They Came to Baghdad

First Published: 1951
Setting: Baghdad! 

Starring: Victoria Jones, Edward Goring, Anna Schiele, Richard Baker

Important Other People: Carmichael, Dakin, Captain Crosbie, Dr. Rathbone

To begin with, Victoria Jones is a modernized Anne Beddingfield. (The Man in the Brown Suit). Travels to Africa were in vogue back when that was written (1924), but travels to the Middle East were more popular in the 1950s. I also like to think that Anne is modeled after Agatha, and so Victoria must be as well. Victoria is significantly more foolish than Anne (losing her job by mocking the boss' wife, letting a stranger take her picture and falling in love with him, and deciding that she was going to Baghdad just because of that stranger). Sure, Anne did some flighty things in her time, but I really think she has more sense than Victoria. Probably because Agatha was older and wiser at this point in her own life, and so was able to write the younger character from a more cynical viewpoint. Also, one of the most important life lessons here is directly related to Victoria's actions: sometimes it is wiser not to mix oneself up in things one does not understand. She definitely did not understand what was going on (me either, really), and Agatha is able to look on with more experience and judge that maybe, it would have been best for Victoria if she had just minded her own business. One last connection to Agatha- in The Man in the Brown Suit, Anne ended up with the dashing, devil-may-care lunatic, and they lived happily ever after (at least I hope so). In They Came to Baghdad, though, Victoria does not end up with the dashing young lunatic, but rather, with the older, wiser, and more serious archaeologist. A possible allegory for Agatha's own life, seeing as she did not stay married to her dashing young adventurer, but rather found happiness with the mature archaeologist. Hmm. 

One of the coolest, most unrealistic aspects of this book is the scene in the consulate, where Carmichael signals to Baker in Morse code by clinking the beads together. First of all, really? Secondly, what is the chance that Carmichael's old schoolmate would be in the consulate in Basrah at the same time that he was trying to avoid getting murdered? Third: that would never happen. It was a cool scene though!


Last- there is mention of Siegfried in the book. Just wait, we'll hear a LOT more about that in Passenger to Frankfurt. 

Interesting facts: Matthew Bunson says, "For her first novel featuring espionage since N or M?, Christie returned to one of her strongest devices, the setting of stories in exotic locales. In this case, she chose Baghdad, a city she had first visited in 1928 and theat she knew quite well, thanks to the archaeological work of her husband, Max Mallowan, in the Middle East."

Favorite?  No. I liked it a lot better when I read it this time than when I read it at least 10+ years ago, that's for sure. It's still unnecessarily confusing. 

Death by: stabbing 

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 113

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- 6, Mrs. Oliver-1, Albert- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: Sometimes it is wiser not to mix oneself up in things one does not understand. Ordinary people are the ones who matter. Humility is what keeps you sane and a human being.

Up Next: Mrs. McGinty's Dead

The Moving Finger

First Published: 1942

Setting: Lymstock

Starring: Miss Marple, Jerry and Joanna Burton

Important Other People: Megan, Superintendent Nash, Owen Griffith, Aimee Griffith, Emily Barton, Reverend and Mrs. Dane Calthorp, Miss Ginch, Elsie Holland, Mr. Pye, Mr. and Mrs. Symmington, Agnes Woddell

The Moving Finger is all about rumors in a small community spreading like wildfire, leading to a variety of different outcomes. The book belongs in the class of novels that are in first person narration, but the narrator, Jerry Burton, is a character we don't see in any other novels. And, like Jerry, it is easy to become tired of the phrase, "there's no smoke without fire," as it is constantly repeated in the book.

What I don't really like about this book is how slow the plot seems to go, mainly due to the fact that we don't encounter Miss Marple until halfway through the book. There is a lot of talk about what is happening with the letters being sent, and suspicions thrown about (along with some romance), causing the plot to drag at some points. Another aspect of the book that I don't really like is how Jerry is invited to involve himself as much as he wants in the police investigation. I don't think they let regular people just join in while they are investigating scandal and murder.

I have to say that I do enjoy the romantic aspect of the book, mainly because we usually only see romance from Agatha when it is Hercule Poirot setting couples up or married couples being interrupted by murder (except Tommy and Tuppence). It's nice to see some regular people falling in love, and some good coming out of the mess left behind by murder in the ruins of the town called Lymstock.

Interesting facts: One of Agatha Christie's favorites. Also written during the bombing of London. Also, according to Matthew Bunson, "In a way, many parts of the novel are more reminiscent of Christie's romances (penned under the pseudonym of Mary Westmacott) than the Marple murder mysteries. The Moving Finger contains several subplots involving the romantic aspirations of Jerry Burton for the young Megan Hunter."

Favorite? I can't really say that it is. Agatha likes it though; "Rather to my surprise on rereading them the other day, I find that another one I am really pleased with is The Moving Finger. It is a great test to reread what one has written some seventeen or eighteen years before. One's view changes. Some do not stand the test of time, others do."

Death by: Cyanide, stabbing

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 87

The Count: Poirot-21, Miss. Marple-3, 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: In everybody's life there are hidden chapters which they hope may never be known. Even a blind man might stab to the heart by pure chance. Everything has to have a beginning. A man's got to stick up for his wife. Don't attribute to God the evils that man does of his own free will. God doesn't need to punish us- we're so very busy punishing ourselves. Hate doesn't last; love does. Girls with brains are so liable to turn into morons. Things never come when they are expected. We are not put into this world to avoid danger when an innocent fellow creatures' life is at stake.

Up Next: Towards Zero

And Then There Were None (Ten Little Indians)

First Published: 1939

Setting: Indian Island, off the coast of Devon

Starring: Vera Claythorne, Philip Lombard, William Blore, Dr. Armstrong, Justice Wargrave

Important Other People: General Macarthur, Emily Brent, Anthony Marston, Mr and Mrs Rogers, U. N. Owen

Obviously, this is an incredible novel, minus the racism involved in some of the titles and the naming of the island. Apparently, it was meant to create a sense of "otherness," which I think an abandoned island creates anyway. Aside from that, there are a couple of different themes that run through the novel- some are new to Christie's work, and some we have seen before.

One new concept in this book is the multiple narratives used. We've seen two narratives used in The ABC Murders, but never before have we gotten so much insight into so many different characters. There is no central character, and so we get to hear a little bit about everyone is thinking. As people are murdered, the narrative gets more focused, and so we hear a lot from Vera. I especially like how some of the thoughts do not have an owner ascribed to them, so we actually are reading what the murderer is thinking, although we don't know who it is. This style also allows us to get to know and like many of the characters. As in Cards on the Table, it becomes more difficult to believe that some of them are murderers. This case is also similar to Cards in that the person who arranges the whole setup hears about many of the murders through hearsay. Accordingly, I don't think that all of them have the same amount of guilt. I think the ones who felt the least amount of remorse should have been kept longer- Anthony Marston, for example. If he had been longer on the island and subjected to the same amount of terror as everyone else, he may have repented a bit.

Similarly to Murder on the Orient Express, we have a case of individuals meting out the justice that they thought people deserved. In Orient, I would say it was somewhat warranted. In this book, I think the murderer was just crazy.

Interesting facts: Agatha herself developed this into a play. I didn't realize that- I thought someone else changed the ending so that it made more sense for a play, but apparently, she did it herself. It also convinced her that no one was going to adapt her books except for herself. Agatha also said that this was one of the most difficult and complex books to write, and required a huge amount of planning.

Favorite? Yes. Ingenious, suspenseful, and completely brilliant.

Death by: cyanide, chloral, cosh, chopped up, drowned, crushed, shot, hanged

Body Count: 11; Cumulative: 74

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- 3, Mrs. Oliver-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: Once you get to an island you can't go any further. Real peace is to come to the end and not have to go on.

Up Next: Sad Cypress

Death on the Nile

First Published: 1937

Setting: Wadi Halfa, on the Nile

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Colonel Race, Linnet Ridgeway, Jacqueline de Bellefort, Simon Doyle

Important Other People: Mrs. Allerton, Tim Allerton, Rosalie and Mrs. Otterbourne, Cornelia Robson

One of the major themes of the book is the idea of how one can want something so passionately that they lose sight of everything else, including rationality and reason. Once one thing becomes your whole reason for existence, you will do whatever it takes to achieve that end, including opening your heart to evil. Poirot knows this, and so takes steps to avoid evil from occurring. He warns Jackie about the possible consequences of her actions because he knows it's always better to prevent a murder than try to get justice after it has been committed. There are three pieces of advice about forgetting the past and moving on the the future in the book, which should have given Jackie a hint...

I also like how this is another one of Christie's murders that takes place in a confined space (although I don't think any other novel is in quite so confined a space as Cards on the Table). The suspect pool is limited, and there are quite a few people who have huge motives for murder. Still, the ones who are most likely to have committed it have alibis. There is only one day of questioning before the truth is revealed, so Poirot and Race have their work cut out for them trying to clear away all the extraneous mysteries and uncover the real motives and alibis.

The whole book is about money. Linnet has too much of it, Jackie and Simon have not enough of it. Simon gets enough of it, but then struggles to come to terms with it all, especially because the finances are controlled by his wife. The idea of money in this era is different- they talk about how poor Jackie is, but she went on a trip to the Middle East...in what way, exactly, is she poor? Even at that time, I can't imagine a trip to the Middle East being affordable for people from all walks of life. I think Jackie must be like many of Agatha's characters who are from the upper class, but have lost their money in some way and become "impoverished" according to their usual or familial standards (like the Lytton Gores from Three Act Tragedy, the Cloades from There is a Tide, and Lance's wife Pat from A Pocketful of Rye). This is also the first novel (I believe) that Agatha makes a point of yellow symbolizing money. Linnet with her golden hair is the supreme symbol of money, while Jackie with her dark hair, is in stark contrast. Love can be a very frightening thing, and the lengths characters in this book go to for love- of a man, and of money, have drastic results.

One final aspect of this book that I really enjoy is all of the extra mysteries that abound on this one trip up the Nile. It keeps the book moving at a face pace, it keeps it interesting, and it also makes it more difficult for Poirot to figure everything out. He does, of course, find the answer to ALL of the questions in the end, but I like how he brings different characters in one by one to basically explain that he knows the truth to their actions. To me, the extraneous mysteries in this book make it even that much more interesting.

Interesting facts: Japp is mentioned... yet again. I think I should keep a tally of how many times Japp is mentioned, but not actually in the story. The trip the group takes up the Nile is similar to one that Agatha and her husband, Max Mallowan, took in the 1930s. The vegetable code mentioned that is used by the man Colonel Race is looking for is similar to the one used in South Africa in The Man in the Brown Suit, which, coincidentally, Race also appeared in.

Favorite? One of them.

Death by: Shooting, stabbing

Body Count: 5; Cumulative: 53

The Count: Poirot-15, 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: To have money and looks is too much for one person- it isn't fair. Nearly everyone only likes successful people. Marriage has a sobering effect on people. Youth is the time of greatest vulnerability. You can't alter the past- you must live with things the way they are. Give up the past, turn to the future. What is done is done...bitterness will not undo it. When the sun comes out you can no longer see the moon. Do not open your heart to evil because evil will come. There is always a moment where one could hold their hand (as in, make a move). To succeed in life, every detail should be arranged well beforehand. When anything beautiful is dead, it's a loss to the world. Love can be a very frightening thing. It's not the past that matters but the future. "Un qui aime et un qui se laisse aimer" can be very dangerous. (Translation, according to google translate, and which I agree on based on my sketchy knowledge of French: One who loves and one who allows them self to love can be very dangerous).

Up Next: Appointment with Death

Cards on the Table

First Published: 1936

Setting: London

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Mrs. Oliver, Battle, Colonel Race (the Sleuths)

Important Other People: Mr. Shaitana. Dr. Roberts, Mrs. Lorrimer, Major Despard, Anne Meredith (The "Murderers")

The plot for Cards on the Table was laid out by Poirot in The ABC Murders. It truly is a crime that Poirot has ordered to test himself. The important aspect is that there are only 4 suspects, and there is no way to figure out who did it except by Poirot using his little grey cells. It is the supreme psychological crime.

We are introduced to Mrs Oliver- the epitome of Agatha herself. One of Mrs. Oliver's books, The Body in the Library, is mentioned by one of the characters, a book that was eventually written by Christie herself. I like Mrs. Oliver a lot and I always enjoy reading about her, and it's mainly because Christie is clearly parodying herself. She describes the clothes Mrs. Oliver wears, her crazy hairstyles and hats, and mocks herself on her "women's intuition" that she uses to "solve" the crimes she comes into contact with. She guesses everyone in turn, which we see as Christie mocking herself for doing the same thing.

One thing that is interesting- one of the characters says that people tend to stick to arsenic for murders, yet Agatha had not written of any murders committed with arsenic up to this point in her writing career (in her novels).

Hercule Poirot has a thoroughly bourgeois attitude towards murder. He doesn't deal with the lower classes and their problems and murders. The one case that sticks out to me as having a lower-class feel is Mrs. McGinty's Dead, being that she's a charwoman, but the other characters involved are upper-class. Murder has become more common nowadays, making it difficult to find a parallel from the early to mid 20th century.

One of my biggest problems with the book is the importance Poirot places on the bridge scores kept by the suspects. Mainly because I don't know how to play bridge, I don't know the rules or terms, and I basically don't understand any part of what's going on with bridge. It's difficult to truly appreciate the importance of the scores, or to even understand what Poirot deduces based off of them, if you don't understand bridge. I feel like more people in 1936 played bridge and understood it. I always feel like it's something I need to learn just to understand this book better. We'll see if that happens...

Interesting facts: Japp is mentioned. This is a crime to order for Poirot's little grey cells. We see Rhoda and Despard many books later in The Pale Horse. Poirot reveals the true solution to the Orient Express to another character, which could ruin the book if you had never read it before.

Favorite? Of Poirot, YES. Of Agatha, I think it's up there because she always wanted to write it for Poirot to solve. For me, after I've read it a few times, I've liked it better. I hated it the first time I read it because I thought it was so unexciting and the bridge part made no sense to me.

Death by: Stabbing, Veronal/evipan, drowning

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 46

The Count: Poirot-13, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-6, Japp-6, Colonel Race-2, Superintendent Battle-3, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 2, Mrs. Oliver-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: A murderer can be an artist, but he's still a murderer. Man is an unoriginal animal. What can't be cured must be endured. There's nothing like death for bringing out the meanness of human nature. One ought to live frightfully dangerously- if one gets the chance. Life, on the whole, is terribly tame. Men don't do purely disinterested kindnesses. The moment a man's a bad lot, all the girls stick up for him. Things are just the same whether you talk about them or not. Life is a difficult business- it needs infinite courage and a lot of endurance. Men always do take fancies to unsuitable women. Lying is not always a sign of guilt. No one can always be right (not even Poirot!)

Up Next: Poirot Loses a Client

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

Murder on the Orient Express

First Published: 1934

Setting: Somewhere along the line of the Orient Express!

Starring: Poirot, M. Bouc, Dr. Constantine

Important Other People: Armstrong household

Murder on the Orient Express is Poirot in his element. The train is snowed in and cannot be moved, there is no chance of outside help being called in, and the witnesses and suspects are all trapped! The case has to be solved on deduction and intellect only, leading Poirot to triumph in his usual non-humble way, but also showing his compassionate side when he realizes that sometimes, you do have to work outside of the law.

The idea of individuals meting out justice is used again in Appointment with Death, and here, Poirot accepts an official version of the murder. He condones murder because sometimes, man is evil, but goes unpunished. Thus, when justice comes to them, he knows that they deserved it. Which sounds awful, but in both cases, is entirely warranted.

This novel is also rife with stereotypes. The book allowed Agatha to have an international cast of characters meeting in an unlikely place. She was able to assign them to different stations in life based on where they come from- the idea of class with her is quite established. She also exploits stereotypes of different countries, which is useful in assigning them jobs and personalities.

Interesting facts: I cannot find a mention of the book in her autobiography. I don't know why! The book is loosely based off the Lindbergh kidnapping, as well as Agatha's love for the Orient Express. Many parts of her autobiography are about her travels upon it.

Favorite? Of course! I know I say this a lot, but it really is unique among Agatha's novels, and it is so ingenious. (Let's be real; they're all unique.)

Death by: Stabbing (12 times!)

Body Count: 1; Cumulative: 30

The Count: Poirot-8, 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: The worst of Americans is that they are so sentimental and idealistic. The English are not sympathetic. If the impossible cannot have happened, then the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.

Up Next: Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (The Boomerang Clue)

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

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 Murder of Roger Ackroyd- Day 7

First Published: 1926

Setting: King's Abbot, England

Starring: Hercule Poirot, Dr. James Sheppard

Important Other People: Caroline Sheppard, Inspector Raglan, Ralph Paton, various Ackroyds

First and foremost, this book totally changed the way detective stories are written and reinforced the idea that we should always suspect everybody. It is completely unnecessary for me to say that Agatha was ahead of her time and is an absolute genius, but then again, I just said that. And now we all know it's true.

Weakness of character is the major theme throughout the book. We see weakness as a motive for the actions of many people- the one who stole the money, the marriages and engagements that abound, and of course, the blackmail and murder that occur. Weakness tends to be the downfall of most of the people in King's Abbot, and it takes the genius of Poirot to unravel the various ways this trait shows in different individuals throughout this story. The one person whose weakness is never explicitly mentioned in Caroline's. Her particular weakness lies in her fierce loyalty and compassion for her brother. Because of this weakness where he is concerned, she is often blinded to some of his actions and decisions. Thus, she never confronts him about some of the curious points in the narrative that he glosses over or chooses not to focus on. He says at the end of the book that he feared her the entire time and that it is curious she did not guess what actually happened. In fact, it is not curious at all, once we recognize that she chose not to draw the (obscurely) obvious conclusions regarding James because she could not allow herself to attribute these actions to him. Thus, weakness once again becomes a character flaw for nearly everyone in the village. Her not jumping to conclusions where the murderer is concerned is completely uncharacteristic- meaning that it is done deliberately, albeit unconsciously. I also am confused when he says that she will never know what happened. The truth will have to come out at the end, won't it?

There is much talk about Caroline as the inspiration for Miss Marple. I would like to first share what Agatha has to say on that point: "I think it is possible that Miss Marple arose from the pleasure I had taken in portraying Dr. Sheppard's sister...she had been my favorite character in the book- an acidulated spinster, full of curiosity, knowing everything, hearing everything: the complete detective service in the home." She says it is possible. I believe that she only got that idea once people starting saying it, because really, they are extremely dissimilar. I've already talked about Caroline's weakness. That characteristic is not at all apparent in Miss Marple. She's much too elderly and badass. More realistically though, Caroline is known throughout the village as a gossip and someone who jumps to conclusions that are usually correct. Miss Marple is not a gossip- she is a seer. She knows everything, plain and simple, and doesn't need to jump to conclusions because she already knows the facts. Also, Caroline seems much more sprightly and dependent on others (what would she do without James in her life?), while Miss Marple is OLD and can take care of herself very well, thank you.

One last thing: it all depends on what is sufficient to break a man. The whole story is about relativity.

Interesting facts: Colonel Melrose is in this book as well. Superintendent Hayes makes a brief appearance. Japp is mentioned again!

Favorite? For sure. Of Agatha as well. She should be proud of herself, seeing as it completely rewrote the typical detective story.

Death by: Veronal (suicide x 2), Stabbing

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 9

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

Agatha's Life Lessons: All the troubles in the world can be put down to money- or the lack of it. Many crimes have been committed for the sake of less than 500 pounds- it all depends on what is sufficient to break a man. "Never worry about what you say to a man. They're so conceited they never believe you mean it if it's unflattering." And lastly, and most importantly... Everyone always has something to hide.

Up Next: The Big Four

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