Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "tommy-and-tuppence"

Midwinter Murder: Fireside Mysteries from the Queen of Crime by Agatha Christie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A delightful collection of twelve midwinter mysteries from the Queen of Crime to enjoy by the fire over the festive season.

Sitting at the fireside with hot chocolate, Poirot recalls a case from his time in the Belgian Police, one which he regards as one of his rare failures…
Miss Marple tells of a Christmas tragedy which she unravelled some years before…
The mysterious Mr Quin assists in solving an old mystery on New Year’s Eve…
Poirot investigates the discovery of a corpse in the Baghdad Chest…
Tommy and Tuppence Beresford assist a clergyman’s daughter to uncover the secret of a family legacy...
Poirot is called upon when a woman’s body is found aboard the Plymouth Express…
Parker Pyne assists true love to blossom at Pollensa Bay…
A dying man seeks sanctuary in a church and Miss Marple is called upon to solve the mystery...
While Poirot is bedridden with flu, Captain Hastings is dispatched to Hunter’s Lodge to be his eyes and ears…
High atop the snowy mountainside of World's End, Mr Quin oversees the final act of another emotional drama...
Thirsty for adventure, Edward Robinson is drawn into a daring caper and an evening of romance...
During Christmas Day celebrations, Poirot is perplexed by a warning left for him to not eat the Christmas Pudding...

A hugely enjoyable collection of Agatha Christie's festive and wintry short stories, 'Midwinter Murder' features appearances from many of her famous creations. I had read most of these stories in the past, but what a pleasure it was to revisit them all these years later - particularly those featuring Poirot and Miss Marple. If I had to choose favourites, it would be those featuring these two characters.

Each story is a little mystery that can be read in one sitting - while enjoying a morning coffee or an evening hot chocolate, or just before you put out the light for bed. Highly recommended for old and new Christie fans, this would be a marvellous introduction for readers new to her work or a nostalgic treat for those who first enjoyed these stories many years ago.

It wouldn't be Christmas without a mystery or two, and no one does them better than Agatha Christie. So set the fire ablaze and get set to tease your little grey cells once again.



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Midsummer Mysteries: Secrets and Suspense from the Queen of Crime by Agatha Christie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A fabulous collection of summertime mysteries selected from the works of the Queen of Golden Age Crime, Agatha Christie.

Miss Marple hears a tale of murder from a Cornish fishing village…
Poirot investigates an audacious jewellery theft…
Parker Pyne’s holiday is interrupted by a fellow guest who believes she is being poisoned…
The mysterious Mr Quin is present for another opera of star-crossed lovers…
Poirot assists in the investigation into the brutal murder of an Italian nobleman…
A young woman answers a job advert and finds herself embroiled in royal intrigue…
Poirot reviews the case of an alarming disappearance of a financier…
Miss Marple solves the mystery of death by supernatural influence…
A young man finds himself implicated in the theft of a Rajah’s emerald…
Parker Pyne may be the only hope to thwart a plot of kidnap and ransom…
Tommy and Tuppence Beresford are asked to investigate the ransacking of private papers…
Poirot is called upon to uncover the whereabouts of stolen submarine plans…

A companion volume to ‘Midwinter Murder’, ‘Midsummer Mysteries’ features twelve short stories taken from a variety of previous collections; the detectives investigating daring thefts, mysterious disappearances and malicious murders. From sleepy coastal English villages to the majestic shores of Egypt, experience the fiendishness of Agatha Christie’s plotting and the psychological authenticity of her characterisations.

As with the previous volume, I’d encountered many of these stories in the past, but it was a thrill to revisit them, while the standalone stories (which originally featured in ‘The Listerdale Mystery’) were new to me. Those stories featuring Poirot and Miss Marple shone, despite my familiarity with them. Agatha Christie’s stories can be revisited again and again and never grow old. Included here are Poirot’s first encounter with Countess Vera Rossakoff, Miss Marple at her finest solving puzzles from the comfort of her armchair, and many more. Highly recommended for both the stalwart Christie fan and newcomer alike, these seasonal collections are intensely enjoyable and make for pure escapism.

Featuring twelve delicious slices of nostalgia and intrigue, ‘Midsummer Mysteries’ is comfort-reading at its finest. So grab your refreshments and bask in the sunshine and sea breeze as you delve into these tales of mystery and murder. But, be warned: as a wise man once said, “there is evil everywhere under the sun.”



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SINISTER SPRING: Murder and Mystery from the Queen of Crime by Agatha Christie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A springtime collection of classic mysteries.

Poirot's trip to the country is interrupted by a suspicious death...
Tommy and Tuppence hunt for a missing lady...
Miss Marple reviews a death by poisoning...
Poirot is consulted by a woman who is shortly found dead...
A sinister scheme in play behind an opera...
Miss Marple unpicks a locked room mystery...
Parker Pyne is drawn into a case of missing jewels...
Poirot investigates an impossible theft...
Miss Marple hears a tale of smuggling and missing gold bullion...
Mr Quin arrives at the scene of a high-stakes gamble...
A chance meeting with a girl on a train leads to adventure and intrigue...
Miss Marple untangles a devious plot at Greenshaw's Folly...

'Sinister Spring' is the third seasonal collection of selected stories by Agatha Christie, each with that refreshing breath of new life and the promise of summer. Compiled of twelve short stories, the volume stars Poirot, Miss Marple, Tommy and Tuppence, Parker Pyne, Quin and Satterthwaite, plus a couple of standalone stories, all taken from previous collections, having originally been published in magazines in the 1920s and 30s, aside from the final story published in 'The Daily Mail' in 1956.

Each of these stories is a gem - with puzzles and intrigue, mysterious thefts and nefarious murder plots, armchair detection and daring adventure; taking us from country homes to luxury hotels, aboard train journeys and on to the stage, all masterfully plotted unravellings of a tangled web.

Many of these stories were amongst the earliest Agatha Christie works I read in the Poirot and Miss Marple short story collections. Revisiting Christie's mysteries, whether through screen adaptations or re-reading is always a nostalgic and comforting treat of pure indulgence. Her work will always be a pleasure and an inspiration.

These seasonal collections are a delightful way to revisit classic Christie short stories, or pose a perfect starting point for anyone new to her work. I'm especially looking forward to 'Autumn Chills', coming later this year.



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Autumn Chills: Tales of Intrigue from the Queen of Crime by Agatha Christie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A thrilling collection of devilish mysteries for the autumn season.

Poirot investigates a locked-room murder…
Parker Pyne assists a rich woman in finding her happiness…
A woman finds herself haunted by her lost love…
Poirot untangles a perilous love triangle…
Miss Marple unearths the truth behind a young woman’s drowning…
A spirit board brings a message from the mysterious Mr Quin…
Poirot exorcises a family curse…
Tommy and Tuppence hunt a dastardly poisoner…
Miss Marple assists in the investigation of an apparently clear-cut domestic murder…
Satterthwaite and Quin are on hand to unravel a tragic family drama…
Poirot’s suspicions are aroused by the strange behaviour of a fellow diner…
A defence team must contend with an unexpected prosecution witness…

'Autumn Chills' is the fourth seasonal collection of Agatha Christie's short fiction, featuring a selection of her famous detectives and standalone mysteries across eleven short stories and one novelette, ‘Murder in the Mews’, which opens the collection. Every one of the twelve tales is an absorbing delicacy; a riveting selection of sinister mysteries, fiendish villainy and clever detection, along with flourishes of romance and the supernatural.

The stories starring Poirot and Miss Marple always shine, both detectives never failing to captivate us with their insight and ingenuity. Plus, included are perhaps two of my favourite stories to feature Quin and Satterthwaite, providing us those supernatural vibes for the season, while chilling fable 'While the Light Lasts' stands out as a gem. Tommy and Tuppence and Parker Pyne also make appearances, while the classic legal mystery ‘Witness for the Prosecution’ concludes this masterful showcase of fiction.

I devoured the entire collection, as I have the previous three. With many of these being re-reads, there were enchanting moments of nostalgia; perfect comfort-reads for getting into the autumn spirit while cozily wrapped up indoors as the nights begin to darken. Each of these seasonal collections has been a pure pleasure, complete with their beautiful artwork and deluxe hardcover editions. No sooner had I finished reading, I was already anticipating the next time I revisit Christie’s work. Whether on the page, stage or screen, the Queen of Crime’s plots and characters continue to stand the test of time, never failing to intrigue, entertain, and take us back to a bygone era.



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