Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie, narrator: David Suchet

This is one of my favorite Agatha Christie books. The clues are all there, but the solution is diabolical.

Ariadne Oliver calls on her old friend for some help. She is helping to put together a mystery story for a village fete (so like an escape room with hints and clues!) but there is something wrong and she just can't put her finger on it. She knows that Hercule will solve the problem.
When Hercule arrives, it is to find Sir George and Lady Stubbs who have only recently bought the house from Mrs. Ffolliot (sp?). However, that woman still tends to run things as Lady Stubbs is... well, even though she's a grown woman, her mind hasn't fully developed. Then there is the group putting on the fete. There are a number of characters fleshed out fairly well. That includes the young girl who is going to be the dead body. And it is she who ends up dead first. It's up to Hercule to determine why someone would want to kill a teenager and to stop them before they kill again.

Four stars

Hercule Poirot #31

Follows Hickory, Dickory Dock

Followed by Cat Among the Pigeons

This book came out in 1956

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

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

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

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

Poirot is on vacation when a newlywed, bright and golden Linnet Doyle nee Ridgeway, is murdered. Traveling in Egypt, he has also encountered the woman who perhaps has the most reason to kill Linnet, Jacqueline de Beaufort. Before Linnet got married, her husband, Simon, was engaged to Jackie. In fact, Jackie introduced the two of them. So, yes, she has a reason to hate Linnet. 

But there are other people on the boat who might have reasons to be upset with Linnet, including a trustee who has mismanaged her money, a jewel thief after her $50,000 pearl necklace, and a smuggler who doesn't want Linnet to reveal his game.

A fantastic story with Christie at the height of her game.

Four Stars

This book came out November 1st, 1937

Hercule Poirot #18

Follows Dumb Witness

Followed by Appointment with Death

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Reread August 2024