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Hercule Poirot #27
The Labours of Hercules
First published in book form in 1947, The Labours of Hercules comprises an even dozen mysteries starring Christie's most popular sleuth, the ever-dignified Hercule Poirot. The introductory chapter of the collection sets up the rest of the book. At a dinner party, another guest compares the labors of Poirot to those of Hercules, and the little Belgian is not amused. He has already decided to retire, but makes up his mind to take on 12 great cases - each somehow reflecting the labors accomplished by Hercules - as a farewell to crime solving. All of the cases are quite different from each other, from searching for a lost poet to hunting down a particularly ferocious murderer, from solving mysterious deaths of religious cult members to saving a young would-be politician from potential blackmailers. Frequent Christie interpreter Hugh Fraser brings stories like The Cretan Bull and The Apples of the Hesperides to dazzling life.
9 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 1947
1121 people are currently reading
19333 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,786 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)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,989 reviews
March 17, 2025
A good bunch of loosely interconnected short stories.
Poirot grows a wild hair and decides he wants to retire after completing his own version of The Labors of Hercules. He is well aware that you'd have to squint a bit to see the correlation between his tasks and that of his namesake, but there you go.
We all do our best with what we have.
Foreword
Now, this is listed as a story in some of the Hercule Poirot sets but it isn't, as far as I have been able to find, a short that you can read on its own. But for the sake of completionists out there (I feel you!) I'm adding it in here.
Poirot meets up with an old friend who comments on how his Christian name, Hercule, is a take on the dude who did the 12 labors in the Illiad. He also makes a joke about Poirot and Sherlock Holmes' moms sitting around trying to come up with baby names. <-ha!
Anyway. That's what gets the little Belgian detective thinking about his last 12 cases matching up with the Labors of Hercules.
The Nemean Lion
A yappy Pekinese dog, who stands in for the lion, has been kidnapped, ransomed, and returned safely. But the husband of the dog's owner wants his money back and sends Poirot on the trail of the dognapper. Along the way, Poirot meets Amy Carnaby, who shows up in another story, and stops a poisoner.
The Lernaean Hydra
In this case, gossip is the Hydra and Poirot has to find a murderer in order to save the innocent from a life of suspicion.
The Arcadian Deer
Poirot's car breaks down and he ends up in the garage. Here is where he meets a handsome younggod mechanic. Said mechanic begs Poirot to find the lady's maid of a famous dancer who stole the heart and then disappeared.
The Erymanthian Boar
After solving his last case, Poirot remains in Switzerland and decides to take in the sights. He ends up snowed in on a mountaintop hotel with several other guests, including a mobster, several of his thugs, and an undercover police officer.
Hijinks ensue.
The Augean Stables
Poirot agrees to help a decent politician escape being tarnished via association with his crooked father-in-law. His wife secretly agrees to help, in a very ingenious way, stop the tabloid newspaper that wants to smear him.
The Stymphalean Birds
While on vacation, Harold meets a very nice mother and daughter. He feels protective of the young woman when he finds out that she's trapped in an abusive marriage. And when he witnesses firsthand how awful her husband can be, he agrees to help finance the coverup when his new friend accidentally kills her husband in self-defense.
But someone saw what happened and now all three of them are being blackmailed.
Can Poirot save the day?
The Cretan Bull
After he calls off the engagement for her own safety, a young lady wants Poirot's help in convincing her fiancee that he isn't crazy. Is there a dangerous strain of mental illness running through his family tree, or is something else driving this young man mad?
The Horses of Diomedes
*cue Miami Vice theme song*
Poirot and his friend bust up a drug ring. Crocket and Tubbs would be proud.
The Girdle of Hyppolita
How are art thieves connected with a schoolgirl that goes missing for a few hours on a field trip?
Poirot will find out.
The Flock of Geryon
Also found in The Last Séance: Tales of the Supernatural
An acquaintance of Poirot's goes undercover as the newest member of a cult to save her friend.
This is one I'd read before, but it was good to finally find out who Amy Carnaby was and why Poirot liked her so much. She's the chick from the first story, btw.
The Apples of the Hesperides
Poirot tracks down a stolen goblet with a dark history.
The Capture of Cerberus
Countess Vera Rossakoff, who is both an illicit mastermind and the woman of Poirot's dreams is running a very profitable club that allows the rich and famous to mingle with dangerous criminals. But even Rossakoff may be unaware of the evil that lurks in her swanky saloon.
Drugs are bad, kids.
And now Poirot is ready to retire and grow his vegetable marrows.
A must read for fans of Poirot.
Poirot grows a wild hair and decides he wants to retire after completing his own version of The Labors of Hercules. He is well aware that you'd have to squint a bit to see the correlation between his tasks and that of his namesake, but there you go.
We all do our best with what we have.
Foreword
Now, this is listed as a story in some of the Hercule Poirot sets but it isn't, as far as I have been able to find, a short that you can read on its own. But for the sake of completionists out there (I feel you!) I'm adding it in here.
Poirot meets up with an old friend who comments on how his Christian name, Hercule, is a take on the dude who did the 12 labors in the Illiad. He also makes a joke about Poirot and Sherlock Holmes' moms sitting around trying to come up with baby names. <-ha!
Anyway. That's what gets the little Belgian detective thinking about his last 12 cases matching up with the Labors of Hercules.
The Nemean Lion
A yappy Pekinese dog, who stands in for the lion, has been kidnapped, ransomed, and returned safely. But the husband of the dog's owner wants his money back and sends Poirot on the trail of the dognapper. Along the way, Poirot meets Amy Carnaby, who shows up in another story, and stops a poisoner.
The Lernaean Hydra
In this case, gossip is the Hydra and Poirot has to find a murderer in order to save the innocent from a life of suspicion.
The Arcadian Deer
Poirot's car breaks down and he ends up in the garage. Here is where he meets a handsome young
The Erymanthian Boar
After solving his last case, Poirot remains in Switzerland and decides to take in the sights. He ends up snowed in on a mountaintop hotel with several other guests, including a mobster, several of his thugs, and an undercover police officer.
Hijinks ensue.
The Augean Stables
Poirot agrees to help a decent politician escape being tarnished via association with his crooked father-in-law. His wife secretly agrees to help, in a very ingenious way, stop the tabloid newspaper that wants to smear him.
The Stymphalean Birds
While on vacation, Harold meets a very nice mother and daughter. He feels protective of the young woman when he finds out that she's trapped in an abusive marriage. And when he witnesses firsthand how awful her husband can be, he agrees to help finance the coverup when his new friend accidentally kills her husband in self-defense.
But someone saw what happened and now all three of them are being blackmailed.
Can Poirot save the day?
The Cretan Bull
After he calls off the engagement for her own safety, a young lady wants Poirot's help in convincing her fiancee that he isn't crazy. Is there a dangerous strain of mental illness running through his family tree, or is something else driving this young man mad?
The Horses of Diomedes
*cue Miami Vice theme song*
Poirot and his friend bust up a drug ring. Crocket and Tubbs would be proud.
The Girdle of Hyppolita
How are art thieves connected with a schoolgirl that goes missing for a few hours on a field trip?
Poirot will find out.
The Flock of Geryon
Also found in The Last Séance: Tales of the Supernatural
An acquaintance of Poirot's goes undercover as the newest member of a cult to save her friend.
This is one I'd read before, but it was good to finally find out who Amy Carnaby was and why Poirot liked her so much. She's the chick from the first story, btw.
The Apples of the Hesperides
Poirot tracks down a stolen goblet with a dark history.
The Capture of Cerberus
Countess Vera Rossakoff, who is both an illicit mastermind and the woman of Poirot's dreams is running a very profitable club that allows the rich and famous to mingle with dangerous criminals. But even Rossakoff may be unaware of the evil that lurks in her swanky saloon.
Drugs are bad, kids.
And now Poirot is ready to retire and grow his vegetable marrows.
A must read for fans of Poirot.
March 21, 2020
So rather than reviewing the book as a whole, I thought I would say a few words about each of "The Labours" and then give an overall rating. So taking the average we get 3.67, so 4 stars it is. An enjoyable book with some good stories and some average ones.
The Nemean Lion 4 stars
An enjoyable short story in which Poirot investigates the theft of a Pekinese dog !!
The Lernean Hydra 3 stars
A fun but obvious story in which Poirot delves into rumours and gossip against a local GP
The Arcadian Deer 3.5 stars
An interestinting tale whereby Poirot races all over Europe to discover the whereabouts of a Ladies maid for a garage mechanic.
The Erymanthian Boar 4 stars
On holiday Poirot is cajoled into investigating the disappearance of a ruthless killer called Marrascaud, and is trapped on a mountain
The Augean Stables 4 stars
Poirot is called in by the Government to clear the name of the retired Prime Minister.
The Stymphalean Birds 4 stars
On holiday, Poirot is called upon to help out an Englishman involved in family issues, murder !
The Cretan Bull 4 stars
Poirot is called upon to convince a man he isn't mad, despite all evidence to the contrary.
The Horses of Diomedes 3.5 stars
An adventure in which Poirot is called in by a young Doctor friend to help one of General Grant's four daughters.
The Girdle of Hyppolita 3.5 stars
Whilst on the continent investigating an art theft, Poirot is asked to lend a hand with a missing British schoolgirl that somehow disembarks a train that hadn't stopped.
The Flock of Geryon 4 stars
In this short story we see the return of the redoubtable Miss Carnaby to assist M. Poirot in the investigation into a dodgy religious sect, that supposedly conned wealthy elderly women.
The Apples of Hesperides 3 stars
An ok story in which Poirot tracks down a stolen Goblet, not much more to say.
The Capture of Cerberus 4 stars
And the final story sees the return of the Countess Rossakoff, and an investigation into drugs and jewel robberies
The Nemean Lion 4 stars
An enjoyable short story in which Poirot investigates the theft of a Pekinese dog !!
The Lernean Hydra 3 stars
A fun but obvious story in which Poirot delves into rumours and gossip against a local GP
The Arcadian Deer 3.5 stars
An interestinting tale whereby Poirot races all over Europe to discover the whereabouts of a Ladies maid for a garage mechanic.
The Erymanthian Boar 4 stars
On holiday Poirot is cajoled into investigating the disappearance of a ruthless killer called Marrascaud, and is trapped on a mountain
The Augean Stables 4 stars
Poirot is called in by the Government to clear the name of the retired Prime Minister.
The Stymphalean Birds 4 stars
On holiday, Poirot is called upon to help out an Englishman involved in family issues, murder !
The Cretan Bull 4 stars
Poirot is called upon to convince a man he isn't mad, despite all evidence to the contrary.
The Horses of Diomedes 3.5 stars
An adventure in which Poirot is called in by a young Doctor friend to help one of General Grant's four daughters.
The Girdle of Hyppolita 3.5 stars
Whilst on the continent investigating an art theft, Poirot is asked to lend a hand with a missing British schoolgirl that somehow disembarks a train that hadn't stopped.
The Flock of Geryon 4 stars
In this short story we see the return of the redoubtable Miss Carnaby to assist M. Poirot in the investigation into a dodgy religious sect, that supposedly conned wealthy elderly women.
The Apples of Hesperides 3 stars
An ok story in which Poirot tracks down a stolen Goblet, not much more to say.
The Capture of Cerberus 4 stars
And the final story sees the return of the Countess Rossakoff, and an investigation into drugs and jewel robberies
May 5, 2025
Hercule Poirot's ego is once again on full display as he sets off to complete his own version of the Twelve Labours of Hercules. I'm not quite sure that his tasks actually rival those of the legendary Hercules (I mean, Poirot's “Nemean Lion” is a Pekingese, for crying out loud), but that doesn't stop Poirot from strutting around thinking he's the best thing since sliced bread. Like many short story collections, this one is a mixed bag – some of the stories are excellent, and some are simply “meh.” But, still, if you're a fan of a certain magnificently moustached detective, this collection is definitely worth a quick read. 3.45 stars, rounded down.
August 22, 2020
Niestety - najgorsze wydanie Christie jakie czytałam do tej pory. 12 opowiadań, które koncept miały naprawdę ciekawy (nawiązania do mitologii greckiej) ale na tym pozytywy się kończą. Czasami właśnie te nawiązania były tak na siłę wciskane czytelnikowi, że było to wręcz niesmaczne. Wykreowania bohaterów nie ma żadnego, Poirotowi jak zawsze wszystko wychodzi już w pierwszej minucie i nigdy się nie myli. Zdecydowanie wolę Christie w „I nie było już nikogo”. Tej pozycji nie mogę polecać i nie rozumiem dlaczego właśnie ona bywa lekturą w gimnazjum 🤷🏼♀️
May 17, 2025
Poirot wants to retire and grow pumpkins instead of having to solve murders every day. Before he retires, he wants to have one big epic swansong to stroke his own ego. Twelve cases are carefully chosen to mimic the Twelve Labours of Hercules.
The Nemean Lion - 3/5
Poirot is asked to find a kidnapped dog. Poirot thinks finding a missing dog is beneath him at first, but since he doesn’t have any other more interesting cases lying around, it’ll have to do.
A Pekinese dog substituting for a lion feels like a bit of a stretch, but alright. The mystery is solid.
The Lernaean Hydra - 3/5
A doctor’s wife dies. Rumors float around the small town that the doctor himself is responsible for her death, which ruins his reputation. He asks Poirot to let the truth come out and to stop these rumors before he is completely ruined.
Small town gossip can definitely be poisonous, but it’s up to Poirot to find out if there’s any truth to these rumors or not.
The Arcadian Deer - 3/5
Poirot is asked by a mechanic to find the girl he fell in love with.
The old love at first sight problem. Leave it up to Poirot to find the mysterious girl of his dreams.
The Erymanthian Boar - 3/5
Poirot is on holiday in Switzerland when a friend of the Swiss police asks him to help capture a murderer described by his friend as a “wild boar.”
Very convenient that Poirot’s friend describes the murderer as a wild boar, but a solid display of Poirot’s deduction skills.
The Augean Stables - 2/5
Poirot is asked to stop a scandal newspaper from printing a harmful gossip about a politician.
I’d very much prefer Poirot to stay out of political scandals to be honest. Also, another very convenient way to add a connection to Twelve Labours of Hercules.
The Stymphalean Birds - 3/5
Poirot comes to the aid of a young politician who gets blackmailed.
I’m glad this has less politics than the previous story. It’s a solid short story.
The Cretan Bull – 3,5/5
A young woman asks Poirot’s help as her fiancée wants to break off their engagement because he thinks he’s going mad.
Solid mystery with an interesting twist.
The Horses of Diomedes - 3/5
Poirot is asked to help a girl with her drug addiction.
There’s more to this story than you might think at first sight. Interesting twist.
The Girdle of Hyppolita - 3/5
A painting depicting the titular Girdle of Hyppolita gets stolen, Poirot can’t resist finding the painting.
Finally there’s an actual connection between these stories and the Twelve Labours of Hercules.
The Flock of Geryon - 3/5
A character from a previous story returns and asks Poirot to help her friend who’s joined a cult.
This story’s more about a character infiltrating the cult and Poirot coaches her from the sidelines.
The Apples of the Hesperides - 3/5
A golden goblet was stolen, Poirot is asked to retrieve it.
Interesting story about a character who’s so unhappy that they don’t realize how unhappy they truly are.
The Capture of Cerberus - 3/5
Countess Vera Rossakoff tells Poirot to meet her in Hell. So he goes looking for her.
A story about drugs with a bit of a twist.
I like the concept, though the connection with the Twelve Labours of Hercules doesn’t feel strong at all. By announcing this epic swansong theme from the start, you also create certain expectations. When the first case is about a missing dog, it doesn’t really feel like this book tries to match those expectations. All these stories are solid, but none of these stories manage to stand out. It’s more like a collection of light and cozy short stories that are very loosely connected to each other. So it’s important to go into this book with the right expectations.
The Nemean Lion - 3/5
Poirot is asked to find a kidnapped dog. Poirot thinks finding a missing dog is beneath him at first, but since he doesn’t have any other more interesting cases lying around, it’ll have to do.
A Pekinese dog substituting for a lion feels like a bit of a stretch, but alright. The mystery is solid.
The Lernaean Hydra - 3/5
A doctor’s wife dies. Rumors float around the small town that the doctor himself is responsible for her death, which ruins his reputation. He asks Poirot to let the truth come out and to stop these rumors before he is completely ruined.
Small town gossip can definitely be poisonous, but it’s up to Poirot to find out if there’s any truth to these rumors or not.
The Arcadian Deer - 3/5
Poirot is asked by a mechanic to find the girl he fell in love with.
The old love at first sight problem. Leave it up to Poirot to find the mysterious girl of his dreams.
The Erymanthian Boar - 3/5
Poirot is on holiday in Switzerland when a friend of the Swiss police asks him to help capture a murderer described by his friend as a “wild boar.”
Very convenient that Poirot’s friend describes the murderer as a wild boar, but a solid display of Poirot’s deduction skills.
The Augean Stables - 2/5
Poirot is asked to stop a scandal newspaper from printing a harmful gossip about a politician.
I’d very much prefer Poirot to stay out of political scandals to be honest. Also, another very convenient way to add a connection to Twelve Labours of Hercules.
The Stymphalean Birds - 3/5
Poirot comes to the aid of a young politician who gets blackmailed.
I’m glad this has less politics than the previous story. It’s a solid short story.
The Cretan Bull – 3,5/5
A young woman asks Poirot’s help as her fiancée wants to break off their engagement because he thinks he’s going mad.
Solid mystery with an interesting twist.
The Horses of Diomedes - 3/5
Poirot is asked to help a girl with her drug addiction.
There’s more to this story than you might think at first sight. Interesting twist.
The Girdle of Hyppolita - 3/5
A painting depicting the titular Girdle of Hyppolita gets stolen, Poirot can’t resist finding the painting.
Finally there’s an actual connection between these stories and the Twelve Labours of Hercules.
The Flock of Geryon - 3/5
A character from a previous story returns and asks Poirot to help her friend who’s joined a cult.
This story’s more about a character infiltrating the cult and Poirot coaches her from the sidelines.
The Apples of the Hesperides - 3/5
A golden goblet was stolen, Poirot is asked to retrieve it.
Interesting story about a character who’s so unhappy that they don’t realize how unhappy they truly are.
The Capture of Cerberus - 3/5
Countess Vera Rossakoff tells Poirot to meet her in Hell. So he goes looking for her.
A story about drugs with a bit of a twist.
I like the concept, though the connection with the Twelve Labours of Hercules doesn’t feel strong at all. By announcing this epic swansong theme from the start, you also create certain expectations. When the first case is about a missing dog, it doesn’t really feel like this book tries to match those expectations. All these stories are solid, but none of these stories manage to stand out. It’s more like a collection of light and cozy short stories that are very loosely connected to each other. So it’s important to go into this book with the right expectations.
September 11, 2021
I generally don’t write reviews of Agatha Christie books, after all what more can I say about most of them that hasn’t already been said. But good lord, if I wasn’t attempting to read all of Poirot this year I would have flung this one out the window. This was a cute concept, and there were a few decent shorts in here, however others were genuinely laughable. Clearly Dame Christie had just seen Reefer Madness and had to warn us all about the horrors of EVIL DRUGS. Excuse me, I have some pearls to go clutch…
May 31, 2017
Only a Poirot completist like me would finish #26, based on either (you choose) a forced or clever premise: Poirot is (supposedly) ready to retire. In appearance he hardly resembles Hercules, but he thinks his mind is equal to Hercules’s body and physical exploits. They both rid the world of monsters, in their own fashion. So Poirot chooses 12 cases to close out his career (though it really doesn’t), mirroring the 12 Labors of Hercules. So it’s a nice idea, clever in its way, but the order and comparisons to the original Labors is (my vote on this issue) forced and artificial.
Part of it for me is that I much prefer the novels of Christie to the short stories, and these are 12 short stories. There are some individual ones that are clever, but they lack the language, the conception, and the complexity of the best of the novels. That said, this is still Christie, it is still Poirot, and so it is still good, if not in the upper echelon of Poirot books. I see a lot of people really voted “clever” on this one, so okay, that just points to Christie as artist. I thought it was just okay, but compared to the rest of the world of mystery writers it is still pretty great stuff for many. I have several others to suggest if you want to read just one. Not this one, I say. 2.5, rounded up for no particular reason. Maybe it's that amusing mock-epic Hercules comparison idea, if not the performance of that idea.
Part of it for me is that I much prefer the novels of Christie to the short stories, and these are 12 short stories. There are some individual ones that are clever, but they lack the language, the conception, and the complexity of the best of the novels. That said, this is still Christie, it is still Poirot, and so it is still good, if not in the upper echelon of Poirot books. I see a lot of people really voted “clever” on this one, so okay, that just points to Christie as artist. I thought it was just okay, but compared to the rest of the world of mystery writers it is still pretty great stuff for many. I have several others to suggest if you want to read just one. Not this one, I say. 2.5, rounded up for no particular reason. Maybe it's that amusing mock-epic Hercules comparison idea, if not the performance of that idea.
March 13, 2023
The first story, The Nemean Lion illustrates Poirot's humanity and acute perception. We also learn that Miss Lemon can type "with the speed and precision of a quick firing tank." The story includes a pekinese dog and there is a delicious twist in the tale.
Quotes I appreciated from the second story, The Lernaean Hydra:
"Coloring up to his eyebrows," and "a mare's nest."
The Arcadian Deer deals with hope and despair, life, and death, and art. "When he saw her lying there with hollow cheeks in each of which was a vivid red stain and long thin emaciated hands stretched out on the coverlet a memory stirred in him. He had not remembered her name but he had seen her dance, had been carried away and fascinated by the supreme art that can make you forget art."
The Erymanthian Boar takes place in Switzerland and includes a funicular railway. I loved the description of the passengers. Poirot and the American piece together who is who. I enjoyed the different definitions of boar versus bore.
The Augean Stables. I loved that a well-worn raincoat stands as "a symbol of the English climate, of the prudent forethought of the English race, of their attachment to old possessions." Then, there is the description of one of the characters, "in his bluff British way John Hammett was an orator. His speeches, quietly and earnestly delivered contained those simple sentimental cliches which are so deeply rooted in the English heart."
The Stymphalean Birds story teaches us that appearances can be deceiving. "Two grim women" described as "blood-sucking harpies" are not quite what they seem.
In The Cretan Bull, Hugh Chandler believes himself to be a monster. Poirot sets out to help him discover the truth. According to Poirot, "It is much easier to catch a murderer than it is to prevent a murder."
The Horses of Diomedes is about illegal drugs and how they can destroy lives. "The person who deliberately profits from the degradation and misery of other people is a vampire preying on flesh and blood."
The Girdle of Hippolyta is about a stolen Rubens.
The Flock of Geryon is the story of a charismatic religious leader with a diabolically clever plan to enrich his ministry.
The Apples of Hesperides is about a treasure known as the Borgia goblet. The setting is the west of Ireland, which is described as having a "melancholy haunted beauty."
Furthermore, I was intrigued to read that, "Here in the west of Ireland the Romans had never marched [...] had never fortified a camp, had never built a well ordered sensible, useful road. It was a land where common sense and an orderly way of life were unknown."
The Capture of Cerberus begins on with Poirot travelingon the underground and lamenting the crush of people. Too many people. Interesting, perhaps even intriguing quote: "What was this passion that attacked women for knitting under the most unpropitious conditions. A woman didn't look her best knitting, the absorption, the glassy eyes, the restless busy fingers. One needed the agility of a wild cat and the willpower of a Napoleon to manage to knit in a crowded tube. But women managed it."
Quotes I appreciated from the second story, The Lernaean Hydra:
"Coloring up to his eyebrows," and "a mare's nest."
The Arcadian Deer deals with hope and despair, life, and death, and art. "When he saw her lying there with hollow cheeks in each of which was a vivid red stain and long thin emaciated hands stretched out on the coverlet a memory stirred in him. He had not remembered her name but he had seen her dance, had been carried away and fascinated by the supreme art that can make you forget art."
The Erymanthian Boar takes place in Switzerland and includes a funicular railway. I loved the description of the passengers. Poirot and the American piece together who is who. I enjoyed the different definitions of boar versus bore.
The Augean Stables. I loved that a well-worn raincoat stands as "a symbol of the English climate, of the prudent forethought of the English race, of their attachment to old possessions." Then, there is the description of one of the characters, "in his bluff British way John Hammett was an orator. His speeches, quietly and earnestly delivered contained those simple sentimental cliches which are so deeply rooted in the English heart."
The Stymphalean Birds story teaches us that appearances can be deceiving. "Two grim women" described as "blood-sucking harpies" are not quite what they seem.
In The Cretan Bull, Hugh Chandler believes himself to be a monster. Poirot sets out to help him discover the truth. According to Poirot, "It is much easier to catch a murderer than it is to prevent a murder."
The Horses of Diomedes is about illegal drugs and how they can destroy lives. "The person who deliberately profits from the degradation and misery of other people is a vampire preying on flesh and blood."
The Girdle of Hippolyta is about a stolen Rubens.
The Flock of Geryon is the story of a charismatic religious leader with a diabolically clever plan to enrich his ministry.
The Apples of Hesperides is about a treasure known as the Borgia goblet. The setting is the west of Ireland, which is described as having a "melancholy haunted beauty."
Furthermore, I was intrigued to read that, "Here in the west of Ireland the Romans had never marched [...] had never fortified a camp, had never built a well ordered sensible, useful road. It was a land where common sense and an orderly way of life were unknown."
The Capture of Cerberus begins on with Poirot travelingon the underground and lamenting the crush of people. Too many people. Interesting, perhaps even intriguing quote: "What was this passion that attacked women for knitting under the most unpropitious conditions. A woman didn't look her best knitting, the absorption, the glassy eyes, the restless busy fingers. One needed the agility of a wild cat and the willpower of a Napoleon to manage to knit in a crowded tube. But women managed it."
July 18, 2018
THE LABOURS OF HERCULES is a mixture of mystery, adventure, and an unexpected literary conceit. Agatha Christie transforms the ancient Greek mythology of the twelve labours of Hercules into a modern mythology and of the twelve labours of Hercules (Poirot). And the result is quite charming.
The book consists of a short preface and twelve stories. It was an absolutely delightful collection of short stories. I thought connecting them to the Twelve Labours of Hercules was ingenious. Much of its charm comes from the clever manner in which Christie juxtaposes the physical strength of the ancient Hercules with the mental power of the modern Hercules (Poirot) and the witty way in which she transforms the ancient stories into a 20th Century setting.
The Lernean Hydra becomes malicious gossip; The Augean Stables concerns a dirty political scandal; and so on. The stories were exceptionally well thought out and written with tremendous humour. Naturally some stories are better than others, some worked very well for me, others a bit less.
The Nemean Lion which finds a wily lapdog at the center of a dognapping gang; and The Girdle of Hyppolita, which concerns a missing art treasure. And from a "mystery" point of view, these are very likely the best of the twelve stories, for on this occasion Christie is much less concerned with creating a head-spinning plot than she is in having fun. But each of the stories has its own charms, with the concluding The Capture of Cerebus among my favorites.
I'd recommend this book to those who haven't read many mysteries and are curious to see what they're about
The book consists of a short preface and twelve stories. It was an absolutely delightful collection of short stories. I thought connecting them to the Twelve Labours of Hercules was ingenious. Much of its charm comes from the clever manner in which Christie juxtaposes the physical strength of the ancient Hercules with the mental power of the modern Hercules (Poirot) and the witty way in which she transforms the ancient stories into a 20th Century setting.
The Lernean Hydra becomes malicious gossip; The Augean Stables concerns a dirty political scandal; and so on. The stories were exceptionally well thought out and written with tremendous humour. Naturally some stories are better than others, some worked very well for me, others a bit less.
The Nemean Lion which finds a wily lapdog at the center of a dognapping gang; and The Girdle of Hyppolita, which concerns a missing art treasure. And from a "mystery" point of view, these are very likely the best of the twelve stories, for on this occasion Christie is much less concerned with creating a head-spinning plot than she is in having fun. But each of the stories has its own charms, with the concluding The Capture of Cerebus among my favorites.
I'd recommend this book to those who haven't read many mysteries and are curious to see what they're about
January 3, 2020
I much prefer Poirot novels so really appreciated that Dame Agatha tried to connect these 12 short stories with Greek mythology.
Like many collections some stories were more effective than others, it’s certainly a fun way of trying to tell ancient tales into a contemporary setting.
Definitely one for the Poirot completists!
Like many collections some stories were more effective than others, it’s certainly a fun way of trying to tell ancient tales into a contemporary setting.
Definitely one for the Poirot completists!
April 20, 2011
Of all Agatha Christie's collections of stories featuring the great Hercule Poirot, this is the one of which the man himself would most approve. It has the order and method, to be sure! A perfect dozen cases, updating the Labours of Hercules for the modern world (well, the 1947 world). The stories have a certain inevitability to them--it would be a shame to name a character Hercule and NOT do something with the classical allusion. The format is both the collection's greatest strength and its weakness. The strength is that it seems so perfectly fitting for Poirot and that it allows Christie to be very clever and imaginative as she comes up with modern counterparts for the Labours. The weakness is that we must suspend a lot of disbelief to accept that Poirot found all these cases in their classical order, and inevitably some of them are a better success than others.
So, for example, the tale of the Nemean Lion is clever and charming (a Pekinese is the "lion"!), but in order to make all twelve stories fit, Poirot is obliged to do some globe-trotting and adventuring that are out of character for him (not quite as bad as The Big Four, but still) or to happen to be on the spot for cases that are far outside his normal sphere. I was a bit tired of the Labours conceit by the end, but I did really like some of the symbolism (gossip = the new Hydra, for example) and I loved that Poirot got a hint of love interest in the last story!
So, for example, the tale of the Nemean Lion is clever and charming (a Pekinese is the "lion"!), but in order to make all twelve stories fit, Poirot is obliged to do some globe-trotting and adventuring that are out of character for him (not quite as bad as The Big Four, but still) or to happen to be on the spot for cases that are far outside his normal sphere. I was a bit tired of the Labours conceit by the end, but I did really like some of the symbolism (gossip = the new Hydra, for example) and I loved that Poirot got a hint of love interest in the last story!
May 3, 2022
It's really not easy to rate short stories since some you like better than others but a peculiar thing happened to me with The Labours of Hercules... I liked the stories but none of the 12 managed to impress me! Some were to a point almost predictable! I've read half the stories in my native language some 15 years ago and can't say I remembered any!
Not of her top works in the Hercule Poirot series but all the same a good read for crime book lovers!
Not of her top works in the Hercule Poirot series but all the same a good read for crime book lovers!
August 5, 2019
Interesting collection of twelve stories inspired from the twelve tasks of Hercules. For a change Poirot finds his match and regrets not having read the classics. In this collection we find Poirot's fascination for his great love. I really like the ending of the last story-“Humming a little tune, he went out of the door. His step was light, almost sprightly. Miss Lemon stared after him. Her filing system was forgotten. All her feminine instincts were aroused. ‘Good gracious, she murmured. I wonder… really at his age! Surely not….” This collection also has a previously unpublished version of the story- The Capture of Cerberus which was not published because of references to Hitler. Agatha wrote a different version which was then included in the collection.
July 26, 2018
Real Rating: 2.5* of five
Thin gruel.
The Agatha Christie's Poirot filmed version isn't a lot better, though a lot prettier to look at; it resembles the book not at all.
Thin gruel.
The Agatha Christie's Poirot filmed version isn't a lot better, though a lot prettier to look at; it resembles the book not at all.
Read
May 5, 2022"Veja-se por exemplo este Hércules - este herói! Herói, deveras! O que era ele senão uma grande criatura musculada de pouca inteligência e tendências criminosas? Poirot lembrou-se de um tal Adolfe Durand, um talhante, que fora julgado em Lyon em 1895 - uma criatura forte como um touro que matara seis crianças.(...)Não. Poirot abanou a cabeça, se era essa a ideia que os antigos Gregos tinham de um herói, então, de acordo com os padrões modernos, não serviria, certamente. Todo o padrão clássico o chocara. Estes deuses e deusas - pareciam ter tantos nomes falsos como um criminoso moderno. Na verdade. pareciam ser absolutamente do tipo criminoso. Bebida, devassidão, incesto, violação, saque, homicídio e chicanice - o suficiente para manter um juge d'Instruction constantemente ocupado.
(...)
Contemplou o seu reflexo no vidro. Aqui, então, estava um Hercules moderno - muito distinto daquele esboço desagradável de uma figura nua com músculos salientes, brandindo uma clava. Em vez disso, uma figura pequena e compacta, vestida com as roupas urbanas correctas, com um bigode - um bigode como Hércules nunca sonhara em cultivar - um bigode magnífico e sofisticado."
14
Agatha Christie propôs-se um desafio interessante com estes contos: encontrar o equivalente metafórico para cada um dos doze trabalhos de Hércules. E se alguns dos equivalentes encontrados são rebuscados, outros há que são bem interessantes. Por exemplo: em A Hidra de Lerna, para o equivalente para o extermínio da grande hidra (de sete a cem cabeças, consoante uns ou outros dos autores antigos), Poirot terá a difícil missão de silenciar a calúnia que se multiplica; ou em O Gado de Gerião, para a tarefa de recuperar o gado tresmalhado imposta a Hércules, Poirot terá de salvar um rebanho de crentes ingénuos de uma seita religiosa.
"-Ele precisa das vossas preces.
-Então ele é um homem infeliz?
Poirot disse:
-Tão infeliz que se esqueceu do que significa a felicidade. Tão infeliz que não sabe que é infeliz.
A freira disse suavemente:
-Ah, um homem rico..."
246
In As maçãs das Hispérides
Não deixa de ser interessante que Agatha Christie faça do seu Poirot um homem pouco interessado nos clássicos (Pasmem-se! Com esta não contava eu) e dessa forma acabe a desculpar algumas das suas próprias imprecisões - ou melhor das suas pesquisas e escolhas.
Porque os autores não são unânimes (a mitologia nunca o é) na hora de ordenar os trabalhos. Uns seguem uma via outros outra. E eu teria todo o interesse em espreitar as leituras da autora quando impõe uma determinada ordem aos seus Trabalhos.
Assim, ao longo do livro, Agatha Christie reverte por duas vezes a ordem das tarefas desempenhadas por Hércules, e, consequentemente, por Hercule Poirot. Nomeadamente, o terceiro e quarto trabalhos (O Javali de Erimanto e A Corça de Arcádia - na coletânea com a ordem oposta) com o propósito de dar seguimento geográfico aos contos.
Mas, o mais interessante, é perceber que, no final da coletânea (com A Captura de Cérebro e As Maçãs das Hispérides), a autora torna a inverter a ordem das tarefas, e sem razão de ordem criativa aparente. Atendendo às anotações em Os Cadernos Secretos de Agatha Christie, assumo que a recusa para publicação na The Strand do conto A Captura de cérebro, cuja versão original - de conteúdo altamente político e metafórico (onde o retrato de Hitler é uma presença constante como "ditador dos ditadores [...] uma cabeça em forma de bala e bigodinho preto") - tenha sido a causa responsável pela inversão da ordem dos dois últimos trabalhos que foram publicados pela primeira vez em número de onze, e apenas posteriormente acrescentados de um conto (numa versão complemente distinta da original). A proximidade com os tempos então atuais é deveras assustadora e poderá, como afirma Curran, estar na origem da dita recusa por ser considerada um desvio da literatura de entretenimento.
Todavia, atendendo às investigações que Christie poderá ter feito para se familiarizar com o mito, a explicação pode ser outra completamente, e provir apenas das fontes que tinha ao seu dispor.
Posto isto, estes contos são, no todo, um conjunto animadinho de histórias. Funcionam enquanto conjunto, mas deixam um pouco a desejar no que a literatura policial diz respeito - como, aliás, quaisquer contos que já tenha lido do género, sejam ou não da autoria de Christie. Há apenas um tanto que é permitido fazer no espaço de dez páginas, e uma investigação que se preze não entra para a lista de possíveis. Ainda assim, Christie consegue criar alguns personagens memoráveis, sugerir enredos interessantes (alguns dos quais veio depois a trabalhar com maior rigor nos seus romances - como O Enigma do Sapato ou O Mistério do Expresso do Oriente) e recuperar a eterna Condessa Russakov no último conto.
Uma boa maneira de entrar no género, parece-me, mas pouco impressionante para quem conhece melhor da Rainha do Crime.
"Hercule Poirot, balançando para trás e para a frente na carruagem do metro, atirado ora contra um corpo, ora contra outro, pensou para si que havia demasiadas pessoas no mundo![...] A humanidade vista assim en masse não era atraente."
247
O LEÃO DE NEMEIA
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A HIDRA DE LERNA
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A CORÇA DE ARCÁDIA
⭐⭐⭐⭐
O JAVALI DE ERIMANTO
⭐⭐⭐⭐
OS ESTÁBULOS DE AUGIAS
⭐⭐⭐
AS AVES DE ESTINFALIA
⭐⭐⭐⭐
O TOURO DE CRETA
⭐⭐⭐⭐
AS ÉGUAS DE DIOMEDES
⭐⭐⭐
O CINTURÃO DE HIPÓLITA
⭐⭐⭐⭐
O GADO DE GERIÃO
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
AS MAÇÃS DAS HISPÉRIDES
⭐⭐⭐
A CAPTURA DE CÉREBRO
⭐⭐⭐
(...)
Contemplou o seu reflexo no vidro. Aqui, então, estava um Hercules moderno - muito distinto daquele esboço desagradável de uma figura nua com músculos salientes, brandindo uma clava. Em vez disso, uma figura pequena e compacta, vestida com as roupas urbanas correctas, com um bigode - um bigode como Hércules nunca sonhara em cultivar - um bigode magnífico e sofisticado."
14
Agatha Christie propôs-se um desafio interessante com estes contos: encontrar o equivalente metafórico para cada um dos doze trabalhos de Hércules. E se alguns dos equivalentes encontrados são rebuscados, outros há que são bem interessantes. Por exemplo: em A Hidra de Lerna, para o equivalente para o extermínio da grande hidra (de sete a cem cabeças, consoante uns ou outros dos autores antigos), Poirot terá a difícil missão de silenciar a calúnia que se multiplica; ou em O Gado de Gerião, para a tarefa de recuperar o gado tresmalhado imposta a Hércules, Poirot terá de salvar um rebanho de crentes ingénuos de uma seita religiosa.
"-Ele precisa das vossas preces.
-Então ele é um homem infeliz?
Poirot disse:
-Tão infeliz que se esqueceu do que significa a felicidade. Tão infeliz que não sabe que é infeliz.
A freira disse suavemente:
-Ah, um homem rico..."
246
In As maçãs das Hispérides
Não deixa de ser interessante que Agatha Christie faça do seu Poirot um homem pouco interessado nos clássicos (Pasmem-se! Com esta não contava eu) e dessa forma acabe a desculpar algumas das suas próprias imprecisões - ou melhor das suas pesquisas e escolhas.
Porque os autores não são unânimes (a mitologia nunca o é) na hora de ordenar os trabalhos. Uns seguem uma via outros outra. E eu teria todo o interesse em espreitar as leituras da autora quando impõe uma determinada ordem aos seus Trabalhos.
Assim, ao longo do livro, Agatha Christie reverte por duas vezes a ordem das tarefas desempenhadas por Hércules, e, consequentemente, por Hercule Poirot. Nomeadamente, o terceiro e quarto trabalhos (O Javali de Erimanto e A Corça de Arcádia - na coletânea com a ordem oposta) com o propósito de dar seguimento geográfico aos contos.
Mas, o mais interessante, é perceber que, no final da coletânea (com A Captura de Cérebro e As Maçãs das Hispérides), a autora torna a inverter a ordem das tarefas, e sem razão de ordem criativa aparente. Atendendo às anotações em Os Cadernos Secretos de Agatha Christie, assumo que a recusa para publicação na The Strand do conto A Captura de cérebro, cuja versão original - de conteúdo altamente político e metafórico (onde o retrato de Hitler é uma presença constante como "ditador dos ditadores [...] uma cabeça em forma de bala e bigodinho preto") - tenha sido a causa responsável pela inversão da ordem dos dois últimos trabalhos que foram publicados pela primeira vez em número de onze, e apenas posteriormente acrescentados de um conto (numa versão complemente distinta da original). A proximidade com os tempos então atuais é deveras assustadora e poderá, como afirma Curran, estar na origem da dita recusa por ser considerada um desvio da literatura de entretenimento.
Todavia, atendendo às investigações que Christie poderá ter feito para se familiarizar com o mito, a explicação pode ser outra completamente, e provir apenas das fontes que tinha ao seu dispor.
Posto isto, estes contos são, no todo, um conjunto animadinho de histórias. Funcionam enquanto conjunto, mas deixam um pouco a desejar no que a literatura policial diz respeito - como, aliás, quaisquer contos que já tenha lido do género, sejam ou não da autoria de Christie. Há apenas um tanto que é permitido fazer no espaço de dez páginas, e uma investigação que se preze não entra para a lista de possíveis. Ainda assim, Christie consegue criar alguns personagens memoráveis, sugerir enredos interessantes (alguns dos quais veio depois a trabalhar com maior rigor nos seus romances - como O Enigma do Sapato ou O Mistério do Expresso do Oriente) e recuperar a eterna Condessa Russakov no último conto.
Uma boa maneira de entrar no género, parece-me, mas pouco impressionante para quem conhece melhor da Rainha do Crime.
"Hercule Poirot, balançando para trás e para a frente na carruagem do metro, atirado ora contra um corpo, ora contra outro, pensou para si que havia demasiadas pessoas no mundo![...] A humanidade vista assim en masse não era atraente."
247
O LEÃO DE NEMEIA
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A HIDRA DE LERNA
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A CORÇA DE ARCÁDIA
⭐⭐⭐⭐
O JAVALI DE ERIMANTO
⭐⭐⭐⭐
OS ESTÁBULOS DE AUGIAS
⭐⭐⭐
AS AVES DE ESTINFALIA
⭐⭐⭐⭐
O TOURO DE CRETA
⭐⭐⭐⭐
AS ÉGUAS DE DIOMEDES
⭐⭐⭐
O CINTURÃO DE HIPÓLITA
⭐⭐⭐⭐
O GADO DE GERIÃO
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
AS MAÇÃS DAS HISPÉRIDES
⭐⭐⭐
A CAPTURA DE CÉREBRO
⭐⭐⭐
October 20, 2025
A Laboured Poirot
A review of the William Morrow Kindle eBook (October 3, 2006) of the Collins Crime Club (September 1947) & Dodd, Mead & Co. (1947) original hardcovers, collecting short stories which first appeared in the Strand Magazine (1939-1940)
In The Labors of Hercules (US spelling, otherwise known as The Labours of Hercules), detective Hercule Poirot sets himself a personal goal of solving twelve cases which would parallel the classic Greek myth of the Labours of Hercules. Instead of killing or capturing various monstrous beasts or stealing exotic treasures, Poirot has to take a few leaps in imagination in order make connections to the original mythology.
Often these connections are of a very tenuous nature such as the pairing of a dog kidnapping to the slaying of the Nemean Lion in the first story. As the stories are short, the culprit is usually easily found in the small cast of characters and the investigations are brief and usually not very exciting.
Unlike my usual practice, I could not get excited enough to do individual story ratings and synopses for this book. If you are interested in details see the Wikipedia link towards the bottom. Overall this was still a 3 rating though, it is Agatha Christie after all.
The front cover of the current 2025 William Morrow eBook. GR does not permit you to add alternate cover editions (ACEs) for Kindle eBooks for some reason. Image sourced from Amazon.
Although I thought this was a weak entry, I do otherwise continue to enjoy my 2025 re-reads and/or new reads of the classic Agatha Christie books from the 1920s through to the 1940s. Thanks to Kindle's notes function, it is especially fun to highlight favourite excerpts to use for status updates and review quotes. My full highlights are available here if you are reading outside of Goodreads.
Also, in a nice coincidence, this edition was greater than 400 pages, making it an eligible for my current Long Books Challenge with several GR Friends. So one of my comfort reads helped to meet both my Annual Challenge and LBC Targets 😊.
Soundtrack
You can listen to an extended version of the opening theme music of the long-running TV series Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989-2013) with many screenshots of actor David Suchet as the title character on a YouTube clip here.
Trivia and Links
The Labors of Hercules will not enter the public domain in the USA until 2043, 96 years after first publication in the USA.
The Labors of Hercules was adapted as a feature length episode for the TV series Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989-2013). It was Season 13's Episode 4 in 2013 which was the second last episode overall in the series. The plots of only 5 of the Labors are incorporated in this adaptation. For details see Wikipedia (Spoilers obviously!).
A review of the William Morrow Kindle eBook (October 3, 2006) of the Collins Crime Club (September 1947) & Dodd, Mead & Co. (1947) original hardcovers, collecting short stories which first appeared in the Strand Magazine (1939-1940)
“My name,” said Poirot, contriving as usual to make the simple statement sound like the curtain of the first act of a play, “my name is Hercule Poirot. . . .”
The statement did not fail of its effect. Occasionally Poirot was distressed to find that a callous younger generation had never heard of him. But it was evident that Sheila Grant had heard of him. She was flabbergasted—dumbfounded.
In The Labors of Hercules (US spelling, otherwise known as The Labours of Hercules), detective Hercule Poirot sets himself a personal goal of solving twelve cases which would parallel the classic Greek myth of the Labours of Hercules. Instead of killing or capturing various monstrous beasts or stealing exotic treasures, Poirot has to take a few leaps in imagination in order make connections to the original mythology.
Often these connections are of a very tenuous nature such as the pairing of a dog kidnapping to the slaying of the Nemean Lion in the first story. As the stories are short, the culprit is usually easily found in the small cast of characters and the investigations are brief and usually not very exciting.
Unlike my usual practice, I could not get excited enough to do individual story ratings and synopses for this book. If you are interested in details see the Wikipedia link towards the bottom. Overall this was still a 3 rating though, it is Agatha Christie after all.
The front cover of the current 2025 William Morrow eBook. GR does not permit you to add alternate cover editions (ACEs) for Kindle eBooks for some reason. Image sourced from Amazon.
Although I thought this was a weak entry, I do otherwise continue to enjoy my 2025 re-reads and/or new reads of the classic Agatha Christie books from the 1920s through to the 1940s. Thanks to Kindle's notes function, it is especially fun to highlight favourite excerpts to use for status updates and review quotes. My full highlights are available here if you are reading outside of Goodreads.
Also, in a nice coincidence, this edition was greater than 400 pages, making it an eligible for my current Long Books Challenge with several GR Friends. So one of my comfort reads helped to meet both my Annual Challenge and LBC Targets 😊.
Soundtrack
You can listen to an extended version of the opening theme music of the long-running TV series Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989-2013) with many screenshots of actor David Suchet as the title character on a YouTube clip here.
Trivia and Links
The Labors of Hercules will not enter the public domain in the USA until 2043, 96 years after first publication in the USA.
The Labors of Hercules was adapted as a feature length episode for the TV series Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989-2013). It was Season 13's Episode 4 in 2013 which was the second last episode overall in the series. The plots of only 5 of the Labors are incorporated in this adaptation. For details see Wikipedia (Spoilers obviously!).
February 10, 2018
This one is a special favourite. Hercule Poirot sets out to emulate the twelve labours of his mythical namesake - but using the little grey cells, not muscles. It has got some absolute gems: "The Lernean Hydra", "The Erymanthian Boar", "The Augean Stables", "The Stymphalean Birds", "The Girdle of Hyppolita" and "The Capture of Cerebrus".
April 7, 2015
Twelve Hercule Poirot short stories, framed by the device of having each story relate to one of the labours of Hercules. Some of them are a bit of a stretch, like the Nemean lion being kidnapped Pekingese dogs. I read this once and found it utterly forgettable. Someone recently requested it from me on PaperbackSwap, and I read the first few stories again before sending it off. I wasn't interested enough to read them all.
2.5 stars. For Poirot completists only.
2.5 stars. For Poirot completists only.
March 10, 2021
Hercule Poirot is now bored of commonplace cases and is looking forward to retire and grow vegetable marrows. An old acquaintance of his challenges him that he would never retire (remember when his previous such attempt was an utter failure?). He decides to take up only twelve more cases mirroring the task of his namesake, Hercules. Though disdaining the brawny and demoustached Greek legend, Poirot decides his tasks would be more cerebral than active.
The Nemean Lion : Poirot is called in to solve a case of a kidnapped pooch. But there appears to be quite a racket behind the simple case. And he stumbles on something even more serious, preventing a horrible crime. - 4 stars
The Lernean Hydra : A doctor's wife dies and rumours about her murder spread around the village. In a desperate bid to salvage his reputation, he approaches Poirot. - 4 stars
The Arcadean Deer : Poirot is approached by a young man who wants help finding a maid who has disappeared. I found this to be rather boring and pointless. There was no actual crime either. - 2 stars
The Erymanthian Boar : On holiday in Switzerland, Poirot is enlisted to help catch the infamous thief and murderer, Marrascaud, at the top of an isolated mountain. Who is who in this odd little story? - 3 stars
The Augean Stables : Ugh, British politician, status quo, good woman doing charitable works, blablabla, save England! blabla - 1 star
The Stymphalean Birds : I think this is my favourite of all the stories in the collection. A young British diplomat is holidaying in Eastern Europe and gets caught up in a domestic dispute leading to murder. Meanwhile, two Polish women are loitering around ... absolutely brilliant! - 5 stars
The Cretan Bull : Another interesting case. A young woman approaches Poirot. Her fiancé has called off their wedding because he suspects he is insane. When Poirot arrives, he sees beneath the apparent relationships. Who is really sane? - 4 stars
The Horses of Diomedes : Who is the real drug dealer and who is the victim? Never like drug stories, but this was good enough. - 3 stars
The Girdle of Hyppolita : A schoolgirl and a precious painting disappear around the same time. Poirot is more interested in the girl. - 4 stars
The Flock of Geryon : Miss Carnaby from the first story reappears, asking for Poirot's help in saving her friend from a cult. This was a little fantastical bordering on bioterrorism, but if you overlook the utter improbability of the murderer's talents, a delightful read. - 4 stars
The Apples of Hesperides : A valuable historical cup has disappeared when the robbers died. But Poirot follows another tack and restores it back to its rightful owner. - 3 stars
The Capture of Cerebrus : Another drug story. Vera Rossakoff makes an appearance in this one, which is always enjoyable. My edition also has a previously unpublished version of the same story, and it was rather interesting to see how Christie developed her plots. However, for the actual story, 2 stars
The Nemean Lion : Poirot is called in to solve a case of a kidnapped pooch. But there appears to be quite a racket behind the simple case. And he stumbles on something even more serious, preventing a horrible crime. - 4 stars
The Lernean Hydra : A doctor's wife dies and rumours about her murder spread around the village. In a desperate bid to salvage his reputation, he approaches Poirot. - 4 stars
The Arcadean Deer : Poirot is approached by a young man who wants help finding a maid who has disappeared. I found this to be rather boring and pointless. There was no actual crime either. - 2 stars
The Erymanthian Boar : On holiday in Switzerland, Poirot is enlisted to help catch the infamous thief and murderer, Marrascaud, at the top of an isolated mountain. Who is who in this odd little story? - 3 stars
The Augean Stables : Ugh, British politician, status quo, good woman doing charitable works, blablabla, save England! blabla - 1 star
The Stymphalean Birds : I think this is my favourite of all the stories in the collection. A young British diplomat is holidaying in Eastern Europe and gets caught up in a domestic dispute leading to murder. Meanwhile, two Polish women are loitering around ... absolutely brilliant! - 5 stars
The Cretan Bull : Another interesting case. A young woman approaches Poirot. Her fiancé has called off their wedding because he suspects he is insane. When Poirot arrives, he sees beneath the apparent relationships. Who is really sane? - 4 stars
The Horses of Diomedes : Who is the real drug dealer and who is the victim? Never like drug stories, but this was good enough. - 3 stars
The Girdle of Hyppolita : A schoolgirl and a precious painting disappear around the same time. Poirot is more interested in the girl. - 4 stars
The Flock of Geryon : Miss Carnaby from the first story reappears, asking for Poirot's help in saving her friend from a cult. This was a little fantastical bordering on bioterrorism, but if you overlook the utter improbability of the murderer's talents, a delightful read. - 4 stars
The Apples of Hesperides : A valuable historical cup has disappeared when the robbers died. But Poirot follows another tack and restores it back to its rightful owner. - 3 stars
The Capture of Cerebrus : Another drug story. Vera Rossakoff makes an appearance in this one, which is always enjoyable. My edition also has a previously unpublished version of the same story, and it was rather interesting to see how Christie developed her plots. However, for the actual story, 2 stars
December 17, 2019
În „Muncile lui Hercule” Agatha Christie reușeste să reunească 12 cazuri ale lui Hercule Poirot, care plănuiește să se retragă, dar nu oricum, ci recreând mitul celui care i-a inspirat numele. Cele 12 cazuri sunt dintre cele mai diverse, de la furtul animalelor de companie până la crime petrecute în timpul vacanțelor în străinătate. Este uimitoare viteza cu care se trece de la un caz la altul, fiecare dintre ele fiind prezentat pe scurt. Ele nu ar fi fost suficient de elaborate pentru a deveni romane de sine stătătoare, de aceea mă bucur că autoarea și-a reunit ideile în acest fel.
March 1, 2019
Fun read structured like twelve short stories. I like to read a classic mystery once in a while. Hercule is a more humorous detective than I remember. Some surprise twists and solutions.
April 23, 2022
mega mi sie podobalo, christie>>
najlepsze opowiadanie to byk kretenski imo
June 27, 2023
Retired Belgian detective Hercule Poirot returns to dazzle in another Agatha Christie mystery. Having been contemplating retirement, Poirot chooses to take twelve final cases in line with the mythical labours of his namesake. Now, in a story that is a bunch of short stories strung together, Poirot tackles many cases in an effort to show off his mettle.
While attending a dinner party, a guest feels the work of Belgian detective Hercule Poirot parallels the efforts of his namesake, Hercules. Poirot is less than amused, but it gets him thinking. He has been wanting to retire once and for all, soaking up the sun and enjoying the tranquility that no more cases would have to offer. However, he wants to go out with a bang and chooses to emulate the twelve labours of Hercules by picking cases that fit the bill, at least metaphorically. With that in mind, Poirot begins the hunt and tries to show how each could be easily compared to the great god’s work.
The cases are quick and require little effort at times. From a lost dog to locating a devious murderer and even solving the case of religious cult members, Poirot weaves his way around Europe in hopes of accomplishing his task before too long. Now, ready to retire, he must decide how he will end it all and what the future holds for him. Christie keeps things on point with this piece, which serves more as a collection of short pieces than one, single case.
My recent binge of the Hercule Poirot stories has provided to be a great experience, contrasting between some of the longer and more arduous reads I have had on my list. Agatha Christie does not let the reader down, showing that she can write full novels and short stories with ease. This one was a mish-mash and made it harder to see an overall narrative flow or character development, but I enjoyed the mysteries embedded within each piece. Still, the end result is the same; Poirot dazzles and keeps the reader on their toes throughout the experience. Like Poirot, I have decided to hang this series up for a while, focusing one some other summer projects. That said I will be back to continue my own labours of Hercule Poirot!
Kudos, Madam Christie, for another great collection.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While attending a dinner party, a guest feels the work of Belgian detective Hercule Poirot parallels the efforts of his namesake, Hercules. Poirot is less than amused, but it gets him thinking. He has been wanting to retire once and for all, soaking up the sun and enjoying the tranquility that no more cases would have to offer. However, he wants to go out with a bang and chooses to emulate the twelve labours of Hercules by picking cases that fit the bill, at least metaphorically. With that in mind, Poirot begins the hunt and tries to show how each could be easily compared to the great god’s work.
The cases are quick and require little effort at times. From a lost dog to locating a devious murderer and even solving the case of religious cult members, Poirot weaves his way around Europe in hopes of accomplishing his task before too long. Now, ready to retire, he must decide how he will end it all and what the future holds for him. Christie keeps things on point with this piece, which serves more as a collection of short pieces than one, single case.
My recent binge of the Hercule Poirot stories has provided to be a great experience, contrasting between some of the longer and more arduous reads I have had on my list. Agatha Christie does not let the reader down, showing that she can write full novels and short stories with ease. This one was a mish-mash and made it harder to see an overall narrative flow or character development, but I enjoyed the mysteries embedded within each piece. Still, the end result is the same; Poirot dazzles and keeps the reader on their toes throughout the experience. Like Poirot, I have decided to hang this series up for a while, focusing one some other summer projects. That said I will be back to continue my own labours of Hercule Poirot!
Kudos, Madam Christie, for another great collection.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 15, 2023
Hercule Poirot vuole rendere omaggio all’eroe greco suo omonimo, e così affronta da par suo le mitiche dodici fatiche, cioè risolve 12 casi che metaforicamente hanno delle assonanze con le mitologiche fatiche. Di essi alcuni mancano di originalità, sono poco interessanti e prevedibili, la maggior parte con colpi di scena finali dovuti al fiuto di Hercule Poirot, un ometto basso dai baffi arricciati e con la testa ad uovo, che sa come usare il cervello :)
Una lettura piacevole ma non fondamentale.
Una lettura piacevole ma non fondamentale.
May 11, 2018
The premise of the collection does seem a little forced, but it is after all better than the nursery rhymes Christie was so fond of. Many of the stories feature rather ingenious ideas. But they are not detective stories at all! Where's the detection? - in almost all cases Poirot just has a real good look and suddenly he knows; we aren't treated to his thought processes, and there is nothing else to chew upon at all.
March 23, 2023
A good bunch of loosely interconnected short stories.
Poirot grows a wild hair and decides he wants to retire after completing his own version of The Labors of Hercules. He is well aware that you'd have to squint a bit to see the correlation between his tasks and that of his namesake, but there you go.
We all do our best with what we have.
Foreword
Now, this is listed as a story in some of the Hercule Poirot sets but it isn't, as far as I have been able to find, a short that you can read on its own. But for the sake of completionists out there (I feel you!) I'm adding it in here.
Poirot meets up with an old friend who comments on how his Christian name, Hercule, is a take on the dude who did the 12 labors in the Illiad. He also makes a joke about Poirot and Sherlock Holmes' moms sitting around trying to come up with baby names. <-ha!
Anyway. That's what gets the little Belgian detective thinking about his last 12 cases matching up with the Labors of Hercules.
The Nemean Lion
A yappy Pekinese dog, who stands in for the lion, has been kidnapped, ransomed, and returned safely. But the husband of the dog's owner wants his money back and sends Poirot on the trail of the dognapper. Along the way, Poirot meets Amy Carnaby, who shows up in another story, and stops a poisoner.
The Lernaean Hydra
In this case, gossip is the Hydra and Poirot has to find a murderer in order to save the innocent from a life of suspicion.
The Arcadian Deer
Poirot's car breaks down and he ends up in the garage. Here is where he meets a handsome younggod mechanic. Said mechanic begs Poirot to find the lady's maid of a famous dancer who stole the heart and then disappeared.
The Erymanthian Boar
After solving his last case, Poirot remains in Switzerland and decides to take in the sights. He ends up snowed in on a mountaintop hotel with several other guests, including a mobster, several of his thugs, and an undercover police officer.
Hijinks ensue.
The Augean Stables
Poirot agrees to help a decent politician escape being tarnished via association with his crooked father-in-law. His wife secretly agrees to help, in a very ingenious way, stop the tabloid newspaper that wants to smear him.
The Stymphalean Birds
While on vacation, Harold meets a very nice mother and daughter. He feels protective of the young woman when he finds out that she's trapped in an abusive marriage. And when he witnesses firsthand how awful her husband can be, he agrees to help finance the coverup when his new friend accidentally kills her husband in self-defense.
But someone saw what happened and now all three of them are being blackmailed.
Can Poirot save the day?
The Cretan Bull
After he calls off the engagement for her own safety, a young lady wants Poirot's help in convincing her fiancee that he isn't crazy. Is there a dangerous strain of mental illness running through his family tree, or is something else driving this young man mad?
The Horses of Diomedes
*cue Miami Vice theme song*
Poirot and his friend bust up a drug ring. Crocket and Tubbs would be proud.
The Girdle of Hyppolita
How are art thieves connected with a schoolgirl that goes missing for a few hours on a field trip?
Poirot will find out.
The Flock of Geryon
Also found in The Last Séance: Tales of the Supernatural
An acquaintance of Poirot's goes undercover as the newest member of a cult to save her friend.
This is one I'd read before, but it was good to finally find out who Amy Carnaby was and why Poirot liked her so much. She's the chick from the first story, btw.
The Apples of the Hesperides
Poirot tracks down a stolen goblet with a dark history.
The Capture of Cerberus
Countess Vera Rossakoff, who is both an illicit mastermind and the woman of Poirot's dreams is running a very profitable club that allows the rich and famous to mingle with dangerous criminals. But even Rossakoff may be unaware of the evil that lurks in her swanky saloon.
Drugs are bad, kids.
And now Poirot is ready to retire and grow his vegetable marrows.
A must read for fans of Poirot.
Poirot grows a wild hair and decides he wants to retire after completing his own version of The Labors of Hercules. He is well aware that you'd have to squint a bit to see the correlation between his tasks and that of his namesake, but there you go.
We all do our best with what we have.
Foreword
Now, this is listed as a story in some of the Hercule Poirot sets but it isn't, as far as I have been able to find, a short that you can read on its own. But for the sake of completionists out there (I feel you!) I'm adding it in here.
Poirot meets up with an old friend who comments on how his Christian name, Hercule, is a take on the dude who did the 12 labors in the Illiad. He also makes a joke about Poirot and Sherlock Holmes' moms sitting around trying to come up with baby names. <-ha!
Anyway. That's what gets the little Belgian detective thinking about his last 12 cases matching up with the Labors of Hercules.
The Nemean Lion
A yappy Pekinese dog, who stands in for the lion, has been kidnapped, ransomed, and returned safely. But the husband of the dog's owner wants his money back and sends Poirot on the trail of the dognapper. Along the way, Poirot meets Amy Carnaby, who shows up in another story, and stops a poisoner.
The Lernaean Hydra
In this case, gossip is the Hydra and Poirot has to find a murderer in order to save the innocent from a life of suspicion.
The Arcadian Deer
Poirot's car breaks down and he ends up in the garage. Here is where he meets a handsome young
The Erymanthian Boar
After solving his last case, Poirot remains in Switzerland and decides to take in the sights. He ends up snowed in on a mountaintop hotel with several other guests, including a mobster, several of his thugs, and an undercover police officer.
Hijinks ensue.
The Augean Stables
Poirot agrees to help a decent politician escape being tarnished via association with his crooked father-in-law. His wife secretly agrees to help, in a very ingenious way, stop the tabloid newspaper that wants to smear him.
The Stymphalean Birds
While on vacation, Harold meets a very nice mother and daughter. He feels protective of the young woman when he finds out that she's trapped in an abusive marriage. And when he witnesses firsthand how awful her husband can be, he agrees to help finance the coverup when his new friend accidentally kills her husband in self-defense.
But someone saw what happened and now all three of them are being blackmailed.
Can Poirot save the day?
The Cretan Bull
After he calls off the engagement for her own safety, a young lady wants Poirot's help in convincing her fiancee that he isn't crazy. Is there a dangerous strain of mental illness running through his family tree, or is something else driving this young man mad?
The Horses of Diomedes
*cue Miami Vice theme song*
Poirot and his friend bust up a drug ring. Crocket and Tubbs would be proud.
The Girdle of Hyppolita
How are art thieves connected with a schoolgirl that goes missing for a few hours on a field trip?
Poirot will find out.
The Flock of Geryon
Also found in The Last Séance: Tales of the Supernatural
An acquaintance of Poirot's goes undercover as the newest member of a cult to save her friend.
This is one I'd read before, but it was good to finally find out who Amy Carnaby was and why Poirot liked her so much. She's the chick from the first story, btw.
The Apples of the Hesperides
Poirot tracks down a stolen goblet with a dark history.
The Capture of Cerberus
Countess Vera Rossakoff, who is both an illicit mastermind and the woman of Poirot's dreams is running a very profitable club that allows the rich and famous to mingle with dangerous criminals. But even Rossakoff may be unaware of the evil that lurks in her swanky saloon.
Drugs are bad, kids.
And now Poirot is ready to retire and grow his vegetable marrows.
A must read for fans of Poirot.
March 27, 2019
Weird short story collection in which Poirot, ready to retire, selects a few cases as his very own labors of Hercules. The connection to the original stories felt forced to me in places (really, the Nemean lion becoming -of all things- a Pekinese dog?), and some of them were too short for me to allow Poirot to do his thing. Sometimes he just arrived and went "Aha!" and that was it, and one rather confusing time he traveled from London to Paris, to Italy, to Switzerland for one case, in one story. I don't know why, but I prefer the "sit back and employ the little grey cells" Poirot to this.
2.5 stars, bumped up for the great narration by Hugh Fraser.
2.5 stars, bumped up for the great narration by Hugh Fraser.
April 15, 2018
3.5/5 stars
September 29, 2023
Avevo già letto un altro libro di Agatha Christie con le avventure di Hercule Poirot e ne ero rimasto abbastanza deluso. Questo libro, invece, mi ha completamente preso ed affascinato, tanto da averlo letto in un colpo solo (nel corso di un'intera notte). Qui non abbiamo solo un'avventura dell'affabile detective ma diversi racconti che lo vedono protagonista, uniti tutti da una caratteristica abbastanza singolare e curiosa: Poirot, per farla breve, prima di ritirarsi cerca di rifare le dodici gesta del suo più famoso e mitico omonimo (Ercole e, appunto, le dodici fatiche); ma mentre l'eroe mitologico usava i muscoli, in queste nuove fatiche l'eroe moderno usa… cervello, astuzia ed intuito!
Come sempre, non vi rovino la trama ed il finale (anzi, i finali), ma lasciatemi dire che la lettura è molto fluente e, anche se i racconti sono abbastanza brevi, non mancano i classici colpi di scena in stile Agatha Christie.
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
Come sempre, non vi rovino la trama ed il finale (anzi, i finali), ma lasciatemi dire che la lettura è molto fluente e, anche se i racconti sono abbastanza brevi, non mancano i classici colpi di scena in stile Agatha Christie.
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
March 28, 2017
I am admittedly not a short story reader. I have now, however, read every last Hercule Poirot and the vast majority of the rest of the Christie full-length canon, so I have no choice but to dip into Agatha's short stories.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and it was delightful. The stories are loosely linked with a theme, and there is one character - Amy Carnaby - who shows up in two of the stories. I loved Amy Carnaby and I dearly wish that Christie had given her a book or two. I actually preferred her devious competence to Jane Marple's village sagacity. The stories, overall, were well written and delightful. I figured out a couple of them, but that is probably more of a testament to my thorough familiarity with Christie's method than it is to any special perspicacity on my part!
I listened to this as an audiobook, and it was delightful. The stories are loosely linked with a theme, and there is one character - Amy Carnaby - who shows up in two of the stories. I loved Amy Carnaby and I dearly wish that Christie had given her a book or two. I actually preferred her devious competence to Jane Marple's village sagacity. The stories, overall, were well written and delightful. I figured out a couple of them, but that is probably more of a testament to my thorough familiarity with Christie's method than it is to any special perspicacity on my part!
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