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13 for Luck
Brain-twisters, spine-chilling perils, secret codes, daring deductions, well-hidden clues, suspicious-looking characters—these are just a few of the tantalizing ingredients Miss Christie serves up to Hercule Poirot, Jane Marple, Harley Quin, Mr Parker Pyne, Tommy and Tuppence, and Inspector Evans in this collection.
Contents: The veiled lady — The Nemean lion — The girdle of Hyppolita — The Market Basing mystery — Tape-measure murder — The blue geranium — The four suspects — The face of Helen — The bird with the broken wing — The Regatta mystery — Problem at Pollensa Bay — The unbreakable alibi — Accident
Contents: The veiled lady — The Nemean lion — The girdle of Hyppolita — The Market Basing mystery — Tape-measure murder — The blue geranium — The four suspects — The face of Helen — The bird with the broken wing — The Regatta mystery — Problem at Pollensa Bay — The unbreakable alibi — Accident
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
22 people are currently reading
1752 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,797 books75k followersAgatha 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)
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)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 26, 2024
13 short stories featuring all of Agatha's most famous detectives.
I've left a link to each individual story that has a slightly longer review if any particular story catches your fancy.
The Veiled Lady
A hot chick wearing a veil walks into a bar...
How do you know she's hot, my rotund Belgian friend?
Shut up.
My mustache gives my little grey cells super-deduction skills.
The Nemean Lion
A yappy Pekinese dog (standing in for the lion) has been kidnapped, ransomed, and returned safely.
So what's the problem?
The Girdle of Hyppolita
How are art thieves connected with a schoolgirl who goes missing for a few hours on a field trip?
Poirot will help his old friend Inspector Japp find out.
The Market Basing Mystery
Is a suicide sometimes just a suicide?
That's what Poirot wonders when he, Hastings, & Japp get called in to look at a potential locked room murder that has the local constable scratching his head.
Tape-Measure Murder
Not my favorite Marple.
And yet, is any Marple a bad Marple?
So. This one deals with a woman whose husband is the main suspect in her murder, mainly because he isn't showing the appropriate amount of emotion.
The Blue Geranium
When Arthur & Dolly Bantry ask Sir Henry Clithering who he would like to invite over as a dinner guest to round out their house party, he shocks them by asking for Miss Marple to be included.
When he tells Dolly about the uncanny way the elderly spinster solved the mysteries of the Tuesday Night Club the year before, she starts to think maybe Miss Marple could help her solve a seemingly paranormal murder mystery.
The Four Suspects
Sir Henry Clithering, a member of the Tuesday Night Club, takes his turn and tells a story.
The title refers to a running theme in Agatha Christie's mysteries, where the goal of solving a murder isn't just to punish the guilty but to free the other parties who might be suspects from the suspicion of their friends, neighbors, and loved ones.
The Face of Helen
This is a Harley Quin mystery, so it's Mr. Sattherwaite to the rescue of an extremely beautiful young woman who attracts what we would call stalkers these days.
She's found a nice man she wants to marry, but Sattherwaite can't help but think that not all is right. There was another man who was interested in her, and even though he says he wishes her well, Sattherwaite can't shake the feeling that he was missing something.
What is it Mr. Quin wants him to do?!
The Bird with the Broken Wing
Suicide or murder?
After hearing his friend's name spelled out on a OUJA board, Mr. Satterthwaite decides to accept the invitation to a house party that he had previously thought to decline.
The Regatta Mystery
This story originally started its life with Poirot in the lead role.
Poirot and the Regatta Mystery is essentially the same story but for whatever reason Christie decided to put Pyne into the driver's seat when she published the short story collection The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories in 1939.
However, the essential story of a diamond theft stayed the same.
Much like my reviews of each individual story.
Problem at Pollensa Bay
Parker Pyne helps a momma out.
And like most of the help he gives his clients, it's not the help they asked for but the help that they actually need.
The Unbreakable Alibi
A mystery without a crime.
A well-off (but not very bright) young man comes in to get a bit of help winning a bet and hopefully the girl of his dreams.
Accident
An overzealous cop pokes his nose in the wrong spot.
It's a nice selection of Christie's stuff.
Recommended for fans.
I've left a link to each individual story that has a slightly longer review if any particular story catches your fancy.
The Veiled Lady
A hot chick wearing a veil walks into a bar...
How do you know she's hot, my rotund Belgian friend?
Shut up.
My mustache gives my little grey cells super-deduction skills.
The Nemean Lion
A yappy Pekinese dog (standing in for the lion) has been kidnapped, ransomed, and returned safely.
So what's the problem?
The Girdle of Hyppolita
How are art thieves connected with a schoolgirl who goes missing for a few hours on a field trip?
Poirot will help his old friend Inspector Japp find out.
The Market Basing Mystery
Is a suicide sometimes just a suicide?
That's what Poirot wonders when he, Hastings, & Japp get called in to look at a potential locked room murder that has the local constable scratching his head.
Tape-Measure Murder
Not my favorite Marple.
And yet, is any Marple a bad Marple?
So. This one deals with a woman whose husband is the main suspect in her murder, mainly because he isn't showing the appropriate amount of emotion.
The Blue Geranium
When Arthur & Dolly Bantry ask Sir Henry Clithering who he would like to invite over as a dinner guest to round out their house party, he shocks them by asking for Miss Marple to be included.
When he tells Dolly about the uncanny way the elderly spinster solved the mysteries of the Tuesday Night Club the year before, she starts to think maybe Miss Marple could help her solve a seemingly paranormal murder mystery.
The Four Suspects
Sir Henry Clithering, a member of the Tuesday Night Club, takes his turn and tells a story.
The title refers to a running theme in Agatha Christie's mysteries, where the goal of solving a murder isn't just to punish the guilty but to free the other parties who might be suspects from the suspicion of their friends, neighbors, and loved ones.
The Face of Helen
This is a Harley Quin mystery, so it's Mr. Sattherwaite to the rescue of an extremely beautiful young woman who attracts what we would call stalkers these days.
She's found a nice man she wants to marry, but Sattherwaite can't help but think that not all is right. There was another man who was interested in her, and even though he says he wishes her well, Sattherwaite can't shake the feeling that he was missing something.
What is it Mr. Quin wants him to do?!
The Bird with the Broken Wing
Suicide or murder?
After hearing his friend's name spelled out on a OUJA board, Mr. Satterthwaite decides to accept the invitation to a house party that he had previously thought to decline.
The Regatta Mystery
This story originally started its life with Poirot in the lead role.
Poirot and the Regatta Mystery is essentially the same story but for whatever reason Christie decided to put Pyne into the driver's seat when she published the short story collection The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories in 1939.
However, the essential story of a diamond theft stayed the same.
Much like my reviews of each individual story.
Problem at Pollensa Bay
Parker Pyne helps a momma out.
And like most of the help he gives his clients, it's not the help they asked for but the help that they actually need.
The Unbreakable Alibi
A mystery without a crime.
A well-off (but not very bright) young man comes in to get a bit of help winning a bet and hopefully the girl of his dreams.
Accident
An overzealous cop pokes his nose in the wrong spot.
It's a nice selection of Christie's stuff.
Recommended for fans.
November 6, 2022
Интересни кратички криминални разкази с неочакван край! Чудесни за отпочиване преди лягане!
February 13, 2021
„13 за късмет“ са много добри разкази на Агата Кристи. Пълни са с мистерия, а някъде и с паранормални загадки. Срещаме се с Поаро, мис Марпъл и други по-неизвестни за мен герои на авторката, но също толкова колоритни и интересни. Разказът за Томи и Тапъс не ми допадна много, а последните два ме натъжиха, поради наивността на героите си. Но, въпреки това, която и книга да подхванете на Агата никога няма да сбъркате! Успях да се насладя и на тези разкази.
October 2, 2023
This collection of short stories combines some of my favorite Agatha Christie characters; Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Parker Pyne. There are also stories from Tommy and Tuppence, Harley Quin, and Inspector Evans.
I enjoyed some of these, especially the Poirot stories, but others fell flat. I do not usually enjoy Tommy and Tuppence because they annoy me, and their mysteries in this collection were very obvious. However, some of the other stories were incredibly clever and interesting!
I enjoyed some of these, especially the Poirot stories, but others fell flat. I do not usually enjoy Tommy and Tuppence because they annoy me, and their mysteries in this collection were very obvious. However, some of the other stories were incredibly clever and interesting!
September 30, 2015
This is the first time I've read Agatha Christie and I loved her writing! These short stories were wonderfully creative and great mysteries. No nonsense writing at it's very best.
December 14, 2020
Толкова увлекателни разкази от невероятната Агата Кристи! Много подходящ начин да се запознаеш с автора. Мой либим разказ е "Лицето на Елена".
February 24, 2012
This was my first encounter with Dame Agatha, due (I suspect) to its being shelved in the Young Adult section—although I’m quite sure the term “Young Adult” did not yet exist in those days. Regardless of where I found it though, I was hooked. She has her weaknesses, but when she’s at her best no one comes close to her plotting skills.
December 2, 2020
Wonderful and fun buffet of Agatha Christie short stories featuring all her detectives with one extra stand alone story at the end.
In the first Poirot story, The Veiled Lady, Christie does not adhere to her rule of "fair play" in making sure the reader has all the clues needed to solve the puzzle as the detective. No spoiler alerts, but at the end Poirot reveals he was tipped off to the crime by a detail that is not mentioned up until that point. As I understand it, this was an early story by Christie, first published in 1923. It was still fun to read and interesting to see a story that didn't strictly adhere to her rules of playing fair with the reader.
I was completely unaware of the Harley Quin stories. Those were fun.
In the first Poirot story, The Veiled Lady, Christie does not adhere to her rule of "fair play" in making sure the reader has all the clues needed to solve the puzzle as the detective. No spoiler alerts, but at the end Poirot reveals he was tipped off to the crime by a detail that is not mentioned up until that point. As I understand it, this was an early story by Christie, first published in 1923. It was still fun to read and interesting to see a story that didn't strictly adhere to her rules of playing fair with the reader.
I was completely unaware of the Harley Quin stories. Those were fun.
July 25, 2023
While this wasn’t a particularly amazing read in my opinion, I think Agatha Christie is something of a genius among authors and I’d love to read more of her work.
These 13 short stories were a quick read, and a great introduction to the different characters Christie uses to tell her stories. Some of these stuck out to me as really unique and exciting, while others didn’t interest me as much. My favorites were The Blue Geranium, The Face of Helen, and The Unbreakable Alibi.
These 13 short stories were a quick read, and a great introduction to the different characters Christie uses to tell her stories. Some of these stuck out to me as really unique and exciting, while others didn’t interest me as much. My favorites were The Blue Geranium, The Face of Helen, and The Unbreakable Alibi.
October 3, 2023
Книга с разкази от Агата Кристи. Нищо повече, нищо по-малко. Честно казано през повечето време ми беше скучно. Заслужава си, ако ви се чете нещо такова, но не бих препоръчала книгата със сигурност 😅
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2022
Thirteen short stories by Agatha Christie in this one small book. This collection has a copyright date of 1961 though the stories themselves date from 1925 to 1944. Nearly all of Christie's characters are represented in these stories including Poirot, Parker Pyne and Miss Marple among others. I have read a few of these stories in other collections including two stories from the book The Labors of Hercules. The Miss Marple story The Blue Geranium is also a repeat from another collection. Some of these are more clever than others but altogether it was enjoyable.
April 5, 2025
The Hercule Poirot and Inspector Evans stories were good.. It started really good and ended really strong- however every story in between was not engaging.
February 3, 2023
13 for Luck is a delectable buffet of short stories by Agatha Christie. The compilation features some of Christie's famous detectives. My favorite stories were the Hercule Poirot and the Miss Marple ones. I also enjoyed the Harley Quin stories, particularly "The Face of Helen," because the revenge theme was very clever. Harley Quin is a very unusual detective. Is he a supernatural being or just a mysterious man who doesn't like to receive credit for his work? Poor Mr. Satterthwaite would be rather helpless without him!
The book also features Mr. Parker Pyne stories and one featuring Scotland Yard policeman Evans.
The Pyne stories are not my favorites, but they are fun.
Below is a list of my favorite stories.
1. The Veiled Lady. Poirot must recover a letter for a prestigious woman who is being blackmailed. This story reminded me a bit of Doyle's "A Scandal in Bohemia" and had a delightful twist ending.
2. The Nemean Lion. Poirot is tasked with recovering stolen money from a husband whose wife's Pekinese dog was stolen. The dog has been returned, but the husband wants his money back and the culprit unmasked. With his characteristic panache, Poirot finds the solution and uncovers a much more sinister plot. I love this one!
3. Tape-Measure Murder. A woman in St. Mary Mead is found strangled, and her husband is the prime suspect. Miss Jane Marple must solve the case.
5. The Blue Geranium. Miss Marple hears a story about an invalid woman who has died apparently from supernatural causes. "The Blue Primrose means warning. The Blue Hollyhock means Danger. The Blue Geranium is Death."
6. The Four Suspects. During a conversation about what truly matters, the guilty or the innocent, Miss Marple is told a story about a German man who infiltrates an organization to thwart evil plans. He is eventually killed, and the only suspects are members of his own household. How did the message to kill the man reach the culprit? Very ingenious story.
7. The Face of Helen. A beautiful woman is pursued by three ardent suitors. Trouble pursues her as well. Who means the woman harm, and will Mr. Harley Quin arrive in time to thwart an insidious plan of vengeance?
8. Accident. This story features Mr. Evans and is a chilling tale of a psychopathic personality.
Please sample this abundant feast of stories. Hopefully, they will whet your appetite for more of Christie's work.
God bless you all.
The book also features Mr. Parker Pyne stories and one featuring Scotland Yard policeman Evans.
The Pyne stories are not my favorites, but they are fun.
Below is a list of my favorite stories.
1. The Veiled Lady. Poirot must recover a letter for a prestigious woman who is being blackmailed. This story reminded me a bit of Doyle's "A Scandal in Bohemia" and had a delightful twist ending.
2. The Nemean Lion. Poirot is tasked with recovering stolen money from a husband whose wife's Pekinese dog was stolen. The dog has been returned, but the husband wants his money back and the culprit unmasked. With his characteristic panache, Poirot finds the solution and uncovers a much more sinister plot. I love this one!
3. Tape-Measure Murder. A woman in St. Mary Mead is found strangled, and her husband is the prime suspect. Miss Jane Marple must solve the case.
5. The Blue Geranium. Miss Marple hears a story about an invalid woman who has died apparently from supernatural causes. "The Blue Primrose means warning. The Blue Hollyhock means Danger. The Blue Geranium is Death."
6. The Four Suspects. During a conversation about what truly matters, the guilty or the innocent, Miss Marple is told a story about a German man who infiltrates an organization to thwart evil plans. He is eventually killed, and the only suspects are members of his own household. How did the message to kill the man reach the culprit? Very ingenious story.
7. The Face of Helen. A beautiful woman is pursued by three ardent suitors. Trouble pursues her as well. Who means the woman harm, and will Mr. Harley Quin arrive in time to thwart an insidious plan of vengeance?
8. Accident. This story features Mr. Evans and is a chilling tale of a psychopathic personality.
Please sample this abundant feast of stories. Hopefully, they will whet your appetite for more of Christie's work.
God bless you all.
June 4, 2024
I've read several of Christie's short story collections and I've never been impressed by one of them. 13 For Luck did not break that tend. All of the stories contained within are perfectly serviceable and fun little tales, but I wouldn't call them mysteries. While there are some clever, logical twists to be found here, they're not set up so that the reader can see them coming. Instead you're just a long for the ride, making these stories read more like suspense fiction than true mysteries. Entertaining, but not what I'm looking for when it comes to mystery fiction.
December 13, 2025
"Have faith in Papa Poirot. I will find a way."
I didn't know this was a short story collection when I got it so that threw me for a loop when I started reading and the chapters weren't actually chapter but whole different stories. But with that being said they weren't too bad. A good cast of characters between stories but none of them really blew me away to be honest. But I preferred the Poirot stories, most of them were decent to say the least.
I didn't know this was a short story collection when I got it so that threw me for a loop when I started reading and the chapters weren't actually chapter but whole different stories. But with that being said they weren't too bad. A good cast of characters between stories but none of them really blew me away to be honest. But I preferred the Poirot stories, most of them were decent to say the least.
August 8, 2017
Not a bad collect of short stories. I personally don't care for Christie's detective Payne stories but all the rest were great. However, all the stories can be found in other Christie collects. This collect is great for readers who are newer to Christie because it is an anthology of several of her "detective" characters.
June 26, 2017
If you want to dine at a buffet of short stories by Agatha Christie, look no further. These 13 short stories feature Hercule Poirot, Miss Jane Marple, Harley Quinn, Mr. Parker Pyne, Thomas and Tuppence, and Inspector Evans. Every single story is a treat.
February 27, 2020
A good book for people who are not familiar with Agatha Christie and have not read her short stories. Most of the stories are in other books, but they are a good introduction to Christie's various characters.
November 8, 2017
A well organized introduction to Agatha Christie’s work
March 16, 2018
Short stories. Liked all but one!
August 13, 2018
Absolutely fabulous! A great collection of books with a variety of our favorite Agatha Christie detectives, will give the reader a marvelous ride through various unexpected stories.
May 4, 2019
This is a good collection of short stories if you need an introduction to the various main characters in Agatha Christie's detective novels.
February 1, 2020
have to admit, really like
Miss Marple and Poirot
Hate Harley Quin and
im annoyed by Pyne
Miss Marple and Poirot
Hate Harley Quin and
im annoyed by Pyne
March 3, 2020
The last story in this collection -- "Accident" -- is doozy. The rest are all pretty solid, too. I haven't read any of Quin before, and it seems like an interesting dynamic/concept.
January 8, 2021
This is a collection of short stories, and if most of them hadn't been already familiar to me, I would have given this book one more star.
June 7, 2021
Like eating candy!
June 15, 2021
Разпокъсано ми идваха, предпочитам си един сюжет
September 5, 2022
A wonderful collection of short stories. It was great to have so many different detective leads.
September 16, 2022
These thirteen short stories are a bit too simple and predictable, which must be the reason the author didn't develop them into novels.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews