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

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

A Murder is Announced

First Published: 1950
Setting: Chipping Cleghorn 

Starring: Miss Marple, Letitia Blacklock, Dora Bunner, Inspector Craddock

Important Other People: Patrick and Julia, Pip and Emma, Hincliffe and Murgatroyd, Mitzi, Philipa Haymes, Colonel and Mrs. Easterbrook, Edmund and Mrs. Swettenham, Bunch Harmon, Belle Goedler

Sticking with the theme of the post-war world, we are reminded at the beginning that all you know about people is what they say of themselves. Just like in Roger Ackroyd, we need to remember that that statement applies to everyone. No one is exactly who they seem. Due to all of the disruption that occurred after World War II, it was much more difficult to establish connections with people or to find a common friend or relative. There was also the secret black market world that was going on, even with seemingly-respectable spinsters and other pillars of the community. England after the war was much different than it had been before the war, and even people living in small villages had to adjust their worldviews accordingly. 


In keeping with the idea of a disrupted world, this is the first book where we get explicit talk of premarital relations, but still couched in Agatha's Victorian terminology. Referring to war widows, Edmund says he'll "take her to bed." This to me is a clear indication of goings-on that should not be going on, and it once again shows how much England changed in the years right after the war. 


I don't really have anything else to say without giving a ton of plot points away, but I do have to say that if you haven't read this book, you need to. It's one of the best, for sure, and it's one of my favorites. Mitzi is ridiculous, and Miss Marple is ingenious. It's just so good.

Interesting facts: Sir Henry Clithering and Inspector Craddock are in this book. I love both of them. 

Favorite? Yes. I love how intricate the plot and details are, all of the mystery characters that keep popping up, and how everything really comes together at the end. It is just brilliant. 

Death by: shooting, poisoning, strangulation 

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 111

The Count: Poirot-22, Miss. Marple-4, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-2, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 5, Mrs. Oliver-1, Albert- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: All you know of people is what they say of themselves. Youth is the time to have your fling. People like living. You can get away with a great deal if you have enough audacity. One is alone when the last one who remembers one when they were young is gone. It's never a mistake to marry a man you want to marry- even if you regret it. Weak and kindly people are often very treacherous. People with a grudge against the world are always dangerous. It's what's in yourself that makes you happy or unhappy.

Up Next: They Came to Baghdad 

Crooked House

First Published: 1949
Setting: Swinly Dean

Starring: Charles Hayward, Sophia Leonides, Josephine, Inspector Taverner

Important Other People: Roger, Clemency, Philip, Magda, Edith de Haviland, Brenda Leonides, Laurence Brown, Eustace, Nannie

Much like Taken at the Flood, Crooked House begins with World War II and introduces the drama within the backdrop of the post-war world. The war becomes the reason that Charles and Sophia meet and fall in love, a connection which leads to the events at the Leonides house.  Once again, we get an amateur involving themselves with a police case which is really none of their concern (The Moving Finger, anyone?), but in this instance, if Charles hadn't tried so hard to figure out what was going on, I don't think the case would have been solved. Either that, or the wrong people would have been arrested. 


One of the most interesting things about this book is, like There is a Tide, there is a powerful central male patriarch that the rest of the family revolves around, but that we never get to see. Whereas Gordon Cloade tried to help his family members by encouraging their more obscure interests, thus leaving them floundering when he died, Aristide Leonides provided for his family while he was alive, and safeguarded their future when he died by choosing a single heir to look after the family. I think Agatha may have wanted a do over with the execution of the male patriarch, which is why we get two such similar characters in back-to-back books. Aristide is better executed than Gordon, and we also feel his presence more throughout the book than we did with Gordon. We can more fully understand the dynamic personality he had because it lives on in the house.


Josephine knows everything, and she's always right. She reminds me of Joyce in Hallowe'en Party. They both ended up dead.

Interesting facts: There's an Arsenic and Old Lace shout out! Also, Sherlock Holmes is mentioned, which may be the only time he is mentioned in any of Agatha's novels. As my pal says, the book was "memorable because of the effort by the publisher to change the ending. The editors were unhappy with her choice of murderer, but Christie, as was her policy, refused to budge...The ending for The Crooked House remained unchanged, and the novel continues to shock new readers, much like The Murder of Roger Ackroyd." 

Favorite?  Of Agatha, yes. This was one of her top two favorites. As she says, "Of my detective books, I think the two that satisfy me best are Crooked House and Ordeal by Innocence." Personally, I can't say it's my favorite, but I did write a book report on it once, so I guess I like it enough.

Death by: Eserine (poison), digitalin (poison), driving off a cliff

Body Count: 4; Cumulative: 108

The Count: Poirot-22, Miss. Marple-3, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-2, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 5, Mrs. Oliver-1, Albert- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: There's always a doubt about everything. It's a great mistake ever to say anything when you needn't. Men always think that a caveman must be the only type of person attractive to the opposite sex. If you want to find things out, you have to listen at doors. No show runs itself. Only the people you love can really make life unendurable for you. Love and happiness are two separate things. Men are not born equal. Men must look after themselves. 

Up Next: A Murder is Announced

The Hollow (Murder After Hours)

First Published: 1946
Setting: The Hollow, London

Starring: Hercule Poirot, John Christow, Gerda Christow, Henrietta Savernake

Important Other People: Lucy and Henry Angkatell, Midge Hardcastle, Edward Angkatell, Inspector Grange, Veronica Cray, Mrs. Crabtree, Gudgeon

The enigma of John Christow. I would like to talk to Agatha about how she feels about him. He is a complete contradiction- he is awful to Gerda (who is awful herself) and their children (also awful), he doesn't treat Henrietta well, he overshadows Edward, and he is pompous. At the same time, he is a completely different person when he is with Mrs. Crabtree trying to tackle Ridgeway's disease. Usually, I can tell what characters Agatha expects us to like and which we should dislike based on the descriptions of them that she gives. With John Christow, though, the descriptions differ so wildly throughout the book that I don't know what to think. Overall, I hate him because he is an ass and because he blatantly cheated on his wife in front of the entire house party, as well as surreptitiously with Henrietta, but I love Mrs. Crabtree and I have to like him a little bit because she likes and respects him so much. 


I also have to wonder if John would ever have married Gerda if he had not been coming off the rebound with Veronica Cray. He wants someone to dominate after having just been dominated by Veronica, and so he naturally turns to Gerda, although she is not as weak as he thinks. When he meets Henrietta, he must have realized he made a mistake with Gerda, but it was too late. Besides, he liked dominating Gerda. I hate that John was able to have both of them- Henrietta, at least, had a strong enough personality to stand on her own. 


See, that's part of the problem with John Christow. I hate him, yet I just spent two paragraphs writing about him.


I love the subplot with Midge and Edward, even though it is quite depressing through much of the book. The faithful kind usually get what they want in the end- in Edward's case, he gets what he wants, even if he didn't realize beforehand what exactly it was that he wanted. He knew he wanted Ainswick the way he remembered it from the past, and eventually, he got that. Just not in the way he imagined. 


One small aspect of this book that we do not usually get to see in Agatha's novels are the conversations among the servants. This is helpful because we learn more of the devoted nature of Gudgeon and the other servants to the Angkatells, and we also get more insight than we are used to. The conversations help show how everyone worked together to protect the murderer, which is another unusual aspect. Poirot usually knows who the murderer is before anyone else in the book does, but in The Hollow, everyone else knows who murdered John, and we have to watch Poirot try to stay one step ahead of everyone's intentions to save the murderer. 


One last thing: Poirot always considers the human aspect of his cases, but this one is particularly difficult- there are children in this case that are going to have one parent murdered and the other one hanged. To compensate for that, Poirot offers another solution- poison. The children will still be orphans, but there may be less animosity towards society when they grow up (especially with Terence). 

Interesting facts: According to my pal Matthew Bunson, "The Hollow was the first Christie novel published after the end of World War II...the setting for this story, the country house of the Angkatells, was based on the real-life house of the famous British stage actor Francis L. Sullivan and his wife at Hazlemere, Surrey." Agatha acknowledges the use of their house as the setting in her dedication, "For Larry and Danae, with apologies for using their swimming pool as the scene of a murder." Agatha herself adapted The Hollow into a play. She writes, "It was, of course, in some ways rather more of a novel than a detective story. The Hollow was a book I always thought I had ruined by the introduction of Poirot. I had got used to having Poirot in my books, and so naturally he had come into this one, but he was all wrong there. He did his stuff all right, but how much better, I kept thinking, would the book have been without him. So when I came to sketch out the play, out went Poirot." Agatha adds that the success of The Hollow as a play helped spur her on to write more plays. 

Favorite? Yes. So favorite, in fact, that I went to see a production of the play with my family at a theater in the country. Talk about high quality acting...especially the guy who played Sergeant Clark. I would like to point out that, in the play, John Christow is still a respected doctor from Harley Street, but the whole subplot with Mrs. Crabtree and Ridgeway's disease is left out. Accordingly, the John in the play has little to no redeeming qualities, and is thus a lot easier to dislike than the John in the book.

Death by: shooting, poison

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 101

The Count: Poirot-22, Miss. Marple-3, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 4, Mrs. Oliver-1, Albert- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: There can be a certain zest to existence. One can't go back (into the past). Some people are wise- they never expect to be happy. Servants can be very useful (shoutout to Gudgeon!) Expressions can be very helpful. The eyes see sometimes what they are meant to see. Police don't always consider the human aspect (but don't worry, because Poirot does). It is hard to tell right from wrong when right is unpleasant and wrong is agreeable. The faithful kind usually get what they want in the end. Despair is coldness and loneliness. 

Up Next: Taken at the Flood

Death Comes As the End

First Published: 1944

Setting: Thebes, ancient Egypt

Starring: Renisenb, Imhotep, Esa, Yahmose, Sobek, Hori, Henet

Important Other People: Nofret, Satipy, Ipy, Kait

Death Comes As the End begins with an introduction by Agatha Christie. As she says, she wrote this book with the advice and guidance of an Egyptologist, Stephen Glanville. As he said to her, "'There is no reason why a detective story shouldn't be just as easy to place in ancient Egypt as in 1943 in England.'" I like Agatha's next thoughts, as they correspond so well with Miss Marple's constant saying: "I saw what he meant. People are the same in whatever century they live, or where." According to her autobiography, Agatha got her ideas from a series of letters from a Ka Priest in the 11th Dynasty. Throughout the writing process, she "...was continually ringing him up and demanding information which, as he said, only took me three minutes to ask for, but which he usually had to look through eight different books to find." She sent Glanville the manuscript to read, and he informed her that he did not like the ending very much. Based on his feedback, she changed the ending, which was "...the first and only time that she changed an ending at someone else's urging." As she says, "If I think I have got a certain thing right in a book- the way it should be- I'm not easily moved from it. In this case, against my better judgement, I did give in. It was a moot point, but I still think now, when I reread the book, that I would like to rewrite the end of it- which shows that you should stick to your guns in the first place, or you will be dissatisfied with yourself."


As much research as went into this book, there are a few main things that I do not like about it (although I do want to point out that this is only the second time I have read this book, and I liked it a whole lot more the second time). The first thing is that there are too many names that I can't keep track of, mostly because I don't know how to pronounce them. I don't even know how to pronounce Renisenb, and she is the protagonist! I also don't like that some of the language used in the book definitely does not fit in with the time period of Ancient Egypt.  For example, when someone says they are "cross" about something, that does not seem like the kind of thing people would be saying in the 11th Dynasty. The third, and main, thing that I do not like is that everyone hates each other very much, is very mean to each other, and almost everyone dies! It's not fun to read such a sinister book about such repulsive people. 


A few things I will point out that I noticed- there is an allusion to The Moving Finger, when the characters talk about how a tongue may cause a death, and with all of the gossip that flies around that plantation. Death Comes As the End also uses themes from The Under Dog, a short story written by Christie in the 1920s-1930s. The story explores the relationships between a domineering personality and those that succumb to and push back against their wrath. The book also references Agatha's personal life, talking about how "what you think is an end is only the beginning," which could be an allusion to her divorce from her first husband, leading to her new, happy life with her archaeologist husband. Lastly, seeing as the book was written during World War II, the themes of courage and facing death with resolution are strong throughout the book.

Interesting facts: Agatha's only historical murder mystery. And, I think I mentioned a lot more interesting facts already.

Favorite? Nope. Too many weird names to remember, too much animosity among the characters, and too much evil in general.

Death by: pushed off cliff, poison, drowned, suffocated, shot with arrow

Body Count: 8; Cumulative: 97

The Count: Poirot-21, Miss. Marple-3, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-3, Superintendent Battle-5, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 4, Mrs. Oliver-1, Albert- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: Stick to your guns. Death is always profitable to someone. People do not really change their characters. Sometimes what you think is an end is only a beginning. Courage is the resolution to face the unseen. If one is to live always in fear it is better to die. A tongue may cause a death. Nothing can harm you unless you choose to let it. Hate is very close to love. Today is enough to live through. Once the heart is opened to evil, evil blossoms.

Up Next: Sparkling Cyanide

Five Little Pigs

First Published: 1942

Setting: Devonshire, London

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Caroline Crale, Amyas Crale

Important Other People: Philip Blake, Meredith Blake, Elsa Greer, Angela Warren, Cecelia Willams

In Five Little Pigs, Agatha takes us on a journey into the past. Carla Lemarchant, Amyas and Caroline Crales' daughter, asks Poirot to investigate into the murder of her father, some sixteen years previous. Her mother had been convicted of the crime and died in prison, although she wrote to Caroline and told her she was innocent. Once we have that fact to go on, there are only five suspects Poirot can look to- his five little pigs.

One of the things that I really like about this book is that we hear about the day of the murder from five different people, all with their own take on the events. They all have something to hide, and so their accounts are guarded in some sense. At the same time, the things they do reveal are very telling- to Poirot, that is. I am amazed at how he puts together the tiniest pieces of evidence gathered from what everyone says and doesn't say, and is able to come up with the only viable solution to a murder that has long-since been thought of as solved.

One thing that is amazing to me is how accurately the different suspects can remember the events of the day, particularly the conversations that were held. The police record from the time is helpful in this process, of course, but I don't know if there is some artistic liberty on Agatha's part for them to recall all of these details. I guess since it was such a memorable event that it would be easier to remember everything that happened. It's noticeable with Angela, given that she was much younger than the other characters at the time, does not remember the day as well, and mixes several instances that happened when she was younger.

I also like how the different characters in the book are irrevocably changed because of this incident. Not to give away any plot points, but both Blakes are unable to get past their younger loves, Elsa is completely embittered and tortured due to her relationship with Amycas, Ms. Williams is still staunchly loyal to her employer, and Angela has a hole in her life left from her sister's death. Thankfully, Poirot is there to uncover the real truth, allowing these people to finally heal and move on from their past tragedy.

Interesting facts: I must quote extensively from Matthew Bunson here: "Five Little Pigs was the first of the five novels written by Christie that present a murder case solved in retrospect....[it] is considered the best, although it is one of Christie's lesser-known works. The novel is notable for two other reasons. First, the book uses- entirely with success- the most complicated of narrative styles. Hercule Poirot must interrogate witnesses who provide their own personal views of distant events. Thus, the murder of Amyas Crale and the trial of his wife, Caroline Crale, are recounted several times, albeit from the differing perspectives of the individual witnesses...Second, the story details the complex psychological and emotional components of a marriage that disintegrates, mirroring in many ways the unfortunate events in Christie's own life during her failed marriage to Archie Christie."

Favorite? Of the "cold case" books, where we look into a case from the past, this is my favorite. I typically do not love books that focus heavily on conversations about what happened, but this one is really well done. There are also some really great lessons in it.

Death by: Coniine (hemlock)

Body Count: 1; Cumulative: 85

The Count: Poirot-21, Miss. Marple-2, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-3, Superintendent Battle-4, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 3, Mrs. Oliver-1, Albert- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: Amongst everyone's ancestors is violence and evil. The ability to put on the brakes comes with maturity. Youth is vulnerable, ruthless, sure, generous, demanding. The young have no doubts, fear, or pride. With women, love always comes first. Some of us see beauty in curious places. The truth has a habit of making itself known. When a person has determined on a certain course, it is not easy to turn them from it. The desire for drama is very strong in human nature. Things can only pain you when they are happening. There are things that no woman should put up with. A woman should have a certain respect for herself and not submit to humiliation. One must have the courage to face reality- without it, life is meaningless. The people who do us the most harm are the people who shield us from reality.

Up Next: The Moving Finger

Easy to Kill (Murder is Easy)

First Published: 1939

Setting: Wychwood Under Ashe

Starring: Luke Fitzwilliam, Superintendent Battle, Bridget Conway

Important Other People: Lord Easterfield, Mr. Ellsworthy, Lavinia Fullerton, Amy Gibbs, Major Horton, Honoria Waynflete

In Easy to Kill, we are introduced to Luke Fitzwilliam, a police officer just returned from some far corner of the British empire. Luke is similar to characters such as Lucy Eyelsbarrow, Emily Trefusis, and Arthur Calgary in that he's awesome, but we never see him again. He and Bridget Conway are young still, and they talk to each other in much the same way that Tommy and Tuppence did when they were starting out- easily and casually.

Lord Easterfield is a pompous Napoleon-type who is so self-involved that he does not notice what is going on right in front of him. What's happening is...murder. One of the scariest parts of this book is the cover of the copy I have. I actually have two copies of the same version, and they both scare me. I also think this murderer is one of the few of Agatha's culprits who is genuinely insane, and should be regarded as a homicidal maniac, and is also very scary. There are a lot of deaths in this book, and it's scary to think of this happening in a village- so many people are killed, it's a wonder that the village is still thriving.

Marriage is presented in a number of ways: Marriage as safety for women who don't have a lot of options. Marriage as discipline for wayward souls. Marriage as a convenient arrangement. Bridget takes a cynical, modern view of marriage when she recognizes that she doesn't have a lot of potential to live easily for the rest of her life, and so agrees to marry Lord Easterfield so that she can have that safety and financial protection. Luke totally calls her out on it, claiming that marriage should be about love- what an outdated concept!

Interesting facts: First novel with arsenic poisoning! Even though arsenic is the typical poison that people think of, this is the first time that Agatha used it. Also, I think this is the only case in one of Agatha's novels where someone dies because the murderer induces septicemia in them.

Favorite? Kind of. Too scary, but I do like the ending.

Death by: Arsenic, pushed off a cliff and drowned, pushed off a building, poisoning (oxalic acid, aka hat paint), the introduction of septicemia, run over, cosh. (I'm including everyone who was killed by the murderer, even though some of it takes place before the novel begins, because it is all important to the plot)

Body Count: 7; Cumulative: 63

The Count: Poirot-17, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-7, Japp-6, Colonel Race-3, Superintendent Battle-4, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 2, Mrs. Oliver-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: It's very easy to kill, so long as no one suspects you. It's a great thing to know what you want. No one human being knows the full truth about another human being- not even one's nearest and dearest. Heroines are never killed. Marriage is a form of discipline. One mustn't quarrel with one's bread and butter. Aunts illustrate the triumph of guesswork over logic. Men are more easily deceived than women. If a woman is not happy, she is capable of terrible things. Liking is more important than loving- it lasts.

Up Next: And Then There Were None

Appointment with Death

First Published: 1938

Setting: Petra, Jordan

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Sarah King, Boynton family

Important Other People: Jefferson Cope, Dr. Gerard, Lady Westholme, Miss Pierce

Similar to Why Didn't They Ask Evans, the story opens with a phrase that leads to a mystery that must be resolved. In this case, it is a lot more sinister and a bit more urgent- "You do see, don't you, that she's got to be killed?" The speaker of these words, Raymond Boynton, goes on to explain how killing his mother, Mrs. Boyton, would be like killing or putting down a mad dog. One of the characters shows that she has inside knowledge of what actually happened in Murder on the Orient Express, and asks him, like he did in that case, to let it go. Hercule must refuse because, as he says, he does not condone murder. I think, if the murderer had turned out to be someone different, he may have condoned it in a similar manner to how he did in the Armstrong case.

This is different from some of the other family-centric novels. In other novels, the family usually knows who committed the crime, while here, they all suspect each other because they don't know who committed the crime, creating an atmosphere of guilt and suspicion that causes some of the members of the family to begin to crack. Thankfully, Hercule comes to the rescue in time for everyone (who isn't evil) to have a happy ending. He does love playing the matchmaker.

Interesting facts: One of the characters recognizes Hercule Poirot from his work on the ABC case. Colonel Race is mentioned as Poirot talks about his detecting from Cards on the Table. The events from Murder on the Orient Express are also mentioned.

Favorite? Yes, because I really love the characters and because I really and truly am afraid of Mrs. Boyton. It's funny to think that Agatha wrote about all of these murderers, but hardly any of them really frighten me. Mrs. Boynton, while not a de facto murderer, is still terrifying.

Death by: Digitoxin, shooting

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 55

The Count: Poirot-16, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-7, Japp-6, Colonel Race-3, Superintendent Battle-3, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 2, Mrs. Oliver-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: A man who respects himself strikes out on his own and makes something of his life. No one is truly free- there are different degrees of bondage. If you have a belief in yourself and in the rightness of what you are doing, you can often accomplish things that are well worthwhile. One cannot lie all the time. Love is agony on another's behalf.

Up Next: Hercule Poirot's Christmas

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

Death in the Air (Death in the Clouds)

First Published: 1935

Setting: London, Paris

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Japp, Jane Grey

Important Other People: Fouriner, Norman Gale, Mr. Clancy, the Duponts

The idea of the innocent being affected by a murder as well as the guilty is one which Christie explores in many other novels. Here, we see the characters go back to their lives after the murder, and we see what they experience as people associate them with the crime until the murderer is unmasked. That is especially interesting given that the murderer suffers a lot in their professional life after the murder, so one would wonder why they chose to commit it in such a public manner...but oh well.

Mr. Clancy is introduced as an absent-minded writer, a parody on Agatha herself, as well as a precursor to Mrs. Oliver. I like Mr. Clancy because I feel like Agatha just wrote about herself, and the character did not change throughout subsequent novels in the way that Mrs. Oliver did.

This is one of the first novels that introduces science as one of Agatha's passions. She has two archaeologists, and ends with them going off on an expedition, which is something Agatha herself was passionate about. Also, it leads us to Murder in Mesopotamia, coming up in a few...

Interesting facts: Ariadne Oliver (who has not yet appeared as Agatha's alter ego) in a later novel makes reference to a book she wrote once where she got the length of a blowpipe wrong, and many fans wrote to her to inform her of it. This one small detail, around which so much of the novel revolves, is actually kind of a big deal to get incorrect.

Favorite? I like it in that it happened in an enclosed space, and thus the suspect list is significantly shortened, causing Poirot to really have to use his little grey cells to find the answer (similar to Murder on the Orient Express, Cards on the Table, Death on the Nile, Murder on the Blue Train). I also like that the jury at the inquest finds Poirot guilty of murder...

Death by: Boomslang (rare poison), prussic acid (cyanide)

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 37

The Count: Poirot-10, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-5, Japp-5, Colonel Race-1, Superintendent Battle-2, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: Murder affects the innocent too. Knowledge is security, knowledge is power. Everyone keeps something back. It's no good to regret what is already done. An answer depends on the question that is asked. Girls have to be able to fend for themselves. Meekness doesn't pay. If there's one fellow after a woman, there's sure to be another as well. To men, that women grow old is the great tragedy of life. Nothing is too sensational. Even a nine-day's wonder doesn't last longer than 9 days. Sensationalism dies quickly, fear is long-lived. In one approaches a problem with order and method, there should be no difficulty in solving it. Everyone likes talking about themselves. When everything else fails, music remains. Science is the greatest romance there is. One needs much courage to live. Always start at the beginning.

Up Next: The ABC Murders

Three Act Tragedy

First Published: 1935

Setting: Yorkshire, Cornwall

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Mr. Satterthwaite, Sir Charles Cartwright, Egg Lytton Gore

Important Other People: The Dacres', Oliver Manders, Bartholomew Strange, Miss Temple

The idea that events come to people, not people to events, seems to be Christie's way of explaining Poirot's propensity for murder. Aside from getting called into cases or idiotically asked for help by the murderer, Poirot does seem to stumble upon murder extremely often. I would say that people go to events, as well as events go to people. I mean, Poirot does a lot of traveling, and there seem to be a lot of murders where he goes. He usually gets called into the case if he is in a place where there is a murder. I guess a specialist on murder has to go where a murder could occur- a specialist on some sort of rare animal would have to go to where that animal lives...sort of similar?

A theme that continually pops up throughout Agatha's novels is that of the boasting criminal. The characters talk about how boasting is a sign of an inferiority complex, which relates to murderers- cocky and conceited to cover a deep-seeded belief of unworthiness. I would say that the murderer in this novel is one of the most boastful she writes about, and if we went by that adage, we would know from the beginning who was responsible. Unfortunately, there is still the problem of the motive, which leads to the discussion of motives in this novel. They talk about gain, revenge, fear, and homicidal mania. I would agree with Poirot that the motive in this case is a bit obscure, and not really likely to be used very often.

Interesting facts: One of the few novels where Poirot's life was in danger (due to the carelessness of the murderer). Mentioned in other novels, and other stories are mentioned in this one.

Favorite? Not really. Too much of the plot is uninteresting to me.

Death by: Nicotine poisoning

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 35

The Count: Poirot-9, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-5, Japp-4, Colonel Race-1, Superintendent Battle-2, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: Events come to people, not people to events. A man hates being run after. Beware of the day when your dreams come true. Everything comes right in the end. Girls are attracted to bad men; they think their love will change him. Not everyone knows the difference between right and wrong. The language might be different but human nature is the same everywhere. Women keep up appearances better than men. Men are dull when they settle down. Women aren't usually cruel to men, only to other women. Bitterness leads nowhere.

Up Next: Death in the Air

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

The Secret Adversary- Day 3

First Published: 1922

Setting: Mainly London

Starring: Tommy and Tuppence

Important Other People: Mr. Carter, Albert, Julius, Jane Finn

So the most noticeable aspect of The Secret Adversary that makes it different from Agatha's other novels are the chapter endings. Agatha wrote this book as a serialization for a newspaper. Thus, the chapters seem to be adventure after adventure, leaving the reader hanging so as to induce them to read the next installation. The endings seem a bit abrupt compared to her usual chapter endings, and there are also way more plot twists and turns than we might be used to in most of Hercule and Miss Marple's books. The serialization may also explain how things happen that are then explained afterwards, showing that she could not go back and change what she had already written.

Another thing that is really noticeable in this adventure (as well as some of her next novels) is the way that Agatha draws so much of the plot from events that were occurring at the time it was written. From the labor strikes (which still resonate today in some degree) to the Bolsheviks and the Red Scare in general to the talk of supplying the Irish with arms (hints of Roger Casement), Agatha makes good use of what was going on in the world, way more than usually happens in one of her murder mysteries.

Tommy and Tuppence novels are supposed to be different from Hercule and Miss Marple, but in later books, there are more and more similarities between the three. The Secret Adversary really stands out as truly unique, which makes sense as it is technically a different genre. Another thing I like about Tommy and Tuppence as heroes is that they age accordingly with when the books are written, as well as have lives in the meantime that develops them more as characters.

Interesting facts: Japp is briefly mentioned in this book, although I won't give him credit because he is hardly in it at all.

Favorite? Potentially. It's thrilling, and Tuppence is really a wonderful heroine. I also love the Jazz Age feel throughout the book- it's so lighthearted in the midst of the adventure that is going on.

Death by: Cyanide (Mr. Brown)

Body Count: 1; Cumulative: 2

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

Agatha's Life Lessons: "Never tell all you know- not even to the person you know best" (direct quote). Trust with a grain of salt. Never underestimate your adversary. Come to develop true love through marriage (same as in Styles).

Up Next: The Murder on the Links