reviews
Apr 13, 2011
Laurel
rated it: 
"The Regatta Mystery" is a mongrel collection, featuring three of Agatha Christie's detectives and one supernatural tale. It's clear that she didn't write these stories to go together, so I suppose her publisher simply collected her most recent short works as of 1939. The resulting assortment lacks the coherence of, say, Labours of Hercules or other "themed" collections. However, enough of the stories are excellent that they deserve a high rating even though the various detec
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Jan 19, 2012
M.L.
rated it:
1932. 1934. 1935. 1936. 1939. Nine stories published during the thirties when Christie was established and famous as a mystery writer. Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and the lesser known Mr Parker Pyne make appearances in this delightful sampler from the MWA's first Grand Master.
Like McDonald's, Christie's 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections have sold billions and billions; her West End plays have entertained millions and millions; movie versions, radio plays, video games More...
Like McDonald's, Christie's 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections have sold billions and billions; her West End plays have entertained millions and millions; movie versions, radio plays, video games More...
Jul 29, 2011
Kurt
rated it: 
This is a collection of some very short mystery stories. They are generally murder mysteries, and the short story format prevents Christie from employing too much misdirection. Generally, she sets up the mystery, gives a clue or two, and announces the killer (or jewel thief, or matchmaker, etc.). Some of the results are silly, but they generally seem like fair solutions. This collection is probably most valuable for Christie fans (especially those who like Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Mr. Pa
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May 20, 2011
Carolyn
rated it: 
Love listening to short stories when riding around town - and while they provide less character development than Christie's novels, they're like a fun riddle in 15min. It's like a parlor game but you're not actually on the spot to figure out whodoneit. This is a somewhat diverse collection in that there are stories with Poirot, Marple, and Parker Pyne. The readers are also excellent (mostly from the BBC series).
Jul 01, 2011
Laura
rated it:
A series of kind of random short stories. There are two Parker Pynes (one diamond theft, one relationship one), one Miss Marple, five Hercule Poirots (all murders, I think), and one totally unrelated one. The latter, “In a Glass Darkly,” has supernatural elements- a man sees a woman being strangled in a mirror, but it’s a premonition, not a real reflection. It was…quite weird and very unlike Agatha Christie. Of these, I liked the Poirot stories the best because they were murders. I found it a we
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Nov 30, 2010
Juliana Es
rated it:
I like this so much better than The Body in the Library. Perhaps it's not a fair comparison - for The Regatta Mystery is a collection of short stories, but at least each mystery lets the reader a slight chance of figuring out the possibility and logical connection for the crime.
Read it in two nights - from 29 to 30 Nov 2010.
Read it in two nights - from 29 to 30 Nov 2010.
Jul 30, 2010
MamaCarrie
rated it:
I love Christie's books, but cannot NOT mention the gross sexism and racism on display. Even Poirot isn't immune from the -isms on parade in some stories. Great mysteries, horrible portrayal of women, the poor/servant class and 'foriegners'. Read with caution.
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Nov 08, 2010
Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot and Mr. Parker Pyne all have stories in this book. The title story being one where a fabulous diamond is stolen at a dinner party and Hercule has to step in to save an innocent man who is suspected of the crime.
Jun 27, 2010
Cindy
rated it:
This was fun. It was short stories so you had an opportunity to meet all the characters and solve the mystery in a short read. Great for beside the bed and handy to grab when you can't get to sleep.
Feb 07, 2012
Judy
rated it:
An enjoyable collection of short stories first published during the 1930s featuring three of Agatha Christie's most famous detectives--Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Mr. Parker Pyne.
Oct 17, 2011
Yes, this is my first, and so far my only, Agatha Christie. You now have permission to beat me to death with sticks, except that I'd quite like to read some more before I die.
Dec 28, 2011
Kristen
rated it: 
Oof. One or two good stories (which were over far too soon) amid a whole bunch of sub-par stories/ideas. An entire story written as a letter from Miss Marple almost made me have to stab someone.
Aug 05, 2011
Jan
rated it:
Collection of short stories by Agatha Christie. They are in other collections but have some of the Parker Pyne which seem to be harder to find.
May 06, 2010
Ruchi
rated it:
Good enough to finish on a short domestic flight keeps you enthralled and definitely puts your mind off the delays!!
Aug 17, 2010
Jenny
rated it:
This book was classic Agatha Christie. While the stories varied in their characters (there were a few Poirot, one Marple, etc), I liked the variety provided to us. I read this in a day - I love Christie and it had been a while since I'd picked up a book of hers!
Jan 23, 2009
Bea
rated it:
Great collection of murder mysteries, solved by Christies great sleuths - the redoubtable Miss Marple, Mr. Parker Pyne, or Hercule Poirot.
Jan 31, 2009
Gooddog32
rated it:
Set of short stories. A quick read. A lot of these were made into Poirot Mysteries on PBS.
Dec 14, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
While I prefer Agatha Christie's longer works, it's sometimes nice just have a sampling. My favorite of the short stories are the ones with Parker Pyne who in one story reluctantly admits that his first name is Christopher. Pyne is the opposite of fastidious and sometimes pompous M. Poirot or the ever congenial Miss Marple. No, he's in his line of work for the money and makes no apologies for it.
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Dec 17, 2009
Cindy
rated it:
A collection of short stories featuring almost all of Christie's detectives. Miss Marple's story, told in a letter, is of helping a man accused of murdering his wife. Poirot is in this one too, working on a jewel theft, as is mysterious sleuth Parker Pyne, who interrupts his vacation to help some frustrated lovers. A good collection.
Jul 19, 2010
Samantha
rated it:
A collection of short mysteries by Agatha Christie. She is my favorite mystery author so I am a bit biased when it comes to any of her books, but I really enjoyed this book.
Jun 15, 2010
Ed
rated it:
A handful of Poirots, a Marple and a few others. Not bad stories, but the shorter ones (for me anyway) are not quite as satisfying as the more developed tales.
Jul 14, 2011
Jenn
rated it:
pretty average collection of christie short stories (only one or two of which i've read in other anthologies) featuring marple, poirot and parker pyne.
