Poirot Buddy Read 13: Three Act Tragedy

[Jessica-sim]

Hello, welcome to another year of reading Poirot books! We start off with Three Act Tragedy, which solely judging by the delivery time of my book order might not be the most popular in the series. Or alternatively, it is so popular that it's hard to keep up with the orders of course...

It has a nice classic plot for us: we have a dinner party in Cornwall and a poisoned Reverend.

Please keep this thread spoiler free.

Enjoy!

[Frances]

I've just finished reading this-classic Christie/Poirot-enjoy!

Did anyone else think the setting of the cottage where the opening death occurs sounded just like the setting of Peril at End House?

[Sandy]

I've read about half and so far Poirot is a very minor character and I think one of the major characters also appears in the Harley Quinn stories. I'm enjoying it.

[Susan]

I am listening to this and, like Sandy, am about halfway through. I had forgotten all about Egg - how nice to meet her again :)

[Adrian]

I’m just about to start. Having watched quite a lot of Agatha on tv over Xmas, I’m looking forward to resuming this challenge.

[Susan]

Sounds good, Adrian. Hope you enjoy it.

[Emma]

Sandy wrote: "I've read about half and so far Poirot is a very minor character and I think one of the major characters also appears in the Harley Quinn stories. I'm enjoying it."

I have a volume which is "The Complete Quin and Satterthwaite" which includes all the Harley Quin stories as well as the other short story and Three-Act Tragedy in which Mr Satterthwaite appears.

[Frances]

Is Mr Satterthwaite a recurring character? I had no idea. What is the Harley Quin series? (Other than a great play on words!)

[Emma]

Frances wrote: "Is Mr Satterthwaite a recurring character? I had no idea. What is the Harley Quin series? (Other than a great play on words!)"

I rather enjoy the Harley Quin stories (Christie herself enjoyed writing them). They're not detective stories sensu stricto, and Mr Satterthwaite is usually the solver of the mysteries after some revelation achieved after the appearance of Mr Quin - a rather mysterious figure who may or may not be a real person.

[Susan]

Perhaps she thought that the Harley Quin books would be more popular if people got to know Mr Satterthwaite. After all, presumably lots of readers wanted the new Poirot, but were unwilling to try other books. Although, I believe Miss Marple was very popular when she appeared.

[Tara]

I liked the idea of having a sherry party--that sounds like something we should revive! Perhaps cocktail parties have taken over as they are more fashionable.

I haven't read any of the Harley Quin stories, but they should interesting. I enjoyed the Satterthwaite character (although I always do miss Hastings when he is absent).

[Adrian]

Tara wrote: "I liked the idea of having a sherry party--that sounds like something we should revive! Perhaps cocktail parties have taken over as they are more fashionable.

I haven't read any of the Harley Quin..."

I must admit Tara, I am of the same opinion, I love the sound of a sherry party.

And likewise I have not read any Harley Quin, although I supposedly have a full set of his stories (along with my Poirot's, Marples and T & Ts). Maybe that could be a challenge for the future ??

[Judy]

I’ve got this out of the library and will start very soon.

[Jessica-sim]

I've just got mine in the mail (finally!), the upside is it smells very nice new book-like. I'll start right away.

[Judy]

I've started this now and my immediate thought is that there are a lot of characters to keep track of - a pity Christie didn't put lists of the characters at the start, as Ngaio Marsh does!

Talking of Marsh, there also seems to be a theatrical flavour which may mean I risk mixing it up with Final Curtain, our next read in the Marsh challenge. I haven't read any of the Harley Quin stories so I didn't realise Mr Satterthwaite was a recurring character, good to know.

[Jessica-sim]

Judy wrote: "- a pity Christie didn't put lists of the characters at the start, as Ngaio Marsh does! "

Yes,I agree with that! I also contemplated making a list myself, maybe I still should now that I'm not so far in yet... yes good idea! thanks for the inspiration Judy ;-)

[Judy]

I'm now near the end of act two. Does anyone think that Miss Wills the playwright might be inspired by Elizabeth Mackintosh/Josephine Tey, who wrote her plays under the name Gordon Daviot and I think was called "Gordon" by some people?

Not my idea, I have seen a brief suggestion of this somewhere, but will resist the temptation to do any Googling until I finish the book, to avoid spoilers!

[Jessica-sim]

I just started Act Three and I am (of course) thoroughly enjoying it. I notice the use of the word "twinkle" a lot. Just now Mr Satterthwaite "twinkled at" Lady Mary. "Twinkling" is a turn of phrase I associate heavily with Miss Marple. In fact, so far, this whole book has a more Miss Marple feel for me. Maybe it's the clergyman, young love and flowers.
Anyone had the same feeling?

Also Judy, good call on the not googling! I made the mistake of googling for a character list. The very first hit was a spoiler, so I gave up on the internet. Luckily, I encountered the spoiler naturally on the very next page... so little damage done ;-)

[Adrian]

I had never really considered that Marple books have a different "feel" to Poirot. I recognise that there are differences, but to me, they are just all enjoyable.
I look forward to continuing this challenge.

[Jessica-sim]

Oh my, I really enjoyed this one! Might be my favourite so far , although that feels a bit sacrilegious because of Poirot's very small role. It was a very essential role though.

haha Adrian, yes another little challenge awaits us when we are done with Poirot... I really liked Satterthwaite as an amateur detective. Very insightful and critical. Though not necessarily as feminine as he thought himself to be.

[Judy]

I'm now into the third act and delighted that Poirot has finally turned up again - I like Satterthwaite too, but missed Poirot.

I was intrigued when Satterthwaite asks Poirot if he has ever failed altogether, and he says: "Once. Long ago, in Belgium. We will not talk of it..." I wonder if any more about that will turn up in other books?

[Tara]

Judy wrote: "I'm now into the third act and delighted that Poirot has finally turned up again - I like Satterthwaite too, but missed Poirot.

I was intrigued when Satterthwaite asks Poirot if he has ever faile..."

I assumed he was referring to The Case of the Chocolate Box, which he had referred to in other stories as being a failure.

[Judy]

Tara wrote: "I assumed he was referring to The Case of the Chocolate Box, which he had referred to in other stories as being a failure. ..."

Thanks, Tara! Ah ha, I don't think I've come across that one, but I haven't joined in on all the books so far. Do you know if the story was ever actually written up, or does it just get referred to in passing?

[Tara]

Judy wrote: "Tara wrote: "I assumed he was referring to The Case of the Chocolate Box, which he had referred to in other stories as being a failure. ..."

Thanks, Tara! Ah ha, I don't think I've come across tha..."
Hi Judy, its in the short story collections, I believe the one I read it in was Poirot's Early Cases: 18 Hercule Poirot Mysteries but also might be available as a single or in other collections.

[Jessica-sim]

Yes, Tara you're right we read it in that collection of early cases. It is also available as a single story for kindle Judy if your curiosity is piqued ;-)

[Judy]

Oops, I actually read that collection with the group - that story must have just slipped my mind! Thanks, Tara and Jessica.

[W]

I think this is the same one as Murder in Three Acts.Usually,I finish a Christie book,pretty quickly.This one is taking me longer than usual,and not really holding my interest.