Reviews

A collection of 4 new and 2 old Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple mysteries as well as two standalone supernatural stories.
A mixed bag, with some fantastic detective work whereas others are predictable and dry.

1. Double Sin (Poirot)- 3 stars
Poirot & Hasting's travels are interrupted when their bus companion's antiques are stolen.
From what seemed quite a straightforward case came the expectation for a trickier plot, and this predictably was a little disappointing.

2. Wasp's Nest (Poirot)- 5 stars
Poirot steps in to prevent cyanide mixing with a love triangle.
Breathtakingly good story, showcasing Poirot's true skills in understanding human character and small coinciding events.

3. OLD: The Theft of the Royal Ruby (Poirot)- 4 stars
When the Prince's ruby goes missing, Poirot is shipped off to rural English countryside for Christmas with the suspects.
This was a fantastic mystery with good red herrings and a theatrical solution.
Also published as "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding" in the short story collection under the same name.

4. The Dressmaker's Doll (standalone)- 2 stars
When a doll starts drawing the attention of the household, is it human tricks or supernatural powers?
A strange story with no real conclusion or fright factor.

5. OLD: Greenshaw's Folly (Miss Marple)- 4 stars
When tragedy strikes soon after Miss Marple's nephew, Raymond West, witnesses old Mrs Greenshaw sign her will, Miss Marple lends a listening ear to the case.
Typical with any Miss Marple, most of the story goes toward setting the atmosphere and detailing the personalities and lives of the characters. However, the mystery is one of her best and the murderer would surely have gotten away without Miss Marple's wisdom.
Also published under the same name in "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and other short stories".

6. The Double Clue (Poirot)- 3 stars
Poirot investigates a jewelry theft where a cigarette lighter and a handkerchief are left in the empty safe.
This open and shut case took an unexpected and interesting turn!

7. The Last Seance (standalone)- 2 stars
An air of danger and imminent disaster surrounds a medium's final seance for a bereaved mother.
This would have made for a great full-length gothic that delved deeper into the medium's power, but felt out of place in this short story collection.

8. Sanctuary (Miss Marple)- 4 stars
A dying man's final words "sanctuary" and "Julian" spur the vicar's wife into action when people claiming to be his relatives come calling for his belongings.
A good story with red herrings and a fun final chase scene, showcasing Miss Marple's wit!