Dead Man's Mirror: a Hercule Poirot Short Story

Hercule Poirot #0.32

by Agatha Christie

Hercule Poirot is requested to visit a client as quickly as possible, indeed on a specific train but, by the time he arrives, the gentleman is dead. A smashed mirror convinces Poirot that the apparent suicide of his client is far too convenient an explanation for what is obviously a gruesome case of murder. Yet it did occur in a locked room!

Librarian's note: this entry is for the story, "Dead Man's Mirror." Collections of short stories by the author can be found elsewhere on Goodreads. The individual entries for all Poirot short stories can be found by searching Goodreads for: "a Hercule Poirot Short Story."

Genres: Mystery, Agatha Christie, Short Stories, Fiction, Crime, Classics, Audiobook

100 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1937

About the author

Agatha 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)

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely eccentric man seemingly commits suicide after summoning Poirot to his home with no explanation.
When Poirot arrives at Sir Gervase Chevenix-Gore's home he finds out no one is expecting him, but he is just in time for the discovery of the body.



A locked-room mystery with a great cast of characters that keeps you guessing til the end.
Mr. Satterthwaite from Three Act Tragedy & The Mysterious Mr. Quin has a small cameo in this one, as well.

Really enjoyed this one!

On a side note to the Christie nerds, this was expanded from the 1932 short story The Second Gong.

Read as part of the short story collection Murder in the Mews.

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasant read. A buck, an hour, and another will disinheriting two worthy souls for no reasonable cause. Dame Ags made a big tis-was about how the ingenue is a bastard, and how the foolish young well-bred lad who loved the bastard girl was crap at business...but somehow giving these two control of a huge fortune is a good idea...?

Anyway, good fun.

Agatha Christie's Poirot S05E07

Faithful adaptation, until the hilariously bad ending. The hilarity was what saved it from a ratings drubbing. I got a giant laugh out of Safra the Egyptian and the sheer wackiness of Vanda, the widow, behaving as she did throughout the show, and the Fauxgyptian sculptures around her room...!! Only ten years out of style in 1936, when this one takes place.

Still, it was fifty-three minutes pleasantly spent.

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story was originally extended from the even shorter story "The Second Gong". Unfortunately although I was meant to read that for my challenge, I didn't have a copy of that so read this to compensate. I wasn't disappointed.

This was a wonderful short story, that again i remembered from the Suchet TV series, but was a joy to read none-the-less. Poirot is as ever the master of the situation, even if he wasn't expected at the party. He takes charge and delves through the red herrings and side issues to uncover the murderer.

A great (long) short story that i thoroughly enjoyed

[EveStar91 · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Suicide—suicide! It is all wrong, I tell you. It is wrong psychologically. How did Chevenix-Gore think of himself? As a Colossus, as an immensely important person, as the centre of the universe! Does such a man destroy himself? Surely not. He is far more likely to destroy someone else—some miserable crawling ant of a human being who had dared to cause him annoyance . . . Such an act he might regard as necessary—as sanctified! But self-destruction? The destruction of such a Self?”

A novella more than a short story, Dead Man's Mirror has a pretty in-depth analysis of characters and setting of a murder that everyone except Poirot write off as a suicide. Not quite a novel, but this story still gives enough page-space for Christie's strengths - character studies and figuring out the means and opportunity of the murder. On the whole, recommended as a shorter dose for Christie fans, though the writing and plot were average compared to some of her more popular work.

🌟🌟🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; 3/4 star for the character sketches; Half a star for the plot and themes; Half a star for the world-building; Half a star for the writing - 3 stars in total.]

“It is like the mirror smashed on the wall,” he said. “The dead man’s mirror. Every new fact we come across shows us some different angle of the dead man. He is reflected from every conceivable point of view. We shall have soon a complete picture. . . .”

[Janete on hiatus due health issues · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up at Page 85. This story with David Suchet as Poirot in the TV series is much much better!

[kezzie ʚ♡ɞ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✩ 3 stars
~
agatha christie is the queen of mystery & i am a dumb bitch :/

[Jack Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars. I have some difficulty with a mystery if the resolution presents crucial information I was not privy to. Critics call a mystery where readers have enough clues to solve it themselves, as a "fair play mystery." Of course a great author would fashion those clues in a way that only the detective can assemble them properly. This one's a tantalizing puzzle, but get set for something there's little hint of. The story was first published in the US in "Ladies Home Journal" in 1932 as "The Second Gong." Expanded into a 108 page novelette under its new name, it was included in the collection, "Murder in the Mews," in 1937 with three others. Our inestimable detective, Hercule Poirot, receives a missive from Sir Gervase Chevenix-Gore in which he claims to be a victim of fraud. He requests it to be kept confidential but, can Poirot come to his country home by a specific train? Reluctantly Poirot agrees. Punctual as ever, he arrives prior to dinner, but never meets his client as he is soon found dead in a locked room of an apparent suicide. Poirot believes it to be murder, but what was the motive? It seems to relate to his estate but that too is complicated! Maybe not. (August 2020)

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this short story starring Hercule Poirot (originally part of the collection Murder in the Mews), Poirot is summoned to the estate of Sir Gervase Chevenix-Gore. Sir Gervase thinks someone is trying to defraud him. However, the Poirot arrives, it is to discover that Sir Gervase is dead inside his locked study. What is going on?

This short story (really more of a novella) is a classic Christie tale. I figured a few pieces out, but the biggest parts of the puzzle were a complete surprise at the end. The characters were on the weak side, however, and I had a hard time keeping everyone straight.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[♥️Annete♥️loves❤️books♥️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't impressed but it was an ok short story with no surprises and nothing interesting.However,it's Agatha and Puaro and when it comes to those two i can't be very strict with my rating,so three stars from me!!!!!

[UTO · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐⭐⭐
روایت این داستان جنایی رو دوست داشتم.
یه جورایی من رو بر می گردوند به زمانی که پرونده های شرلوک هلمز رو می خوندم.
غیر قابل پیش‌بینی بود واقعا فضاش یه دنیای کلاسیک طور با تم ماجراجویی و تعلیق بود‌.
یه چیز دیگه که برام جالبه نوع قلم نویسنده بود، تا حالا از آگاتا کریستی چیزی نخونده بودم و این اولین اثری شد که ازش شروع کردم و مطمئن هستم که باقی داستان ها رو هم حتما می خونم، چون تنش و اون حس معمایی رو دوست داشتم و باهاش ارتباط گرفتم.
به عنوان یه زنگ تفریح خوندمش و لذت بردم.

[belle ☆ﾐ (thisbellereadstoo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

love a locked room scenario and apparent suicide plot line. hercule poirot's here to solve the mystery while people speculate whether he truly can or not... again

[AC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little novella (70 pages) is very well done and contains all of the essential elements of an Agatha Christie mystery in a condensed and abbreviated fashion – and a lock room mystery to boot! All not as perfect as her best novels, it forms a good brief, introduction for new readers or for students (which is where I plan to use this), where time is always a factor. This story comes from Murder in the Mews, where it is the third entry.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Dead Man’s Mirror is an expanded version of the short story The Second Gong, which appeared in July, 1932 in the Strand Magazine.’

‘It was first published as a book in the collection Murder in the Mews in 1937, which consisted of four novella length Poirot stories gathered in one volume.’

Of course with the coming of ebooks it can now be purchased as an individual short story.

Another fine piece of writing, demonstrating the skill of the great detective, Hercule Poirot.

A murder mystery, a locked room crime made to appear as a suicide. A host of characters to assimilate as they are interviewed by the local chief constable and Poirot. At times there appears too many to fully comprehend and distinguish their role and involvement but a few motives come to light during the investigation.

I liked that the case is clearly outlined by Poirot as he comes to the conclusion that this was indeed a pre-meditated murder. As a reader all the clues are clear but we lack the reasoning of the detective’s mind, perhaps having to admit our shortcomings and a few less grey cells.

A classic ending too to elevate the drama as all the “suspects” gather to hear the final revelations. Agatha Christie enjoyed this formal closure to a case with the final denouncement as the curtain is drawn back. What is good here is that in the process of accusation the confession is made.

[Jared Castiglione · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanting to sit in the dark and listen to a good murder mystery, I opted for this as read by Hugh Fraser. If you remember or recognize that name it’s because he played Captain Hastings on the long running television show “Agatha Christie’s Poirot” along side David Suchet.

Hugh’s voice, delivery, and energy was exactly what I was hoping for and the story was quintessential early Agatha Christie.

Since it was a shorter story than normal, there was an element of it feeling procedural as everything unfolds. But this didn’t take away or spoil any of the fun that comes with observing Poirot in action.

I very much felt like I was a fly on the wall, or, a spider under the table, for this one - the narration of Christie’s words was an invitation to join in. Not really as there wasn’t any audience participation, obviously, but I was totally engrossed in the story from beginning to end.

Quintessential Christie; so good.

[Susy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 3 out of 5]

100 pages is hardly a "short story" in my view, but in any case I listened to the Audible audiobook read by Hugh Fraser, who played Hastings for so many years.

I have seen at least three filmed versions of this book, in both English and French. On film it always left me feeling a bit, "Wait--what?" because directors and script writers seem to feel the need to obfuscate even more than Dame Agatha did. The actual book had me rolling my eyes a bit, as we are given the typical Christie rabbit-out-of-hat ending.

It made me chuckle to realise that this is where the Great French Window Twist came from. I believe Christie used it more than once, and even Simenon borrowed it later for Maigret. French windows and their American counterparts always make me grin. They're made of glass. A determined thief (or indeed murderer) would just smash his way in. But hey, it's a door, right? Like the doors I grew up seeing in my home town, with huge glass windows in the top half, they're what I call a "psycological door." If you think you're safe, you are...until of course you aren't.

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Poirot! This story was a real page turner. After being summoned under mysterious circumstances Poirot finds his potential client dead with many suspects.

An7ce tale with a suprising revelation at the end

[Aca · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤

A very clever and touching story. Great plot twist like always and also packed with very interesting characters and family drama.

Also, I listened to audiobook on YouTube, shoutout to mohanter.

❤

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to audiobook

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Man's Mirror bercerita tentang seorang kolektor seni yang kaya dan eksentrik bernama Sir Gervase Chevenix-Gore, yang mengundang detektif terkenal Hercule Poirot ke pedesaannya. Pria itu mencurigai seseorang yang diduga akan mencuri barang berharga dari koleksinya, yaitu sebuah cermin legendaris milik Marie Antoinette. Sementara, untuk melindungi cermin kesayangannya, dia menyimpannya di kotak kaca yang dikunci dengan mekanisme rumit yang akan membunyikan alarm jika dirusak.

Namun, plot berubah secara dramatis ketika pria itu ditemukan tewas di ruang kerjanya sendiri. Insiden nahas itu tampak seperti menembak kepalanya sendiri.

Sesuai dengan judul, kasus ini membingungkan, saat Poirot melihat sesuatu yang tidak biasa pada cermin di kotak kaca yang telah pecah. Poirot yakin bahwa pelaku adalah orang yang cerdik. Dia pun menyelidiki kehidupan para tamu dan anggota keluarga di perkebunan, yang tentunya masing-masing memiliki motif menginginkan kematian Sir Gervase.

Penulis dengan cermat dan detail menciptakan suasana yang hidup dan imersif ini berhasil membuatku terbayang akan kawasan pedesaan yang mewah dan penghuni yang menarik. Semua karakter dikembangkan dengan kaya, di mana masing-masing dengan rahasia dan agenda tersembunyi mereka sendiri, menjadikan mereka tersangka yang masuk akal.

Yang kusuka di sini adalah pikiran analitis dan logika Poirot yang memandu di sepanjang penyelidikannya. Aku suka bagaimana penulis menjalin banyak subplot dengan mulus ke dalam narasi utamanya. Setiap karakternya terhubung dengan rumit satu sama lain yang sukses menambah kedalaman dan kompleksitas pada keseluruhan plot.

Selain itu, kecepatan cerita dijaga dengan baik. Penulis dengan ahli menyeimbangkan momen menegangkan, tikungan tak terduga, dan momen introspeksi.

Sama seperti karyanya yang lain, misteri ini dirancang oleh penulis tidak mudah diungkap dan tentunya kita akan terlibat dalam menyusun teka-teki bersama Poirot. Namun, untuk mengungkap misteri ini, aku tidak terkejut. Karena, aku sudah menduganya di setengah halaman buku.

Tetapi, aku tetap rekomendasikan buku ini untuk kamu yang suka genre mystery, thriller, dan crime.

[Agla]

Poirot is called to an old man's house with a cryptic letter. He doesn't go right away but ends up arriving just as his body is found. He seemingly committed suicide, or did he? Poirot figures it out. Very twisty short, I didn't figure it out 😀

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christie never disappoints! Poirot receives a telegram from Sir Gervase Chevenix-Gore and heads immediately to the scene of the crime, an estate in the Westshire, but arrives too late! Another great locked-room mystery that kept me company on a sleepless night.

[Hannah Osborn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very quick read that you could finish on a short flight. Overall it was ok, wasn't too much of a thriller for me.

[p · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not Christie's best, but giving it 5 stars for being an easy page-turner, and the rich and complex history of the large number of characters that is unraveled bit by bit. Christie juggles so much so easily, it boggles the mind.

There were about 10 suspects in this 96-page story, and they all had a unique motive and relationship to the deceased. Yet I never had to turn back pages to remind myself who's who (though it helped I read it all in one sitting.)

I agree with other comments here that the story ends too soon, could have been expanded on. In fact, it should have been expanded on - there was enough in here to write a book at least twice as long. For whatever reason, Christie opts to end it quickly - and in true Christie fashion it was hard to predict. The how-dunnit was admittedly a bit convoluted, which was exasperated by the fact that I had come up with much easier ways the murderer could have done it. But I read her books to engage my mind, not to always guess correctly the who and why.

[Jyoti · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always Poirot stories are page-turner. Murder, investigation and twist at the end, it has it all. I enjoyed reading this short story about a self-centred man who got killed in his own house and all circumstances points towards suicide. There comes M. Poirot who proves everyone wrong and finds the murderer.

[Andrea]

Audiobook of a longish Christie short story (usually found in the Murder in the Mews volume). Short stories are an interesting breed, tending to snappier endings and sharper points than novels. I have to wonder if the bit of information suppressed at the end of this one would have been allowed full play in a long piece.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever read this one. I actually didn't read it, it was the audio book version. And yes, in typical Christie fashion the murderer who has altruistic reasons for offing the annoying old dude will not be punished in the usual manner, but it was read by Hugh Fraser which is always a treat.

[Carla]

This novella/short story is one of Christie's best; the plot is superb, very tight, and the motive is persuasive (which isn't always the case.) Great humor as well, and audio narration by Hugh Fraser A+.

[Bharati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agatha Christie. Period.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

short story about Hearing witnesses .. it's good generally