy can ignite or reignite true love. Don't propose to someone because you feel bad for them (cough, cough, Hastings). The obvious person is often the culprit, no matter how sneaky they are.

Up Next: The Secret Adversary