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Agatha Christie Collection: The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Secret Adversary
Agatha Christie was a British author of crime fiction. Christie's career spanned over 50 years and featured over 60 novels. Christie's book The Mysterious Affairs at Styles, was the first to feature the legendary character Hercule Poirot. This collection includes the following:
NOVELS:
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
The Secret Adversary
NOVELS:
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
The Secret Adversary
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2019
928 people are currently reading
1986 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,544 books73.4k 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 88 reviews
February 11, 2023
This collection has the first Hercule Poirot book and the first Tommy and Tuppence book.
Is that a good thing? Eh.
I think both of those are books that only superfans would want on their bookshelf because neither of them is something I would go out of my way to recommend to someone who is wanting to read an Agatha Christie novel.
Mysterious Affair at Styles
Poirot is introduced in this book, so how can you not love it?!
Actually, pretty easily.
This simply isn't Agatha Christie's best work.
The Secret Adversary
I'm not going to claim that it's great, but it was entertaining. And Christie managed to make me think I KNEW who the hell dunnit, only to jerk the rug out from underneath me...again. <--to be fair, that's kind of her thing, you know?
You know what was cute, though? All the snappy dialogue between the not-quite-yet lovebirds. I mean, it's probably not snappy by today's standards, but back in the day, I'm betting this was quite the sassy back and forth.
Owning this book would be something for completionists only.
Is that a good thing? Eh.
I think both of those are books that only superfans would want on their bookshelf because neither of them is something I would go out of my way to recommend to someone who is wanting to read an Agatha Christie novel.
Mysterious Affair at Styles
Poirot is introduced in this book, so how can you not love it?!
Actually, pretty easily.
This simply isn't Agatha Christie's best work.
The Secret Adversary
I'm not going to claim that it's great, but it was entertaining. And Christie managed to make me think I KNEW who the hell dunnit, only to jerk the rug out from underneath me...again. <--to be fair, that's kind of her thing, you know?
You know what was cute, though? All the snappy dialogue between the not-quite-yet lovebirds. I mean, it's probably not snappy by today's standards, but back in the day, I'm betting this was quite the sassy back and forth.
Owning this book would be something for completionists only.
June 25, 2013
I'm a huge Christie fan, so I've decided to take up my reading of her in an orderly manner and start from the beginning, reading them in the order in which she published them. The Mysterious Affair at Styles is her first novel and the world's introduction to Hercule Poirot and his sidekick Hastings. It captures a feeling of WWI in England in its everyday details, from someone who was there at the time. I probably like it for that as much as anything.
The Secret Adversary is a novel of Tommy and Tuppence. It is a few years after WWI has ended, and the hero and heroine bump into each other in the tube. Both are hurting for money and unable to find work, Tommy not having found any useful skills in the army and Tuppence having had a rather menial career working in various hospital jobs during the war. Both in the same boat, they decide to start an Adventuring venture. They are soon swept up into an incredibly complex plot to overthrow the British government. There are plucky American girls, brash American millionaires, Germans, Russians, Sein Finn agents, mysterious former beauties and intelligence officers--and that only scrapes the surface. It was a very fun summer read, and T&T are a little more accessible than some of Christie's detectives. (No one is as observant as Miss Marple, I'm sorry!)
Definitely worth a read for anyone who is a Christie fan, an Anglophile, a lover of classic mystery... pretty much everyone. Enjoy!
The Secret Adversary is a novel of Tommy and Tuppence. It is a few years after WWI has ended, and the hero and heroine bump into each other in the tube. Both are hurting for money and unable to find work, Tommy not having found any useful skills in the army and Tuppence having had a rather menial career working in various hospital jobs during the war. Both in the same boat, they decide to start an Adventuring venture. They are soon swept up into an incredibly complex plot to overthrow the British government. There are plucky American girls, brash American millionaires, Germans, Russians, Sein Finn agents, mysterious former beauties and intelligence officers--and that only scrapes the surface. It was a very fun summer read, and T&T are a little more accessible than some of Christie's detectives. (No one is as observant as Miss Marple, I'm sorry!)
Definitely worth a read for anyone who is a Christie fan, an Anglophile, a lover of classic mystery... pretty much everyone. Enjoy!
February 19, 2014
This is an old favorite that never disappoints. I have found that Agatha Christie's plots are so complicated and the clues so complex that I have a hard time remembering who actually was guilty. I can read most of her books every 10 years or so and enjoy them all over again. Of course, there are a few that are so perfect that I could never forget the criminal. This includes The Murder of Roger Ackroyd , Murder on the Orient Express , and And Then There Were None.
This book introduces Hercule Poirot to her readers. His character is so carefully delineated that it is hard to believe that he doesn't actually exist. This is especially true once David Suchet was cast to portray the little Belgian. While many of her characters are not as well drawn, her stars certainly are.
To me Christie sets a standard in mystery writing by which others are judged. Her plots are complex, but all the clues are there to figure out who the murderer is if you can weed out the red herrings. She also explains all the clues which point to someone else. I've read too many mysteries where the reader is faced with red herrings which are never explained. I want to know that I could have solved the mystery if I had paid attention (or was smart enough!) If you have a person standing over the sleeping and now dead victim with a knife in his hand dripping blood and he doesn't turn out to be the murderer, you need to explain what he was doing there.
This book introduces Hercule Poirot to her readers. His character is so carefully delineated that it is hard to believe that he doesn't actually exist. This is especially true once David Suchet was cast to portray the little Belgian. While many of her characters are not as well drawn, her stars certainly are.
To me Christie sets a standard in mystery writing by which others are judged. Her plots are complex, but all the clues are there to figure out who the murderer is if you can weed out the red herrings. She also explains all the clues which point to someone else. I've read too many mysteries where the reader is faced with red herrings which are never explained. I want to know that I could have solved the mystery if I had paid attention (or was smart enough!) If you have a person standing over the sleeping and now dead victim with a knife in his hand dripping blood and he doesn't turn out to be the murderer, you need to explain what he was doing there.
January 30, 2021
I really enjoyed this book which is the first book with Hercule Poirot.
March 17, 2012
Finally finished this book after about 6 months. It's not that the material isn't interesting, but that there is so much of it (800+ pages). After the first three novels I started reading a few short stories between finishing one book and starting the next. Considering that she started with such great material in The Mysterious Affair At Styles (Poirot), the short stories were a little bit of a let down. The Secret Adversary (Tommy & Tuppence) reminded me of a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys story. Murder On the Links (Poirot) was another good novel that kept me guessing for awhile. The eBook edition had several unknown characters and a couple of spelling mistakes, but was otherwise formatted fine.
June 15, 2015
This was Agatha's first mystery novel... and it told to the whole world about her potential as a writer. It's easy to read, is has some romantic touches and even though the twist of events it's not as impressive as it is in other of her novels, it clearly makes you wonder towards the end.
April 10, 2020
Have always enjoyed Agatha Christie, but somehow I’d missed Tommy & Tuppence. This is the first novel, set in post-WWI England, in which they appeared. The plot was clever and the title characters inherently likable: the perfect “comfort read” for COVID-19 quarantine.
March 26, 2020
Good escapist reading for this time of social distancing. I did enjoy the Tommy and Tuppence book and will look for another one with them as the leads. I hadn't been aware of those Christie books
January 11, 2020
Read this book as it was on a list of 100 year old items. It was written 100 years ago! Agatha Christie keeps you guessing on who done it. Keeps you intrigued.
December 8, 2024
Agatha Christie “Collection”
Agatha Christie “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”
Agatha Christie “Collection” book features two books. The first book is Hercule Poirot’s work to unravel a mysterious death. The novel chronicles how Poirot, working with his friend Hastings, discovers how Alfred Inglethorp murdered his wife based on a plan concocted by Evelyn Howard. Her plan encourages Alfred to marry Emily Cavendish and then kill her. According to the elaborate and very deceptive plan, Alfred would inherit a large amount of her inheritance money and he and Evelyn could use the money to marry and live a very lavish lifestyle. Alfred executed the plan, and Poirot with help of Hastings gathered compelling evidence to prove that Alfred and Evelyn committed the horrendous murder.
Agatha Christie “The Secret Adversary”
The Christie “Collection” book also includes her novel “The Secret Adversary” This novel is about the detective work of Prudence (Tuppence) Cowley and her compatriot Thomas (Tommy) Beresford. They both search for a set of international draft treaty papers given by a carrier to a person who was rescued when the Lusitania ship was torpedoed in 1915. The novel has many twists and turns including international gang warfare, the mysterious leadership of Mr. Brown, many impersonators, constantly changing events about how to locate the hidden treaty papers, and the monetary international value of the treaty draft papers during a time of devastating warfare among many nations. The novel plot lines, character profiles, and deceptive practices are very interesting and often highly complex. The treaty papers are found, financial awards are given, and all the villains are captured. (P)
Agatha Christie “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”
Agatha Christie “Collection” book features two books. The first book is Hercule Poirot’s work to unravel a mysterious death. The novel chronicles how Poirot, working with his friend Hastings, discovers how Alfred Inglethorp murdered his wife based on a plan concocted by Evelyn Howard. Her plan encourages Alfred to marry Emily Cavendish and then kill her. According to the elaborate and very deceptive plan, Alfred would inherit a large amount of her inheritance money and he and Evelyn could use the money to marry and live a very lavish lifestyle. Alfred executed the plan, and Poirot with help of Hastings gathered compelling evidence to prove that Alfred and Evelyn committed the horrendous murder.
Agatha Christie “The Secret Adversary”
The Christie “Collection” book also includes her novel “The Secret Adversary” This novel is about the detective work of Prudence (Tuppence) Cowley and her compatriot Thomas (Tommy) Beresford. They both search for a set of international draft treaty papers given by a carrier to a person who was rescued when the Lusitania ship was torpedoed in 1915. The novel has many twists and turns including international gang warfare, the mysterious leadership of Mr. Brown, many impersonators, constantly changing events about how to locate the hidden treaty papers, and the monetary international value of the treaty draft papers during a time of devastating warfare among many nations. The novel plot lines, character profiles, and deceptive practices are very interesting and often highly complex. The treaty papers are found, financial awards are given, and all the villains are captured. (P)
June 17, 2024
I should give this one star but not the novelist's fault that I acquired a "free" copy from amazon that was full of glitches. I thought there would be Miss Marple in this collection. NONE! Many editorial errors. But we were warned that since it was free it would not be perfect.
so tired of Poirot by now I will search out Miss Marple
so tired of Poirot by now I will search out Miss Marple
December 9, 2024
I will read more poirot after this one
March 28, 2025
It was wonderful to re-read all these great works!
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July 14, 2025eerste verhaal gelezen
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December 4, 2012 1920 《斯泰尔斯庄园奇案》 The Mysterious Affair at Styles
1923《高尔夫球场命案》 Murder on the Links
1926《罗杰疑案》 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
1927《四魔头》The Big Four
1928《蓝色列车之谜》/《蓝色特快上的秘密》The Mystery of the Blue Train
1932《悬崖山庄奇案》 Peril at End House
1933《人性记录》/《埃奇威尔爵士之死》/《不祥的宴会》 Lord Edgware Dies / Thirteen at Dinner （
1934《东方快车谋杀案》Murder on the Orient Express / Murder in the Calais Coach
1935 《三幕悲剧》 Three-Act Tragedy / Murder in Three Acts
1935《云中命案》/《云中奇案》 Death in the Clouds / Death in the Air
1936《ABC谋杀案》 The ABC Murders
1936《古墓之谜》 Murder in Mesopotamia
1936 《底牌》/《牌中牌》Cards on the Table
1937《沉默的证人》/《哑证人》/《无言的证人》 Dumb Witness / Poirot Loses a Client
1937《尼罗河上的惨案》Death on the Nile
1938《死亡约会》 Appointment with Death
1938《波洛圣诞探案记》/《圣诞奇案》Hercule Poirot's Christmas / Murder for Christmas-A Holliday for Murder
1940《柏棺》/《H庄园的一次午餐》Sad Cypress
1940 《牙医谋杀案》 One,Two,Buckle My Shoe / The Patriotic Murders-An Overdose of death
1941 《阳光下的罪恶》Evil Under the Sun
1943《啤酒谋杀案》 Five Little Pigs / Murder in Retrospect
1946《空谷幽魂》/《空幻之屋》 The Hollow / Murder After Hours
1948《遗产风波》/《涨潮时节》/《致命遗产》Taken at the Flood / There is a Tide
1952《清洁女工之死》 Mrs. McGinty's Dead
1953《葬礼之后》 After the Funeral / Funerals Are Fatal
1955《外国学生宿舍谋杀案》/《国际学舍谋杀案》/《山核桃大街谋杀案》Hickory Dickory Dock / Hickory Dickory Death
1956《死人的殿堂》/《古宅迷踪》 Dead Man's Folly
1959《鸽群中的猫》/《校园疑云》 Cat Among the Pigeons
1963《怪钟疑案》 The Clocks
1966《公寓女郎》/《第三个女郎》 Third Girl
1969《万圣节前夜的谋杀案》 Hallowe'en Party
1972 《旧罪的阴影》/《大象的证词》 Elephants Can Remember
1975《帷幕》/《幕后凶手》Curtain - Poirot's Last Case
小说集 5部
1924《首相绑架案》/《波罗探案集》Poirot Investigates
1937《幽巷谋杀案》 Murder in the Mews / Dead Man's Mirro
1947《赫尔克里的丰功伟绩》/《大侦探十二奇案》The Labours of Hercules
1960《雪地上的女尸》 The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
1974 《蒙面女人》/《艺术舞会奇案——波洛探案精萃》Poirot's Early Stories
2011 《阿加莎克里斯蒂秘密笔记》Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks
2．以简·马普尔小姐为主角 14部
长篇 12部
1930 《寓所谜案》 The Murder at the Vicarage
1942 《藏书室女尸之谜》The Body in the Library
1943《魔手》/《平静小镇里的罪恶》 The Moving Finger
1950《谋杀启事》 A Murder Is Announced
1952《借镜杀人》They Do It with Mirrors / Murder with Mirrors
1953《黑麦奇案》 A Pocket Full of Rye
1957《命案目睹记》 4.50 from Paddington / What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw
1962《破镜谋杀案》/《迟来的报复》 The Mirror Crack'd from Side to side / The Mirror Crack'd
1964《加勒比海之谜》 A Caribbean Mystery
1965《伯特伦旅馆之谜》 At Bertram's Hotel
1971《复仇女神》 Nemesis
1976《沉睡的谋杀案》/《神秘的别墅》 Sleeping Murder
小说集 2部
1932《死亡草》The Thirteen Problems / The Tuesday Club Murders
1979《马普尔小姐探案》 Miss Marple's Final Cases
3．以 汤米和塔彭丝夫妇 为主角 5部
初次登场：1922《暗藏杀机》/《年轻冒险家》/《秘密对手》The Secret Adversary
再次联手：1929 《犯罪团伙》/《同谋者》 Partners in Crime
已有儿女：1941《密码》/《桑苏西来客》 N or M?
儿孙满堂：1968《煦阳岭的疑云》 By the Pricking of My Thumbs
收山之作：1973《命运之门》 Postern of Fate
4．以 巴陀督探长/巴特尔警监（Superintendant Battle）为主角 3部
1925 《名苑猎凶》/《烟囱大厦的秘密》The Secret of Chimneys
1929《七面钟之谜》/《七钟面之谜》 The Seven Dials Mystery
1944《零时》/《走向决定性的时刻》 Towards Zero
注：1936 《底牌》里，巴特尔警监和波洛以及奥利弗太太、雷斯上校一起查案。1939《杀人不难》最后两章，巴特尔作为伦敦警察厅的警监出现过。1963《怪钟疑案》巴特尔的儿子柯林·兰穆与波洛相遇，一起破案。
5.以 雷斯上校(Colonel Johnny Race） 为主角的 2部
1924 《褐衣男子》The Man in the Brown Suit
1945 《死的怀念》/《闪光的氰化物》Sparkling Cyanide / Remembered Death
注：1936《底牌》和1937《尼罗河上的惨案》，强尼·雷斯上校和波洛一起破案。
6．以 业余侦探 为主角及一些短篇小说集、悬疑小说 13部
1931 《斯塔福特疑案》/《神秘的西塔福特》 The Sittaford Mystery / Murder at Hazelmoor
1934 《悬崖上的谋杀》 Why Didn't They Ask Evans? / The Boomerang Clue
1939《杀人不难》 Murder Is Easy / Easy to Kill （巴特尔警监）
1939《无人生还》/《十个印第安小人》/《孤岛奇案》/《十个小黑人》 And Then There Were None / Ten Little Indians/Niggers 首创“孤岛模式”
1945《死亡终局》 Death Comes as the End —— 埃及古代悬疑小说
1949《怪屋》/《畸形屋》 Crooked House
1950 《捕鼠器》 舞台剧（另有小说版）
1951《他们来到巴格达》 They Came to Baghdad
1954《地狱之旅》/《目的地不明》 Destination Unknown / So Many Steps to Death
1958《奉命谋杀》/《无妄之灾》 Ordeal by Innocence
1961《白马酒店》 The Pale Horse （奥利弗太太）
1967 《长夜》/《无尽长夜》/《此夜绵绵》Endless Night
1970《天涯过客》 Passenger to Frankfurt
7. 其他5部
1930《神秘的奎恩先生》 The Mysterious Mr. Quin
1933《死亡之犬》 The Hound of Death
1934《金色的机遇》The Listerdale Mystery
1934《惊险的浪漫》 Parker Pyne Investigates / Mr. Parker Pyne Detective
1950 《捕鼠器》/《三只瞎老鼠及其他》Three Blind Mice and Other Stories
1991 《神秘的第三者》 Problem at Pollensa Bay
1997《灯火阑珊》/《残光夜影》 While the Light Lasts
1923《高尔夫球场命案》 Murder on the Links
1926《罗杰疑案》 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
1927《四魔头》The Big Four
1928《蓝色列车之谜》/《蓝色特快上的秘密》The Mystery of the Blue Train
1932《悬崖山庄奇案》 Peril at End House
1933《人性记录》/《埃奇威尔爵士之死》/《不祥的宴会》 Lord Edgware Dies / Thirteen at Dinner （
1934《东方快车谋杀案》Murder on the Orient Express / Murder in the Calais Coach
1935 《三幕悲剧》 Three-Act Tragedy / Murder in Three Acts
1935《云中命案》/《云中奇案》 Death in the Clouds / Death in the Air
1936《ABC谋杀案》 The ABC Murders
1936《古墓之谜》 Murder in Mesopotamia
1936 《底牌》/《牌中牌》Cards on the Table
1937《沉默的证人》/《哑证人》/《无言的证人》 Dumb Witness / Poirot Loses a Client
1937《尼罗河上的惨案》Death on the Nile
1938《死亡约会》 Appointment with Death
1938《波洛圣诞探案记》/《圣诞奇案》Hercule Poirot's Christmas / Murder for Christmas-A Holliday for Murder
1940《柏棺》/《H庄园的一次午餐》Sad Cypress
1940 《牙医谋杀案》 One,Two,Buckle My Shoe / The Patriotic Murders-An Overdose of death
1941 《阳光下的罪恶》Evil Under the Sun
1943《啤酒谋杀案》 Five Little Pigs / Murder in Retrospect
1946《空谷幽魂》/《空幻之屋》 The Hollow / Murder After Hours
1948《遗产风波》/《涨潮时节》/《致命遗产》Taken at the Flood / There is a Tide
1952《清洁女工之死》 Mrs. McGinty's Dead
1953《葬礼之后》 After the Funeral / Funerals Are Fatal
1955《外国学生宿舍谋杀案》/《国际学舍谋杀案》/《山核桃大街谋杀案》Hickory Dickory Dock / Hickory Dickory Death
1956《死人的殿堂》/《古宅迷踪》 Dead Man's Folly
1959《鸽群中的猫》/《校园疑云》 Cat Among the Pigeons
1963《怪钟疑案》 The Clocks
1966《公寓女郎》/《第三个女郎》 Third Girl
1969《万圣节前夜的谋杀案》 Hallowe'en Party
1972 《旧罪的阴影》/《大象的证词》 Elephants Can Remember
1975《帷幕》/《幕后凶手》Curtain - Poirot's Last Case
小说集 5部
1924《首相绑架案》/《波罗探案集》Poirot Investigates
1937《幽巷谋杀案》 Murder in the Mews / Dead Man's Mirro
1947《赫尔克里的丰功伟绩》/《大侦探十二奇案》The Labours of Hercules
1960《雪地上的女尸》 The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
1974 《蒙面女人》/《艺术舞会奇案——波洛探案精萃》Poirot's Early Stories
2011 《阿加莎克里斯蒂秘密笔记》Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks
2．以简·马普尔小姐为主角 14部
长篇 12部
1930 《寓所谜案》 The Murder at the Vicarage
1942 《藏书室女尸之谜》The Body in the Library
1943《魔手》/《平静小镇里的罪恶》 The Moving Finger
1950《谋杀启事》 A Murder Is Announced
1952《借镜杀人》They Do It with Mirrors / Murder with Mirrors
1953《黑麦奇案》 A Pocket Full of Rye
1957《命案目睹记》 4.50 from Paddington / What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw
1962《破镜谋杀案》/《迟来的报复》 The Mirror Crack'd from Side to side / The Mirror Crack'd
1964《加勒比海之谜》 A Caribbean Mystery
1965《伯特伦旅馆之谜》 At Bertram's Hotel
1971《复仇女神》 Nemesis
1976《沉睡的谋杀案》/《神秘的别墅》 Sleeping Murder
小说集 2部
1932《死亡草》The Thirteen Problems / The Tuesday Club Murders
1979《马普尔小姐探案》 Miss Marple's Final Cases
3．以 汤米和塔彭丝夫妇 为主角 5部
初次登场：1922《暗藏杀机》/《年轻冒险家》/《秘密对手》The Secret Adversary
再次联手：1929 《犯罪团伙》/《同谋者》 Partners in Crime
已有儿女：1941《密码》/《桑苏西来客》 N or M?
儿孙满堂：1968《煦阳岭的疑云》 By the Pricking of My Thumbs
收山之作：1973《命运之门》 Postern of Fate
4．以 巴陀督探长/巴特尔警监（Superintendant Battle）为主角 3部
1925 《名苑猎凶》/《烟囱大厦的秘密》The Secret of Chimneys
1929《七面钟之谜》/《七钟面之谜》 The Seven Dials Mystery
1944《零时》/《走向决定性的时刻》 Towards Zero
注：1936 《底牌》里，巴特尔警监和波洛以及奥利弗太太、雷斯上校一起查案。1939《杀人不难》最后两章，巴特尔作为伦敦警察厅的警监出现过。1963《怪钟疑案》巴特尔的儿子柯林·兰穆与波洛相遇，一起破案。
5.以 雷斯上校(Colonel Johnny Race） 为主角的 2部
1924 《褐衣男子》The Man in the Brown Suit
1945 《死的怀念》/《闪光的氰化物》Sparkling Cyanide / Remembered Death
注：1936《底牌》和1937《尼罗河上的惨案》，强尼·雷斯上校和波洛一起破案。
6．以 业余侦探 为主角及一些短篇小说集、悬疑小说 13部
1931 《斯塔福特疑案》/《神秘的西塔福特》 The Sittaford Mystery / Murder at Hazelmoor
1934 《悬崖上的谋杀》 Why Didn't They Ask Evans? / The Boomerang Clue
1939《杀人不难》 Murder Is Easy / Easy to Kill （巴特尔警监）
1939《无人生还》/《十个印第安小人》/《孤岛奇案》/《十个小黑人》 And Then There Were None / Ten Little Indians/Niggers 首创“孤岛模式”
1945《死亡终局》 Death Comes as the End —— 埃及古代悬疑小说
1949《怪屋》/《畸形屋》 Crooked House
1950 《捕鼠器》 舞台剧（另有小说版）
1951《他们来到巴格达》 They Came to Baghdad
1954《地狱之旅》/《目的地不明》 Destination Unknown / So Many Steps to Death
1958《奉命谋杀》/《无妄之灾》 Ordeal by Innocence
1961《白马酒店》 The Pale Horse （奥利弗太太）
1967 《长夜》/《无尽长夜》/《此夜绵绵》Endless Night
1970《天涯过客》 Passenger to Frankfurt
7. 其他5部
1930《神秘的奎恩先生》 The Mysterious Mr. Quin
1933《死亡之犬》 The Hound of Death
1934《金色的机遇》The Listerdale Mystery
1934《惊险的浪漫》 Parker Pyne Investigates / Mr. Parker Pyne Detective
1950 《捕鼠器》/《三只瞎老鼠及其他》Three Blind Mice and Other Stories
1991 《神秘的第三者》 Problem at Pollensa Bay
1997《灯火阑珊》/《残光夜影》 While the Light Lasts
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2019
This contains two books: The first is a Poirot, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and The Secret Adversary is a Tommy & Tuppence mystery. I had read both of these books before, and have them on my shelves in hardback, but I elected to this for my Nook so I could read in the dark.
5 stars for the story, -1 for the difficulty in reading it - it kept popping up blank pages and I had to resort to several subterfuges to find the actual text, which made it take longer. Not going to read this again on the Nook!
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
This was the first mystery that Christie wrote. Arthur Hastings is a guest at Styles Court, and when its wealthy owner Emily dies in convulsions, it is determined that she was poisoned by strychnine. Hastings goes to the nearby village and asks his friend, retired Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, to help. He is determined to play Watson to Poirot's Sherlock, but since he is rather slow to pick up on clues and has a tendency to take things in the wrong way, he's not really much help. Their relationship provides a fair amount of light humor throughout the book, as Poirot tries to give hints to Hastings, who usually fails to get the point. The household consists of the victim's two stepsons, John and Lawrence Cavendish; her second husband Alfred Inglethorp (whom everyone else hates); her companion Evelyn; John's wife Mary; and Cynthia,the daughter of a friend. Inspector Japp leads the police investigation; he is familiar with Poirot from previous cases. Poirot must help determine how Emily was poisoned and which of several wills is the operative one (which might provide a motive). He is putting together links in his deductive chain, but is missing the last one, which Hastings accidentally provides, allowing Poirot to solve the murder.
The Secret Adversary
This is the first of the Tommy & Tuppence books. The two meet again after some time and renew their friendship. Both are out of money, looking for jobs, and having little luck. So they decide to form a partnership called Young Adventurers, where they advertise that they will do anything, go anywhere, as long as the pay is good. They get two answers - one from Mr. Carter, who wants them to help in a government problem with labor and strikes (Tommy recognizes him as being from the 'secret service', and one from Julius Hersheimmer, who wants help in finding his cousin, the mysterious Jane Finn. That name has already cropped on several previous occasions. The mysterious Mr. Brown is behind the labor unrest, and is determined to find a treaty that will bring down the government - supposedly carried off the Lusitania by, guess who, Jane Finn again!
5 stars for the story, -1 for the difficulty in reading it - it kept popping up blank pages and I had to resort to several subterfuges to find the actual text, which made it take longer. Not going to read this again on the Nook!
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
This was the first mystery that Christie wrote. Arthur Hastings is a guest at Styles Court, and when its wealthy owner Emily dies in convulsions, it is determined that she was poisoned by strychnine. Hastings goes to the nearby village and asks his friend, retired Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, to help. He is determined to play Watson to Poirot's Sherlock, but since he is rather slow to pick up on clues and has a tendency to take things in the wrong way, he's not really much help. Their relationship provides a fair amount of light humor throughout the book, as Poirot tries to give hints to Hastings, who usually fails to get the point. The household consists of the victim's two stepsons, John and Lawrence Cavendish; her second husband Alfred Inglethorp (whom everyone else hates); her companion Evelyn; John's wife Mary; and Cynthia,the daughter of a friend. Inspector Japp leads the police investigation; he is familiar with Poirot from previous cases. Poirot must help determine how Emily was poisoned and which of several wills is the operative one (which might provide a motive). He is putting together links in his deductive chain, but is missing the last one, which Hastings accidentally provides, allowing Poirot to solve the murder.
The Secret Adversary
This is the first of the Tommy & Tuppence books. The two meet again after some time and renew their friendship. Both are out of money, looking for jobs, and having little luck. So they decide to form a partnership called Young Adventurers, where they advertise that they will do anything, go anywhere, as long as the pay is good. They get two answers - one from Mr. Carter, who wants them to help in a government problem with labor and strikes (Tommy recognizes him as being from the 'secret service', and one from Julius Hersheimmer, who wants help in finding his cousin, the mysterious Jane Finn. That name has already cropped on several previous occasions. The mysterious Mr. Brown is behind the labor unrest, and is determined to find a treaty that will bring down the government - supposedly carried off the Lusitania by, guess who, Jane Finn again!
January 24, 2023
Reviewing this is a bit more difficult because there are two in one here:
1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles -- I enjoyed this book but I could definitely tell that it was a first book for Christie. I'll give her a break on that one because every author, even the most renowned mystery author, has to start somewhere. The one problem I did have with this book I do not want to gloss over -- the N word appears in it. I had to reread it four times to realize that was really what it said, I was so surprised. I'd make the recommendation to her foundation, whoever has control of her books to change this one word to "Nigerian." It still makes the point that a black beard would be required to dress up. Without any racial slur, that maintains the integrity of the work. Later, a second ethnic group is slammed by another character and I think that section, three exchanges between characters, can just be removed entirely. Three stars is all I can do here.
2. The Secret Adversary -- this was the first in the Tommy and Tuppence series, one of Christie's collections that seems to get less attention but I enjoyed it. I'd rate this one higher. It's clearly not her first rodeo. The characters were cute, as were their interactions. The names they call each other are odd, either to American eyes and ears or to those of the 21st century, or both. I've never heard anyone called "Old Bean" before! Four stars for this one.
1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles -- I enjoyed this book but I could definitely tell that it was a first book for Christie. I'll give her a break on that one because every author, even the most renowned mystery author, has to start somewhere. The one problem I did have with this book I do not want to gloss over -- the N word appears in it. I had to reread it four times to realize that was really what it said, I was so surprised. I'd make the recommendation to her foundation, whoever has control of her books to change this one word to "Nigerian." It still makes the point that a black beard would be required to dress up. Without any racial slur, that maintains the integrity of the work. Later, a second ethnic group is slammed by another character and I think that section, three exchanges between characters, can just be removed entirely. Three stars is all I can do here.
2. The Secret Adversary -- this was the first in the Tommy and Tuppence series, one of Christie's collections that seems to get less attention but I enjoyed it. I'd rate this one higher. It's clearly not her first rodeo. The characters were cute, as were their interactions. The names they call each other are odd, either to American eyes and ears or to those of the 21st century, or both. I've never heard anyone called "Old Bean" before! Four stars for this one.
November 20, 2012
It has probably been more than 20 years since a read either of these books, and I have to say they were both way better than I remembered. I was especially enamored of "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" (Poirot's first book), because "Curtain" (Poirot's last book) is one of my favorite Christie books, and I had thought that the earlier book was just corny and cliche'. But, I was surprised to see that I liked it much better than I thought I would, and it wasn't at all corny. Hastings is not my favorite Christie characters, but mercifully she moved him off to the Argentine early on.
"The Secret Adversary" features two of my favorite Christie characters: Tommy and Tuppence before they were Mr and Mrs Beresford. Tommy and Tuppence are wonderful characters, and I enjoy all of their books very much (with the exception of "The Postern of Fate" a dreadful book and not worth it in the end). "The Secret Adversary" is Tommy and Tuppence at their best, but beware, this is not one of those books with the clever solution such as Christie is know for. In fact, I figured out "who done it" way before Tommy and Tuppence did, and I believe this is the only Christie novel that I was able to do that (and I've read them all). But the characters are so well written and so pleasant and enjoyable, I think I'd like reading about them no matter what they were doing.
"The Secret Adversary" features two of my favorite Christie characters: Tommy and Tuppence before they were Mr and Mrs Beresford. Tommy and Tuppence are wonderful characters, and I enjoy all of their books very much (with the exception of "The Postern of Fate" a dreadful book and not worth it in the end). "The Secret Adversary" is Tommy and Tuppence at their best, but beware, this is not one of those books with the clever solution such as Christie is know for. In fact, I figured out "who done it" way before Tommy and Tuppence did, and I believe this is the only Christie novel that I was able to do that (and I've read them all). But the characters are so well written and so pleasant and enjoyable, I think I'd like reading about them no matter what they were doing.
November 30, 2024
This collection was close to perfect. Christie was one of the inventors of the genre, and she does not disappoint. Her plots are always clever and I love her use of language, although no one speaks that well anymore. The stories were really enjoyable. She creates mental puzzles for the reader to solve by using their "little grey cells" - an Hercule Poirot quote. The fun was in trying to figure out what Poirot already knew and the teller, Captain Hastings, was trying to figure out. Most were short stories, so they were easy to finish if you didn't have much time available. The only caveat is that she reflects the easy, casual, unconscious racism of the time, showing up in this collection in one story in regard to Asians. I enjoyed meeting Tommy and Tuppance in their first appearance, and enjoyed the Poirot stories. If you're a fan of mystery novels, then you need to read Christie as she was the one who taught all the others how to do it.
May 26, 2013
Three novels and 20-ish short stories. All of the short stories and two of the novels were about the inestimable Hercule Poirot and his little grey cells. Some of the short stories I had a little trouble following the logic, but that might be due to my being extremely tired at the time of reading. Some of the stories are a bit deus ex machina, and that's a little disappointing. Overall, though, the stories make sense.
If you're into mystery at all, you could do much worse than the queen. Highly recommended.
I really wish there were a readily-available Volume 2 of this series. If there is, my Google-fu has failed me in finding it.
If you're into mystery at all, you could do much worse than the queen. Highly recommended.
I really wish there were a readily-available Volume 2 of this series. If there is, my Google-fu has failed me in finding it.
July 1, 2017
Agatha Christie's first published novels were a joy to read. In The Mystery Affair at Styles we are introduced to Hercule Poirot who uses his detective skills when Emily Inglethorp is poisoned.
The second story is The Secret Adversary featuring the young adventurers Tommy and Tuppence . I loved reading their exploits as they are hired to find Jane Finn who is believed to have received papers for safe keeping at the time of the sinking of the Luistiania.
A must for those we love getting "lost in time" and for mystery fans. It is Agatha Christie after all. In my opinion the Queen of mysteries.
The second story is The Secret Adversary featuring the young adventurers Tommy and Tuppence . I loved reading their exploits as they are hired to find Jane Finn who is believed to have received papers for safe keeping at the time of the sinking of the Luistiania.
A must for those we love getting "lost in time" and for mystery fans. It is Agatha Christie after all. In my opinion the Queen of mysteries.
January 17, 2012
Just received a Nook Tablet for Christmas and this was the first book I purchased! I read all the Agatha Christie books my teesy local library had when I was in high school, so I am definitely a fan of her work. This volume contains 25 of Christies early stories. The first 2 are novel length--our introductions to Hercule Poirot and Tommy & Tuppence--and the remaining titles are a collection of short stories. It was a delightful group of little mysteries...I can't wait for the other volumes to come out!
February 2, 2012
I do love a good post-war England for my setting, but 850 pages is a bit long. I was fooled into thinking this was mostly a collection of novels with a few short stories interspersed. Not true. I enjoyed the novels. They kept my interest. The short stories were a bit tedious, and I skimmed the last 15% (I love my Kindle) of the book. Private Investigator Poirot, at first quirky, felt a little mean-spirited by the end. This would be a good book to pick up periodically, but I would not recommend reading it front-to-back.
June 7, 2014
This collection is great for when you want masterful writing that you can pick up and put down since many of the mysteries are short. I enjoyed this book thoroughly although it took quite some time to read. I gave it 4 stars just because it isn't the best of Agatha Christie but that said - a four star for her is probably a 5 compared to many modern authors. (Just want my 5 stars to be the best of the best.) I enjoyed it. Great to have for summer or anytime reading! Now I have got to find another collection of shirt stories as I really enjoying having a collection handy.
May 20, 2020
I read this thanks to a book club, and a hidden in plain sight pearl it is!
Somehow Ms. Christie is still able to catch the imagination in a leisurely lull that's so criminally civilized.
A resoundingly resonating quote is found on page 134 in the Jane Finn chapter courtesy of the American character Julius:
"...Got no use for the family feud
business..."
As my biological and affectionate father says "It's all psychological!"
Somehow Ms. Christie is still able to catch the imagination in a leisurely lull that's so criminally civilized.
A resoundingly resonating quote is found on page 134 in the Jane Finn chapter courtesy of the American character Julius:
"...Got no use for the family feud
business..."
As my biological and affectionate father says "It's all psychological!"
January 25, 2015
Selera orang berbeda beda, jadi jangan menghakimi saya kalau saya sangat menyukai buku ini walau bagi sebagian orang buku ini curang dengan memberi tahu segalanya di akhir cerita, tapi tidak dengan saya, well... kalau mengenal gaya penceritaan Agatha yang memasukkan juga unsur psikologi seseorang maka buku ini menjadi masuk akal dan 'adil' bagi para pembaca.
April 18, 2016
November 6, 2015
Read The Secret Adversary and quite enjoyed it! My first foray into the Tommy and Tuppence world. As always, Agatha Christie is a master storyteller, even in her first novels! All the clues are there to figure it out but she still keeps you guessing up to the very end! This will stay on my "currently reading" shelf until I solve all the mysteries within!
Read The Secret Adversary and quite enjoyed it! My first foray into the Tommy and Tuppence world. As always, Agatha Christie is a master storyteller, even in her first novels! All the clues are there to figure it out but she still keeps you guessing up to the very end! This will stay on my "currently reading" shelf until I solve all the mysteries within!
April 28, 2018
Guess and Guess Again!!
I have to say that I really enjoyed each one of these stories . I love Poiret and his little white brain cells and how he dissects everyone under a microscope🔬 . I also found the second story with Tuppence and Tommy to be quite interesting. That being said I love Agatha Christy! 🔬🔬
I have to say that I really enjoyed each one of these stories . I love Poiret and his little white brain cells and how he dissects everyone under a microscope🔬 . I also found the second story with Tuppence and Tommy to be quite interesting. That being said I love Agatha Christy! 🔬🔬
February 5, 2023
Agatha Christie is one of my favorite mystery writers. It is my favorite whodunit with Hercule Poirot. The usual twist and turns and the surprise ending. It also has the gathering of everyone in the drawing room with the final reveal that many have copied and used. I also like that Christie uses a third party to describe the action. Just like Sherlock has his Watson, Poirot has Hastings.
January 12, 2012
I enjoy reading Agatha Christie for fun/relaxation. I don't have to worry about the content, and since I've never taken the time to look up other mystery writers who may also be reliably appropriate, she's my old (and only) standby.
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