Poirot Investigates (Hercule Poirot Mysteries)
by Agatha Christie
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Book Summary Information
Author: Agatha ChristieEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-05-01
ISBN: 0425174727
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Berkley
Book Reviews of Poirot Investigates (Hercule Poirot Mysteries)
Book Review: "It was Child's Play for a Mind Like Mine!"
Summary: 4 Stars
Originally published in "The Sketch" magazine in the 1920s, "Poirot Investigates" is a collection of Agatha Christie's short stories in which eleven mysteries are solved by the short Belgian Hercule Poirot. All narrated by Captain Hastings, (and all adapted into episodes in the ITV Christie's Poirot series) this book is great light reading for holidays, long trips or wintry nights by the fire. Hastings is earnest, hapless and exasperated; Poirot is vain, arrogant and fastidious, and together they make up a fine team of literary detectives, with cases often brought to their attention by their mutual friend Chief Inspector Japp.
In "The Adventure of the `Western Star'" a beautiful film star secures the help of Poirot after receiving several threatening notes concerning her valuable necklace: "At the full of the moon, the two diamonds which are the left and right eye of the god shall return." Believing that the diamonds referred to are her necklace and that of Lady Yardly, Miss Marvell wants Poirot to solve the mystery before the culprit fulfils his promise to steal her jewel by the next full moon.
"The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor" concerns the potentially suspicious death of Mr Maltravers who his insurance company believes may have committed suicide so that his young wife can collect the life insurance. The doctor thinks it was a simple blood hemorrhage, and his bereaved widow claims his health was frail - but Poirot isn't too sure...
"The Adventure of the Cheap Flat" seems an odd title for a mystery, but Hastings is intrigued when two acquaintances get themselves a superior flat at a very cheap price in a situation that seems too good to be true. Offhandedly he mentions it to Poirot, who takes an even great interest in the proceedings. After seeing the place for themselves, Poirot astonishes Hastings with the information that the inhabitants are in very great danger.
A sick Poirot uses Hastings as his eyes and ears in "The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge" as he and Inspector Japp investigate the death of Mr Pace, a man in his hunting lodge after the housekeeper Mrs Middleton admits a black-beaded man into the house. Both she and Mrs Havering (the wife of the victim's nephew) saw the man, but now he seems to have disappeared into thin air - swiftly followed by Mrs Middleton.
"The Million Dollar Bond Robbery" is a mystery that insults Poirot with its simplicity, even though Hastings is left baffled as usual. On the ocean-liner Olympia, a case full of Liberty Bonds has been stolen with no clear understanding of how the thief managed to pull it off or how the bonds were smuggled into New York. Bank employee Philip Ridgeway is both blamed and suspected of the crime, and his fiancée begs Poirot to provide the couple with an answer.
"The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb" takes us all the way to Egypt where a group of archeologists are apparently being picked off one by one due to an ancient curse. Much to Hasting's astonishment, Poirot seems to give this fantastic story credence.
In "Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan" a woman's jewels are stolen from a bedroom that only two people had access to: the chambermaid and the lady's maid, both of whom blame the other for the jewels' disappearance, even though they're not found on either of them. Poirot tries to determine who is really responsible, and what a dusty next-door room has to do with it all.
"The Kidnapped Prime Minister" is possibly the most unbelievable of all Poirot mysteries, in which British intelligence approach the detective during the war years and ask for his aid in locating the kidnapped Prime Minister. Gone missing on his way to a vitally important war conference, no one can find hide nor hair of the Prime Minister, or what the disappearance has to do with an assassination attempt that took place earlier in the day. It's up to Poirot to find the man before his loss has a detrimental effect on the war effort.
"The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim" deals with one of the most ingenious and devious opponents that Poirot has ever come across. Mr Davenheim has disappeared without trace, and no one - not even his wife - knows whether he's alive or dead. Accepting Inspector Japp's challenge to solve the mystery without leaving his armchair, Poirot takes in all the facts (Mr Davenheim's clothes were found in the lake, his ring was discovered in the possession of a homeless man trying to pawn it, his safe was broken into and rifled) and calmly submits his conclusions.
In "The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman" Poirot tags along after his doctor friend who is called to an Italian patient's house after a suspicious phone-call. There they find dinner set for three, a frantic butler, and a dead Italian.
Finally, "The Case of the Missing Will" concerns a young woman name Violet whose uncle has promised her rightful inheritance only if she manages to outwit him and find the will he's concealed from her. Violet shows an intelligence than one suspects her uncle would not have approved of: she simply calls in Poirot to solve the mystery and find the treasure for her.
As is the case with many of Christie's mysteries, some situations are contrived and some denouncements over-the-top. But you always know what you're getting into when you start a Christie mystery, and her ability to entertain are seldom matched, even when credibility has to be stretched almost to breaking point.
Some may find the stories too short (no doubt originating from the fact that they were originally written for a magazine) and there also seems to be some discrepancy between my review and others: my copy of "Poirot Investigates" contains only eleven short stories, whereas others have fourteen, which include "The Chocolate Box," "The Veiled Lady" and "The Lost Mine." This is probably due to the fact that I have the British edition, so American readers can look forward to three extra treats when they order through Amazon!
Although Christe's novels are obviously superior, these stories are perfect for a quick read; the arrogant yet likeable Poirot is one of the world's most famous detectives for a reason, and the way that he and Hastings bounce off each other (like any detective and his less-intelligent sidekick) provides much amusement along the way.
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