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A review by lizabethstucker
Clues to Christie: An Introductory Guide to Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Tommy & Tuppence and All of Agatha Christie's Mysteries by Agatha Christie
3.0
A guide to Dame Agatha Christie's mysteries and other novels. Also contains three short stories that represent each of her main series characters. In the lengthy introduction by Christie expert John Curran, we're given a quick biography of the author as well as an overview of her many styles of writing. There is enough information to intrigue the novice Christie reader.
The first short story is "The Affair at the Victory Ball" with Hercule Poirot and his friend, Captain Hastings. Viscount Cronshaw is found dead with a table-knife stuck in his heart shortly after an argument with actress Miss Coco Courtenay. Coco is found dead in her bed from a cocaine overdose. Inspector Japp comes to Poirot for help untangling the mystery. A good example of a typical Poirot case, with the vain Belgian detective keeping the facts and his observations a secret until the Grand Reveal before all interested parties. 4 out of 5.
Next up is Miss Marple in "Greenshaw's Folly". Eccentric spinster Miss Greenshaw is shot with an arrow, dying while the two women who might have helped were locked in their respective rooms. Using very obscure connections to people and events in her village of St. Mary Mead, Miss Marple solves the mystery without ever meeting anyone suspected in the murder. She is a snoopy old lady who might not *share* gossip idly, but definitely listens to it. And somehow twists what she hears into a solution for whatever crime she becomes involved in. 3.5 out of 5.
The last short story is "A Fairy in the Flat", starring Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. Tuppence is bored after six years of marriage, wants something exciting to happen. Then Tommy's Secret Service Chief arrives with an offer to run a shady private detective agency using the original owner's name. They are particularly concerned with possible espionage, but don't have enough information to determine exactly what is going on. To be honest, this isn't a true short story, it is an excerpt and set-up from a longer story. The mystery is barely touched upon, much less solved. There is a supernatural touch in the beginning that doesn't have much of a purpose. Tuppence doesn't come off well either. 2 out of 5.
Before each story there is a list of books and stories in that character's universe. There are also listing of other non-series books and stories, sadly without any description or synopsis. A list of Dame Agatha's favorite stories is given, as well as a sub-divide of stories by theme and/or subject matter. We end the guide with a bonus chapter on Agatha and poisons. 3.5 out of 5.
The first short story is "The Affair at the Victory Ball" with Hercule Poirot and his friend, Captain Hastings. Viscount Cronshaw is found dead with a table-knife stuck in his heart shortly after an argument with actress Miss Coco Courtenay. Coco is found dead in her bed from a cocaine overdose. Inspector Japp comes to Poirot for help untangling the mystery. A good example of a typical Poirot case, with the vain Belgian detective keeping the facts and his observations a secret until the Grand Reveal before all interested parties. 4 out of 5.
Next up is Miss Marple in "Greenshaw's Folly". Eccentric spinster Miss Greenshaw is shot with an arrow, dying while the two women who might have helped were locked in their respective rooms. Using very obscure connections to people and events in her village of St. Mary Mead, Miss Marple solves the mystery without ever meeting anyone suspected in the murder. She is a snoopy old lady who might not *share* gossip idly, but definitely listens to it. And somehow twists what she hears into a solution for whatever crime she becomes involved in. 3.5 out of 5.
The last short story is "A Fairy in the Flat", starring Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. Tuppence is bored after six years of marriage, wants something exciting to happen. Then Tommy's Secret Service Chief arrives with an offer to run a shady private detective agency using the original owner's name. They are particularly concerned with possible espionage, but don't have enough information to determine exactly what is going on. To be honest, this isn't a true short story, it is an excerpt and set-up from a longer story. The mystery is barely touched upon, much less solved. There is a supernatural touch in the beginning that doesn't have much of a purpose. Tuppence doesn't come off well either. 2 out of 5.
Before each story there is a list of books and stories in that character's universe. There are also listing of other non-series books and stories, sadly without any description or synopsis. A list of Dame Agatha's favorite stories is given, as well as a sub-divide of stories by theme and/or subject matter. We end the guide with a bonus chapter on Agatha and poisons. 3.5 out of 5.