A review by elcrivain
Poirot Investigates: A Hercule Poirot Mystery by Agatha Christie

3.0

It's a fascinating small collection, with many of the puzzles retaining Christie's typical approach — subtle twists that result in seemingly difficult situations, and a colorful detective to assist you through. The cases themselves are simpler than an usual Christie storyline, but they are extremely efficient at condensing the essential aspects of a conventional story into bite-sized bits. One of the best things about this collection of short stories is that it emphasizes the relationship between Captain Hastings and Poirot. Between the subtle teases about Hastings' tendency to lose his head over gorgeous women and his annoyance over Poirot's arrogance, you can understand (and sympathize with) exactly how insane Poirot drives Hastings at times. The clearest feeling that comes through, though, is Hastings' sincere fondness for his small friend that transcends respect for his talents. Although this isn't a must read for the Poirot series, I would recommend picking it up if you're looking for a light read full of interesting brain teasers, or if you want to go a bit more into the character of Hercule Poirot.