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A review by caidyn
Double Sin and Other Stories by Agatha Christie
4.0
Double Sin - 4/5: I was about halfway through this short story when I distinctly remembered watching it on Agatha Christie's Poirot about a few months back. Of course, I remembered the general idea of the case, but I couldn't remember whodunnit. An enjoyable short little mystery. And, why is it that every time Poirot tries to have a little vacation, he winds up having to solve a mystery?
Wasps' Nest - 4/5: Short, sweet, and to the point. This was the perfect length for this mystery. And, as usual with Poirot, I didn't quite guess right about the mystery. It was a very good show of how Dame Christie doesn't give us all the facts, but just enough so you have a slight feeling about who has done the crime/who will do it.
The Theft of the Royal Ruby - 4.5/5: This was a really long one compared to the rest of them. But, again, I remembered this one off Agatha Christie's Poirot. And, again, I remembered only part of it. The general sense of the mystery and the kids trying to play a prank on Poirot, but not the outcome of the case. Why is it that I always space that part out? I'm sure it says a lot about me. This story was really fun. Honestly. That's how I feel about these short stories with Poirot. They're all just fun little mysteries that you can read in one sitting without having to keep track of too many characters or plots.
The Dressmaker's Doll - 4/5: Well, that one certainly wasn't a mystery. I'd say it was more of a light horror. Dolls are creepy. And a doll that moves on its own? Even creepier. Honestly, I don't see why people are freaked out by Toy Story since everyone these days seems to find dolls unsettling.
Greenshaw's Folly - 3.5/5: The title of this short story ties into the tale in many ways, bringing everything around from beginning to end with all the characters. And, the characters were fun. Since this was a Miss Marple mystery and I've never been a huge fan of her stories, it fell a touch flat, but I did like it. Raymond was finally more than a background character. Never read a mystery with him actually in it rather than being mentioned as some secondary character.
The Double Clue - 4/5: In a way, this one really reminded me of The Scandal in Bohemia. I mean, without Poirot being defeated. Or there being some huge disguise thing and running away. Just the dynamic of a man and a woman dancing around each other, in a sense. This was a very short and simple story, yet I really enjoyed it. I do love my Poirot.
The Last Seance - 5/5: Wow. That was a HUGE departure from the Christie I'm used to. Again, more of the horror genre than a mystery. It was really good. Maybe that's because I wasn't expecting it. This one is definitely my favorite with the lore of spirit calling that was subtly woven in, along with its own little thing about not touching the manifestation. Just... wow. Reminiscent more to Poe than the Christie I'm used to. She sure can genre switch when she wants to. She would have been a great classical horror author if she went down that route in some books.
Sanctuary - 4/5: Another Miss Marple mystery, but this one was really good. An interesting play on sanctuary. I'll forever relate that word back to Esmerelda calling for sanctuary in Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but oh well. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I really liked this story. Just a fun little mystery where I didn't quite get what was going on until everything was being explained.
Overall: 4.125 (The actual number I got when I plugged it into the calculator. I didn't feel like doing any rounding.)
Wasps' Nest - 4/5: Short, sweet, and to the point. This was the perfect length for this mystery. And, as usual with Poirot, I didn't quite guess right about the mystery. It was a very good show of how Dame Christie doesn't give us all the facts, but just enough so you have a slight feeling about who has done the crime/who will do it.
The Theft of the Royal Ruby - 4.5/5: This was a really long one compared to the rest of them. But, again, I remembered this one off Agatha Christie's Poirot. And, again, I remembered only part of it. The general sense of the mystery and the kids trying to play a prank on Poirot, but not the outcome of the case. Why is it that I always space that part out? I'm sure it says a lot about me. This story was really fun. Honestly. That's how I feel about these short stories with Poirot. They're all just fun little mysteries that you can read in one sitting without having to keep track of too many characters or plots.
The Dressmaker's Doll - 4/5: Well, that one certainly wasn't a mystery. I'd say it was more of a light horror. Dolls are creepy. And a doll that moves on its own? Even creepier. Honestly, I don't see why people are freaked out by Toy Story since everyone these days seems to find dolls unsettling.
Greenshaw's Folly - 3.5/5: The title of this short story ties into the tale in many ways, bringing everything around from beginning to end with all the characters. And, the characters were fun. Since this was a Miss Marple mystery and I've never been a huge fan of her stories, it fell a touch flat, but I did like it. Raymond was finally more than a background character. Never read a mystery with him actually in it rather than being mentioned as some secondary character.
The Double Clue - 4/5: In a way, this one really reminded me of The Scandal in Bohemia. I mean, without Poirot being defeated. Or there being some huge disguise thing and running away. Just the dynamic of a man and a woman dancing around each other, in a sense. This was a very short and simple story, yet I really enjoyed it. I do love my Poirot.
The Last Seance - 5/5: Wow. That was a HUGE departure from the Christie I'm used to. Again, more of the horror genre than a mystery. It was really good. Maybe that's because I wasn't expecting it. This one is definitely my favorite with the lore of spirit calling that was subtly woven in, along with its own little thing about not touching the manifestation. Just... wow. Reminiscent more to Poe than the Christie I'm used to. She sure can genre switch when she wants to. She would have been a great classical horror author if she went down that route in some books.
Sanctuary - 4/5: Another Miss Marple mystery, but this one was really good. An interesting play on sanctuary. I'll forever relate that word back to Esmerelda calling for sanctuary in Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but oh well. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I really liked this story. Just a fun little mystery where I didn't quite get what was going on until everything was being explained.
Overall: 4.125 (The actual number I got when I plugged it into the calculator. I didn't feel like doing any rounding.)