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sungyena's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
brother_stephen's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
theburningclem's review against another edition
2.0
Rating the short stories separately:
THE LISTERDALE MYSTERY
A solution without a mystery to support it. And really uncomfortable economic politics.
2/5
THE GIRL IN THE TRAIN
This one feels like a rejected Parker Pyne story, and I don’t even like the Parker Pyne stories she committed to.
2/5
THE MANHOOD OF EDWARD ROBINSON
Just… why? Why would anyone care?
2/5
JANE IN SEARCH OF A JOB
A decent silly little adventure.
3/5
A FRUITFUL SUNDAY
This story is just facile. It makes no sense why anyone would want to write it.
2/5
THE GOLDEN BALL
Agatha Christie reeeeeally shouldn’t write romance.
2/5
THE RAJAH’S EMERALD
Another silly stolen jewel/mistaken identity but of fluff.
2/5
SWAN SONG
Another story where it’s impossible to imagine the reason she wanted to write it.
2/5
HOUND OF DEATH
Psychic woo-woo nonsense.
2/5
THE GIPSY
The psychic elements are more well told, though obviously it’s under a heavy sheen of racism.
3/5
THE LAMP
OK, this one was actually really creepy. I liked it.
4/5
THE STRANGE CASE OF SIR ARTHUR CARMICHAEL
It’s a decent weird gothic story. Not super satisfying but not bad.
3/5
THE CALL OF WINGS
A peculiar but plodding and obvious morality play.
2/5
MAGNOLIA BLOSSOM
It’s a double dose of stilted Christie romance, but I couldn’t help being vaguely interested.
3/5
NEXT TO A DOG
What a random ahead-of-its-time doggie snuff story.
2/5
THE LISTERDALE MYSTERY
A solution without a mystery to support it. And really uncomfortable economic politics.
2/5
THE GIRL IN THE TRAIN
This one feels like a rejected Parker Pyne story, and I don’t even like the Parker Pyne stories she committed to.
2/5
THE MANHOOD OF EDWARD ROBINSON
Just… why? Why would anyone care?
2/5
JANE IN SEARCH OF A JOB
A decent silly little adventure.
3/5
A FRUITFUL SUNDAY
This story is just facile. It makes no sense why anyone would want to write it.
2/5
THE GOLDEN BALL
Agatha Christie reeeeeally shouldn’t write romance.
2/5
THE RAJAH’S EMERALD
Another silly stolen jewel/mistaken identity but of fluff.
2/5
SWAN SONG
Another story where it’s impossible to imagine the reason she wanted to write it.
2/5
HOUND OF DEATH
Psychic woo-woo nonsense.
2/5
THE GIPSY
The psychic elements are more well told, though obviously it’s under a heavy sheen of racism.
3/5
THE LAMP
OK, this one was actually really creepy. I liked it.
4/5
THE STRANGE CASE OF SIR ARTHUR CARMICHAEL
It’s a decent weird gothic story. Not super satisfying but not bad.
3/5
THE CALL OF WINGS
A peculiar but plodding and obvious morality play.
2/5
MAGNOLIA BLOSSOM
It’s a double dose of stilted Christie romance, but I couldn’t help being vaguely interested.
3/5
NEXT TO A DOG
What a random ahead-of-its-time doggie snuff story.
2/5
ivleafclover's review against another edition
5.0
The five stars are for the first half of the recording, "The Golden Ball" portion read by Hugh Fraser. I've loved these stories for years and am so happy to have found an affordable recording. Yay Chirp!
The second half, The Hound of Death and Other Stories read by Christopher Lee, all have a creepy supernatural bent, which would normally appeal to me, but it's a bizarre juxtaposition with the cheerful puzzle mysteries in the first half. I don't super love Lee's narration, either.
The second half, The Hound of Death and Other Stories read by Christopher Lee, all have a creepy supernatural bent, which would normally appeal to me, but it's a bizarre juxtaposition with the cheerful puzzle mysteries in the first half. I don't super love Lee's narration, either.
cmbohn's review against another edition
3.0
A collection of short stories, some involving crime, some romance, some adventure. I liked the ones at the beginning better. The ones at the end have more of a supernatural feel, and I don't enjoy those at all.
noticeablyabsent's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
frakalot's review against another edition
4.0
Well. This was my first dip into Christie's writing. A particularly odd place to start which was not intentional. I would split this collection into two categories.
The first half of the stories were fantastic little curiosities and I really thought each was told marvelously. The characters come to life in each very short tale. Christie has a knack in this collection for catching you unaware and revealing the one connecting detail in a single line at the end of each tale.
The second half of the collection had more of a supernatural theme and I struggled to enjoy these. The stories were superbly written and the characters as perfectly crafted as in the first half but it's just a theme of little interest for me personally.
I did get through it all and even though it was an unexpected start to my journey through Christie's literature I am very keen to get into some more.
The audiobook had two narrators. I thought they were both fantastic.
The first half of the stories were fantastic little curiosities and I really thought each was told marvelously. The characters come to life in each very short tale. Christie has a knack in this collection for catching you unaware and revealing the one connecting detail in a single line at the end of each tale.
The second half of the collection had more of a supernatural theme and I struggled to enjoy these. The stories were superbly written and the characters as perfectly crafted as in the first half but it's just a theme of little interest for me personally.
I did get through it all and even though it was an unexpected start to my journey through Christie's literature I am very keen to get into some more.
The audiobook had two narrators. I thought they were both fantastic.
aj_denver's review against another edition
3.0
Even after reading The Mysterious Mr. Quin (1930), I was a bit surprised by the many supernatural stories in this collection (1924-1934). Several of the stories did not involve murder mysteries, and many involved couples meeting and becoming engaged after a short adventure.
emilysbookblog's review against another edition
3.0
When you read a murder mystery sometimes there's too many boring details that take away from the action but, the short fifteen short stories within The Golden Ball all wrap up quickly yet with excellent detail. Each short story in this collection ranges from ten to twenty pages yet they have distinctive characters and storylines.
My favourites in the collection are The Listerdale Mystery, The Golden Ball, The Hound of Death and Magnolia Blossom. I think that full books are better for Christie's way of telling mysterious stories but these were overall not bad tales - 3.5 stars.
My favourites in the collection are The Listerdale Mystery, The Golden Ball, The Hound of Death and Magnolia Blossom. I think that full books are better for Christie's way of telling mysterious stories but these were overall not bad tales - 3.5 stars.