The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding

Hercule Poirot #37

by Agatha Christie

Alternate cover edition of ASIN B0046H95S6

Agatha Christie’s seasonal Poirot and Marple short story collection.

First came a sinister warning to Poirot not to eat any plum pudding… then the discovery of a corpse in a chest… next, an overheard quarrel that led to murder… the strange case of the dead man who altered his eating habits… and the puzzle of the victim who dreamt his own suicide.

What links these five baffling cases? The little grey cells of Monsieur Hercule Poirot!

Genres: Mystery, Agatha Christie, Christmas, Fiction, Crime, Short Stories, Classics

371 pages, ebook

First published October 31, 1960

About the author

Agatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.

This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.

Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)

Reviews

[Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) · Rating 4 out of 5]

For many people, Christmas time is a time for relaxation and celebration.

But not for Hercule Poirot. Even when he arrives at a great English country house, he plans to solve his cases. Each case discussed in this book is unique and intriguing.

"A weak man in a corner is more dangerous than a strong man. ”

A bigger surprise for me was the Miss Marple story at the end. But who is complaining? Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot's stories together in a book dealing with themes related to Christmas are the perfect recipe for bibliophiles during the Christmas season.

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

January 2021 read for Poirot Group Read
So it appears I'm reading the same book twice in one long Group Read. Hmm, not quite the case despite the obvious evidence. The December 18 read was of the short story Christmas Adventure: Hercule Poirot which is an early version of The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding - a Hercule Poirot Short Story, So in 2018 I read all the stories in the book rather than just the title story. Hence when we get to reading the updated version and other stories in December 2020, I find I've already read them. Shall I just skip the reader after 2 years shall I re-read.
Hey ho re-read it is . 😊
So far I see no reason to change my thoughts below, nor my markings (2 stories in so far). And now I've finished it (again). Some wonderful short stories, all of them 4 stars plus. To me The Dream is the best and demonstrates Hercule's ability the most.


December 2018 read for Poirot Group Read
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding - 5 stars
An excellent Poirot short that perfectly demonstrates his amazing ability, and Ms Christie’s storytelling prowess.
(To save counting this short story twice, I've removed the separate short story from my library)

Mystery of the Spanish Chest - 4 stars
Well I read this only 3 months ago and amazingly I’m enjoying it again so very soon

And now do I shelve this until I have to read the rest of the short stories as part of my challenge (I think its due December 2020 !!) , or shall I finish it now and read again in 2 years ha ha.

Well I decided to carry on, so ...

The Underdog - 4 stars
A great short story that again showcases Poirot's talents, and thus Ms Christie's talents.

Four and Twenty Blackbirds - 5 stars
This has to be, in my opinion one of Poirot's best short stories. In fact he's not even asked to investigate anything. Read it and find out what I mean.

The Dream - 4.5 stars

Another wonderful Poirot short, in which our hero again produces a rabbit out of the hat at the last minute.

Greenshaw's Folly -4.5 stars
Surprisingly enough the last "short" in this book is a Miss Marple story. Our darling Jane virtually solves the whole mystery from her armchair whilst knitting. Nephew and writer Raymond assists as Aunt Jane cuts through the red-herrings and gets straight to heart of the murder.

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hercule Poirot, book #25 consists of six short stories, five with Poirot and one with Miss Marple. And surprisingly for a short story collection (well, for me anyway), all five Poirot's are worth reading with some classic Poirot deductions and a lovely little Marple tale at the end. 6 out of 12, Three Stars for these festive detective reads

2013 read

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poirot hates Christmas.



Ok, no. Not really.
But he hates the idea of spending Christmas at an estate in the English countryside because he assumes it will be a cold, drafty nightmare. He wants heaters. And who can blame him for that?
Not me.
Bing Crosby can keep his White Christmas. I hate cold weather and could completely understand his reluctance.



Quite a bit of the time when I listen to one of these little short stories, they just aren't very satisfying. But The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding had some meat on the bone.
The gist is that a con woman tricked a high-profile prince (of somewhere), who is about to be married, into showing her the family jewels (literally and figuratively) and then stepped out for a pack of proverbial cigarettes.
They can't go to the police, because if his fiance and her family find out that he's been dipping his wick in another candle's flame, the engagement will be off - and his family isn't eager to live with the shame of an idiot son.



Spoilery things happen and then they eat some Christmas pudding. <--whateverthefuck that is! Sounded gross when the cook was describing it. Seriously. She made it like a week in advance. ON PURPOSE.
That doesn't sound sanitary.



Recommended!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hercule Poirot has a case at a home in the English countryside involving a missing ruby, and he also gets to experience an English Christmas.

This was an extremely enjoyable short story. I liked the setting, the Christmas season, the characters... I liked the part when the teenagers tried to trick Poirot, but as usual, he is one step ahead of them.

Another entertaining mystery by Agatha Christie!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is also known as The Theft of the Royal Ruby.
Both titles make sense because the pudding plays a part in the recovery of the ruby.



The gist of this one is that Poirot is called in to help an eastern prince because he's messed up in a big way. He's engaged to be married but unwisely decided to have one last hurrah with a ho.
Unfortunately for him, this chick made off with his family jewels. And he needs these jewels to present to his wife-to-be and her family.
If the police get involved, the word might get out and the scandal would ruin everything.
And I think it's pretty safe to say his fiance wouldn't be too happy to learn that he let some hussy take her wedding gift to the bathroom with her.



Somehow the Powers That Be suspect someone who is staying at a house called Kings Lacey has the jewel. Poirot then gets foisted on this family supposedly so that he can experience a traditional English Christmas.
And here's where the Christmas pudding from the title comes in because I'm guessing that's an English thing. I mean, we don't have week-old pudding as part of our holiday celebration in the States. So, you know...



And I absolutely loved Mrs. Lacey. She's the heart and soul of the whole thing and it's worth reading for her character alone.
Cheeky little kids & unsuitable boyfriends mingle in with the mistletoe & presents. So, while Poirot is there to find a thief, he actually does get a REAL family Christmas experience while he's doing it.



But don't worry. Even with all the Christmas crazy, Hercule Poirot will still solve the case.

Now, I've read and listened to this story before. Several times.
But this time around I listened to the dramatized version and it was pretty fun, especially if you're trying to find something holidayesque to listen to. I have to say that I actually prefer the regular audiobook narration, though.

The original idea came from the 1923 short story Christmas Adventure. If you can find that one, check it out!

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 solid stars for this M. Poirot "Traditional English Christmas" set story (is it a short or a novella, I wonder?) Very entertaining & fun, it was just exactly what I needed in a read right now...

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The home stretch of my Poirot run! #33, and the story, “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding” (a.k.a. The Theft of the Royal Ruby) is a light-hearted family tale set at Christmas-time, which I'll admit is not the kind of story I would typically go out of my way to read. Oh, it features a murder, of course, but hey, it’s Christmas, so it’s the least grisly murder mystery. The story is part of a short story collection, which I read quickly, not that interested in most of them, and not a mystery short story fan, but you know, I made a commitment to read all these Poirot books in order, so: check.

“The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding” is really a novella, the first and longest in the collection. Hercules Poirot is invited to attend Christmas at a house where a ruby is missing. All the kids in the house challenge Poirot by setting up a subplot. Poirot solves the case and teaches the kids a lesson.

“The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding” was the only one of the stories in this collection set during Christmas. In Christie’s foreword she explains how her childhood Christmases spent in Abney Hall inspired the story. As with many Christmas stories, it feels nostalgic and sentimental, a mystery directed to a perhaps younger audience, for the first time in my experience with Christie. The 70-year-old Christie, writing this in 1960, makes a couple digs at beatnik culture of the time evident in England. Dame Christie was clearly no beatnik, in case you were wondering. Christie’s characters here are forgettable, but she is ever the cleverest plot-master (she would prefer plot-mistress, I think), so the resolution of this little harmless story adds a star.

[Kalliope · Rating 4 out of 5]

As this time of the year arrived, I thought of reading something christmasy. I don’t always bother but when I came across this novel by the crime queen the idea of of a Christmas book that combined plum puddings and murder --or something like it-- appeared very intriguing.

This was a lighter read than I expected. So light that it has made perfect reading while queuing for my booster doses early this morning:light and charming, even if the plot is somewhat predictable and some dialogues give too much away. But inserting Poirot in a quintessential English environment is delightfully done.

My edition begins with the note that this was first published in 1923 and later modified. Christie then had written this story when she was still married to her first husband. And yet, later in the novel there is a reference to “watching too much TV” and at towards the end there is another to a “Mesopotamian cosmetic box”. Both elements surprised me. Not only was there no TV around in 1923 but also Christie’s interest in archaeological items dates from her second marriage. So, I did a bit of investigation, obviously inspired by Poirot, and found that in wiki this story is recorded as first published in 1960, part of a collection.

I was reading then the revised version. Mystery solved.

[Nayra.Hassan · Rating 3 out of 5]

جريمتنا هنا من الذين قلّبوا البودينج؟
و لكنه ليس اي بودينج
انها الطقوس البريطانية العريقة للعام الجديد فلنُذهل سويا

قالت الطاهية عن الفن الذي تصنعه"لم أتمكن من إعداده قبل مطلع العام الجديد بوقت؛ إن بودينج العام الجديد يجب أن يجهز قبل ذلك بأسابيع ثم يُترك ليجف وكلما تركته ليجف أطول ، ضمن الوقت المعقول، كان أفضل! ا

لقد أعددت هذا البودينج منذ ثلاثة أيام، قبل وصولك بيوم، ولكني اتبعت العادة القديمة: على جميع من في المنزل أن يدخلوا المطبخ ويقلبوا مزيج البودينج ثم يتمنوا أمنية. إنها عادة قديمة يا سيدي ألتزم بها دائمًا


هكذا صارت التهمة في قصتنا هنا :من قام بتقليب الخليط؟
سأل بوارو: "كم عدد أخلاط البودينج التي أعددتها؟ هل هذا هو الخليط الوحيد؟"
قالت السيدة روس: "لا يا سيدي، لقد أعددت أربعة: اثنين كبيرين واثنين أصغر
من هذا البودينج البرقوقي البايت الذي يتم اشعاله قبل تناوله

Watch "Hercule Poirot S03E09 - VF 1080p - Christmas Pudding" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/8UuDsImjpmk

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this Agatha Christie novella, Hercule Poirot finds himself visiting an English manor during the Christmas season.

The thought of a fourteenth century English manor house filled him with apprehension. He had suffered too often in the historic country houses of England.

A group of youth decide to have a little fun at the expense of the Belgian detective. But as they soon find out, no one can fool Poirot and he has a few surprises of his own.

I am a huge fan of Hercule Poirot and the more I read of Agatha Christie, I am quickly becoming a fan. The characters, the intricate twists, and the humor that infuses her writing made this a very pleasant read.

Goodreads review published 19/10/19

[Vikas Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of six short stories, five of then featuring Hercule Poirot and one with Miss Marple. The first story -The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is Christie's tribute to the wonderful time she had during Christmas time at her brother in laws house. The last story Greenshaw's folly is the one Christie wrote to raise money for her local church. Compared to her other stories, the plots here are weaker but they still hold your attention. Average read

[Anissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of love that my reading year 2022 closes with Dame Christie, Poirot and Jane Marple. This volume had several short stories with really only the first with a Christmas connection. I can't even say the others were set in winter. Still, these were very good. Thoughts on each tomorrow. Recommended.

[Bionic Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the longish short story The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding, Agatha Christie has given us a little Christmas treat. No only is this whodunnit entertaining, but it is easy to solve! For readers who (like me) enjoy detective stories, but are carried along by every red herring, and never guess the ending—even when they have read or watched it before—this is surprisingly obvious and satisfying.

Agatha Christie seems well aware of her Christmas gift to us. In the introduction to a collection of short stories, she says:

“The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is an indulgence of my own, since it recalls to me, very pleasurably, the Christmases of my youth … What a day of delight from ‘Stockings’ in bed in the morning, Church and all the Christmas hymns, Christmas dinner, Presents, and the final Lighting of the Christmas Tree!”

She recalls that after her father’s death, she and her mother had always spent Christmas with her brother-in-law’s family in the north of England, at “Abney Hall”, an immense country house. She reminisces fondly:

“The Christmas fare was of gargantuan proportions. I was a skinny child, appearing delicate, but actually of robust health and perpetually hungry! The boys of the family and I used to vie with each other as to who could eat most on Christmas Day. Oyster Soup and Turbot went down without undue zest, but then came Roast Turkey, Boiled Turkey and an enormous Sirloin of Beef. The boys and I had two helpings of all three! We then had Plum Pudding, Mince-pies, Trifle and every kind of dessert. During the afternoon we ate chocolates solidly. We neither felt, nor were, sick! How lovely to be eleven years old and greedy!”

As we read the story, we see that Agatha Christie has indeed included many details of the festivities she remembers from her Christmases at “Abney Hall”, all those years ago. This is a late story from 1960, although it has been extended from an earlier story first published for the Christmas of 1923, and she is full of nostalgia for the Christmases of her childhood. We see too, that the characters in the story are also recalling past times, and feeling regret. There are several references to things not being how they used to be:

“the real old-fashioned type of Christmas. People spend it at hotels nowadays. But an English Christmas with all the family gathered round, the children and their stockings, the Christmas tree, the turkey and plum pudding, the crackers. The snowman outside the window ... ”

Hercule Poirot treasures his own memories—but above all he values his own comfort. The story begins:

“I regret exceedingly— ”

M. Hercule Poirot decidedly does not want to leave his own apartment, even when there are grave issues of State, and he is appealed to for help by “the highest quarters”.

A certain Mr. Jesmond is acting on behalf of a young eastern prince, who accompanies him, and is soon to be married to a cousin. The prince has brought several expensive jewels to London, to be reset in a more modern style of jewellery by Cartier. However the prince is young and inexperienced. When he meets an attractive young woman, he takes her out for a meal, and instead of buying her a trinket to thank her, lets her wear a fabulous ruby from his collection. During the course of the evening, the young woman disappears—and so does the ruby. Mr. Jesmond tells Poirot that if the jewel cannot be retrieved, there will be a national scandal. The situation is far too delicate to involve the police, so Mr. Jesmond has a plan.

We are not privy to this plan, but it involves an old English country house called Kings Lacey. Once Poirot is there, Mr. Jesmond knows that he will be able to locate the fabulous jewel. Mr. Jesmond is acquainted with the hostess, Mrs. Lacey. He is sure that when she is told Poirot’s cover story—that he is keen to experience a traditional Christmas in an English country house—it will easy to arrange for him to be invited as a guest. He stresses that she will be particularly motivated to invite Poirot, as she has a little problem she would like Poirot’s opinion on: namely the suitability of a young man her granddaughter has taken up with. She and her husband are the young woman’s guardians, and the young woman is destined to become very wealthy when she comes of age. Mr. Jesmond continues to try to make the idea tempting, but:

“Poirot shivered. The thought of a fourteenth-century English manor house filled him with apprehension. He had suffered too often in the historic country houses of England. He looked round appreciatively at his comfortable modern flat with its radiators and the latest patent devices for excluding any kind of draught.

“In the winter,” he said firmly, “I do not leave London.””

Poirot is only eventually won round when Mr. Jesmond describes all the plentiful traditional food—and the fact that Mrs. Lacey has insisted on having central heating and every modern convenience installed in her stately home.

The elderly Mrs. Lacey proves to be a welcoming hostess, and on Christmas Eve, at Kings Lacey, she tells Poirot about the old-fashioned Christmas she has planned:

“All the same old things, the Christmas tree and the stockings hung up and the oyster soup and the turkey—two turkeys, one boiled and one roast—and the plum pudding with the ring and the bachelor’s button and all the rest of it in it. We can’t have sixpences nowadays because they’re not pure silver any more. But all the old desserts, the Elvas plums and Carlsbad plums and almonds and raisins, and crystallized fruit and ginger …”

She also lets Poirot know about the other members of their house party. As well as her husband, Colonel Lacey, there is Sarah, the granddaughter whom Poirot has been told about. Her father had been their son Colin, who had been killed in the war. There is also a teenage grandson by their daughter, Michael, who had been a friend of Colin’s at school; Bridget who is the same age as Colin and Michael, and is a great niece of Mrs Lacey’s; Diana Middleton, a young cousin of Mrs Lacey’s; and David Welwyn who is a family friend. Mrs. Lacey fondly hopes that David will be Sarah’s chosen sweetheart, as she considers him a far better match.

Hesitating, Mrs. Lacey confides in Poirot her worries about Sarah’s relationship with Desmond Lee-Wortley, a young man with a dubious reputation. She and the Colonel both think him unsuitable for their granddaughter and have invited him to join them for Christmas, in the hope that a few days’ close contact with Sarah will show her how unsuitable he is, particularly in contrast to David Welwyn who has been friends with Sarah since childhood. Apparently Desmond Lee-Wortley is there already with his sister, who is recovering from an operation and is confined to her room, convalescing. Mrs Lacey considers that this solicitude for his sister is a point in his favour, but would still very much like Poirot’s opinions on the matter.

Colin, Michael, and Bridget are typical well-to-do youngsters of their time. They are disappointed that the great Hercule Poirot does not match up to what a detective should look like, in their eyes. We also see that Desmond Lee-Wortley is impatient with these old-fashioned festivities, and just wants to escape to the pub with Sarah, who is clearly in two minds about it.

The children decide to prepare a Christmas treat for Hercule Poirot. Their plan is to arrange a false murder for him to solve. Bridget will be lying in the snow, complete with fake blood, and footprints will lead through the snow to the dead body. The snow is now falling and expected to grow heavier. This plan is put into operation on Boxing Day, as Colonel Lacey would considerable it an unsuitable “entertainment” for Christmas Day itself.

After decorating the Christmas tree, everyone retires to their rooms for the night. However, Poirot is puzzled to find a note on his pillow, which warns, “DON’T EAT NONE OF THE PLUM PUDDING. ONE WHO WISHES YOU WELL.” He is to remember this the next day, as they all enjoy a magnificent Christmas dinner, including the traditional plum pudding with all the tokens and charms inside:

“A large football of a pudding, a piece of holly stuck in it like a triumphant flag and glorious flames of blue and red rising round it. There was a cheer and cries of ‘Ooh-ah.’

… Mrs. Lacey had … prevailed upon Peverell to place the pudding in front of her so that she could help it rather than hand it in turn round the table. She breathed a sigh of relief as it was deposited safely in front of her. Rapidly the plates were passed round, flames still licking the portions … Operation Pudding had been a success.”

All the guests enjoy their pudding and hard brandy sauce, and each find a charm in their portion. Poirot gets the bachelor’s button, and others discover a ring, or a thimble, or a pig, or a gold ten-shilling piece. Colonel Lacey though, almost chokes on his. It is not a charm at all, but what looks like a piece of red glass. Poirot quietly pockets the object.

Afterwards, Poirot makes a point of visiting the kitchen to compliment the cook, Mrs. Ross, on the meal—and particularly the pudding. She tell him that four had been made as usual, including two large ones, for that day and New Year’s Day. However due to the ornamental basin for the Christmas Day pudding having been dropped, the pudding for New Year had been substituted.

That night, someone enters Poirot’s room and searches it thoroughly. However, Poirot is pretending to be asleep in his bed. He had avoided drinking a drugged coffee which had been handed to him by Desmond Lee-Wortley.

The next morning, Colin, Michael, and Bridget stage their “murder”, and Colin fetches Poirot out of bed to investigate the corpse:

“The scene was indeed dramatic enough. A few yards away Bridget lay in the snow. She was wearing scarlet pyjamas and a white wool wrap thrown round her shoulders. The white wool wrap was stained with crimson. Her head was turned aside and hidden by the mass of her outspread black hair. One arm was under her body, the other lay flung out, the fingers clenched, and standing up in the centre of the crimson stain was the hilt of a large curved Kurdish knife which Colonel Lacey had shown to his guests only the evening before.”

Sarah and Desmond Lee-Wortley join them in the snow. To the children’s horror Poirot tells them that Bridget is indeed dead. He asks Desmond to check Bridget’s pulse, and he confirms that she has no pulse.

In the dead girl’s hand is the glass “ruby” from the pudding. Everyone is shocked and confused, but Desmond takes the jewel and says he will phone the police. Announcing then that the phone is dead, he drives off to fetch them. In the meantime, Poirot takes the others back to the house, to explain the mystery. Desmond Lee-Wortley is a blackmailer and small time criminal, and the young woman with him is not his sister at all. She is the young woman who had stolen the ruby from the eastern prince, and the two of them had been tracked to Kings Lacey.

Bridget now makes her entrance. She is not dead at all, but had been asked by Poirot to play the part of the corpse. She wore a tourniquet on her arm when lying in the snow, to convince Desmond Lee-Wortley. Poirot had heard them talking, through an open window, when they were all planning to play their trick on him. He decided this was a good opportunity to reveal the thief, Desmond Lee-Wortley. The “ruby” which Bridget held in the snow was actually a paste copy, which Poirot had brought with him to the house. This fake is what Desmond Lee-Wortley had taken with him when he pretended to go to the police. Poirot suspects that he will go abroad—and be most surprised and angry when he tries to sell the false jewel. Poirot explains that it was the real ruby which had been hidden by the two thieves in the pudding, and retrieved by him. When Desmond Lee-Wortley’s “sister” overhears this, she is furious, realising that he has run out on her. Poirot has arranged for a car to take her to the station—which is very probably the police station.

The mystery of who left the note on Poirot’s pillow is solved when one of the housemaids confesses that she had heard Desmond Lee-Wortley and his partner in crime discussing getting Poirot out of the way—and also that something had been put in the pudding. She therefore assumed that they planned to poison him. Poirot is pleased, and asks the maid what she would most like as a present. She asks for a vanity box.

The story ends most surprisingly, with Bridget kissing Poirot under the mistletoe.

It is a lovely little entertainment for the Christmas season, as long as the reader is forgiving as to the time and class. For instance the cook Mrs. Ross is described as “nobly built with all the dignity of a stage duchess”—but the author does not afford her character the same respect as she does the hostess. Her stately appearance belies her position, and is thought amusing. Her assistants are “mere myrmidons. Mrs. Ross was the queen of the kitchen quarters”. The housemaid Annie is referred to: “on the floor, busy with a dustpan and brush ... a tow-headed creature in a flowered overall.” and in the next sentence, sarcastically, as an “apparition”.

It seems significant that Agatha Christie only pokes fun at the domestics in this story. The author’s sympathies clearly lie with the wealthy hosts, keen to deter their daughter from choosing a beau from a lower class. But if you can read the story with the eyes of her audience at the time, you will probably enjoy it.

This expanded version of The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding from December 1960 was also published under the title of “The Theft of the Royal Ruby” in the United States a year later, with some slight revisions.

In the UK, it is also included in “While the Light Lasts and Other Stories” a collection from 1997, under a third title: “Christmas Adventure”. The original shorter version was first printed in book form in the UK in two collections: “Problem at Pollensa Bay and Christmas Adventure” in 1943, and “ Poirot Knows the Murderer” in 1946. The original shorter version has never been published in America.

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is the title story of a collection of six, entitled “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding And Other Stories”, which is reviewed separately. It has been adapted by the BBC, both for television as “The Theft of the Royal Ruby”, as part of the series “Agatha Christie’s Poirot” with David Suchet playing the role of Hercule Poirot, and for Radio 4 in 2004 starring John Moffatt as Poirot.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

While working my way through Agatha Christie's works in publication order, this particular short story has me facing a conundrum. This tale was first published as Christmas Adventure in Sketch Magazine on December 12, 1923. It was later re-published in an expanded short novella form as The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding. The later version expands the plot, changes character names, etc. I wanted to read the original version of the story before delving into the longer 1960's version....but it seems the original story has only been re-published in one UK anthology, While the Light Lasts and Other Stories. In the US this was published as The Harlequin Tea Set and Other stories. BUT....the Harlequin Tea Set collection did not include Christmas Adventure. So each time I search for the UK story collection, the search pulls up Harlequin Tea Set instead.....

ARGH!!!

So I turned to my local library....found an anthology "The Early Cases of Hercule Poirot" which includes all the early Poirot stories. But.....instead of Christmas Adventure (the version published first in 1923)...it includes The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding. Foiled again! So I turned to Amazon...they used to sell an ebook version of Christmas Adventure published in 2014. It now says "unavailable.'' Tried to find the ebook on a UK or Australian site.....all say unavailable.

So, it looks like I am going to have to read the revised, longer edition of this story until I can get my hands on a copy of While The Light Lasts and Other Stories. And so far, I have only been able to find copies on Ebay.

Really??? LOL I even tried Internet Archive/Open Library. No luck there either.

So....I have put While the Light Lasts and Other Stories at the top of my "must buy a used copy of this ASAP" list...and I'm having pudding.....sigh. I will backtrack at a later date and read the original story.

Now to actually review the story...

Poirot isn't too keen on spending Christmas at an English country house. But after the the promise of modern conveniences (such as radiators and central heating), good food, and a mystery to solve, he travels to Kings Lacey for an old fashioned English holiday......and a stolen ruby in the plum pudding.

I enjoyed this holiday tale immensely (despite its not being the original story). Poirot did some sleuthing, enjoyed the festivities, and in the end, he decided it was quite the enjoyable holiday. Cute story! Interesting mystery! :)

This re-vamped story is also known as "The Theft of the Royal Ruby.'' It was under this name that the television series Agatha Christie's Poirot adapted the story for television (Season 3, Episode 8). While the story is still delightful, I think the adaptation changed some of the best parts of the story and some characters were expanded that may have been better left as side notes. Still an enjoyable episode, but just not quite the same as the original story.

I'm still very curious about the shorter, original version of this story.... I will read and review it as soon as I have chased down a copy. :)

On to the next story -- The Lemesurier Inheiritance!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

”It is a problem certainly, that Christmas plum pudding. There is here something that I do not understand at all.”

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is a 1960 shorty mystery set at an English country house over Christmas. The mystery is full of surprises and Poirot’s amusing observations all with a backdrop of holidays festivities.

Poirot anticipates a period of peace and repose alone over Christmas. However, when a foolish prince has his heirloom ruby stolen by his date, he turns to Poirot to retrieve it to avoid a scandal. Poirot’s investigation leads him to accept an arranged invitation to stay at Kings Lacey, an English country house.

Poirot arrives at the house ablaze with holiday trimmings and guests. Not to mention the promise of “oil-fired central heating.” Immediately, Mrs. Lacey presses him to uncover useful information about a man with a poor reputation whom her granddaughter has brought home and plans to marry. This man brought his convalescing sister too. Add in three young teens planning a murder show for Poirot and a family friend in love with the granddaughter, and it makes for a lively time.

I loved this mystery. Poirot was at his delightful best! He was a step ahead everyone and often amusing in his observations. Although astute readers may guess the identity of the culprit, just know the real story is about how the mystery unfolds, the surprises, and the quite justice served.

After I finished the story, I watched the corresponding film adaption. Its title is different from the story. The Theft of the Royal Ruby fell below the book’s quality. Thankfully, I read the book first or I might have skipped it based on my feelings for the film. In the film, the house was a modern museum-like place without snow. It was missing the subtle humor the text held. The details of the story were moderately altered (and not for the better). And the ill-mannered prince had too much screen time; I liked how he was regulated to the very beginning in the book.

My AG favorites are from the golden age period, but this 1960s story matched all the elements I enjoy best. If you relish an old-fashioned mystery steeped in Christmas traditions and cheer, check this out.

This title is part of the hoopla Bonus Borrows through the month of November. Note: This title only contains the 53-page mystery, The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding, and it does not have the other short stories reviewer’s mention.

[Nayra.Hassan · Rating 3 out of 5]

جريمتنا هنا من الذين قلّبْوا البودينج؟
و لكنه ليس اي بودينج
انها الطقوس البريطانية العريقة للعام الجديد فلنُذهل سويا

قالت الطاهية عن الفن الذي تصنعه"لم أتمكن من إعداده قبل مطلع العام الجديد بوقت؛ إن بودينج العام الجديد يجب أن يجهز قبل ذلك بأسابيع ثم يُترك ليجف وكلما تركته ليجف أطول ، ضمن الوقت المعقول، كان أفضل! ا

لقد أعددت هذا البودينج منذ ثلاثة أيام، قبل وصولك بيوم، ولكني اتبعت العادة القديمة: على جميع من في المنزل أن يدخلوا المطبخ ويقلبوا مزيج البودينج ثم يتمنوا أمنية. إنها عادة قديمة يا سيدي ألتزم بها دائمًا


هكذا صارت التهمة في قصتنا هنا :من قام بتقليب الخليط؟
سأل بوارو: "كم عدد أخلاط البودينج التي أعددتها؟ هل هذا هو الخليط الوحيد؟"
قالت السيدة روس: "لا يا سيدي، لقد أعددت أربعة: اثنين كبيرين واثنين أصغر
من هذا البودينج البرقوقي البايت الذي يتم اشعاله قبل تناوله

[Sumit RK · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story collection featuring 6 stories incl The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding,
The Mystery of the Spanish Chest, The Under Dog, Four and Twenty Blackbirds, The Dream and Greenshaw's Folly.
All the stories were good. But of all the stories, The Mystery of the Spanish Chest, The Under Dog ,The Dream and Greenshaw's Folly really stood out. The plot, the characters and the main mystery, all were truly excellent and unique. If you are a Poirot fan and if you enjoy short stories, you will surely enjoy this one.

[Issa Deerbany · Rating 4 out of 5]

استمتعت ببعض الحبكات القصيرة
رغم ان القصص الطويلة اجمل وأروع ولكن للتغيير وهو مطلوب

[Phrynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little collection of short stories, mostly starring Hercule Poirot and one about Miss Marple. The title story about the Christmas pudding was the best one with a clever idea and a number of possible murderers. A couple of the other stories were not so effective. I must admit I do not really enjoy short stories. I always feel they stop just when I want them to get going. These ones however were not bad!

[~Bonnie~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's not to love??

A Christmas mystery short story starring M. Poirot, set in a grand English manor. A great read for this time of year. But beware the plum pudding!

[Tim Orfanos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πρόκειται για μια εξαντλημένη στα ελληνικά συλλογή από ιστορίες της Κρίστι με ήρωα, μόνο, τον πασίγνωστο ντετέκτιβ Ηρακλή Πουαρώ, όπου ενώ εξιτάρουν τον αναγνώστη δεν πείθουν όλες για την αληθοφάνειά τους.

Η συλλογή είναι αρκετά ενδιαφέρουσα και γοητευτική, ωστόσο, οι πιο σημαντικές ιστορίες είναι 'Το μυστήριο της Ισπανικής κασέλας', η οποία θεωρείται από τις δυσκολότερες και πιο αγαπημένες υποθέσεις του Πουαρώ (σε αυτήν γνωρίζει τον συνταγματάρχη Ρης που, αργότερα, τον βοηθά στο 'Εγκλημα στο Νείλο') και 'Ο αποδιοπομπαίος' όπου η Κρίστι (και κατ'επέκταση ο Πουαρώ) χρησιμοποιεί τη τέχνη της ύπνωσης ως καινοτομικό στοιχείο για τη διαλεύκανση του εγκλήματος.

Οφείλω να ομολογήσω ότι, ενώ ως καλοκαιρινό ανάγνωσμα ταιριάζει 'γάντι', συγκριτικά με τις υπόλοιπες συλλογές ιστοριών της συγγραφέα, υπολείπεται σημαντικά.

Βαθμολογία: 3,8/5 ή 7,6/10.

[Antoinette · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS.

This book comprised 6 short stories- 5 with Hercule Poirot and one with Miss Marple. The only Christmas story was the first- The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding. Light quick read- perfect for the pre Christmas madness cause if you are like me it is difficult to concentrate at this time of the year.
I always enjoy the way both Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple’s minds work.
Enjoyable read!

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing better than Christmas and murder 🎄✨

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un relato corto la mar de entretenido protagonizado por el genial Poirot. Ideal para leer en estas fechas.

[Stephanie Anze · Rating 4 out of 5]

"....but by all accounts you are not a fool, eh, M. Poirot?"
He laughed breezily.
"Those who have thought so have been sadly mistaken," said Poirot placidly.

Hercule Poirot is once again on the case, or cases, shall we say. In this collection of six short stories Poirot is back and just as eager as ever to keep investigating. Wether in a countryside manor or in the city, where murder is concerned, Poirot is the goods.

The year is winding down and I wanted to have one last adventure with my favorite detective before the year is out. Featuring five short stories with Poirot and one with Jane Marple, this collection is the perfect read for me as usually around the holidays I have less time to read than usual. Originally published in 1960, this is one of Christie's "later" publications. While I find the earlier publications better, this collection had the distinct personality and mannerisms of both Poirot and Marple and the same charm of Christie on every page. The standout story for me is the book title, 'The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding'. I love the setting, characters and build-up to the reveal. I especially like how particular Poirot has become. Generally speaking, I enjoyed all these stories and found the collection to be more than a pleasent read.

[Veronique · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This book of Christmas fare may be described as “The Chef’s Selection.” I am the Chef!”

In the foreword by Agatha Christie, we are presented with two main courses, a selection of entrees, and a sorbet, all in the shape of short stories. These shorter formats are not usually my favourite fare but these were easy to consume, even if some were tastier than others :O)

* The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (a.k.a The Theft of the Royal Ruby)
* The Mystery of the Spanish Chest
* The Under Dog
* Four and Twenty Blackbirds
* The Dream
* Greenshaw’s Folly

Oh and if you get a copy, don’t forget to read that foreword. In it, Christie describes the Christmases of her youth :O)

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread.

I love this Poirot Christmas story. It is the perfect read at this time of year. If you want a cozy, English country house mystery with lots of festive details and no murder, then give this one a read. A very merry mystery.

[Sophie's Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ΑΣΤΕΡΑΚΙΑ

Η περιπέτεια της Χριστουγεννιάτικης πουτίγκας είναι μια συλλογή από έξι σύντομες ιστορίες μυστηρίου που φυσικά πρωταγωνιστικό ρόλο κατέχει ο Ηρακλής Πουαρό. Προσωπικά ήταν η πρώτη μου επαφή με την συγγραφέα Αγκάθα Κρίστι και σίγουρα δεν θα είναι η τελευταία! Χαίρομαι που έχω ήδη κι άλλα βιβλία της στη κατοχή μου! Ας αρχίσουμε σύντομες μικρές κριτικές για την κάθε ιστορία.

Η πρώτη ήταν με διαφορά η αγαπημένη μου και η πιο ευχάριστη ίσως. Διαδραματίζεται στην αγγλική εξοχή , στην οποία πηγαίνει undercover σαν καλεσμένος, ωστόσο ο σκοπός είναι να εξιχνιάσει ένα μυστήριο. Μια παρέα προσπαθεί ταυτόχρονα να του στήσει ένα θεατρικό - μυστήριο μιας που γνωρίζουν την ιδιότητα του ως ντεντέκτιβ. Το συγκεκριμένο διήγημα το απήλαυσα τόσο πολύ! Είχε μυστήριο , αλλά και μια γιορτινή, παιχνιδιάρικη ταυτόχρονα διάθεση. Υπέροχη ιστορία για να την διαβάσετε την περίοδο των Χριστουγέννων! (5 STARS)

Το μυστήριο της ισπανικής κασέλας μπορώ να πω πως δεν ήταν η πιο αγαπημένη μου ιστορία. Η ιστορία έχει να κάνει με ένα πτώμα που βρέθηκε μέσα σε μια ισπανική κασέλα , από τον μπάτλερ. Ένα πάρτι εξελισσόταν στο σπίτι εκείνο το προηγούμενο βράδυ. Ενδιαφέρουσα πλοκή, ωστόσο, κάτι μου έλειπε και δεν είμαι σίγουρη τι ήταν. Ίσως το γεγονός ότι δεν κατάλαβα το κίνητρο ή ότι ο δολοφόνος μου φάνηκε παράξενος. (4 STARS)

Η τρίτη ιστορία ήταν πολύ ωραία. Είχε το κατάλληλο vibe για μια δολοφονία που συμβαίνει σε έναν πύργο. Ατμοσφαιρικό θα έλεγα. Μπάτλερ, κληρονόμοι, υπάλληλοι, χήρα, πολλοί ύποπτοι, ένας μόνο ο δολοφόνος. Τι να συνέβη άραγε; Μια ιστορία που με κράτησε σε αγωνία , καθώς δεν μπορούσα να φανταστώ τον πραγματικό δολοφόνο. Όλοι ήταν ύποπτοι, μα κάποιοι λίγο παραπάνω. Ανατρεπτικό και απολαυστικό! (4.5 STARS)

Η τέταρτη ιστορία επίσης μια από τις αγαπημένες μου. Αν και δεν κατείχε την ατμοσφαιρικότητα των προηγουμένων και ίσως ήταν η πιο προβλεπόμενη από τις άλλες, ωστόσο ήταν πολύ καλογραμμένη και την απόλαυσα δεόντως! (5 STARS)

Η πέμπτη ιστορία με ξάφνιασε. Ως προς την μέθοδο που έγινε ο φόνος και όλο το παρασκήνιο. Για τους υπόπτους ίσως όχι τόσο, όμως ήταν ενδιαφέρουσα και αρκετά σύντομη. (4 STARS)

Τέλος, η έκτη και τελευταία ιστορία ήταν η μοναδική στην οποία δεν εμφανίζεται καθόλου ο Ηρακλής Πουαρό, αλλά τον αντικαθιστά η κυρία Μαρπλ. Έχουμε την υπόθεση μιας βίλας και της ιδιοκτήτριας της. Πολλοί οι συνήθεις ύποπτοι. Κάποια πράγματα τα είχα προβλέψει μπορώ να πω, αλλά φυσικά όχι όλα. (4.5 STARS)

Αυτό που έχω να πω σαν τελική εντύπωση είναι πως μπορώ να δηλώσω πλέον φαν του είδους και της συγγραφέως αυτής. Πάντα άκουγα , αλλά δεν τολμούσα να την διαβάσω , σκεπτόμενη πως λόγω άλλης εποχής μπορεί να μην απολάμβανα τα βιβλία ή την γραφή της. Πόσο λάθος έκανα! Σίγουρα με εξέπληξε σχεδόν σε όλες τις ιστορίες. Είτε με την μέθοδο του φόνου, είτε με το κίνητρο ή με τον ίδιο τον δολοφόνο. Πλέον δηλώνω φαν! Αν διστάζετε κι εσείς για τους ίδιους λόγους, μην το κάνετε!

[Raya راية · Rating 5 out of 5]

"الكلاب التي تنبح لا تعضّ"