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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A series of ok shorts - all the usual suspects, Hercule, Miss Marple, Parker Pine - but not their most inspired apperances. One very good short story in the lot however, a standalone.
alot of earlier published mini stories...first real meeting of Parker Pyne for me. nice book
This collection of short stories features three of Christie's best known protagonists: Miss Marple, Mr. Parker Pyne, and Hercule Poirot. The Poirot tales are the best of that bunch. Another standout is "In a Glass Darkly" which has a supernatural element uncommon in Agatha's work.
A strong collection of short story mysteries. Each is unique from the other, yet they all highlight Christie's gift of misdirection, criminology, and unexpected endings.
I was glad to see appearances from Poirot and Marple in this collection.
“What are the years from twenty to forty? Fettered and bound by personal and emotional relationships. That's bound to be. That's living. But later there's a new stage. You can think, observe life, discover something about other people and the truth about yourself. Life becomes real--significant. You see it as a whole. Not just one scene--the scene you, as an actor, are playing. No man or woman is actually himself (or herself) till after forty-five. That's when individuality has a chance.”
Audiobook Notes:Hugh Fraser narrates a majority of the stories, with a variety of narrators that helps each story shine independently.
I was glad to see appearances from Poirot and Marple in this collection.
“What are the years from twenty to forty? Fettered and bound by personal and emotional relationships. That's bound to be. That's living. But later there's a new stage. You can think, observe life, discover something about other people and the truth about yourself. Life becomes real--significant. You see it as a whole. Not just one scene--the scene you, as an actor, are playing. No man or woman is actually himself (or herself) till after forty-five. That's when individuality has a chance.”
Audiobook Notes:Hugh Fraser narrates a majority of the stories, with a variety of narrators that helps each story shine independently.
The writing seems less polished than in her novels. The vocabulary is very dated, as well---terms that are not in use. These aspects add an unexpected flavor and frolic to the stories. Fun to read.
Surprisingly, I somehow missed this collection as a teen, and it seems to be the one book I hadn't owned. I honestly am not sure that I was missing all that much.
The interesting thing about this collection is that it collects stories involving three of her detectives - Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Parker Pyne. A couple of the stories, the Parker Pyne ones mostly, were collected else where, so I ended up skipping them. But I'd like to point out that a few of the Pyne stories had originally been Hercule Poirot stories that Christie rewrote. I think the fact that the detectives can so easily be changed out somewhat showcases that it's not really about the detective at all in these cases.
I don't have a whole lot to say, honestly. It's mostly a fine collection -- there's nothing here that stands out as a spectacular read - though interestingly - The Yellow Iris was the original short story eventually reworked into Sparkling Cyanide, and Ms. Marple's story told from first person is an interesting novelty. But at least there's nothing here that is Christie at her worst either.
I think it's fine if your a fan of her short story style, but otherwise kind of a mixed bag.
The interesting thing about this collection is that it collects stories involving three of her detectives - Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Parker Pyne. A couple of the stories, the Parker Pyne ones mostly, were collected else where, so I ended up skipping them. But I'd like to point out that a few of the Pyne stories had originally been Hercule Poirot stories that Christie rewrote. I think the fact that the detectives can so easily be changed out somewhat showcases that it's not really about the detective at all in these cases.
I don't have a whole lot to say, honestly. It's mostly a fine collection -- there's nothing here that stands out as a spectacular read - though interestingly - The Yellow Iris was the original short story eventually reworked into Sparkling Cyanide, and Ms. Marple's story told from first person is an interesting novelty. But at least there's nothing here that is Christie at her worst either.
I think it's fine if your a fan of her short story style, but otherwise kind of a mixed bag.
Oof. One or two good stories (which were over far too soon) amid a whole bunch of sub-par stories/ideas. An entire story written as a letter from Miss Marple almost made me have to stab someone.
mysterious