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
