Scan barcode
ophelias's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
limap's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
jj_99's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
if_books_be_the_food_of_love's review against another edition
dark
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is a stunning edition from my favourite book shop; Hatchards in London. It contains 6 short stories, the first 5 featuring Hercule Poirot and the final one Miss Marple.
We move from country houses, to city abodes, and to members clubs and the common theme throughout is murder.
The titular story is indeed set at Christmas, but I wouldn’t say it’s really a Christmas collection. Nevertheless, I enjoyed each of the stories and it made me want to read both more short stories and more Agatha Christie.
We move from country houses, to city abodes, and to members clubs and the common theme throughout is murder.
The titular story is indeed set at Christmas, but I wouldn’t say it’s really a Christmas collection. Nevertheless, I enjoyed each of the stories and it made me want to read both more short stories and more Agatha Christie.
maariiike's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
whiteteacat's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
aimeeslittlelibrary's review against another edition
4.0
What better way to feed your festive appetite than with the Adventure of The Christmas pudding. It’s classic Christie, with a dusting of Christmas spirit. Murder and mistletoe, crime and Christmas tries, and mystery and mince pies. The perfect combinations. But mostly, I just want Poirot over for Christmas dinner.
absireads's review against another edition
4.0
This was a lovely short story collection, perfect for the 'Betwixtmas' period between Christmas and New Year. In the forward, Christie calls this a 'Chef's selection,' and I agree -- a tasty meal! Perhaps not quite so Christmas-y as promised by the title, but very nice, all the same. The collection includes six short stories: four Poirot, one Marple.
'The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding' had all the Christmas-y flair that I hoped for when I started reading this collection. A true 'English' country Christmas, with snow and puddings and a mystery to boot. It also features Poirot at his most light-hearted and humorous. I genuinely laughed out loud at a few lines, and I appreciated his need for central heat. I, too, hate being cold! After this tale, however, the Christmas faded out of the stories...
Nevertheless, the second story, 'The Mystery of the Spanish Chest' was one of my favorites in this collection. Another Poirot, very clever. Could easily have been a full novel, I thought, but worked well as a short story. 'The Underdog' was fine, but perhaps not my favorite. I did like how a green chiffon dress played a role. 'Four and Twenty Blackbirds,' which Christie calls the 'sorbet' of the book, felt like just that -- a palate cleanser. Short, to the point, full of descriptions of food. And the final Poirot of the collection, 'The Dream,' was interesting -- if perhaps a bit guessable, compared to most of Christie's mysteries. Then, a final little treat of 'Greenshaw's Folly' featuring Miss Marple! I did enjoy it, though it felt a bit rushed and a bit too pat. Marple certainly did a lot of inferring for this one! But still, a fun little story perfect for closing out my 2021 of Agatha Christie.
Overall, very good short story collection, perhaps some of Christie's funniest work (I found myself laughing out loud at multiple times!) but don't go into it expecting a volume of Christmas mysteries, as you'll only get one!
'The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding' had all the Christmas-y flair that I hoped for when I started reading this collection. A true 'English' country Christmas, with snow and puddings and a mystery to boot. It also features Poirot at his most light-hearted and humorous. I genuinely laughed out loud at a few lines, and I appreciated his need for central heat. I, too, hate being cold! After this tale, however, the Christmas faded out of the stories...
Nevertheless, the second story, 'The Mystery of the Spanish Chest' was one of my favorites in this collection. Another Poirot, very clever. Could easily have been a full novel, I thought, but worked well as a short story. 'The Underdog' was fine, but perhaps not my favorite. I did like how a green chiffon dress played a role. 'Four and Twenty Blackbirds,' which Christie calls the 'sorbet' of the book, felt like just that -- a palate cleanser. Short, to the point, full of descriptions of food. And the final Poirot of the collection, 'The Dream,' was interesting -- if perhaps a bit guessable, compared to most of Christie's mysteries. Then, a final little treat of 'Greenshaw's Folly' featuring Miss Marple! I did enjoy it, though it felt a bit rushed and a bit too pat. Marple certainly did a lot of inferring for this one! But still, a fun little story perfect for closing out my 2021 of Agatha Christie.
Overall, very good short story collection, perhaps some of Christie's funniest work (I found myself laughing out loud at multiple times!) but don't go into it expecting a volume of Christmas mysteries, as you'll only get one!