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Murder For All Seasons
Autumn Chills
An all-new collection of autumn-themed mysteries from the master of the genre.
Autumn is the season of misty mornings and cosy nights in, but as the leaves begin to fall the nights get longer and the shadows grow darker…
Secluded cottages, eerie manors and ghostly hauntings and cursed tombs abound in this collection of 12 supernatural mysteries and murderous plots featuring Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple and Agatha Christie’s other favourite detectives.
INCLUDES THE
Murder in the Mews
The Case of the Rich Woman
While the Light Lasts
Triangle at Rhodes
Death by Drowning
The Bird with the Broken Wing
The Lemesurier Inheritance
The House of Lurking Death
Tape-Measure Murder
The Voice in the Dark
Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds
Witness for the Prosecution
Autumn is the season of misty mornings and cosy nights in, but as the leaves begin to fall the nights get longer and the shadows grow darker…
Secluded cottages, eerie manors and ghostly hauntings and cursed tombs abound in this collection of 12 supernatural mysteries and murderous plots featuring Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple and Agatha Christie’s other favourite detectives.
INCLUDES THE
Murder in the Mews
The Case of the Rich Woman
While the Light Lasts
Triangle at Rhodes
Death by Drowning
The Bird with the Broken Wing
The Lemesurier Inheritance
The House of Lurking Death
Tape-Measure Murder
The Voice in the Dark
Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds
Witness for the Prosecution
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2023
832 people are currently reading
4309 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,785 books74.8k followersAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
September 23, 2025
c’était hyper fun girly pop
November 9, 2023
This is a collection of twelve chilling short stories by Christie.
1-Murder in the Mews ***
A good night for a murder! Or is it?
2-The Case of the Rich Woman ***
An apparent case of money overload!
3-While the Light Lasts****
Haunting and tragic. Which to choose? Love or money…or death?
4-Triangle at Rhodes*****
Can Poirot prevent a murder without losing himself inside an eternal triangle?
5-Death by Drowning ****
Was it suicide or murder? Miss Marple knows the answer!
6-The Bird with the Broken Wing***
A tragic death; sinister forces are at play!
7-The Lemesurier Inheritance ****
An old family curse; is it real or someone is killing the heirs one by one?
8-The House of Lurking Death ****
A box of poisoned chocolates; who is it intended for?
9-Tape-Measure Murder *****
A humdrum, everyday life. And—suddenly—murder. An old-fashioned murder!
10-The Voice in the Dark ****
Is she hearing voices or going off her head?
11-Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds ****
A simple case of accidental death or a simple push?
12-The Witness for the Prosecution*****
Leonard Vole is innocent. Leonard Vole is guilty. Leonard Vole is innocent…Drama, drama, drama!
1-Murder in the Mews ***
A good night for a murder! Or is it?
2-The Case of the Rich Woman ***
An apparent case of money overload!
3-While the Light Lasts****
Haunting and tragic. Which to choose? Love or money…or death?
4-Triangle at Rhodes*****
Can Poirot prevent a murder without losing himself inside an eternal triangle?
5-Death by Drowning ****
Was it suicide or murder? Miss Marple knows the answer!
6-The Bird with the Broken Wing***
A tragic death; sinister forces are at play!
7-The Lemesurier Inheritance ****
An old family curse; is it real or someone is killing the heirs one by one?
8-The House of Lurking Death ****
A box of poisoned chocolates; who is it intended for?
9-Tape-Measure Murder *****
A humdrum, everyday life. And—suddenly—murder. An old-fashioned murder!
10-The Voice in the Dark ****
Is she hearing voices or going off her head?
11-Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds ****
A simple case of accidental death or a simple push?
12-The Witness for the Prosecution*****
Leonard Vole is innocent. Leonard Vole is guilty. Leonard Vole is innocent…Drama, drama, drama!
December 15, 2024
Good collection of Agatha Christie shorts.
Murder in the Mews
Poirot and Japp investigate a murder that has been made to look like suicide.
Badly made to look like suicide. Poirot has to untangle quite a few knots to unravel a blackmailer's scheme gone wrong.
But unravel them he does.
Keep your eye on the attache case at the golf course.
Or not. Could just be a red herring after all.
The Case of the Rich Woman A rich middle-aged woman is bored with life.
She comes across an advertisement in that paper that says, Are you happy? If not consult Mr. Parker Pyne., and decides to give it a try.
She goes to Pyne's office to see if he can help her find the happiness she used to have before she could afford everything she wanted.
I'm guessing she thinks Pyne is going to find her some spicy new hobby.
That is not what happens.
He finds someone who can switch her soul with that of a poor woman and takes over control of her money!
Or does he?
The conclusion is pretty cool.
While the Light Lasts
What if you had the chance to be with your first love again?
A woman who married wealth and security after her first husband was killed in the war has the chance to revisit her past.
This is something that I think anyone would struggle with so I really felt for her.
This one turns out to be more complicated than you might think. Because do we really want what we pined for in our youth?
Triangle at Rhodes
A love triangle turns deadly in a way I didn't see coming!
Poirot and the other guests notice that the resident hotel hottie appears to be quickly stealing a mousy woman's handsome husband, while simultaneously angering her own.
Poirot sees that there is more going on than meets the eye and tries to warn Mrs. Mousy to leave before...
Well, before.
I liked this one quite a bit!
Death by Drowning
A local girl, rumored to be pregnant by an out-of-town architect, is found drowned.
The locals assume it was suicide because her father is known to be an unreasonable man.
Miss Marple to the rescue!
The Bird with the Broken Wing Suicide or murder?
After hearing his friend's name spelled out on a OUJA board, Mr. Satterthwaite decides to accept the invitation to a house party that he had previously thought to decline.
It's a weird one.
I'm not sure anyone is really sympathetic except for the gal who ends up getting murdered.
The Lemesurier Inheritance
The cursed inheritance!
The story opens with a friend of Hastings & Poirot getting killed almost immediately after he learns of his father's death...and right before he inherits his estate.
Supposedly there's a curse attached to the family that (because of some wrongdoing by an ancestor) won't let any firstborn son inherit.
The House of Lurking Death A proper mystery!
A lot of these Tommy & Tuppence shorts are kind of silly. I mean, one of the fun things about this collection is that it's just these two doing goofy stuff, flirt-fussing at each other, and still managing to solve a case or three.
However, this is a twisty poisoning case worthy of Poirot or Marple.
Tape-Measure Murder
Not my favorite Marple.
And yet, is any Marple a bad Marple?
So. This one deals with a woman whose husband is the main suspect in her murder, mainly because he isn't showing the appropriate amount of emotion.
The Voice in the Dark
Give back what is not yours. Give back what you have stolen.
Lady Barbara Stranleigh is a bit of an ass. But she's been Mr. Satterthwaite's acquaintance since they were young, so when she tells him she's worried about her adult daughter hearing voices from beyond, he agrees to go check on her at her family's home.
You'll have to suspend disbelief quite a bit for this to seem even remotely plausible. But I thought it was a great short.
Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds How important are white teeth?
In the grand scheme of life, not very. However, if you're a Belgian detective, you may just be able to solve a murder based on the color of someone's chompers.
Witness for the Prosecution
LOVE THE ENDING!
This one is juicy.
A rich old lady is found dead and all signs point toward Leonard Vole, a young man who has been paying her special attention, as she had apparently changed her will and he stands to inherit a good deal of money.
Did he kill her?
All signs point to yes.
But his attorney, Mr. Mayhew, isn't convinced that he's actually guilty. Especially once he pays a visit to Leonard's wife, Romaine. <--yes, like the lettuce
This would be a great addition to any Christie lover's library.
Recommended.
Murder in the Mews
Poirot and Japp investigate a murder that has been made to look like suicide.
Badly made to look like suicide. Poirot has to untangle quite a few knots to unravel a blackmailer's scheme gone wrong.
But unravel them he does.
Keep your eye on the attache case at the golf course.
Or not. Could just be a red herring after all.
The Case of the Rich Woman A rich middle-aged woman is bored with life.
She comes across an advertisement in that paper that says, Are you happy? If not consult Mr. Parker Pyne., and decides to give it a try.
She goes to Pyne's office to see if he can help her find the happiness she used to have before she could afford everything she wanted.
I'm guessing she thinks Pyne is going to find her some spicy new hobby.
That is not what happens.
He finds someone who can switch her soul with that of a poor woman and takes over control of her money!
Or does he?
The conclusion is pretty cool.
While the Light Lasts
What if you had the chance to be with your first love again?
A woman who married wealth and security after her first husband was killed in the war has the chance to revisit her past.
This is something that I think anyone would struggle with so I really felt for her.
This one turns out to be more complicated than you might think. Because do we really want what we pined for in our youth?
Triangle at Rhodes
A love triangle turns deadly in a way I didn't see coming!
Poirot and the other guests notice that the resident hotel hottie appears to be quickly stealing a mousy woman's handsome husband, while simultaneously angering her own.
Poirot sees that there is more going on than meets the eye and tries to warn Mrs. Mousy to leave before...
Well, before.
I liked this one quite a bit!
Death by Drowning
A local girl, rumored to be pregnant by an out-of-town architect, is found drowned.
The locals assume it was suicide because her father is known to be an unreasonable man.
Miss Marple to the rescue!
The Bird with the Broken Wing Suicide or murder?
After hearing his friend's name spelled out on a OUJA board, Mr. Satterthwaite decides to accept the invitation to a house party that he had previously thought to decline.
It's a weird one.
I'm not sure anyone is really sympathetic except for the gal who ends up getting murdered.
The Lemesurier Inheritance
The cursed inheritance!
The story opens with a friend of Hastings & Poirot getting killed almost immediately after he learns of his father's death...and right before he inherits his estate.
Supposedly there's a curse attached to the family that (because of some wrongdoing by an ancestor) won't let any firstborn son inherit.
The House of Lurking Death A proper mystery!
A lot of these Tommy & Tuppence shorts are kind of silly. I mean, one of the fun things about this collection is that it's just these two doing goofy stuff, flirt-fussing at each other, and still managing to solve a case or three.
However, this is a twisty poisoning case worthy of Poirot or Marple.
Tape-Measure Murder
Not my favorite Marple.
And yet, is any Marple a bad Marple?
So. This one deals with a woman whose husband is the main suspect in her murder, mainly because he isn't showing the appropriate amount of emotion.
The Voice in the Dark
Give back what is not yours. Give back what you have stolen.
Lady Barbara Stranleigh is a bit of an ass. But she's been Mr. Satterthwaite's acquaintance since they were young, so when she tells him she's worried about her adult daughter hearing voices from beyond, he agrees to go check on her at her family's home.
You'll have to suspend disbelief quite a bit for this to seem even remotely plausible. But I thought it was a great short.
Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds How important are white teeth?
In the grand scheme of life, not very. However, if you're a Belgian detective, you may just be able to solve a murder based on the color of someone's chompers.
Witness for the Prosecution
LOVE THE ENDING!
This one is juicy.
A rich old lady is found dead and all signs point toward Leonard Vole, a young man who has been paying her special attention, as she had apparently changed her will and he stands to inherit a good deal of money.
Did he kill her?
All signs point to yes.
But his attorney, Mr. Mayhew, isn't convinced that he's actually guilty. Especially once he pays a visit to Leonard's wife, Romaine. <--yes, like the lettuce
This would be a great addition to any Christie lover's library.
Recommended.
Read
October 30, 2025A coleção sazonal de Agatha Christie (que tem vindo a ser publicada desde 2021) tem funcionado muito bem comigo pela variedade que oferece. Ele é a velhota Marple, o sagaz Poirot, o misterioso Quin, o romântico Parker Pine, os disfuncionais Tommy e Tuppence, e uma série de outras personagens carismáticas numa mescla de histórias que vão do whodunnit, ao suspense, à aventura. Mas a tematização sazonal é mero pretexto para reunir num mesmo volume personagens e histórias tão díspares - algo particularmente evidente neste volume Outono arrepiante que promete mistérios sobrenaturais e assombrações, mas que se lê como literatura de conforto para os primeiros dias chuvosos. Apesar disso, estas coletâneas continuam a funcionar por repescarem as personagens menos conhecidas e mais subvalorizadas de Agatha Christie, e um conjunto sempre diferente de contos bastante bem conseguidos. Boas escolhas para a chegada do Outono.
Morte encenada
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
O caso da mulher rica
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
O dilema
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Triângulo em Rodes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Morte por afogamento
⭐️⭐️⭐️
O pássaro de asa quebrada
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A herança dos Lemesurier
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A casa da morte oculta
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
O crime da fita métrica
⭐️⭐️⭐️
A voz na escuridão
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vinte e quatro melros
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Testemunha de acusação
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Morte encenada
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
O caso da mulher rica
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
O dilema
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Triângulo em Rodes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Morte por afogamento
⭐️⭐️⭐️
O pássaro de asa quebrada
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A herança dos Lemesurier
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A casa da morte oculta
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
O crime da fita métrica
⭐️⭐️⭐️
A voz na escuridão
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vinte e quatro melros
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Testemunha de acusação
⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 4, 2024
This is a great atmospheric set of short stories for taking the chill off these autumnal days. Here is the list of stories as they appear:
1. Murder in the Mews, narrated by Nigel Hawthorne. A locked room story, featuring Hercule Poirot, which takes place on 5th November - Guy Fawkes – bonfire night – celebrations include lighting a bonfire and setting off fireworks – a perfect cover for a gunshot. Quote: “He’s a good-looking sort of chap, might go down well with someone with no sense of humour.”
2. The Case of the Rich Woman, narrated by Hugh Fraser. (Parker Pyne) A woman looking to spend her fortune discovers its true value. Quote: “You’re a downy fellow.”
3. While the Light Lasts, narrated by Isla Blair, is set in Africa and is about love, as in making life choices and reflecting on those choices when a chance encounter brings a woman into contact with a lost love. Quote: “While the light lasts I shall remember, and in the darkness I shall not forget.”
4. Triangle at Rhodes, narrated by Hugh Fraser. Hercule Poirot encounters a clever triangle and solves a murder while on holiday in the Greek Islands. Quote from Poirot: “It is the future that causes one inquietude.”
5. Death by Drowning, narrated by Juliet Stevenson, stars Miss Marple and Sir Henry Clithering. Quote from Miss Marple: “I know human nature […] it’s impossible not to know human nature, living in a village all these years.”
6. The Bird with the Broken Wing, narrated by Hugh Fraser, is a supernatural tale. A Mr. Harley Quin short story featuring Mr. Satterthwaite.
7. Le Mesurier Inheritance, narrated by David Suchet. The “brass hat” referred to in this story is a high-ranking officer in the armed forces. This story features a family curse, and a serial killer. It is quite engrossing with a chilling conclusion.
8. The House of Lurking Death, narrated by Hugh Fraser. A Partners in Crime short story. Partners, Tommy and Tuppence, stay in a rambling old mansion to investigate the crime of the poisoned chocolates.
9. Tape-Measure Murder, narrated by Juliet Stevenson. A Miss Marple short story set in St. Mary Mead. When Mrs. Spenlow is found murdered the popular opinion of the village is that the husband did it, but Miss Marple has another theory.
Quote: “People do think that what Mrs. Spenlow was wearing was rather peculiar […] A kimono, not a dress. Miss Marple blushed. That sort of thing, you know is perhaps rather suggestive to some people….”
10. The Voice in the Dark, narrated by Hugh Fraser. A Harley Quin story featuring Mr. Satterthwaite and located in Cannes on the French Riviera.
11. Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds, narrated by Hugh Fraser. Hercule Poirot investigates a case of impersonation. Quote from Poirot: “The trouble is there is too much sauce over the bad fish.”
12. Witness for the Prosecution, narrated by Christopher Lee. One of my favorites and includes a clever twist. My favorite version for television star
1. Murder in the Mews, narrated by Nigel Hawthorne. A locked room story, featuring Hercule Poirot, which takes place on 5th November - Guy Fawkes – bonfire night – celebrations include lighting a bonfire and setting off fireworks – a perfect cover for a gunshot. Quote: “He’s a good-looking sort of chap, might go down well with someone with no sense of humour.”
2. The Case of the Rich Woman, narrated by Hugh Fraser. (Parker Pyne) A woman looking to spend her fortune discovers its true value. Quote: “You’re a downy fellow.”
3. While the Light Lasts, narrated by Isla Blair, is set in Africa and is about love, as in making life choices and reflecting on those choices when a chance encounter brings a woman into contact with a lost love. Quote: “While the light lasts I shall remember, and in the darkness I shall not forget.”
4. Triangle at Rhodes, narrated by Hugh Fraser. Hercule Poirot encounters a clever triangle and solves a murder while on holiday in the Greek Islands. Quote from Poirot: “It is the future that causes one inquietude.”
5. Death by Drowning, narrated by Juliet Stevenson, stars Miss Marple and Sir Henry Clithering. Quote from Miss Marple: “I know human nature […] it’s impossible not to know human nature, living in a village all these years.”
6. The Bird with the Broken Wing, narrated by Hugh Fraser, is a supernatural tale. A Mr. Harley Quin short story featuring Mr. Satterthwaite.
7. Le Mesurier Inheritance, narrated by David Suchet. The “brass hat” referred to in this story is a high-ranking officer in the armed forces. This story features a family curse, and a serial killer. It is quite engrossing with a chilling conclusion.
8. The House of Lurking Death, narrated by Hugh Fraser. A Partners in Crime short story. Partners, Tommy and Tuppence, stay in a rambling old mansion to investigate the crime of the poisoned chocolates.
9. Tape-Measure Murder, narrated by Juliet Stevenson. A Miss Marple short story set in St. Mary Mead. When Mrs. Spenlow is found murdered the popular opinion of the village is that the husband did it, but Miss Marple has another theory.
Quote: “People do think that what Mrs. Spenlow was wearing was rather peculiar […] A kimono, not a dress. Miss Marple blushed. That sort of thing, you know is perhaps rather suggestive to some people….”
10. The Voice in the Dark, narrated by Hugh Fraser. A Harley Quin story featuring Mr. Satterthwaite and located in Cannes on the French Riviera.
11. Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds, narrated by Hugh Fraser. Hercule Poirot investigates a case of impersonation. Quote from Poirot: “The trouble is there is too much sauce over the bad fish.”
12. Witness for the Prosecution, narrated by Christopher Lee. One of my favorites and includes a clever twist. My favorite version for television star
December 13, 2024
I recently picked up all four of these seasonally themed — at least in name — short story collections from Agatha Christie. Tackling this one first at random, I found the stories in Autumn Chills extremely enjoyable, and now I can’t wait to read the others.
You would think that the Poirot stories included — all of which I’d read previously — would be the highlights. While one might say they anchor this particular collection from Christie, and are perhaps the main draw for most fans, I have to say that a few of these other stories are at least as good, and a couple were very memorable.
The Poirot stories included in Autumn Chills:
Murder in the Mews
Triangle at Rhodes (a personal favorite)
The Lemesurier Inheritance
Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds
All four are of course enjoyable for Poirot fans, with each person probably finding one they love a bit more than the others. Murder in the Mews stands out, but Rhodes has always been a favorite of mine, and it was nice to have it included here.
Miss Marple:
Death by Drowning
Tape-Measure Murder
Though in long form, I actually prefer Patricia Wentworth’s Miss Silver to Christie’s Miss Marple, in the shorter form I found these two Miss Marple stories incredibly entertaining. I loved Death by Drowning, and really enjoyed Tape-Measure Murder a great deal. One of the two ended a bit too abruptly for me, but it wasn’t enough to keep me from making a mental note to return to this collection at some point down the road and reread it.
Tommy and Tuppence:
The House of Lurking Death
I’m not a huge fan of Tommy and Tuppence in long form, but in short story form they work so well — particularly in this story — that it prompted me to pick up a copy of Partners in Crime, a collection of Tommy and Tuppence short stories. Some of them are included in the other seasonal hardcover volumes, but not all. Based on how much fun I found The House of Lurking Death to be, I’m glad I now have Partners in Crime there to read when I’m in the mood.
Parker Pyne:
The Case of the Rich Woman
I’ve read a few Parker Pyne stories before, but not this one. While some might label it one of the weakest stories here, I suspect that’s due to it being much less a traditional mystery than it is a life lesson, courtesy of Christie, and her man, Parker Pyne. It’s actually quite enjoyable, and perhaps a glimpse into how Christie herself felt about the trappings of wealth.
Mr Satterthwaite and Mr Quin:
The Bird with the Broken Wing
The Voice in the Dark
While I thought the ending to Voice in the Dark a bit too tidy, I must say it was a terrific story. The Bird with the Broken Wing however, was atmospheric and enthralling. It is, to my mind, tied for the most memorable story in the collection with one I will get to shortly. I had yet to read a Satterthwaite and Quin story, but find myself eagerly looking forward to the other five which are scattered among the four seasonally themed collections I now own. I’m very much looking forward to reading Broken Wing again somewhere down the line.
The final two entries which round out the dozen are stand-alone stories bereft of a famous series detective creation. The Witness for the Prosecution is well known of course, due to the play, and the film this short story gave birth to, and it’s a good one. For me, however, While the Light Lasts ranks with The Bird with the Broken Wing as the most memorable in Autumn Chills. It is not a traditional mystery, there is no murder to solve, but rather a sad and quietly moving story of lost love, lifestyle choices, and the tragic consequences when comfort becomes more paramount than love.
Whether you’re a Poirot fan, a Miss Marple fan, or just an Agatha Christie fan, it’s hard to go wrong in any way with this fabulous gathering of stories. A fine cross-section from a vast canon that proves Christie was no one-note writer, despite the massive — and deserved — popularity of the little Belgian. Great stuff.
You would think that the Poirot stories included — all of which I’d read previously — would be the highlights. While one might say they anchor this particular collection from Christie, and are perhaps the main draw for most fans, I have to say that a few of these other stories are at least as good, and a couple were very memorable.
The Poirot stories included in Autumn Chills:
Murder in the Mews
Triangle at Rhodes (a personal favorite)
The Lemesurier Inheritance
Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds
All four are of course enjoyable for Poirot fans, with each person probably finding one they love a bit more than the others. Murder in the Mews stands out, but Rhodes has always been a favorite of mine, and it was nice to have it included here.
Miss Marple:
Death by Drowning
Tape-Measure Murder
Though in long form, I actually prefer Patricia Wentworth’s Miss Silver to Christie’s Miss Marple, in the shorter form I found these two Miss Marple stories incredibly entertaining. I loved Death by Drowning, and really enjoyed Tape-Measure Murder a great deal. One of the two ended a bit too abruptly for me, but it wasn’t enough to keep me from making a mental note to return to this collection at some point down the road and reread it.
Tommy and Tuppence:
The House of Lurking Death
I’m not a huge fan of Tommy and Tuppence in long form, but in short story form they work so well — particularly in this story — that it prompted me to pick up a copy of Partners in Crime, a collection of Tommy and Tuppence short stories. Some of them are included in the other seasonal hardcover volumes, but not all. Based on how much fun I found The House of Lurking Death to be, I’m glad I now have Partners in Crime there to read when I’m in the mood.
Parker Pyne:
The Case of the Rich Woman
I’ve read a few Parker Pyne stories before, but not this one. While some might label it one of the weakest stories here, I suspect that’s due to it being much less a traditional mystery than it is a life lesson, courtesy of Christie, and her man, Parker Pyne. It’s actually quite enjoyable, and perhaps a glimpse into how Christie herself felt about the trappings of wealth.
Mr Satterthwaite and Mr Quin:
The Bird with the Broken Wing
The Voice in the Dark
While I thought the ending to Voice in the Dark a bit too tidy, I must say it was a terrific story. The Bird with the Broken Wing however, was atmospheric and enthralling. It is, to my mind, tied for the most memorable story in the collection with one I will get to shortly. I had yet to read a Satterthwaite and Quin story, but find myself eagerly looking forward to the other five which are scattered among the four seasonally themed collections I now own. I’m very much looking forward to reading Broken Wing again somewhere down the line.
The final two entries which round out the dozen are stand-alone stories bereft of a famous series detective creation. The Witness for the Prosecution is well known of course, due to the play, and the film this short story gave birth to, and it’s a good one. For me, however, While the Light Lasts ranks with The Bird with the Broken Wing as the most memorable in Autumn Chills. It is not a traditional mystery, there is no murder to solve, but rather a sad and quietly moving story of lost love, lifestyle choices, and the tragic consequences when comfort becomes more paramount than love.
Whether you’re a Poirot fan, a Miss Marple fan, or just an Agatha Christie fan, it’s hard to go wrong in any way with this fabulous gathering of stories. A fine cross-section from a vast canon that proves Christie was no one-note writer, despite the massive — and deserved — popularity of the little Belgian. Great stuff.
April 1, 2025
Short story’s from the great Agatha Christie..
Usual characters of Miss Marple, Poirot, Tommy and Tuppence.
I really enjoyed all of the stories. A great way of reading Agatha Christie. Makes me want to read the separate books of Poirot etc. that’s it more on my TBR list!!
Usual characters of Miss Marple, Poirot, Tommy and Tuppence.
I really enjoyed all of the stories. A great way of reading Agatha Christie. Makes me want to read the separate books of Poirot etc. that’s it more on my TBR list!!
March 29, 2024
I know that I'm reading this one at the wrong time of year for the Northern hemisphere, but it's Autumn now in South Africa and the weather is finally turning after the brutally hot summer we've had. So I need some Autumn Chills in my life.
This concludes the seasonal collection of short stories by Agatha Christie. I've already read and reviewed Sinister Spring, Midsummer Mysteries and Midwinter Murder. As with the other collections, this is a delightful mix of Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Mr Quin, Tommy and Tuppence. As always my favourite is always Poirot, he amuses me no end.
Recommended for Agatha Christie fans. This seasonal collection is much too beautiful to resist to decorate your bookshelves.
This concludes the seasonal collection of short stories by Agatha Christie. I've already read and reviewed Sinister Spring, Midsummer Mysteries and Midwinter Murder. As with the other collections, this is a delightful mix of Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Mr Quin, Tommy and Tuppence. As always my favourite is always Poirot, he amuses me no end.
Recommended for Agatha Christie fans. This seasonal collection is much too beautiful to resist to decorate your bookshelves.
December 5, 2023
A posse of detectives…
The latest in HarperCollins’ series of collections of Agatha Christie’s short stories, this one contains twelve stories featuring all of her best known detectives, Miss Marple, Poirot and Tommy and Tuppence, and a couple of the lesser known ones, Parker Pyne and Harley Quin. While all of these stories have appeared many times in various collections and anthologies over the years, I must say the design of these hardbacks is gorgeous, themed with seasonal colours and highlighted with shiny foil. As a bonus, each book includes an excerpt from Christie’s autobiography, and in this one that takes the form of a nicely spooky early poem on the subject of the woods in autumn. The books would make perfect gifts for a Christie fan even if they already knew the stories, and would be a lovely way to introduce a newcomer to her work. However, they are also available as Kindle versions and audiobooks for those who prefer, with the narrators of the audiobooks usually culled from earlier collections, so in this one the narrators include Hugh Fraser, David Suchet, Christopher Lee and Nigel Hawthorne, among others – a pretty stellar line-up!
I gave six of the stories five stars and the other six got four, so that makes this an excellent collection overall in my judgement. Some of the stories are quite well known, but despite my years of fan worship of Ms Christie there were still a sprinkling that were new to me (or perhaps that I read so long ago they feel new). Here’s a brief look at some of the ones I enjoyed most:
Murder in the Mews starring Poirot and Japp – When Japp is called in to investigate a death, he thinks Poirot might be interested and invites him along. The dead woman is Mrs Allan, and on the surface it looks as if she shot herself. However the doctor has doubts about the feasibility of this, and Poirot and Japp soon agree that it’s a murder rigged to look like suicide. But what reason did anyone have to murder Mrs Allan? It appears that a long-forgotten scandal may be at the root of the mystery. This is the longest story in the collection – not quite novella length but close, and that allows room for some character development and a more complex mystery than is sometimes the case in short stories. There’s also a strong sense of justice in this one.
The Lemesurier Inheritance starring Poirot and Hastings – A family curse says that no eldest son will ever inherit the Lemesurier fortune, and indeed the eldest sons have died before inheriting over several generations. Now the mother of the current eldest son, a boy in his teens, has come to Poirot for advice. She doesn’t believe in curses, but she’s concerned that her son has had three narrow escapes from death in the last few months. Her husband, a true believer, shrugs it off as only to be expected and unavoidable since the boy is doomed. Can Poirot save the boy? If it isn’t the curse at work, who is trying to kill him and why? This is an early story, from 1923, and the style positively reeks of the influence of Conan Doyle’s Holmes’ stories. It’s Hastings’ voice – it’s almost indistinguishable from the voice of that other most famous sidekick, Watson. This one also has a mildly risqué ending which made me laugh at its unexpectedness – I don’t associate Christie and risqué humour!
The House of Lurking Death starring Tommy and Tuppence – Taken from the Partners in Crime collection in which T&T are masquerading as Blunt’s Brilliant Detectives, and in each story they try to copy the style of a fictional ’tec of the day. In this one they choose Inspector Hanaud and his sidekick Ricardo, and have much fun with Tommy pretending to be slightly French. A young woman consults them about a spate of non-fatal poisonings in her neighbourhood. T&T promise to go down to her house the next day to investigate but, alas, too late! That evening the young woman dies of apparent food poisoning along with her cousin and a maid. It’s up to T&T to discover if the poisoning was deliberate and if so, whodunit and why. Well, really it’s up to Tuppence who as always is the real brains of the outfit! Too brainy to be Ricardo…
The Witness for the Prosecution – None of the regulars appear in this one. It started out as a play originally and must be one of her best known stories, largely because it was made into a wonderful film starring Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich among others in a stellar cast! A rich old lady has been murdered and Leonard Vole has been charged with the crime. His defence barrister believes him innocent, especially since Leonard tells him his devoted wife will be able to give him an alibi. But the mysterious Romaine doesn’t! Instead she does everything to have him found guilty. Can his defence barrister get him off? Very dark and twisty, and I believe this is the original version of the story – in later versions Christie added a melodramatic ending more suitable for film and stage which also works well, but it was interesting to see here how the first version ended.
So a great collection in a beautifully produced edition. Perfect for the long dark evenings of autumn…
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
The latest in HarperCollins’ series of collections of Agatha Christie’s short stories, this one contains twelve stories featuring all of her best known detectives, Miss Marple, Poirot and Tommy and Tuppence, and a couple of the lesser known ones, Parker Pyne and Harley Quin. While all of these stories have appeared many times in various collections and anthologies over the years, I must say the design of these hardbacks is gorgeous, themed with seasonal colours and highlighted with shiny foil. As a bonus, each book includes an excerpt from Christie’s autobiography, and in this one that takes the form of a nicely spooky early poem on the subject of the woods in autumn. The books would make perfect gifts for a Christie fan even if they already knew the stories, and would be a lovely way to introduce a newcomer to her work. However, they are also available as Kindle versions and audiobooks for those who prefer, with the narrators of the audiobooks usually culled from earlier collections, so in this one the narrators include Hugh Fraser, David Suchet, Christopher Lee and Nigel Hawthorne, among others – a pretty stellar line-up!
I gave six of the stories five stars and the other six got four, so that makes this an excellent collection overall in my judgement. Some of the stories are quite well known, but despite my years of fan worship of Ms Christie there were still a sprinkling that were new to me (or perhaps that I read so long ago they feel new). Here’s a brief look at some of the ones I enjoyed most:
Murder in the Mews starring Poirot and Japp – When Japp is called in to investigate a death, he thinks Poirot might be interested and invites him along. The dead woman is Mrs Allan, and on the surface it looks as if she shot herself. However the doctor has doubts about the feasibility of this, and Poirot and Japp soon agree that it’s a murder rigged to look like suicide. But what reason did anyone have to murder Mrs Allan? It appears that a long-forgotten scandal may be at the root of the mystery. This is the longest story in the collection – not quite novella length but close, and that allows room for some character development and a more complex mystery than is sometimes the case in short stories. There’s also a strong sense of justice in this one.
The Lemesurier Inheritance starring Poirot and Hastings – A family curse says that no eldest son will ever inherit the Lemesurier fortune, and indeed the eldest sons have died before inheriting over several generations. Now the mother of the current eldest son, a boy in his teens, has come to Poirot for advice. She doesn’t believe in curses, but she’s concerned that her son has had three narrow escapes from death in the last few months. Her husband, a true believer, shrugs it off as only to be expected and unavoidable since the boy is doomed. Can Poirot save the boy? If it isn’t the curse at work, who is trying to kill him and why? This is an early story, from 1923, and the style positively reeks of the influence of Conan Doyle’s Holmes’ stories. It’s Hastings’ voice – it’s almost indistinguishable from the voice of that other most famous sidekick, Watson. This one also has a mildly risqué ending which made me laugh at its unexpectedness – I don’t associate Christie and risqué humour!
The House of Lurking Death starring Tommy and Tuppence – Taken from the Partners in Crime collection in which T&T are masquerading as Blunt’s Brilliant Detectives, and in each story they try to copy the style of a fictional ’tec of the day. In this one they choose Inspector Hanaud and his sidekick Ricardo, and have much fun with Tommy pretending to be slightly French. A young woman consults them about a spate of non-fatal poisonings in her neighbourhood. T&T promise to go down to her house the next day to investigate but, alas, too late! That evening the young woman dies of apparent food poisoning along with her cousin and a maid. It’s up to T&T to discover if the poisoning was deliberate and if so, whodunit and why. Well, really it’s up to Tuppence who as always is the real brains of the outfit! Too brainy to be Ricardo…
The Witness for the Prosecution – None of the regulars appear in this one. It started out as a play originally and must be one of her best known stories, largely because it was made into a wonderful film starring Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich among others in a stellar cast! A rich old lady has been murdered and Leonard Vole has been charged with the crime. His defence barrister believes him innocent, especially since Leonard tells him his devoted wife will be able to give him an alibi. But the mysterious Romaine doesn’t! Instead she does everything to have him found guilty. Can his defence barrister get him off? Very dark and twisty, and I believe this is the original version of the story – in later versions Christie added a melodramatic ending more suitable for film and stage which also works well, but it was interesting to see here how the first version ended.
So a great collection in a beautifully produced edition. Perfect for the long dark evenings of autumn…
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
December 19, 2025
Melhor conto é sem dúvida, Testemunha de Acusação. O final é simplesmente incrível. Agatha Christie será para sempre a Rainha do Crime e não acredito que perca este título.
Tem uma subtileza nos detalhes que não se encontra em mais nenhum autor.
Tem uma subtileza nos detalhes que não se encontra em mais nenhum autor.
October 4, 2024
A good collection of short stories by Christie connected by the theme of autumn. I love a seasonal read so of course this was going to happen. Some of these I had read before (some under different titles) and others I had not. I liked most of them very much.
Definitely recommend it.
Definitely recommend it.
November 22, 2023
Another excellent collection of Christie's mysteries. Some are stronger than others (There's one where I think the title rather gives away the identity of the murderer?) but there are some real classics here as well including "Murder in the Mews" and "The Witness for the Prosecution" - both of which are marvellous.
I will say that this collection perhaps feels a little less seasonal than the other anthologies. Although many are set in Autumn, the vast majority don't really have a seasonal feel which the other anthologies managed to create.
Still, you can't ever really go too far wrong with Christie, so this is still an excellent option for anyone looking to curl up with some cosy crime.
I will say that this collection perhaps feels a little less seasonal than the other anthologies. Although many are set in Autumn, the vast majority don't really have a seasonal feel which the other anthologies managed to create.
Still, you can't ever really go too far wrong with Christie, so this is still an excellent option for anyone looking to curl up with some cosy crime.
January 2, 2024
Indulging in Agatha Christie's mysteries is always a delightful experience, and what better way to conclude the year than with the works of a beloved author. "Autumn Chills" offers a captivating compilation featuring all of Christie's iconic protagonists. While my usual go-to reads involve Poirot and Miss Marple, this collection introduced me to intriguing characters like Satterthwaite, Quinn, and the dynamic duo Tommy and Tuppence.
Exploring these lesser-known characters has sparked a newfound interest in their stories, making me eager to delve into more adventures involving Satterthwaite, Quinn, and Tommy and Tuppence. Christie's storytelling prowess remains unmatched, consistently delivering a blend of supernatural mysteries and murderous plots that keeps the reader hooked.
In essence, "Autumn Chills" is a testament to Christie's ability to weave enthralling tales across a spectrum of characters. Her mastery in creating suspenseful narratives seldom disappoints, ensuring that each story within the collection is a treat for mystery enthusiasts. As always, Agatha Christie proves to be a reliable source of literary excitement, making this book a fitting conclusion to the year for any fan of the genre.
Exploring these lesser-known characters has sparked a newfound interest in their stories, making me eager to delve into more adventures involving Satterthwaite, Quinn, and Tommy and Tuppence. Christie's storytelling prowess remains unmatched, consistently delivering a blend of supernatural mysteries and murderous plots that keeps the reader hooked.
In essence, "Autumn Chills" is a testament to Christie's ability to weave enthralling tales across a spectrum of characters. Her mastery in creating suspenseful narratives seldom disappoints, ensuring that each story within the collection is a treat for mystery enthusiasts. As always, Agatha Christie proves to be a reliable source of literary excitement, making this book a fitting conclusion to the year for any fan of the genre.
October 28, 2024
AB|🇬🇧
3.5 🌟
3.5 🌟
November 29, 2023
A lovely book to complete the set of seasonal mysteries, including stories with Poirot, Miss Marple, Tommy & Tuppence, Mr Quin, Parker Pyne. I've been dipping into it since September.
September 27, 2023
This autumn collection of stories from the Queen of Crime opens with the excellent Hercule Poirot story Murder in the Mews, which features one of my favourite twists in any crime story I've ever read. It's inspired.
The rest of the short stories in Autumn Chills are pretty average, with only the Poirot stories having any decent plots. Of the four seasonal Agatha Christie short story collections this one is by far the weakest.
The rest of the short stories in Autumn Chills are pretty average, with only the Poirot stories having any decent plots. Of the four seasonal Agatha Christie short story collections this one is by far the weakest.
September 14, 2024
Szeretem ezt a sorozatot a gyönyörű borítóival. Vártam vele egy kicsit, hogy ősszel olvashassam, és nem is okozott csalódást, de hát Agatha Christie nem is szokott. Persze egy-két történet ismerős volt, de engem ez nem zavar, a hűvösre fordult időben tökéletes olvasmánynak bizonyult. Ezúttal Tommy és Tuppence is kedvemre való volt, még Mr. Quint is elviseltem valahogy, de a kedvenc Poirot és Miss Marple marad.
January 29, 2024
Rather dull, not like Agatha Christie at all :(
October 10, 2025
Overall, a very good collection of short stories by Agatha Christie.
• Murder in the Mews: Hercule Poirot’s investigation into the death of a young woman relies on the testimony of her roommate, Jane.
• The Case of the Rich Woman: Parker Pyne is hired to find happiness for a tired of the world rich woman.
• While the Light Lasts: A young woman loses her fiancé to death and adjusts to marriage to a wealthy man. But if she had her choice, would she pick the man she loved or the wealthy man who loves her?
• Triangle at Rhodes: Poirot is on vacation, and he and the other vacationers watch with trepidation at the development of a romantic triangle between guests. How will it end? Poirot thinks it will end in MURDER.
• Death by Drowning: Miss Marple questions the official finding of accidental drowning of a local girl.
• The Bird with the Broken Wing: Mr Satterthwaite is at a house party where he and Harley Quin expect misadventure.
• The Lemesurier Inheritance: Hercule Poirot investigates the facts behind a family legend that the first-born son will never live to inherit the family fortune.
• The House of Lurking Death: Tommy and Tuppence investigate a series of poisoning deaths.
• Tape-Measure Murder: Miss Marple investigates the murder of a local woman with a past full of questions.
• The Voice in the Dark: Mr Satterwaite and Harley Quin take on ghosts that haunt a wealthy family.
• Four and Twenty Blackbirds: Poirot is intrigued when a man changes his routine of many years and orders a big meal. But will his interest help him discover a murder?
• The Witness for the Prosecution: Probably the best known of the Christie short stories (it was made into a movie with Marlene Dietrich in the 1950s), it is also one of the cleverest of solutions. My personal favourite in a collection of entertaining stories.
• Murder in the Mews: Hercule Poirot’s investigation into the death of a young woman relies on the testimony of her roommate, Jane.
• The Case of the Rich Woman: Parker Pyne is hired to find happiness for a tired of the world rich woman.
• While the Light Lasts: A young woman loses her fiancé to death and adjusts to marriage to a wealthy man. But if she had her choice, would she pick the man she loved or the wealthy man who loves her?
• Triangle at Rhodes: Poirot is on vacation, and he and the other vacationers watch with trepidation at the development of a romantic triangle between guests. How will it end? Poirot thinks it will end in MURDER.
• Death by Drowning: Miss Marple questions the official finding of accidental drowning of a local girl.
• The Bird with the Broken Wing: Mr Satterthwaite is at a house party where he and Harley Quin expect misadventure.
• The Lemesurier Inheritance: Hercule Poirot investigates the facts behind a family legend that the first-born son will never live to inherit the family fortune.
• The House of Lurking Death: Tommy and Tuppence investigate a series of poisoning deaths.
• Tape-Measure Murder: Miss Marple investigates the murder of a local woman with a past full of questions.
• The Voice in the Dark: Mr Satterwaite and Harley Quin take on ghosts that haunt a wealthy family.
• Four and Twenty Blackbirds: Poirot is intrigued when a man changes his routine of many years and orders a big meal. But will his interest help him discover a murder?
• The Witness for the Prosecution: Probably the best known of the Christie short stories (it was made into a movie with Marlene Dietrich in the 1950s), it is also one of the cleverest of solutions. My personal favourite in a collection of entertaining stories.
October 31, 2024
I'm convinced that if she had really wanted to, Agatha Christie could've been a serial killer. She knows exactly how to add a good twist to a story and to make it so that the suspects almost get away with murder...almost.
October 1, 2024
Audio. A good mix of short stories. Cosy Autumnal crime. Highly recommended.
October 19, 2024
A great collection of short stories, perfect October classic reading.
December 27, 2024
I really enjoyed these short stories of Agatha Christie - but then again I am a big fan. I read all of her books many years ago but decided I’d look at her short stories (many of which I’d also read in the past). She never disappoints.
September 23, 2023
Heerlijke verzameling korte verhalen, perfect voor natte herfstdagen als de regen tegen de ramen slaat en jij binnen zit, met een grote kop thee en een slapende kat.
October 19, 2025
An interesting selection of short stories, some better than others.
November 5, 2023
Αρκετά καλά διηγήματα, όχι τα καλύτερα της Άγκαθα. Ενδιαφέρουσες πλοκές και χαρακτήρες, θα ήθελα λίγες παραπάνω εμφανίσεις της Μις Μαρπλ. Το μόνο κακό είναι πως σχεδόν όλα έχουν μεταφερθεί στη μικρή οθόνη και είχα δει όοοοολα τα επεισόδια τον πρώτο χρόνο ζωής της κόρης μου που θήλαζα ολημερίς και θυμόμουν όλους τους δολοφόνους από τις πρώτες σελίδες :-)
September 23, 2024
The cover of this book feels so cozy, but its contents are filled with death and sorrow. Though it contains a few classic murder mysteries with suspense, this collection of short stories felt more like life lessons wrapped in mystery. Marriage, infidelity, war, old and poisonous love, hidden love, money, and posh lifestyles - each story has something that sends a chill down your spine, with unexpected plot twists that leave you thinking for a while. Especially when those lessons are revealed by my favorite detective, Hercule Poirot.
And in this book, I found another favorite detective - Mr. Satterthwaite.
Agatha Christie, to me, is a perfect way to step away from other genres. She’s my go-to when I need to get back to reality and relax. Yes, I relax with murder, and this book was perfect for that.
P.S. I guess a box of chocolates as a poisoning method is this book's signature move. Arsenic? Always.
And in this book, I found another favorite detective - Mr. Satterthwaite.
Agatha Christie, to me, is a perfect way to step away from other genres. She’s my go-to when I need to get back to reality and relax. Yes, I relax with murder, and this book was perfect for that.
P.S. I guess a box of chocolates as a poisoning method is this book's signature move. Arsenic? Always.
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