Murder in the Mews: Four Cases of Hercule Poirot: The Official Authorized Edition

by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie’s classic Murder in the Mews presents four mystifying criminal conundrums that will seriously test the superior detecting skills of the unflappable Hercule Poirot.

How did a woman holding a pistol in her right hand manage to shoot herself in the left temple? What was the link between a ghost sighting and the disappearance of top secret military plans? How did the bullet that killed Sir Gervase shatter a mirror in another part of the room? And should the beautiful Valentine Chantry flee for her life from the holiday island of Rhodes?

Hercule Poirot is faced with four mystifying cases—each a miniature classic of characterization, incident, and suspense.

Genres: Mystery, Agatha Christie, Fiction

Audible Audio

Published July 3, 2012

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

[Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction

Murder in the Mews is a collection of detective stories written by Agatha Christie. The title story, Murder in the Mews, features Christie’s famous detective, Hercule Poirot. First published in 1937, the story combines mystery, suspense, and clever detective work. Christie is known for creating puzzles that challenge readers to solve the crime before the detective reveals the answer.

Summary

The story begins when a woman named Mrs. Allen is found dead in her home in Bardsley Gardens Mews. At first, it appears that she has died by suicide because a gun is found near her body and the room seems locked. However, several details do not fit this explanation.

Hercule Poirot is asked to investigate the case. As he examines the evidence, he notices small clues that others have overlooked. By questioning witnesses and studying the events leading up to Mrs. Allen’s death, Poirot discovers that the scene was carefully arranged to look like a suicide.

As the investigation continues, Poirot uncovers hidden relationships, secrets, and motives. Using logic and observation, he pieces together the truth and identifies the murderer. The case demonstrates how appearances can be misleading and how careful attention to detail can reveal the truth.

Main Characters

* Hercule Poirot – A brilliant Belgian detective known for his intelligence and attention to detail.
* Mrs. Allen – The victim whose death begins the mystery.
* Inspector Japp – A Scotland Yard detective who works with Poirot on the case.
* Various suspects and witnesses – Individuals connected to Mrs. Allen who help uncover the truth.

Themes

One major theme in the story is deception. The murderer attempts to disguise the crime as a suicide, showing how easily people can be misled by appearances. Another theme is justice, as Poirot is determined to uncover the truth and ensure that the guilty person is identified. The story also highlights the importance of observation and logical thinking.

My Opinion

I enjoyed Murder in the Mews because it is suspenseful and keeps readers guessing until the end. Poirot is an interesting detective because he solves crimes through intelligence rather than action. The clues are cleverly hidden, and the final solution is surprising but believable. Christie’s writing makes the mystery engaging and enjoyable.

Conclusion

Murder in the Mews is an entertaining detective story that showcases Agatha Christie’s skill as a mystery writer. With its intriguing plot, memorable detective, and unexpected ending, it remains a popular classic. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys crime fiction and solving mysteries.

[Teemu Öhman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm one of those people who adore Christie's novels, but don't think her short stories were particularly great. Murder in the Mews, however, is an exception: I really enjoyed it, perhaps because three of the four Poirot stories are slightly longer than usual (novellas, I think).

The title story is a great one - probably one of the very best of Christie's non-novel-length stories, I should think. The Incredible Theft, however, is not that incredible but, instead, one of those fairly rare cases where I would use the word "predictable". Dead Man's Mirror was again a great story, while the ending with Triangle at Rhodes was a bit of a downer, because it was more like the usual Christie short stories.

Overall, for Murder in the Mews and Dead Man's Mirror this compilation is definitely worth reading also for the non-completists and other more casual murder mystery fans.

4.5/5
P.S. I read a paperback version, but for whatever reason I'm stuck with this Audible edition here for now. Oh well.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four short stories - some longer than others. No 1, (the titular tale), was a pleasingly twisty murder investigation; no 2 involved stolen plans, and was (for me) the least interesting and involved Poirot being unusually flirty and overly interested in female looks. No 3 was a country house murder mystery, featuring a brief appearance from Mr Satterthwaite - from Three Act Tragedy and The Mysterious Mr Quinn. No 4, the shortest, was quite a fun little murder mystery, with an impatient Poirot dealing with murder whilst on his holidays.

[Ash Reads to Escape · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually ended up liking the short story format more than I thought I would

[Elizabeth Fry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first and last short story where good but the two in-between less so. however I enjoyed it none the less

[JasmineB · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading these short stories of Hercule Poirot’s cases. Plots are unpredictable and captivating. I wished the last story was elaborated more though.

[Sam Bazinet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. The stories really benifitted from the short format and didn't overstay their welcome. A good entry point into the world of Agatha Christie

[Sean Lohmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories are fine, I just prefer the longer format ones. For those who like to match wits with Agatha and figure out whodunnit, these shorter story collections are like a puzzlebook where most of the character development, story twists, and clue-gathering are stripped away.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this ages ago but enjoyed the re-read. The three longer stories were by far the best, good mysteries that work well. The shorter suffers slightly by being so short, but is still a good tale. Enjoyable.

[Bharadwaj Sangam · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 Hercule Poirot stories in one book. The stories are short & fun. A good introductory novel for someone looking to enter into the literary style of Agatha Christie.