The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories by Agatha Christie with Hugh Fraser (Narrator), Christopher Lee (Narrator)

Witness for the Prosecution

The story on which this story is based was turned into a really good play. Leonard Vole is a suspect in the murder of the elderly Emily French. His solicitor isn't sure that the man will be found innocent, even with the evidence given by Leonard's adoring wife, Romaine. But there is a shocking turn of events when it starts to appear that Romaine might not be so loving after all.

The Red Signal

A talk between friends brings up premonitions of danger. One character brings up the idea of a "red signal" and a "green signal." One warns of danger. Suddenly, Dermott feels that signal rear its head again. But he's among friends. Yes, he loves his friend's wife, but that shouldn't cause danger, no one knows about it and he's certainly not going to act on it.

Fourth Man

Three men sit in a train carriage. One is Canon Parfitt who actually knows one of the other men, Sir George Durand who is a famous lawyer. The third man is Dr. Campbell Clark who is an eminent psychiatrist. But the title is about the fourth man, the one who appears, at first, to be asleep.

They begin discussing the case of Felicie Bault who apparently had more than one personality. They discuss her story, but are surprised when the fourth man actually has the story behind the story.

S.O.S.

Mortimer Cleveland has had two flat tires and considers himself lucky to find himself in the Dinsmead's family's home with their two daughters and son. But there is an odd air in the house. The two girls go upstairs to make up his bed and on the table next to it is written, "SOS."

Wireless

An elderly worman is told not to excite herself. But the new radio her nephew bought for her seems to be channeling her dead husband...

The Mystery of the Blue Jar

A young man hears a woman screaming about murder at the same time every day. Is it a hallucination or could it be something more fantastic?

Sing a Song of Sixpence

When people promise that they'll do anything to help someone, they rarely actually mean it. Which is what Sir Edward Palliser meant when he said it to Magdalen Vaughn ten years ago (when she was, ew, seventeen and he was in his fifties and he was flirting with her.) Now, she's OLD (ew) and he doesn't really want to help but he promised.

Magdalen's aunt was killed and everyone is a suspect. She would like some help.

Mr. Eastwood's Adventure

Mr. Eastwood has writer's block. He has started writing the mystery of the second cucumber but none of his usual writing methods are working. But then he gets a call. It's obviously not for him, but the code word is "cucumber." What a coincidence! Suddenly he's buying a drink set, meeting a gorgeous woman, and very nearly being arrested. But what is actually happening in this story?

Philomel Cottage

Alix Martin has been having dreams that her old friend/crush has killed her husband. So, when he's in the area, she puts him off. But then, she starts to discover that he may not be the man he presented himself as. Newspaper clippings of a man who has killed his wives make her even more concerned. Then comes the twist ending...

Accident

Now retired Inspector Evans is surprised to recognize a woman in a small village. She was acquitted of poison nine years ago. She said her husband was an arsenic eater and accidentally poisoned himself. The jury let her go. But now she's married again and the Inspector is worried that history might repeat herself.

The Second Gong

Is dinner being served late? Why else would the dinner go off late? Or twice, as one character believes. It seems dinner was pushed back for a visitor. And that visitor is Hercule Poirot. So, you know something has happened. 

Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie

It seems obvious that Mrs. McGinty was killed by her lodger, the obnoxious James Bentley. So why is Superintendent Spencer coming to a retired Hercule Poirot and asking him to look into the case? 

Because it's complicated. Boy. Is it ever complicated including people showing up from at least two different murders that happened decades ago. 

There is a bright point in Ariadne Oliver showing up. She is very much the parody of an eccentric writer but is grounding in interesting ways. 

Three stars

Hercule Poirot #28

Follows Taken at the Flood

Followed by After the Funeral

This book came out in 1952

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Country Christie Country Tales from the Queen of Mystery by Agatha Christie

The book opens with an introduction of a snippet written by Christie, talking about her life as a young child in Torquay. In this book are gathered many stories that are set in that same contryside. The stories are wide-ranging pulling from some of Christie's most well-known characters like Hercule Poirot (the Plymouth Express, The Unbreakable Alibi, The Cornish Mystery, The Case of the Missing Will, Double Sin, The Flock of Geryon, The Adventure of the Dartmoor Bungalow) and Miss Marple (Ingots of Gold, The Bloodstained Pavement). Tommy and Tuppence are becoming more well-known with the new television series and one of the stories from Partners in Crime (The Unbreakable Alibi) is included. Parker Pyne gets a story as wella(The Regatta Mystery) as an inclusion from one of her weird horror/psychological short stories (The Hound of Death, The Edge.) 

Yes, all of these stories have some connection to the country, but for some of the stories the mention is incredibly brief and somewhat tenuous. For the most part, I wasn't sure there was enough of a connection to make a coherent whole even though the stories themselves were all excellent choices. I also couldn't decide if I enjoyed the different narrators or that only highlighted how disparate these stories were. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out July 14, 2026

ARC kindly provided by HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie, narrator Hugh Fraser

Gordon Cloade did his family no favors. Yes, he showered them with money, but he made them entirely dependent on him. So, when he died in an air raid only weeks after marrying a new wife, all of his money went to her and his family had no idea how to cope. It might have been fine if the pliable Rosaleen had been on her own, but she has a brother who will not let her release any of the funds. 

Most of this story is getting to know the different characters, their problems, and how they approach Rosaleen for help. But then a man, who may or may not be Rosaleen's first husband, is killed, setting off the mystery.

Hercule isn't in the book much and the ending is a kick in the pants. 

Three stars

Hercule Poirot #27

Follows The Labours of Hercules

Followed by Mrs. McGinty's Dead

This book came out in 1948

Borrowed as an audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

The Labors of Hercules by Agatha Christie with Hugh Fraser (Narrator)

Hercule Poirot is feeling like he is in a rut. Then a friend mentions that he is not very like his namesake, Hercules. So he decides to undertake the Labours of Hercules before he retires. In fact, he will only take cases that relate the the labors. So, a Pekignese dog becomes the Nemean lion. The multi-headed Hydra becomes a rash of gossip. He even has to descend into Hell.

During the short stories, we see familiar characters like Miss Lemon, George, even the Countess, Vera Rossakoff. An interesting mix of stories; some stretch quite a bit to be added to the original labors while others (like the last) are almost spot on the nose. 

Four stars

Hercule Poirot #26

Follows The Hollow

Followed by Taken at the Flood

This  book came out in 1947

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

The Hollow by Agatha Christie, Hugh Fraser (Narrator)

Dr. John Christow has a varied romantic background. Now, at a weekend at his friends' Sir Henry and Lady Lucy Angkatell's house, known as The Hollow, he has his wife (Gerda), his girlfriend (Henrietta, an artist), and an ex, Veronica (moviestar). It's supposed to be a relaxing weekend away, but the romantic entanglements are going to create stress. It doesn't help that the nephew of the Angkatells, Edmund, is loafing around making eyes at Henrietta.

But tensions rise and John is dead. Henrietta is standing over him with a gun. It seems to be an open and shut case but Hercule Poirot is on site and working with Inspector Colquhoun to discover what really happened.

Three stars

Hercule Poirot #25

Follows Five Little Pigs

Followed by The Labours of Hercules

This  book came out in 1946

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie, Hugh Fraser (Narrator)

Sixteen years ago, a famous artist was killed. Of course, it was the long-suffering wife who had endured any number of affairs. Most recently, he had told her that he was leaving her for his latest model, a young, rich girl. Plus, he was trying to send her sister away to boarding school, the sister she had so grievously wronged as a baby and now tried to do everything for.
Their child was sent to Canada. She's now about to get married, but she wants to know whether her mother's letter, proclaiming her innocence, is true or not. No one but Hercule Poirot would be able to solve this case.

Four stars

Hercule Poirot #24

Follows Evil Under the Sea

Followed by The Hollow

This book came out in 1942

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie with narrator David Suchet

I get this story and the "Triangle at Rhodes" confused with each other. Both are Poirot on vacation with a glamorous woman, in this book, Arlena Stuart, who ends up dead. Both have a female confidante. The confidante in this one is a famous dressmaker who was the childhood friend of the dead woman's husband. In this story, the dead woman's husband has a daughter. His first wife was accused of murder and acquited. The second wife (the dead woman) was also accused of murder and acquited. However, Arlena was rather stupid and vain. She was also having a rather ill-concealed affair with a gentleman who was also on vacation at the Jolly Roger, Patrick Redfern. 

Three stars
Hercule Poirot #23

Follows One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Followed by Five Little Pigs

This book came out in 1941

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie

A visit to the dentist doesn't usually but end up with a visit from the police, but it happens to our favorite protagonist. After he sees Dr. Morely for a tooth issue, the man ends up dead. It is possibly a suicide but Japp would like to talk to Poirot anyway. Alistair Blunt had an appointment with the same dentist and there is a possibility that this was an assassination attempt on the banker. 

There is a sprawling cast of characters in this one including an actress who was also at the dentist but who has since disappeared, a political activist, and the people who live with Mr. Blunt. The solution is a bit convoluted but wouldn't be out of place in a story that was written today. 

Three and a half stars

Hercule Poirot #22

Follows Sad Cypress

Followed by Evil Under the Sun

This book came out November 11, 1940

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Murder in the Mews by Agatha Christie, with narrators Hugh Fraser, Nigel Hawthorne

Dead Man's Mirror
Gervase Chevinix-Gore writes to Poirot. He's well known for being incredibly proud of his family. But he never had biological children. His only daughter was adopted from a deceased, distant family member. He's asking Poirot to come because he's afraid he's being defrauded. But Poirot arrives too late, Gervase is dead.

The Incredible Theft
A weekend party starts off well but goes down hill when plans vital to winning the war disappear.

Murder in the Mews
Barbara Allen is dead of an apparent suicide. But her flatmate is insistent that it is murder. And all of the clues do seem to point in that direction. Will Hercule be able to discover what actually happened?

Triangle at Rhodes
Hercule observes two couples at Rhodes. It seems like the handsome husband of one would be better matched with the stunning woman of the other. Then, one of them dies. Who dies and why?

Four stars

This book came out in 1937

Hercule Poirot #16

Follows Cards on the Table

Followed by Dumb Witness

Audible book of mine

Opinions are my own

Partners in Crime by Agatha Christie

I love Tommy and Tuppence. I think that's actually how I started my review for "The Secret Adversary." But they are just so much fun. In this book, the not-so-newlyweds, well, Tuppence, is bemoaning how boring life has become. Luckily, their old boss walks in and asks if they would like to help catch some spies. What follows is a series of short stories, some having to do with the spies, some not. All fun. There's even the added enjoyment of Tommy and Tuppence pretending to be classic detectives along the way.

Five stars
Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries #2

This book came out in 1927

Follows The Secret Adversary

Followed by N or M

Audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie

Elinor Carlisle has it all. Or she's going to. She's the apparent heir to her wealthy aunt and she has a fabulous fiance. But, Roddy isn't acting like he used to and Elinor knows why. It's Mary Gerrard. And Elinor's ready to commit murder. But does she?

Yes, her aunt dies suspiciously and then there's another death. Elinor's in the docket and her aunt's doctor is begging Poirot to take on the case. And this is a case that only Poirot can solve. 

Three stars

Hercule Poirot #22

This book came out March 1, 1940

Follows Hercule Poirot's Christmas

Followed by One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

 Love, love, love Tommy and Tuppence. This is the first of their adventures together, starting just after WWI, both Tommy and Tuppence are at loose ends and short on cash. Meeting up for lunch, they decide to start a partnership called the Young Adventurers. Even as they leave lunch, a man stops Tuppence and asks her to help out with a project. When he asks for her name, she comes up with the first name she can remember, "Jane Finn." It was a name that Tommy had overheard and mentioned. When she says the name, it sends a bolt of electricity through the man and he accuses Tuppence of playing him. This sets off a chain of events that has them meeting up with an American millionaire in search of his cousin, a woman who has been in hiding for over five years, and a group of men who are trying to overthrow the British government.

Five stars
Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries #1

This book came out in 1922

Followed by Partners in Crime

Audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie

Opening lines can make or break a book and this one has a doozy: You see, don’t you, that she’s got to be killed? This is a line that will come back to haunt some of the characters in this book when Mrs. Boynton ends up dead. Certainly none of her three stepchildren nor even her own daughter will mourn the woman. She wielded the family wealth like a jail. For most of them, this was the first time they had ever left home (and what a place to head out to!)

Their are several travelers who they have met along the way who have noticed how strange this family is. Could it be that one of them took matters into their own hands? Or was it something darker?

Of course, it could have been a natural death. But the doctor that was nearby doesn't think so and asks Poirot (who is on his own vacation) for help.

Four stars

Hercule Poirot #20

This book came out in 1938

Follows Death on the Nile

Followed by Hercule Poirot's Christmas

Borrowed as audiobook 

Opinions are my own

Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie

This is one of my favorite Poirot stories. Partly because of the story itself and partly because I love the David Suchet episode of this story; the dog that plays Bob is adorable.

Emily Arundell has fallen down the stairs. She nearly died. Her family said that she slipped on her dog's ball (Bob has a habit of dropping the ball down the stairs and then chasing after it) but that doesn't seem quite right. She writes to Poirot in April, asking him to come.

Poirot receives the letter in June. Why was it posted so late? And was Miss Arundell's eventual death because of some food she ate that upset her stomach? Or did one of her loving relatives help her along?

Four stars

This book came out July 5, 1937

Hercule Poirot #17

Follows Murder in the Mews

Followed by Death on the Nile

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Cards on the Table Agatha Christie

Mr. Shaitana is well-known. He looks like Mephistopheles and often dresses like the devil at his much attended parties. But when he invites Hercule Poirot for dinner, there are only seven other people. According to Shaitana, there will be some murderers there. And that turns out to be true enough when Mr. Shaitana is the one to die. 

Then, the four detectives, and one of the suspects, are on the case. It is perhaps, the first story where Ariadne Oliver and Hercule Poirot meet along with Colonel Race and Superintendent Battle from other series. Of the suspects, one is an unassuming young woman, one is an older woman obsessed with Bridge, one is a dentist, and one is an adventurer. All do have some suspicious deaths connected to their pasts but some are definitely more guilty than others.

Four stars

This book came out November 2, 1936

Hercule Poirot #15 

Follows Murder in Mesopotamia

Followed by Murder in the Mews

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie

 Nurse Amy Leatheran has just finished a position with a nice young family and decides to stay in Iraq with an archaeological dig. Famous archaeologist, Dr. Leidner, is married to a woman who is very stressed out. She is worried that her former husband is coming back to get even with her marrying another man. The only problem? Her former husband died in the war. 

Nurse Leatheran is only there a short time but she sketches a short outline of each of the characters at the dig. It's just too bad that Mrs. Leidner is killed in a locked room manner; there was no way for anyone to get in and out of the dig without being seen so it has to be someone on the inside.

Hercule Poirot #14

Four stars

This book came out July 6, 1936

Follows The ABC Murders

Followed by Cards on the Table

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Three Blind Mice and Other Stories by Agatha Christie

A novelization of Christie's long-running play with stories starring Poirot and Miss Marple. A wonderful amalgam of some of Christie's best short work.

Stories include the titular tale in which a young couple is starting up a hotel but their first guests arrive on the heels of a snowstorm. And one of them is a killer.

Miss Marple is the star of "Strange Jest" in which a young couple tries to decipher clues to a fortune left by a jocular uncle, "Tape-Measure Murder" which gives away the cause of death, and "The Case of the Perfect Maid" where she anticipates a crime. She also solves "The Case of the Caretaker" which is a manuscript given to her by her favorite doctor about a young man whose wife is murdered soon after they marry.

Hercule Poirot steps in to solve the mystery of "The Third Floor Flat" in which a double date leads to finding a dead body when one of the girls loses the key to her apartment and "The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly" wherein a young boy is kidnapped from under the noses of any number of policemen. He also gets a third story in "Four and Twenty Blackbirds" when the eating habits of 'Old Father Time' help to solve his murder.

The last story pulls misters Satterthwaite and Quinn who are less well known but still help solve the murder of a man even though both the man's wife and her lover confess in "The Love Detectives."

Four stars

This book came out in 1950

Hard copy of mine

Opinions are my own

The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie

Alice Asher of Andover has been murdered. It seems to be an open-and-shut case of a woman killed by her brute of an ex-husband. So why is Hercule Poirot interested? Well, he received an anonymous letter about the murder. And when Elizabeth "Betty" Bernard is murdered in Bexhill, the stakes are definitely raised.
Poirot gathers some of the people affected by the murders, especially when the victim of 'C' turns out to be a well-known gentleman. It is in talking to these people that Poirot discovers the insidious reason for this series of murders.

Hercule Poirot #13

Four stars

This book came out January 6, 1936

Follows Death in the Clouds 

Followed by Murder in Mesopotamia

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie

Hercule Poirot, famously not good at river travel, takes to the air in this book. And it's a lovely glimpse into history as we see stewards serving full teas with actual tea cups. Unfortunately, not everyone completes the trip alive. An older woman is discovered to be dead, potentially from a wasp sting (one was flying around the cabin) but Poirot thinks it's something different. 

A large part of this book is other characters, Jean Dupont and Norman Gale, trying to solve the murder themselves. The overall solution is similar to other twists in Christie stories but the story (minus the casual racism that occurred in the '30s) is overall a fine read.

Four stars

This book came out March 10, 1935

Follows Three Act Tragedy

Followed by The ABC Murders

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own