Category: Anthologies

Written by Agatha Christie

SUMMARY:

First printed in 1960, this 363-page HarperCollins Books softcover edition was released in 2002.  It consists of five Hercule Poirot mysteries and a Miss Marple whodunnit.  These stories are:

• “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (AKA “Theft of the Royal Ruby”): Poirot nimbly traces a foreign royal gem’s theft to a secluded English country home during the holidays.  Murder may be one of the entrees served up with the turkey and a traditional British Christmas pudding.    
• “The Mystery of the Spanish Chest:” Poirot investigates a ghoulish, high-profile homicide after someone is found stabbed to death inside a decorative living room chest the morning after a dinner party.

• “The Under Dog:” A grouchy British entrepreneur’s homicide in his private study necessitates Poirot moving into the victim’s posh family home for an extended period.

• “Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds:” An odd change in an elderly recluse’s dinner routine incurs Poirot’s suspicions when the man soon turns up dead. 

• “The Dream:” Eccentric industrialist Benedict Farley confides in Poirot that he is haunted by a recurring dream foreshadowing his violent suicide.  The Belgian sleuth seeks the disturbing truth.

• “Greenshaw’s Folly:” Katherine Greenshaw, the middle-aged heiress of a garish English country home, suffers a brutal demise.  Perhaps only Miss Jane Marple can direct the police to the culprit behind this cold-blooded murder.

Notes: “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding” expands and considerably improves Christie’s 1923 short story, “Christmas Adventure.”  “The Mystery of the Spanish Chest,” is a later alternate version of “The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest.”

REVIEW:

There’s no argument that this compilation presents vintage Christie.  Its strongest entry is the title story, as Poirot’s Christmas jewel caper is a sheer delight.  In impressive fashion, this smartly-reworked novella of an obscure 1920’s Poirot tale generically dubbed “Christmas Adventure” nails every component of effective storytelling.  Far more on the macabre side, “The Mystery of The Spanish Chest” and “The Dream” also rank among Poirot’s gems.  Miss Marple’s presence in “Greenshaw’s Folly” is convincingly conveyed re: how she could unravel a baffling case based on second-hand observations.  The other two Poirot tales deliver some entertainment, but they also reflect the book’s minor weaknesses. 

First, a recycled plot device shared between “Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds” and “The Dream” is evident.  It’s inexplicable as to why the publisher included both stories (back to back, no less), if only perhaps to catch readers off-guard.  Without divulging spoilers, the culprit’s gimmick works better in “The Dream,” though David Suchet’s TV adaptation tweaks “Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds” enough to make its plot almost equally as plausible. 

The other problem are contrived solutions plaguing “The Under Dog” and “Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds.”  While “Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds” underwhelms with Poirot’s casual approach of the culprit with a workable theory, the “Under Dog” novella is a head-shaking disappointment.  After a prolonged hundred pages, a killer’s unconvincing breakdown under mild scrutiny shouldn’t qualify as a satisfying finish.  Forcing Poirot to improvise due to a lack of evidence is fine, but Christie’s finish for “The Under Dog” seems plain lazy by her usually pristine standards.

As a Poirot novella showcase, The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is old-school British mystery fiction that completes a reader’s relaxing wintry evening by the fireplace.  What’s even better is that a large font size makes this book an easy task for one’s eyes.    

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

The table of contents is followed by Christie’s fun two-page foreword.  A single-page Christie biography is also included.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                            8 Stars

Written by Agatha Christie

SUMMARY:

First printed in 1971 by a different publisher, this 231-page Berkley Books paperback edition was released in 1986.  Fifteen of Agatha Christie’s short stories set in London dating as far back as 1924 are compiled.  These mostly non-mysteries are:

• “The Listerdale Mystery:” Struggling single mother Mrs. St. Vincent, and her two teenagers, Barbara and Rupert, are baffled by the exceedingly affordable rent of their new home.  There’s also the matter of their enigmatic butler.

• “The Girl in the Train:” Gloriously self-involved elitist George Rowland stumbles into a peculiar spy caper at the behest of a beautiful mystery girl he meets aboard a train.

• “The Manhood of Edward Robinson:” Hen-pecked, blue-collar fiancé Edward Robinson finds mistaken identity and romantic adventure await him on Christmas Eve.

• “Jane in Search of a Job:” Feisty, out-of-work Jane Cleveland accepts a temporary job for an unlikely employer.   

• “A Fruitful Sunday:” A young couple finds a curious surprise in a cherry basket purchased for their afternoon date.

• “The Golden Ball:” Another self-absorbed George (this one is George Dundas) takes a wild ride with bubbly society girl Mary Montresor.   

• “The Rajah’s Emerald:”  Short of cash, blue-collar James Bond (no, he’s not a secret agent) jealously yearns to join the beachside fun that his girlfriend, Grace, is freely enjoying.  Yet, the recent theft of a fabulous emerald may land this Bond in a far greater predicament.

• “Swan Song:” Famed opera diva Paula Nazorkoff’s last performance screams murder.

• “The Hound of Death:” A Belgian nun’s reputed supernatural prophecies foreshadow destruction.

• “The Gipsy:” The gothic romances of sisters Esther & Rachel Lawes experience unexpected twists.

• “The Lamp:” The young Lancaster clan realize that their new home may be haunted.

• “The Strange Case of Sir Andrew Carmichael:” Two medical professionals investigate a young man’s bizarre memory loss.  Note: Oddly, this story is mistitled — the character’s name is Arthur Carmichael.

• “The Call of Wings:” Millionaire Silas Homer’s peculiar epiphany inspires a transformation.

• “Magnolia Blossom:” An affluent wife’s extra-marital affair tests her allegiances to her husband and her lover.

• “Next to a Dog:” Destitute Joyce Lambert’s love for her faithful pet dog, Terry, may determine her fate.

REVIEW:

Celebrating Agatha Christie’s non-detective literary talents, The Golden Ball and Other Stories is a book of two halves.  Its first half is buoyed by Christie’s savvy humor, as some hilariously selfish characters make reading an absolute joy.  Of the first seven stories, “The Girl in the Train,” and “The Golden Ball” are delightful parodies of upper-class snobbery. Slow and clichéd, “The Manhood of Edward Robinson” gradually asserts an undeniable charm once the title character is mistaken for a suave thief. 

The other four tales are worthwhile (i.e. “Jane in Search of a Job”) due to Christie’s variations on sympathetic have-nots unexpectedly mingling with higher society.  Christie’s only miss is “A Fruitful Sunday.” Aside from a few funny lines, this middling trifle is hard-pressed to rate more than a single read.  

This collection’s back half takes a decidedly macabre turn with “Swan Song.”  Its fatal vendetta doesn’t deliver jaw-dropping twists, but it’s a worthy sample of Christie’s noir-ish storytelling.  A stretch of four supernatural-themed tales between “The Hound of Death” and “The Strange Case of Sir Andrew Carmichael” explores Christie’s intriguing take on gothic ghost stories.  While “The Gipsy” is an okay read, “The Hound of Death” deserves re-discovery, as it could make an intriguing horror film. 

With the spooky “Lamp,” Christie’s ‘haunted house’ holds up well in the genre by letting her readers make the necessary inferences.  However, one should be forewarned that “Andrew Carmichael” repeatedly plays up a racist Asian caricature.  Christie’s creative misjudgment ruins this sinister tale’s ambiance. 

The final three entries are a mixed bag.  One might construe “The Call of Wings” as reminiscent of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” without the holiday season.  Its ethereal hints are well-played, as readers might ponder what actually causes Silas Homer’s attitude shift.  Is it his conscience?  Or could perhaps outside forces be influencing him?  Either way, this tale is among the book’s underrated winners, along with the charmingly low-key “Listerdale Mystery.”   

It’s no contest that the soap opera-ish “Magnolia Blossom” is the collection’s least appealing tale.  Re: its theme of upper-class marital discord, the sole glimmer depicts a pivotal character finally displaying an ounce of dignity.  Otherwise, its dubious love triangle merely wastes a reader’s time.  The poignant “Next to a Dog,” unfortunately, is really more a ‘what-if.’  Had Christie had hinted that a tragic demise was more willful rather than accidental, then this tear-jerker might have met its full potential vs. settling for a conventional finish. 

Amply displaying her literary range, Christie’s Golden Ball and Other Stories should appeal to both her loyal fanbase and casual readers alike.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

None.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                         7 Stars

Written by Agatha Christie

SUMMARY:

Released by publisher William Morrow in 2013, this 867-page softcover anthology compiles the Hercule Poirot mysteries and novellas from these Agatha Christie collections: Poirot Investigates (1924); Murder in the Mews (1937); The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (1939); The Labors of Hercules (1947); Three Blind Mice (1950); The Under Dog and Other Stories (1960); and Double Sin and Other Stories (1974). 

Per the table of contents, the fifty-one stories are as follows:

1. “Affair at the Victory Ball”                         27. “Double Sin”

2. “Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan”   28. “Wasps’ Nest”

3. “King of Clubs”                               29. “The Third Floor Flat”

4. “Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim”  30. “Mystery of the Baghdad Chest” [1]

5. “The Plymouth Express” [2]              31. “Dead Man’s Mirror” [3]

6. “Adventure of the ‘Western Star’”   32. “How Does Your Garden Grow?”

7. “The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor”         33. “Problem at Sea”

8. “The Kidnapped Prime Minister”           34. “Triangle at Rhodes”

9. “The Million Dollar Bond Robbery”       35. “Murder in the Mews”

10. “The Adventure of the Cheap Flat”       36.  “Yellow Iris” [4]

11. “The Mystery of Hunter’s Lodge”          37. “The Dream”

12. “The Chocolate Box”                         38. “The Labors of Hercules” [5]

13. “Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb”       39.  “The Nemean Lion”         

14. “The Veiled Lady”                            40. “The Lernean Hydra”

15. “The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly”    41. “The Arcadian Deer”

16. “The Market Basing Mystery” [6]       42. “The Erymanthian Boar”

17. “Adventure of the Italian Nobleman”   43. “The Augean Stables”

18. “Case of the Missing Will”              44. “The Stymphalean Birds”

19. “The Incredible Theft” [7]                45. “The Cretan Bull”

20. “Adventure of the Clapham Cook”   46.  “The Horses of Diomedes”

21. “The Lost Mine”                          47. “The Girdle of Hippolyta”

22. “The Cornish Mystery”                  48. “The Flock of Geryon”

23. “The Double Clue”                        49. “The Apples of the Hesperides”

24. “The Theft of the Royal Ruby” [8]   50. “The Capture of Cerberus”

25. “The Lemesurier Inheritance” [9]     51. “Four and Twenty Blackbirds”

26. “The Under Dog”

Note 1: This anthology isn’t quite complete.  For instance, these three rarities aren’t included: 1. “Poirot and The Greenshore Folly,” which later morphed into Dead Man’s Folly; 2. “The Incident of the Dog’s Ball,” which later became Dumb Witness; and, despite claims that it’s in this collection, 3. Poirot’s version of “The Regatta Mystery,” before Christie transformed it as a Parker Pyne tale. 

Note 2: Considering Christie’s propensity for recycling various stories under alternate titles, only one version of such tales is included in this anthology.  Please see the footnotes re: this literary déjà vu.

Note 3: HarperCollins previously published a version of this book in the United Kingdom in 1999.

REVIEW:

Considering so many of these tales date back nearly a century, the mystique of Agatha Christie’s Poirot remains timeless.  Case in point (pardon the expression): the ingenious political scenario (and its amusing finale) re: “The Augean Stables” could just as easily occur today as it would have then.  Furthermore, unlike a near-omniscient Miss Marple, Christie noticeably tries harder to make Poirot’s “little grey cell” deductions seem plausible and mostly fair to readers. 

She falters a few times – i.e. the solution of “The Adventure of the Cheap Flat,” is improbable, even by Poirot’s standards.  The same applies to an unnecessarily prolonged “Under Dog,” as its contrived ending is perhaps the collection’s weakest. 

As entertainment, this anthology is a near-perfect reading experience … that is, with one caveat.  Unfortunately, citing these stories: “The Adventure of the ‘Western Star’” and “How Does Your Garden Grow?,” as among some examples, blatant racism/bigotry sporadically creeps into Christie’s storytelling.  It’s unfathomable why the publisher didn’t omit or modify such offensive language for the sake of good taste.  One would think, since Christie’s suspense masterpiece, And Then There Were None, is now deservedly sanitized, that same modern standard should also apply to Poirot’s considerable repertoire. 

Keeping this fair warning in mind, Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories spells out why the ultra-conceited Belgian sleuth’s exploits are on a par with Sherlock Holmes.    

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

Charles Todd provides a two-page foreword.  There is also is a brief Christie biography.  The original publication dates, titles, and sources of these stories are included.  However, the foreword from The Labors of Hercules has been omitted.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:               9 Stars

Note 4: Also available from the same publisher in an identical format is 2011’s “Marple – The Complete Short Stories.” 

---

[1] This tale was later revised into “The Mystery of the Spanish Chest,” where Miss Lemon makes an appearance while Hastings is omitted.  

[2] It’s a shorter variation of Mystery of the Blue Train.

[3] It expands and improves an obscure Poirot tale, “The Second Gong.”

[4] It’s a short version of the Poirot-less novel, Sparkling Cyanide.

[5] Re: Stories # 38-50, David Suchet’s TV movie adaptation is a hybrid of several of these stories.

[6] Despite its differences, this tale is an earlier and shorter draft of Story # 35: “Murder in the Mews.”

[7] It’s an expanded rendition of “The Submarine Plans.”

[8] Its alternate title is “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding.”  The story’s original Poirot source is titled “Christmas Adventure.”

[9] This tale was among the few not filmed for David Suchet’s TV series, but one episode makes a brief reference to the name.

Written by Agatha Christie

SUMMARY:

Released in 1998, this 214-page Berkley Books paperback reprint includes appearances from Hercule Poirot and Harley Quin.  Written between 1923 and 1971, these short stories were mostly penned for various British magazines.  Specifically, they are:

• “The Edge” (1927): Prim-and-proper spinster Clare Halliwell contemplates exposing a self-involved wife’s infidelity to possibly gain her own heart’s desire.  
• “The Actress” (1923): A famed British stage actress resorts to desperate measures to rid herself of a scurrilous blackmailer.
• “While the Light Lasts” (1923): A chance meeting at an African tobacco plantation reunites two ex-lovers years after a wartime tragedy, or does it?
• “The House of Dreams” (1926): Young clerk John Segrave’s recurring dream of a mysterious house and who  occupies it becomes a tragic obsession. 
• “The Lonely God” (1926): Two lonely souls spark a kinship inside a British museum where they are drawn to a small stone statue.  Could this little statue subtly be playing matchmaker? 
• “Manx Gold” (1930): Including a foreword and afterword by Tony Medawar, this newspaper serial depicts a murder mystery during a treasure hunt.  Intriguingly, Christie’s commissioned story was a tourism publicity gimmick for England’s Isle of Man.
• “Within a Wall” (1925): Celebrated artist Alan Everard’s creative struggles are further complicated by his demanding wife and, from afar, a devoted family friend, Jane Haworth.
• “The Mystery of the Spanish Chest” (aka “The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest”) (1939): With Hastings omitted from this version, private detective Hercule Poirot invites himself into a baffling homicide case. Only the Belgian sleuth can decipher how a decorative chest in plain sight concealed the victim’s corpse during a dinner party.
• “The Harlequin Tea Set” (possibly 1971): The ethereal Harley Quin resurfaces after a long absence to seek elderly Mr. Satterwaite once more for his invaluable insights.  This time, Quin’s mortal ally finds that fatal danger imperils his own surrogate family.      

REVIEW:

Christie’s insights into human nature are evident with this mostly satisfying compilation.  As a semi-mystery, “The Actress” is a fun little read re: a blackmailer earning his just reward.  The same applies to the “Manx Gold” trifle, which deploys some clichés found elsewhere in Christie’s work.  Romanticism is another recurring theme, but this collection’s options vary in likability. 

For instance, the darkening psychological thrust behind “The Edge” is intriguing, but a late plot twist is too conveniently dramatic.  Even so, its conclusion’s wicked irony still makes perfect sense.  As for “The Lonely God,” its appealing premise is short-changed by too many contrivances and some sappy dialogue that doesn’t age well.     

Supernaturally tinged, the morose “House of Dreams” offers introspection re: obsessions.  As much as this story drags on, it’s still more tantalizing than the self-absorbed cast inhabiting a tedious “Within a Wall.”  Originally commissioned as part of a tourism promotion, the formulaic “Manx Gold” isn’t a remarkable tale, but it is an entertaining piece of fluff. The same applies to the afterword explaining how the real treasure hunt’s clues were actually found.

Featuring Hercule Poirot and Ms. Lemon in vintage form, “The Mystery of the Spanish Chest” is a welcome read.  It’s equal to its original version (and possibly even better) as a top-notch whodunnit.  Yet, this collection’s gem is the title piece, which is evidently Christie’s last Harley Quin mystery.  The murderous scheme that Satterwaite stumbles upon is well-played.  As evidenced by its wistful finale, Quin’s role as love’s not-quite-angelic messenger has never been better conveyed by Christie. 

Sporting two mini-masterpieces, The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories is worth keeping by the fireplace for a relaxing read.  To her credit, even Christie’s lesser tales here hint at some basic truths worth reflecting upon. 

Just a heads-up: eight of these stories overlap with 1997’s HarperCollins paperback, While the Light Lasts.  Light Lasts swaps out “The Harlequin Tea Seat” for Poirot’s obscure “Christmas Adventure” – it’s the original draft version of “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding novella (aka “Theft of the Royal Ruby”).  The other substitution is “The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest,” as it’s the original Hastings-narrated version of “Spanish Chest.”  Also included in Light Lasts is Tony Medawar’s brief commentary/introduction per each story – the only Medawar contribution in Tea Set is for “Manx Gold” (it’s verbatim to the other book). 

While The Light Lasts vs. The Harlequin Tea Set — Which Book is Better?

If one wants Medawar’s insights into Christie’s storytelling, Light Lasts is a good read, but this collection is harder to find outside the United Kingdom.  As for actual literary content, The Harlequin Tea Set prevails … by a single story.  Frankly, the two versions of “Chest” cancel each other out.  Since Poirot’s “Christmas Adventure” is a crude first draft, it’s the Tea Set’s Harley Quin and Mr. Satterwaite saving their best team-up for last that makes the difference.      

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

The only supplement is Tony Medawar’s interesting commentary re: “Manx Gold.”

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                      7 Stars

Written by Agatha Christie

SUMMARY:

First published in the United Kingdom in 1997, this 213-page HarperCollins paperback collects nine Agatha Christie short stories dating back to 1923.  Specifically, they are:

• “The House of Dreams” (1926): Young clerk John Segrave’s recurring dream of a mysterious house and who occupies it becomes a tragic obsession. 
• “The Actress” (1923): A British stage actress resorts to desperate measures to rid herself of a scurrilous blackmailer.
• “The Edge” (1927): Troubled spinster Clare Halliwell contemplates exposing a self-involved wife’s infidelity for her own personal gain.  
• “Christmas Adventure” (1923): Discreetly investigating a jewel theft case, Hercule Poirot receives an unusual ‘gift’ during the holiday season. 

Note: This story was later modified into Christie’s “Adventure of the Christmas Pudding” novella.  The novella’s alternate title is “The Theft of the Royal Ruby.” 

• “The Lonely God” (1926): Two lonely souls spark an unlikely kinship inside a British museum where they are drawn to a small stone statue.  Could this statue subtly be playing matchmaker? 
• “Manx Gold” (1930): This newspaper serial is a murder mystery during a treasure hunt.  Intriguingly, Christie’s commissioned tale was designed as a tourism publicity gimmick for a real treasure hunt on England’s Isle of Man.
• “Within a Wall” (1925): Celebrated artist Alan Everard’s creative struggles are further complicated by his demanding wife and, from afar, a devoted family friend, Jane Haworth.
• “The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest” (1932): Aided by Captain Hastings, private detective Hercule Poirot tackles a baffling murder case. Only the Belgian sleuth can decipher how a decorative chest displayed in plain sight could  hide the victim’s corpse during a dinner party.
• “While the Light Lasts” (1924): A chance meeting years later at an African tobacco plantation years reunites two former lovers after a wartime tragedy, or does it?

REVIEW:

Christie’s perceptions re: human nature are readily evident with this decent compilation.  What bolsters one’s read are some insights into Christie herself through Tony Medawar’s commentaries.  For instance, the fact that “The Edge” was evidently written shortly before Christie’s high-profile December 1926 disappearance coincides with the tale’s themes of adultery and marital jealousy. 

As a semi-mystery, “The Actress” is a fun little caper re: a blackmailer getting his just reward.  The same applies to the delightful “Manx Gold,” which deploys some reliable clichés found elsewhere in Christie’s work.  Romanticism is also a recurring theme, but this collection’s options vary as to likability. 

For instance, “The Lonely God” has an appealing premise, but it’s hampered by too many contrivances and sappy dialogue that doesn’t age well.  Darkening shifts in feminine psychology for “The Edge” are intriguing, even if a late plot twist is too conveniently dramatic.  Still, its ironically wicked conclusion is fitting.

With its supernatural tinge, the morose “House of Dreams” offers some introspection re: obsessions.  Even though this story drags on too long, its narrative is more intriguing than the tedious “Within a Wall,” where its self-absorbed characters offer little to readers. 

The same applies to Christie’s unlikable “While the Light Lasts.”  Frankly, an exotic African setting (reminiscent of Ernest Hemingway’s style) far overshadows its bland soap opera love triangle unworthy of reader sympathy.  Had “While The Light Lasts” been expanded into a novella allowing more development of its superficial trio, this title story might have had some potential.  For whatever this tale is, it’s drab by Christie’s standards.

Co-starring Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings, “The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest,” however, is a vintage whodunnit.  The advantage this murder-mystery has over its later “Spanish Chest” alternate version is indulging fans who prefer reading Poirot, as filtered through Hastings’ point-of-view.  Further, “Baghdad Chest” represents a classic Poirot tale, which balances the pendulum re: the Belgian sleuth’s disappointing holiday hijinks in this same book.   

As its title implies a work-in-progress, Poirot’s “Christmas Adventure” falls short of “Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (aka Theft of the Royal Ruby).”  Sporting different character names and unremarkable plot twists, this bland holiday caper reads like what it is: an early draft.  One sign of how undercooked this mystery lies with Poirot’s condescending comments to a housemaid-turned-informant.  Not only is Poirot conveyed as exceedingly sexist, this dialogue ends the story on a lousy note.  “Christmas Adventure” is worth perusing, but, otherwise, it’s as appetizing as last year’s fruitcake.

Sporting several obscure Christie non-mystery tales, While the Light Lasts is a low-key diversion by the fireplace.  To her credit, even Christie’s lesser efforts here explore some basic truths worth reflecting upon.  The dilemma is that a few of these tales won’t merit more than a single read.  Considering Light Lasts is nearly duplicated by 1998’s The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories, that other anthology is a better bet due to its stellar title story.  

Note: Beside swapping out Poirot’s blah Christmas caper for Harley Quin’s last adventure, Tea Set also replaces “Baghdad Chest” with its eventual update.  Specifically, “The Mystery of the Spanish Chest”  replaces Hastings with Poirot’s secretary, Miss Lemon.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

Including a two-page preface, Tony Medawar wrote some insightful background notes in 1996 on each story.  Due to its complex background, “Manx Gold” requires a foreword and an afterword. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                      6 Stars

Written by Agatha Christie

SUMMARY:

Initially printed in 1948 by a different publisher, this 230-page Berkley Books paperback reprint was released in 1984.  Concluding with an obscure Hercule Poirot tale (it’s a thinly veiled precursor to the better-known Dead Man’s Mirror), these eleven British crime capers date as far back as 1924. 

Specifically, they are:

• “The Witness for the Prosecution:”: A defense attorney senses a grim fate for his client, Leonard Vole, after he is accused of an elderly woman’s brutal homicide.  Could Vole’s own wife effectively seal his death sentence?
• “The Red Signal”: Dermot West secretly loves his best friend’s wife.  After a séance, West is subsequently incriminated as the prime suspect in his skeptical uncle’s murder.
• “The Fourth Man:” Aboard a late-night commuter train, four strangers gossip over a tragic high-profile case re: a dead woman, who evidently suffered from a dual personality complex.
• “S.O.S:” Stranded commuter Mortimer Cleveland senses a desperate plea for help by someone residing at the secluded home that has taken him in for the night. 
• “Where There’s a Will:” An elderly woman believes her late husband’s ghost is summoning her through a newfangled radio purchased by her doting nephew. 
• “The Mystery of the Blue Jar:” Amateur golfer Jack Hartington hears a mysterious cry for help while getting in some early morning practice before work.  As this eerie cry persists in haunting him, Jack seeks insight from a knowledgeable new friend.
• “Sing a Song of Sixpence:” Retired criminal defense attorney Sir Edward Palliser is called upon to honor a long-forgotten promise stemming from a brief sexual tryst years before.  Hence, his courtroom experience may unravel a robbery-homicide impacting his pro bono client’s family.
• “The Mystery of the Spanish Shawl:” Mystery author Anthony Eastwood is drawn by mistaken identity into real-life turmoil, or is his wild predicament all what it seems?
• “Philomel Cottage:” A possible love triangle complicates newlywed Alix Martin’s dark suspicions of her new husband, Gerald.  Worse yet, what might Gerald do should his enigmatic past ever come to light? 
• “Accident:” A retired cop suspects his neighbor’s wife is a ‘black widow’ serial killer.
• “The Second Gong:” Belgian private detective Hercule Poirot steps in to decipher an eccentric millionaire’s apparent suicide prior to hosting his nightly dinner party.

Notes: Highlighted in red are those stories with known film and/or television adaptations (i.e. TV’s “The Agatha Christie Hour” in the early 1980’s).  Re: “The Second Gong,” David Suchet’s Poirot TV series incorporates some of that story’s elements into its production of “Dead Man’s Mirror.”   

REVIEW:

Considering that Agatha Christie pioneered so many of the mystery genre’s best twists nearly a century ago, these eleven tales were innovative for their time.  Yet, it’s no wonder why this collection is déjà vu by 21^st Century expectations.  While the title story is synonymous with Christie’s best-known works, one may wonder if its notoriety rests solely with a shock value ending.  Despite an ingenious premise, “The Witness for the Prosecution,” otherwise, is a middling read.  Thematically, deception mixed with murder and/or attempted theft also permeate the other humorless stories. 

“Sing a Song of Sixpence” is a prime example.  This forgettable trifle is hampered by weak plot contrivances, including an ultra-convenient last-minute clue.  More so, the sexist dismissal of an icky past fling won’t likely endear a dignified 70-year-old Edward Palliser (it’s easy to visualize either Ian Richardson or Christopher Plummer playing the role) to contemporary readers. 

Unlike the weakly predictable “Red Signal,” at least “The Mystery of the Blue Jar” and “The Mystery of the Spanish Shawl” embellish their meandering plots with some well-played twists.  The same might have applied to “The Fourth Man,” had its morose storyline not been practically unreadable.  Exploring these grim tales, there isn’t any glimpse of Christie’s reliable wit for welcome comedic relief.

Still, “S.O.S.” and “Accident” are solid under-the-radar reads, as is “Philomel Cottage.”  Due to its down-to-earth subject matter, “Philomel Cottage” probably ages best for this sinister collection.  All three stories probably deserve film adaptations, along with the eerily familiar “Where There’s a Will.”  “Will” is an instance where imitators have siphoned off its sci-fi premise, but Christie does it best with an appropriately ironic finale.  This ghost story, suffice to say, is worthy of The Outer Limits or The Twilight Zone.  The Alfred Hitchcock Hour would be ideal, too.       

Readers will regrettably find that “The Second Gong” isn’t a long-lost Poirot gem.  In reality, it’s an inferior earlier draft of “Dead Man’s Mirror.” For instance, Poirot’s suspects merely describe the deceased’s quirky personality vs. readers actually witnessing a pompous Herbert Lytcham Roche in action first.  As compared to “Dead Man’s Mirror” and another similar Poirot tale, “The Dream,” it’s apparent that “Second Gong” is inferior to them. 

Aside from contriving Poirot on to the crime scene, “Gong” would have benefitted from the spice of enabling a savvy household guest (say, the millionaire’s female ward?) to play amateur sleuth — thus removing Poirot altogether. In a merely adequate read, Poirot’s ‘little grey cells’ resolve the locked room “Gong” almost too easily. 

Note: An example of Christie removing Poirot from a story and then successfully recycling it would be how Poirot’s “Yellow Iris” transforms into the novel Sparkling Cyanide.

Among her short story collections, The Witness for The Prosecution and Other Stories is a middle-of-the-road proposition.  What helps alleviate this book’s unremarkable aura is revisiting it once every several years.  That way, these lesser-known mysteries will seem fresher than they really are.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

None.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        6 Stars

See Writing Credits Below 

SUMMARY:

Published by Avon Books, Inc. in 2000, this short story anthology’s 214-page ninth installment has a decidedly British flavor.  Consisting of fourteen original tales, most of them either play off an Agatha Christie title or offer her some form of homage.  Mystery author Joan Hess provides an introduction. 

Leading off with a classic Parker Pyne reprint, the mayhem is as follows:

• “The Case of the Discontented Soldier,” by Agatha Christie (1932).  Upon hiring Parker Pyne, a retired soldier finds himself rescuing a damsel-in-distress from a nefarious criminal gang.

• “Nothing to Lose,” by Robert Barnard.  A British retirement facility’s daily bliss is threatened by a self-righteous newcomer, who is accustomed to playing troublemaker to get her overbearing way.

• “The Man in the Civil Suit,” by Jan Burke.  The demise of local eccentric Pythagoras Peabody and his fascination with the Museum of Natural History is recounted by his sister’s long-suffering suitor.

• “The Murder at the Vicarage,” by Kate Charles.  Guilt-ridden by her own conflicted emotions, British cozy mystery author Margo St. James ponders the murder (many times over) of her rural village’s vicar.

• “Peril at Melford House,” by Marjorie Eccles.  In 1948, at an English country home, an elderly heiress suffers a fatal household mishap.  Her college-age niece ponders if there is something more insidious to this tragedy.

• “Drawing to a Close,” by Teri Holbrook.  In a rundown post-war London hotel, an introverted cartooning student suspects that she has inadvertently overheard a murder conspiracy.  Yet, she only has her imagination and a drawing pad to decipher what two supposed suspects even look like.    

• “The Dark Tower,” by Gwen Moffat.  Along with amateur sleuth Miss Pink, a wealthy British mystery novelist’s assistant worries that someone in the household may soon incur a fatal ‘accident.’  

• “Conventional Wisdom,” by Marcia Talley.  As guest presenters for San Diego’s MysteryCon, two of Tommy & Tuppence Beresford’s adult grandchildren: twins Stephen and Caroline Greene, witness a murder.  

• “What Mr. MacGregor Saw,” by Dorothy Cannell.  A young British couple visits a hotel to confront a horrific childhood nightmare haunting the wife.       

• “The Man Who Never Was,” by Charles Todd.  World War I battlefield investigator Ian Rutledge must unravel a dead soldier’s hidden true identity.

• “Murder at Midday,” by Ann Granger.  A middle-aged British female artist probes the death of her village’s resident busybody.

• “A Mishap at the Manor,” by Walter Satterthwait.  The literary worlds of Christie and Edgar Rice Burroughs wildly converge, as the British police contends with some unwanted amateur competition solving the homicide of publisher Lord Greystoke.

• “Oh, To Be in England!” by Carolyn Wheat.  A British tour bus conductor finds herself up against a serial killer preying upon her unruly passengers. 

• “Oliphants Can Remember,” by Susan Moody.  After the suspicious death of a fellow hotel guest, British mystery novelist Antigone Oliphants does some sleuthing into the past of the scandal-plagued, high-profile victim.          

Note: All the original stories are copyrighted as of 2000.

REVIEW:

Virtually all of these tales merit multiple reads, if only to pick up scattered clues one didn’t spot before.  Hence, an unusual aspect of this compilation is not all the endings divulge a clear-cut culprit or resolve lingering plot holes.  Wisely selected as the opener, Christie’s underrated Parker Pyne appears in one of his best outings.  While there aren’t any surefire original gems, “Oh, To Be in England!,” “Peril at Melford House,” and “The Man Who Never Was,” merit consideration as this anthology’s best capers. 

Others, such as “Nothing to Lose,” “The Dark Tower,” “Conventional Wisdom,” “Murder at Midday,” and “Drawing to a Close,” won’t likely dazzle anyone, but they deliver some entertaining fare.  In terms of wacky comedy relief, “Mishap at the Manor” serves up this book’s most outrageous effort.

Hampered by far too many deliberate Christie references, “Oliphants Can Remember” is still a decent mystery meant to be reminiscent of Christie’s Ariadne Oliver and Murder, She Wrote’s Jessica Fletcher.  It’s not likely a coincidence that three of this compilation’s stories feature cozy mystery novelists as sleuths.  To each author’s credit, all three tales are sufficiently well-played. 

The same applies to Marcia Talley conjuring up a plausible MysteryCon whodunnit hosting two of Tommy & Tuppence Beresford’s grown grandchildren.  Yet, Walter Satterthwait’s wacky send-up of the mystery publishing industry leaves a last impression for its sheer audacity.

Frankly, that’s where two vastly different tales offer extremes within Malice Domestic 9.  The morose “What Mr. MacGregor Saw” explores a domestic violence-related plot that is tough to plow through.  If any of this book’s tales isn’t worth revisiting, make it this one.  In contrast, “A Mishap at the Manor” darkly skewers some of detective fiction’s best-known sleuths, and, for good measure, Burroughs’ Tarzan.  Imagining Satterthwait’s macabre parody along the lines of Neil Simon’s Murder By Death film would be its best comparison.  

Unlike some hit-or-miss volumes in this series, the content of Malice Domestic 9 is consistently on its game.  As all but one of its fifteen stories is average or better, this collection makes an ideal fireplace-style read.  By creatively updating some of Christie’s concepts, Malice Domestic 9 impressively invites casual fans.  Most significantly, this anthology is an ideal sampling of some of the mystery genre’s better talents. 

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

After the table of contents, the insipid foreword entitled “The Four H’s: Hearth, Health, Home, and Homicide” is written by Joan Hess.  Concocted as a mock e-mail exchange with a buffoonish fan, her intro, unfortunately, proves a waste of time.  Each tale offers a mini-bio introducing its author.    

BRIAN’S ODD-MOON RATING: 8 Stars