Is it a gesture of good will or a sinister trap that lures Rupert St. Vincent and his family to magnificent estate? How desperate is Joyce Lamber...
read full description
reviews
Feb 04, 2011
Laurel
rated it: 
The Golden Ball is a collection of early Agatha stories from the 1920s and '30s. It is highly atypical in that there is scarcely a mystery to be found, at least in the strict sense. Instead, we see Christie explore themes of romance, suspense, and the supernatural, sometimes with a flavor of mystery or a crime of passion involved. To be frank, some of the stories are overwrought, with characters of impossible beauty and/or wealth behaving in a melodramatic fashion. Lovers are united or reunited
More...
Jan 09, 2012
Our Intrepid Heroine
rated it:
This wasn't what I was expecting. I think I expected it to be along the lines of The Tuesday Club Murders or Double Sin. Instead, none of Christie's famous detectives showed up, there were a few stories that could only be solved with magic/occult, and several weren't mysteries at all.
In the same way that They Came to Baghdad was closer to espionage than mystery, this collection borrowed from fairy tales and standard fiction. It was interesting, and I was reminded heavily of Eva Ibbo More...
In the same way that They Came to Baghdad was closer to espionage than mystery, this collection borrowed from fairy tales and standard fiction. It was interesting, and I was reminded heavily of Eva Ibbo More...
Dec 12, 2010
Scilla
rated it:
I think these stories may have been some of Agatha Christie's earlier stories. They seem to have more romance and mysterious happenings than her later books. In the Lysterdale Mystery, a lady whose finances have gone hill finds an apartment with servants in a nice part of town for nominal rent. Jane in search of a job is asked to stand in for a Princess who might be in danger, and she finds a husband. In the golden ball, the nephew is fired by the uncle and ends up falling in love with a ric
More...
Jan 02, 2011
Izlinda
rated it:
Considering the earliest copyright is 1924, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by the class-ist and xenophobic, stereotyped attitudes of the characters in the short stories... It grated after a while on my nerves.
I recognize some plots in her other full-length novels or other short stories. Near the end of the book, the later stories were more supernatural in nature than the earlier stories. I think I would have preferred a better mix of the themes/genres in the book.
I recognize some plots in her other full-length novels or other short stories. Near the end of the book, the later stories were more supernatural in nature than the earlier stories. I think I would have preferred a better mix of the themes/genres in the book.
Jun 21, 2011
Elisha
rated it:
Another dose of Agatha Christie for summer reading. Although these short stories were a little off her normal formula, really. The first half were about mixed up couples working things out (it smacked of Wodehouse) and only the last few had anything you'd expect - a body turning up and somebody figuring out who dunnit.
But I liked it. Each story was about 8 pages long, which worked out perfectly when I didn't feel well enough to concentrate on anything longer.
But I liked it. Each story was about 8 pages long, which worked out perfectly when I didn't feel well enough to concentrate on anything longer.
Oct 09, 2011
Peter
rated it:
Enjoyable short story collection. Most of the stories are sweet confections with a few dark ones, sort of like eating a Whitman's Sampler. These are older tales from the 20s and 30s and a number of the "adventurous" tales are similar, possibly collected from magazines of the past. The more atmospheric tales can be at times surprisingly emotional. (The one about the dog really got to me! ha!!) Overall, recommended, but not really classic Christie.
Jan 09, 2011
Janette
rated it: 
It was an offer the St. Vincents could not refuse--a splendid mansion, complete with servants, with nothing asked in return! But where was the host? Why was the mysterious butler as tight-lipped and enigmatic as the Sphinx? Most of the family, basking in elegance, is content to ask no questions, but young Rupert St. Vincent suspects a sinister trap, and will not rest until he has unmasked the mastermind behind it all.
Feb 04, 2012
Judy
rated it: 
Early Agatha Christie short stories that dated from the 1920s and 1930s and they reflected the era in which they were written. Not classic mysteries in the usual Christie style. These were heavy on unexpected romance, tales of the supernatural, and then a few suspense stories thrown in for good measure. Not on my short list of Christie favorites--or even on my top 50 list now that I think about it.
Feb 07, 2010
Rachel
rated it: 
it's rare that I come across an Agatha Christie that I haven't read. These stories aren't your run of the mill mysteries. The first half are really more love stories with the second half have a darker, supernatural element to them. Many of them reminded me more of L.M. Montgomery style writing rather then Christie.
Aug 18, 2011
A grab bag of short stories - including mystery & suspense with a dash of romance plus some dealing with the supernatural - written between 1924 - 1934 - so they are somewhat dated but interesting anyway (especially if you're an Agatha Christie fan).
Jan 17, 2010
Miriam
rated it:
I really liked the dog story, but the rest of them were generally either crime stories where it turned out that nothing was really seriously wrong after all or paranormal stories where there really wasn't much anybody could do to control what would happen.
Jun 07, 2011
Chavonne
rated it:
Oh, Agatha, why?! This is the third-to-last novel by Christie that I will ever read and it was terrible, honestly. I hate just saying that. The stories are predictable and boring. I can't say any more about this because it was just not good at all.
Feb 27, 2010
Stephen
rated it:
A very good collection of short stories from the Queen of Mystery. Standout stories are "The Strange Case of Sir Andrew Carmichael" which concerns a murder plot and the ghost of a gray cat and "Next to a Dog", not a mystery story but a simple, well told tale of a girl at her wits end, who has only the love of her dog to keep her going.
Sep 20, 2010
Michele
rated it:
As I began the book of short stories I wondered if they were all going to be unlikely love stories. But near the end, I saw that she can also write ghost stories. Not my favorite of her works, but entertaining.
Oct 19, 2009
Tania
rated it:
This is a series of short stories by Agatha Christie - none of which feature any of her recurring characters. Some of the stories were very straight forward, but a number featured the paranormal which is not my thing. This is very unusual for Agatha Christie - I prefer when she stays in the "real" world.
Sep 05, 2010
Ravie
rated it:
Not a great book. Probably i was expecting too much from since it was an Agatha Christie. There are love stories, supernatural stuff etc. But no great mystery in any one of them.
Jan 10, 2009
TheRose
rated it:
This collection of stories were mediocre. One or two stories were excellent, but the rest I'm sorry to say were not up to Christie's usual standard.
Jul 27, 2009
Doc-mok
rated it:
Another collection of Agatha Christie's short stories -- all stand alone in that they don't feature any certain detective. Generally entertaining.
Jan 07, 2011
Kyrie
rated it:
It's a nice collection of her short stories and pretty good. Got a nice variety of classic mystery and her more supernatural stuff.
Jan 16, 2012
John
rated it:
I think this collection is unique in not having any of Christie's recurring detectives. All the more intriguing for that.
Jul 28, 2008
Elaine
rated it:
I'm going to review all Christie's books/stories with one review. She's an awesome author. The reader gets a peek into aristocratic English life of a much earlier time period. The stories are all plot-driven, with sketchy characters, and sometimes contrived clues, but the plots are INTERESTING and keep the reader involved. There's a lot of violence,blood, guts, and evil--off screen/page--but no voyeuristic sex in great detail, thank heaven!! These books are as nice to read as curling up in your
More...
Jan 14, 2011
danielle
rated it:
very classist, not surprising given its early date...but the stories, while pat, are entertaining.
Jun 30, 2010
Catriona
rated it:
not mystery stories
some vignettes that are fun, poignant, or ghost stories
some vignettes that are fun, poignant, or ghost stories
Apr 10, 2008
Darcy
rated it:
I'm having an Agatha Christie extravaganza, re-reading many old favorites: Halloween Party, Labors of Hercules, and Toward Zero. The Golden Ball particularly has some enchanting characters in some of the short stories. The last story in particular has been one that is very memorable for me, and I had forgotten that Christie wrote it. She was a spiritualist, so some of the stories get pretty far-fetched, but I love the first half of the book and the last story. I would recommend them to anybo
More...
