A review by theburningclem
The Golden Ball and Other Stories by Agatha Christie

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