Agatha Christie's Detectives: Five Complete Novels: The Murder at the Vicarage / Dead Man's Folly / Sad Cypress / Towards Zero / N or M?

by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie's Detectives Five Novels. The Murder at the Vicarage, Dead Man's Folly, Sad Cypress, Towards Zero, N or M?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Agatha Christie, Classics, Mystery Thriller, Anthologies, Crime

698 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

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

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 of Agatha's stories in one collection.
I've left links to longer reviews for each book for anyone who is interested.

The Murder at the Vicarage
Miss Marple's 1st book!



But beyond that, this is really just a fabulous example of Agatha Christie at her best.
This was my first time reading (actually listening) The Murder at the Vicarage and I was blown away by how enjoyable it was. Especially considering I've read a ton of her books and pretty much knew what to expect out of her mysteries.

Dead Man's Folly
Ariadne Oliver has a bad feeling about the murder she's planning.



Of course, Mrs. Oliver is only killing for charity. As a famous mystery writer, she's been asked to plan a fake murder and organize the hunt for clues.
But there's just something indefinably wrong with the situation. And when she thinks about it for a second?
Hey! I know a guy...



Sad Cypress
b>A courtroom drama told in flashbacks, mostly through the eyes of the accused.



Elinor Carlisle hated Mary Gerrard.
Why?
Because the love of her (entire) life, Roddy Welman, took one look at Mary's beautiful face and broke off his engagement to her.
Ouch. My goodness, that stings.
So when her aunt dies after telling her that she wanted Mary provided for, but legally leaves everything to Elinor, what's a girl to do?
If you're Elinor, you grit your teeth, give her £2,000, and hope she hits the road.
OR!
Maybe you hand her a plate of poisoned sandwiches.




Towards Zero
Superintendent Battle's daughter is a liar.
But the reason she lied will also prove to be the key to helping him solve a murder.



Nevile Strange (no relation to Doctor) is a handsome tennis star who is married to a young hottie. But when he meets his ex-wife in the park, it's decided that they should all just try to get along and be friends again. Which translates into staying at his aunt's estate at the same time over the holidays.
Seriously?
Does that sound like a good idea to anyone?
Well, it certainly doesn't sound like a good idea to his new wife.



N or M?
Best couple in the Christieverse.



At least 50% of the time, I'm disappointed with the way Agatha wrote couples.
The worst offenders for me were a woman who happily gave up her successful business to be married, and a woman who felt her heart flutter with love when her man proved how much he cared by trying to strangle her.
However, in N or M Christie nailed it.
Tommy's respect for Tuppence is pretty amazing in that he doesn't expect her to sit at home docilely, and he's quite proud to have her working with him. And Tuppence is so sure of herself and secure in who she and Tommy are together that she doesn't do some of the silly things you see women in older books do. <--fainting, screaming, flittering about making things worse, etc.



So it's WWII, and Tommy and Tuppence are being told they are too old to do anything to help with the war effort. Which is really funny because they're only in their late 40s early 50s. I think retirement age is what...85 or 90 now? Times have certainly changed.
Anyway spoilery things happen, they eventually end up working undercover to try and ferret out two of the top German spies out there. Known only as N and M, they were traced to a small town by a British operative who was killed before he could report his full suspicions.

This is a nice collection of books that showcases some of her different detectives & recurring characters - Marple, Poirot, Superintendent Battle, Ariadne Oliver, and Tommy & Tuppence. I don't think any of these are her "best" books, but all of them are very good.
Recommended.

[Camie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a group read-a-long and have found reading a book over such a length of time doesn't work that well for my senior brain, since I read other books in between , I had to go back and re -read almost every time. My first Miss Marple, Oh times were so much simpler then especially when it came to mystery writing. I grew up with Nancy Drew, and Perry Mason so this who- dunnit was pretty nostalgic for me. 3 stars

[Crysta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tried, tried, tried to read Agatha Christie. I tried The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and couldn't get into it. I tried listening to an audiobook of And Then There Were None and I couldn't get into it. I thought to myself, "Well, she's a great author, maybe I just don't like her style." That's how I view some of G. K. Chesterton's stuff, too. Love him, but it's difficult to get into his actual writing.

Around three weeks ago I picked this up (from local library, of course) and forced myself to start. With how long this book has taken, I think I've talked to at least five separate people who've asked me what I've been reading. It's good. I love Sherlock Holmes and mysteries and all that good stuff, and I've gotten okay at figuring out whodunit, but Christie threw me for a loop.

First three novels, I had no idea what was going on. Completely wrong in my theories. In fact, first novel, whodunit was one of the people I'd ruled as completely innocent. I did a bit better in the fourth one. By the fifth one, I had a pretty good idea from about the halfway point. Maybe it's getting familiar with her style, or maybe I just got lucky. Either way, I'm super glad I picked this up because I'd begun to lose hope that I'd ever enjoy her original work. Maybe I just haven't been mentally prepared up till now. Her characters are absolutely delightful.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know so much abt 1940s English convention now

[isaanip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Currently I have finished two mysteries in this Agatha Christie intriguing murder mystery edition of 5.

I have never really enjoyed the Miss Marple series I felt that it was too slow - there was this lack of vigor and intelligence that was incomparable to the Hercule Poirot line. I have always admired the little Belgian detective who is notorious for the use of "the little grey cells". However, this was the first time that I thoroughly enjoyed a Ms. Marple story. Murder at the Vicarage was cleverly crafted and the murder scene was absolutely fantastic - I really had a wonderful time trying to pinpoint on whom the murders were. Murder at the Vicarage certainly was more interesting and had more vigor than another Miss Marple mystery, Nemesis. Murder at the Vicarage was definitely more mind boggling than The Mirror Cracked (as I was able to figure out the murderer rather quickly).

The second book that I was intrigued and upset by was Dead Man's Folly. Here goes to the return of our favorite little Belgian detective Monsieur Poirot who comes to the aid of his good friend (who happens to be an author) Ms. Ariadne Oliver. I must say that the beginning was all rather interesting in trying to figure out how exactly Ms. Oliver's murder hunt worked out. And it was also strange for a wealthy couple to be wanting a murder hunt and not a treasure hunt. This mystery got to a point where it was too unbearable because of the level of absurdity that arose. Eventually, I came to accept the outcome and solution of the mystery.

Agatha Christie has indeed out done herself in creating fantastic twists to the plots in her mysteries. Her plot twist in Dead Man's Folly entirely caught me by surprise that I was in utter disbelief as Poirot had his little confrontation in the end. Murder at the Vicarage was a new type of mystery with the sweet old lady instead of the enthusiastic Belgian detective. I hope that I can enjoy more of the Miss Marple series just as I did with this one. And, always, Agatha Christie always has me eager for reading more of her Hercule Poirot and his ingenious methods.

I hope to be able to enjoy the other three mysteries that lie in front of, and I hope to be introduced to the other detectives whom Agatha Christie has created.

[Kirsten Simkiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of those in this imnibus, I thought N or M? was the least satisfying of the bunch. However, they're definitely a good collection of novels. If I had to choose, I think I enjoyed Towards Zero and Sad Cypress the most of the bunch. I also must say that after five of her novels, I really need to go read something else as a mental palette cleanser. I find myself using her phrasing as I speak and write.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am pretty sure the only reason I keep reading this is because I own it. I don't especially enjoy any of these four; I think the solutions are especially contrived in Dead Man's Folly and Sad Cypress, and I don't like Tommy and Tuppence very much. I do keep reading this, though.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn’t intended to read these consecutively, but they were different enough from one another that I felt I was reading a new author each time or nearly enough so that I didn’t burnout on this.

Murder at the Vicarage is the first book in the Jane Marple series. Since I plan to read the entire series, and since this was the only place where I could find the book, I used this five-novel collection to start my adventures with the aged spinster. And I enjoyed it.

Someone murders Colonel Protheroe, and lots of people had good reasons for it. His daughter, Lettice, could have done it, but his adulterous wife had lots more reasons to do it, as did her lover, Lawrence. This is a good introduction to not only Miss Marple but the vicar and his unconventional wife and their slovenly housemaid.

In Dead Man’s Folly, Poirot’s long-time friend Ariadne Oliver is hosting a murder hunt. She charges people to find a murdered person based on clues she provides. It’s a harmless fundraiser until a 14-year-old girl becomes a real murder victim. Naturally, Poirot eventually figures it out, but not before other deaths mount up.

I’ve reviewed Sad Cypress already, so I won’t rehash that.

In Toward Zero, an inspector deals with the aftermath of a tense vacation wherein a man, his ex-wife, and his current wife all vacate together. Lots of tension; lots of death.

N Or M? is my favorite book in the collection. World War II is underway, and middle-aged detectives Tommy and Tuppence Baresford grumble that there’s nothing for them to do because of their age to assist their government, unlike the last world war. Wow does that all change. The government seeks a spy couple, and it’s up to the Beresfords to determine whether N or M is at the same hotel-type place where they’re staying. Things get way tense toward the end when a German spy clanks Tommy in the head with a hammer.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Murder at the Vicarage:
Detective novels are always quite enjoyable, but Agatha Christie's cannot be beat. Her classic Poirot and the Beresfords are iconic, but the Vicar's POV is just so droll and amusing that I cannot help but love him and Griselda. I am unfamiliar with all of Christie's works and desperately want many more murders in the Vicar's town of (whatever it was), just so I can see them again.

Dead Man's Folly:
Another fun read, not quite my favourite of Poirot's. This novel wasn't quite as engaging as the others, and I found it dragged at portions.

Sad Cypress:
My favourite so far. Elinor Carlisle has my heart. I can't help but love this female protagonist, maybe because I saw myself in her desperate desire for love and passion-- yes, baring my soul in a Goodreads review--, and I sincerely hope the best for her. Christie's exploration of relationships is especially interesting in this book.

Towards Zero:
I rooted for no one in this book, except maybe Mary. The plot itself was interesting, if bland (a paradox, I know), but the truly engaging parts were the tensions between characters, and the outbursts that happened so often. An interesting psychological case study.

N or M?:
Love British xenophobia and physiognomy. There must be a balance between true moral patriotism and xenophobia even in wartime, but alas, it must not have existed in this time. Nonetheless, this was a fun read with short bursts of action, and the ending was truly quite sweet.

[Nelly Larsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Övergripande: 4/5. Stundtals långsamma historier, stundtals snabba vändningar. Om det är något jag vet så är det att jag föredrar de längre berättelserna - det känns inte alltid som att man får tillräckligt med info om alla karaktärer eller tid att lära känna dem. Dock, det stämmer inte om ”N or M?”. Den är definitivt den bättre av de fem.

Det enda riktigt svåra var språket ibland, och en hel del kan väl hänföras till när de skrevs eller när historierna äger rum. Att det pratas om ”tyska huvuden” (specifik form på huvudet) eller liknande går ju att förstå när tidpunkten är år 1940, men det känns inte helt fräscht år 2024.

Med det sagt: en trevlig bok!

[DaShannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gift from one of my favorite students and her mom. They knew how much I love Agatha Christie and wrote me a beautiful card and gifted this to me. It's a beautiful edition. I've completed all the stories.
September 2022 #13//#1 Miss Jane Marple- 1930 The Murder at the Vicarage
October 2025 #61/#35 Hercule Poirot 1956 Dead Man’s Folly
November 2023 87 #36 1940 Sad Cypress
June 2024 #43/#5 Superintendent Battle 1944 Towards Zero US also as Come and Be Hanged
March 2024 #39/#3 Tommy and Tuppence 1941 N or M?

[Prakash Murthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed each of the 5 novels in this collection.

[Viktoriya Maryamova]

Good stories. Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors.

[Flynt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good anthology. Not a bad one in the bunch.

[Jim Grant]

Marple, McEwan

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here we have a selection of Agatha Christie novels> if you like her style< you can@t go wrong with these books>

[Janet Balliet]

Read Dead Man's Folly. Poirot is ask to a Fete featuring a fake murder clue hunt. A real murder takes place & then a disappearance. It takes several weeks to solve the mystery!

[Stephanie Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid introduction collection of Agatha Christie’s detectives: female amateur sleuth Miss Marple, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and the English spies Mr. and Mrs. The collection, as a whole, shows Christie’s breadth in her writing, character narration, and plot manipulation. Most of the novels had a slow start, taking almost 50 pages to get to the murder. Personally I enjoyed Sad Cypress the most since it was a dramatic start, and I had a better idea of what was happening. Again, like her other novels, Christie uses racially derogatory terms like “coolie” to describe dress and costume attire in Dead Man’s Folly.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6 stars

Miss Marple 01 Murder at the Vicarage *****
Hercule Poirot 31 Dead Man's Folly ***
Hercule Poirot 21 Sad Cypress ***
Superintendent Battle 05 Towards Zero ***
Tommy and Tuppence 03 N or M? ****

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Heman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stories are good, like 'murder at the vicarage,' 'dead man's folly' and 'towards zero'. Some are quite bad like 'N or M'; it was very obvious to me whodunit. I feel there is a rather big flaw in 'sad cypress': How does the murderer know who is going to take the poison?

What is shocking in the book is the racist language so frequently and casually used. Such as in 'towards zero' when a British planter in Malaya tells his friend:'Wonder if you haven't gone native...You always did belong to Our Dumb Friends rather than to human race!' or stereotypical Scottish man who should go to South America and quite by luck has found a beautiful English woman who wants to marry him: "MacWhirter sighed. He took out his wallet and examined its contents. He murmured:'A special license comes expensive.'" or the Irish nurse character who as a witness is asked by a lawyer in court:" 'you are Irish, I think?' 'I am that' 'And the Irish have rather vivid imagination, haven't they?"
Best of all, in the 'dead man's folly': "[She] looks south American, but I think she comes from West Indies. One of those islands with sugar and rum and all that. One of the old families there- a creole, I don't mean a half-caste. All very intermarried, I believe, on these islands. Accounts for the mental deficiency."

[rivka · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Murder at the Vicarage: A lovely Miss Marple.

Dead Man's Folly: A good if not great Poirot.

Sad Cypress: A very good Poirot.

Towards Zero: Features none of Christie's usual detectives, although Poirot's name was mentioned. The notion that every murder begins long beforehand, with everything moving toward the zero hour, is clever, and the execution is decent. But the book suffers for that fixation with the clever notion.

N or M?: One of the later Tommy & Tuppence books, set during WWII. The WWI T&T books were really better plot-wise, but this one is sweet.

[Jim O'Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I'll get a slap down from somebody for saying this but, while Christie's novels are nothing really special, they are a heck of alot of fun....and maybe that makes them special. I can hardly keep track of which story is which after I've read them...they're really all quite the same but they are very light and enjoyable and fun (especially Poirot) when the brain needs a break from heavier fare.

[KJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. I'd forgotten how much fun it is to stop in the middle of an Agatha Christie and think deeply about the potential murderers, or even the potential murder victim! Dead Man's Folly was interesting in that sense, because one wasn't sure who was going to kick the bucket until it was already too late ;)
A refreshing puzzle to come back to after a day's work. Highly recommended for those of you in the doldrums!

[Anna Engel · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are short and classic Christie. You do have to look past the casual racism and the fact that her stories primarily describe elite society. Her stories are oddly complex despite being so short. I don't think it would be possible to figure out her whodunits (who, how, AND why) because you're always lacking essential information, which often has to do with someone from someone else's past. It is nice, though, that all gets explained in the end.

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've never read an Agatha Christie novel before so I thought I would start with this collection but I'm just not getting into the first story, The Murder at the Vicarage about Miss Marple. I'm disappointed. I read one of the Poirot novels in this book and I really liked it but I could not get into any of the rest of the stores. I was VERY disappointed. I had such high hopes.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classics are classics for a reason. They are enjoyable for years and years after they were written and you can read them several times and enjoy them each time you do. Agatha Christie's novels are classics. Fun witty characters, distinct detailed landscapes...leads you to several different outcomes before the finale.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tommy and Tuppence are two of my all time favorite characters

[Joe Martin]

Agatha Christie's Detectives: Five Complete Novels (The Murder at the Vicarage / Dead Man's Folly / Sad Cypress / Toward by Agatha Christie (1987)

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Murder at the Vicarage, Dead Man's Folly, Sad Cypress, Towards Zero, N or M?--brilliant Dame Agatha Christie is at her best!

[Laura Tallent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of you love mysteries, you can never go wrong with an Agatha Christie! Love them all!