4:50 From Paddington (What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw)

First Published: 1957
Setting: Brackhampton 

Starring: Miss Marple, Lucy Eyelesbarrow, Dermot Craddock

Important Other People: Luther, Cedric, Harold, Alfred, and Emma Crackenthorpe, Bryan and Alexander Eastley, Dr. Quimper

Let's just forget the fact that the way Miss Marple figured out what train the murder occurred on is highly improbable, and that she discovered where the body would have fallen is definitively impossible, and just go with the fact that she is amazing to have deduced all that. I like that her efforts are carefully documented so that we see that it is minutely possible for her to have figured everything out because it makes it more realistic. It is so useful to have such illustrious neighbors and relatives! 

Obviously, the Crackenthorpe's are very similar to the Lee's (Hercule Poirot's Christmas). I like some of them anyways. Luther and Simeon are both sneaky and creepy, but it makes them endearing. I like the setup of the family (also similar to A Pocketful of Rye) because there are lots more characters to be killed off so that the ones we like don't end up dying. Also, that much more intrigue is added to the plot. Lucy is amazing. I have no idea why she didn't appear in any other books. She is resourceful, excellent at her job, and loyal to all of her employers. I appreciate how she goes along with Miss Marple's plan simply because she is interested- as she should be! I would be too, with that crazy story about a dead body from a train.

One thing that is alluded to in the book is that the war and its effects are still very much present in 1957. Bryan suffers heavily in that he is unable to find a job that suits him; the courageous lifestyle he had during the war was more his style. Also, how the house has gone to ruin since the war negatively affects Emma and Luther. There is also the idea that people no longer knew who others were- people could claim their own histories, and no one was able to disprove them because everything had been disrupted since the war. 

One last thing: usually, Hercule deals with romance, and we know exactly what will happen. But here, who does she end up with??? Miss Marple says its obvious, but I'm not sure! What do you think??

Interesting facts: Raymond West and Sir Henry Clithering are mentioned. The train in the book leaves at 4:54, even though the title is 4:50- one of the publishers changed the title from 4:54. I always wondered about that.

Favorite? Yes. Lucy is awesome, Alexander is awesome, Miss Marple is awesome. The way she figured things out is amazing, to say the least.

Death by: strangulation, arsenic, acontine 

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 134

The Count: Poirot-26, Miss Marple-7, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-6, Goby-2, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-3, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1, Miss Lemon-2

Agatha's Life Lessons: A true lady can neither be shocked nor surprised. To gain money one must exploit shortage. One gets used to everything. Young men are fools. You despise money when you haven't got any. If you look prosperous, people think you are prosperous. 

Up Next: Ordeal by Innocence

Dead Man's Folly

First Published: 1956
Setting: Devon

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Mrs. Oliver, Amy Folliat, Sir George Stubbs, Hattie

Important Other People: Amanda Brewis, Michael Weyman, Alec and Peggy Legge, Marlene Tucker, Merdell

The setup for the plot is awesome. First of all, by fete, I assume they mean carnival, which is fun. I also like the idea of the Murder Hunt, even though the results are tragic. I don't quite get how someone could have influenced Mrs. Oliver without her realizing it. I feel like she would have been able to figure out who was trying to manipulate her. It's like in that episode of The Office where Michael spreads a bunch of rumors, and everyone gets together and figures out that he was the source of them all. It just seems a bit unrealistic that she was unable to at least have an idea of who was manipulating her. Also, if someone really wanted to kill Marlene, there probably could have been an easier way for that to happen than by a small chance that she might be the victim in the Murder Hunt.


Anyway, another aspect that bothers me is that, a lot of the time, some characters know some information, but (aside from the murderer) one person never really knows everything (except The Hollow, where everyone knows everything, and Elephants Can Remember, but that will come later). Here, though, Amy Folliat knows everything and is just so unhelpful to Poirot. You'd think she would want to help a little bit because she loves some of the people that were killed, but she just wants to shut everything out and pretend things are not happening. She makes me mad. 


There are also a ton of red herrings and just overall confusing things happening that obscure the real problems. I guess this happens often with Agatha, just some of the ones in this book bother me. The boy in the turtle shirt, for example. 

Interesting facts: Hastings is mentioned. It's been awhile since he's been in a book. The house in the book, Nasse House, is modeled after Agatha's house in Devon, the Greenway Estate. It was her favorite residence.

Favorite? Not too bad. I like the idea of it, but not a lot of the characters.

Death by: strangulation, drowning, unknown

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 131

The Count: Poirot-26, Miss Marple-6, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-6, Goby-2, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-3, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1, Miss Lemon-2

Agatha's Life Lessons: However large and beautiful the flowers, if the earthly roots are destroyed, there will be no more flowers. So much depends on how you look at a thing. Girls don't mind what their mothers say to them. Most men can look after themselves, or ought to be able to. Women tell a lot of lies. Without quarrels and reconciliations, life would be drab. 

Up Next: 4:50 from Paddington

Hickory Dickory Death (Hickory Dickory Dock)

First Published: 1955
Setting: London

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Mrs. Hubbard, Inspector Sharpe

Important Other People: Nigel Chapman, Mrs. Nicoletis, Valerie Hobhouse, Sally Finch, Len Bateson, Celia Austin, Elizabeth Johnston, Patricia Lane, Colin McNabb, Akibombo (my favorite)

I know my version is called Hickory Dickory Dock, but Hickory Dickory Death is just a way cooler name. 


I love this book. It's my favorite of all of her books. It's so wonderful. Go read it now if you haven't. There's poison, comedy, Hercule, romance, murder, nursery rhymes, drugs, jewels. What more could you ask for?? Poirot is so clever in this book. He just figures everything out and unravels more mysteries and just knows everything. I like how everyone in the hostel has a part in the unraveling of the mystery as well, especially Akibombo because he is the best.


There's also some communism in this book as well! The 50s were a scary time. 


The whole part with the poison bet is amazing. I don't know how much of it would work nowadays, but it is still pretty badass. Even if Nigel is a jerk.


Miss Lemon has to show up for work at 10a.m. I used to have to show up for work at 7a.m. Do people still go to work so late in London? It seems inefficient. And unfair.


Read this book.

Interesting facts: Mrs. McGinty is mentioned, as well as The Nemean Lion, a case from The Labors of Hercules. Countess Vera Rossakoff, the love of Hercule's life, is also mentioned. There is also mention of the "Abernathy business" that may be a reference to Funerals are Fatal, but in the book, the family is Abernathie. Also, the solicitor in the book is Entwhistle, not Endicott, but I think it's supposed to be the same person. This is Miss Lemon's first appearance! She is the best. 

Favorite? YES. I've read this book so many times that it literally is falling apart and has to be held together with tape. 

Death by: morphia, poison, cosh on the head

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 128

The Count: Poirot-25, Miss. Marple-6, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-5, Goby-2, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-2, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1, Miss Lemon-1

Agatha's Life Lessons:  People do all sorts of funny things. No one is as clever as they think they are (except Hercule, of course!). Don't trust people who live beyond their means.

Up Next: Dead Man's Folly

Destination Unknown

First Published: 1954
Setting: The Unit, Somewhere in the North African Desert

Starring: Hilary Craven, Tom Betterton, Mr. Jessop, Andrew Peters

Important Other People: Monsieur Leblanc, Mr. Aristides, the Director

What I like about all of Agatha's espionage books is that they are written from a woman's perspective, and thus a bit softer than Ian Fleming or The Bourne Identity or whatever. Also, there's always a little bit of Agatha-styled romance in them! It's not as intense as other spy thrillers, and everything works out in the end with a minimum of deaths. Which is funny considering how many people die in her other books. 


The whole book revolves around defection to the Soviet Union in the 1950s. It touches on the themes of communism, nuclear fission and atom bombs, and witch hunts such as were happening in the US at the time. It is interesting the different people that were persuaded to join The Unit, leaving their lives behind for the cause of science. But apparently that happened in real life at the time! (see below) From what I gather, the whole essence of defection behind the Iron Curtain (I love when they say that in the book) is because they all want to pool their scientific knowledge. That's a nice thought, but obviously, countries don't always act in the best interest of humanity.


Aristides is said to have yellow hands. Again, we get this theme of yellow = money. Indeed it does, since he funds the entire Unit. 


One last thing, and this is according to Wikipedia (Matthew Bunson let me down this time) is that the book mirrors Agatha's own marriage breakdown after she had a daughter. Her husband, just like Hilary's, left her for a younger woman. Unlike Hilary, her daughter did not die. I also like how Mr. Jessop talked Hilary out of suicide and into espionage. Perhaps that's what Agatha wished had happened to her!

Interesting facts: This is the only book that does not revolve around a murder, or have murders in it. The person who was killed was killed before the time period in the book, and we don't know that the case is being investigated until the end of the book. The book is similar in style to a James Bond book by Ian Fleming, but less intense (and sexual). According to Wikipedia, the scientific defections in the book are reminiscent of two cases during the 1950s: Bruno Pontecorvo and Klaus Fuchs, two scientists who both defected to the Soviet Union. Crazy!

Favorite? Of all of the espionage books, not my favorite. I like it better than a lot of the espionage books without recurring characters, but it's all Cold War stuff. 

Death by: Poison: No deaths during the book, but that has happened before and I've still counted it.

Body Count: 1; Cumulative: 125

The Count: Poirot-24, Miss. Marple-6, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-4, Goby-2, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-2, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: Labels are not always correct. One could bear things so long as there was a reason to bear them. There's always a way. Once you get into the state of mind where the taking of human lives no longer counts, the fact that six other people will die is not even considered. When you cage a bird, if you give it all that it needs, it forgets in the end that it was ever free. One can be absolutely sure of nothing in this world. The old like to remember. 

Up Next: Hickory Dickory Death

A Pocketful of Rye

First Published: 1953
Setting: Baydon Heath, Surrey

Starring: Miss Marple, Rex, Adele, Elaine, Jennifer, Percival, Pat, and Lance Fortescue, Inspector Neele

Important Other People: Mary Dove, Vivian Dubois, the Crumps, Gladys Martin

The main concern I have is that this family allows a strange old woman into their home to investigate the crimes that have occurred. Now really, do we think that's a good idea? We've already had plenty of examples of crazy old ladies from other stories by Agatha, so we know that they did indeed exist during the 1950s. Good thing it was Miss Marple and not that crazy old lady Tommy and Tuppence know. It's very odd that Inspector Neele would allow Miss Marple to take such a large hand in the investigation. 

I didn't know General Paralysis of the Insane was a real thing, but when I looked it up, Wikipedia informed me that it is caused by syphilis. Nowhere in the book did I find mention that Rex had syphilis, but this was a classy family. 

Similar to Hercule Poirot's Christmas: The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small. Poor Rex. Poor Simeon. Maybe that's why you shouldn't let wealth go to your head. People get jealous, and then they kill you.

Interesting facts: Sir Henry is mentioned (my favorite). One of several books modeled after a nursery rhyme. 

Favorite? I do like this one quite a lot. Good characters, good twists. I feel bad for some of them, though. 

Death by: taxine, cyanide, strangulation

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 124

The Count: Poirot-24, Miss. Marple-6, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-4, Goby-2, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-2, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: Things you remember come in useful sometimes. "Life is cruel, I'm afraid."~Miss Marple. The mills of God grind slowly. You can't just stick labels on people. They're all very unpleasant people. If you've had a happy childhood, nobody can take that away from you. You can't change people. Human nature is much the same everywhere. People aren't always what they think themselves to be. Always think the worst. Children have got a lot of sense. You can't always help loving a sinner. One needs a great deal of courage to get through life. The wicked should not go unpunished. 

Up Next: Destination Unknown

Funerals are Fatal (After the Funeral)

First Published: 1953
Setting: Yorkshire

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Mr. Entwhistle

Important Other People: Abernethie's, Cora Lansquenet, Miss Gilchrist

I will say about this book that I like the twists near the end. The murder weapon is incredibly out of character, though.

Interesting facts: Apparently Enderby Hall is loosely based off of Abney Hall, where Agatha spent a lot of time.

Favorite? No. It always reminds me of Dumb Witness, except Emily Arundell is way cooler than Cora.

Death by: hatchet

Body Count: 1; Cumulative: 121

The Count: Poirot-24, Miss. Marple-5, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-4, Goby-2, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-2, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: The value of money is always relative. A woman who could be intelligent about everything else in the world could be a complete fool when it came to some particular man. You can only say what you really think to someone of your own generation. Life is hell for elderly people. It's a waste of time, having regrets. Nobody ever sees themselves as they appear to other people. You cannot give to people what they are incapable of receiving. So few people know what they want. One ought to plan one's life just as one wants it to be. There are moments when economy should be abandoned. 

Up Next: A Pocketful of Rye

Murder with Mirrors (They Do It with Mirrors)

First Published: 1952
Setting: Stonygates 

Starring: Miss Marple, Carrie Louise, Lewis Serrocold

Important Other People: Mildred Strete, Gina and Wally Hudd, Jolly, Alex and Stephen Restarick, Edgar Lawson, Christian Gulbrandsen, Inspector Curry

Agatha tends to set her murders in rich country houses with beautiful gardens, or in exotic places with wealthy people. What I like about Murder with Mirrors is that it takes place in a school for young criminals. Automatically, we start with a whole new type of character than we are used to, which makes the book more exciting. To me, I think Agatha could have done a lot more with the criminals, giving some of them bigger parts in the story and allowing more interactions between them and the family members. I like that we get to see a little bit of Ernie and hear about his escapades, but I think his part could have been bigger. On the other hand, the character of Edgar Lawson was overdone and completely unlikable, which made the story less enjoyable. I think Agatha realized she could have included the younger people more in the book, which may have led to Hickory Dickory Death only a few years later. 

One other thing I would like to point out is how Poirot always suspects the husband in the case of a wife's murder, or the wife in the case of a husband's murder. That being said, Carrie Louise was not killed, so that does not strictly apply here, but there are definite correlations between Lewis Serrocold and Alfred Inglethorp. The characters are basically the same in that they are groveling men who married rich women, ensuring their financial security, but not accepting that as enough. They both are greedy individuals who want more than what they have, and they make everyone's lives turn upside down because of it.

Interesting facts: We learn a lot about Miss Marple's life as a young girl- her adventures growing up and living in Italy for a bit. The novel is also a tad racist against Italians (as we often find with Agatha), which could have had something to do with the recent war. 

Favorite? Hmm. I like that it involves young criminals (because why not, I'm a teacher), and I like the crazy family dynamics that are a result of the different marriages and adoptions that have occurred throughout Carrie Louise's life. I can't say that I know of any families personally that have a story that is remotely similar to hers, but that could have been something that was going on in England in the 50s. Either way, I like it just fine.

Death by: shooting, crushing, drowning

Body Count: 5; Cumulative: 120

The Count: Poirot-23, Miss. Marple-5, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-3, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-2, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: Nobody can improve your life for you but yourself. The secret of existence is that we're all a little mad. Things always have to be faced sooner or later. So few people ever look like what they really are. Women have a much worse time of it in the world than men do. When you only look at one side of a thing, you only see one side. What is reality and what is illusion? So many people with good hearts have no sense. People who can be very good can be very bad, too. If you're good, you have to be humble as well. 

Up Next: Funerals are Fatal