Mark Pghfan’s Comments (group member since Mar 06, 2014)

Mark Pghfan’s comments from the The Parlor PI's group.

I guess that could be another hint. I was thinking more of the rich young wife dying in a horse accident caused by an old crone!

Actually, the book I was referring to (SPOILER)







is Endless Night. Perhaps you've confused those two??

Miss Marple is recovering from an illness and Dr. Haydock presents a problem for her to help get her back to her old self. A story based on actual happenings, he says.

The handsome rogue Harry Laxton has returned (the prodigal son!) from far away parts only with a new, rich, shy wife. The people of St Mary Mead all welcome the charming Harry back, now that he has torn down the old family home (not his, but where his family worked). With the new wife's money, there is a fantastic home. Sadly, an old crone who lived on the property seems to have taken a grudge of the new home and its occupants. There is a death and Miss M tries to figure out who did it. It is a very similar plot to a much later novel of Christie's/

Nicole. We are on to the Miss M stories. How about The Caretaker being next?

It is a great story, but I think the TV version did a great job in supplementing the plot and bringing it to life. After all, there was really only one suspect throughout the story.

Our third story is Four and Twenty Blackbirds. In it, Poirot investigates the death of an eccentric old man who fell down the stairs. As it happens, his twin dies very close to this time and the timing is important to the inheritance of a lot of money. The old man's distinctive dress and his choice of food at his regular restaurant provide Poirot with the needed clues.

I agree that the motive from the book was less clear. I didn't re-read and watch close enough to remember who called Poirot in the first place. (Though I remember it now!)

These Poirot short stories are very brief and I think the hour long adaptation added to and clarified many of the stories.

I think when he learns that Mrs. W has the money and Mr. W is in need of some.

I started the discussion. I was waiting to see who was coming along!

Our next story is The Adventure of Johnny Waverly. The Waverlys receive a letter telling them their son will be kidnapped at a certain time on a certain date. Though originally likely to be a prank, Mrs. Waverly (who has the family money) insists Poirot and Scotland Yard come to protect Johnny. Eventually, it seems like the threat is coming from someone in the house!

Thanks for commenting! I was beginning to think there was no interest in the stories!

I really hadn't thought of the appearance of Georges with or without Hastings of Miss Lemon. To my recollection, one never even mentions the other!

Yes. This is a very early story in the Poirot canon and he has not made it to Whitehaven Mansions.

We have Poirot living high up in a blook of flats. The fifth floor. Just under him is Pat Garnett, who is with her friends Donavan Bailey, Jimmy Faulkener, and Mildred Hope. Somehow, Pat has lost the key to her flat and Donavan and Jimmy agree to break into it through the coal lift. Trouble ensues and they accidently end up in the third floor flat and eventually encounter a dead body. Fortunately, Poirot hears much of the situation and comes downstairs to help. Surprises ensue!

Sorry, a day or so late to start. Look for the new thread for the Poirot stories

OK! Now we have at least three on board, I start the discussion tomorrow.

Well then, let's start with the Poirot stories, since there are TV adaptations we can comment upon as well as the story.

1. The Third Floor Flat
2. The Adventure of Johnny Waverly
3. Four and Twenty Blackbirds

Later, we can move onto the Marple stories; there are four of them.

It is. I didn't remember that, though. I don't remember what we read in the past. There are three Poirot's and four Miss Marples. Do you remember what we read?

I'm thinking of starting with Three Blind Mice. A longer story and not one I think we've done. I'll start this week is anyone is on board.

The book we discussed was Three Blind Mice and other Stories. Are we still on board with that?

I'd prefer, if you want to do the Christie stories, that we wait till May, and do the book you were planning on, in April. I'm just feeling overwhelmed at the moment.