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Philomel Cottage: A Short Story
The recently married Alix Martin is obsessed with a recurring dream of her new husband’s murder. Each time she can see the murderer clearly, and it’s the mild-mannered man she had previously been engaged to, taking his revenge. But, what’s worse is that at the end of the dream she thanks the murderer. Perplexed, Alix tries to calm herself by spending time in the garden of her picturesque cottage. But her gardener confuses her further by wishing her well on her trip to London—a trip which Alix knows nothing about. Now Alix is scared: is the gardener imagining things, or is she?
1 pages, Audiobook
First published November 1, 1924
55 people are currently reading
1115 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,772 books75.6k 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)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
February 28, 2025
Bluebeard gets an ass beating!
Alix Martin comes into a bit of money and a whirlwind romance at the same time.
Her long-time man-friend, Dick, is acting weird after she inherits a bit of cash from a relative and they have a falling out.
Meanwhile, she runs into the handsome Gerald and they fall in love and get married, against Dick's warnings that she doesn't know him well enough.
The newlyweds buy a picturesque (but isolated) house in the country called Philomel Cottage and all is right with the world.
Sort of.
On the heels of a nightmare wherein Dick kills Gerald, Dick calls to let Alix know he's in town. She's a bit confused as to how she feels about that. And then gets even more confused when the gardener tells her that Gerald informed him that she would be leaving town for a while and he wasn't sure when she would return. AND that the cost of the cottage was less than what Gerald told her it was. She starts snooping and finds out that Gerald has written down everything meticulously in his diary including some mysterious task he plans to perform at 9 pm! When she confronts him, he warns her off digging into his past.
RED FLAG! RED FLAG!
Girl, that is every Lifetime movie ever made and you should definitely run.
She doesn't.
What she does do is go through his shit and find out that
BITCH, I TOLD YOU TO RUN!
Ok, but she manages to send a coded message to Dick in the hopes that he will understand she's in BIG trouble and needs his help.
So I thought Dick would ride to the rescue and save her stupid ass.
No! In an incredible twist
So. There you go.
This is definitely one of my top 10 Agatha Christie shorts.
Highly recommended. Read it!
Originally published in 1924 in The Grand Magazine.
Read as part of the short story collection The Last Seance: Tales of the Supernatural.
Alix Martin comes into a bit of money and a whirlwind romance at the same time.
Her long-time man-friend, Dick, is acting weird after she inherits a bit of cash from a relative and they have a falling out.
Meanwhile, she runs into the handsome Gerald and they fall in love and get married, against Dick's warnings that she doesn't know him well enough.
The newlyweds buy a picturesque (but isolated) house in the country called Philomel Cottage and all is right with the world.
Sort of.
On the heels of a nightmare wherein Dick kills Gerald, Dick calls to let Alix know he's in town. She's a bit confused as to how she feels about that. And then gets even more confused when the gardener tells her that Gerald informed him that she would be leaving town for a while and he wasn't sure when she would return. AND that the cost of the cottage was less than what Gerald told her it was. She starts snooping and finds out that Gerald has written down everything meticulously in his diary including some mysterious task he plans to perform at 9 pm! When she confronts him, he warns her off digging into his past.
RED FLAG! RED FLAG!
Girl, that is every Lifetime movie ever made and you should definitely run.
She doesn't.
What she does do is go through his shit and find out that
BITCH, I TOLD YOU TO RUN!
Ok, but she manages to send a coded message to Dick in the hopes that he will understand she's in BIG trouble and needs his help.
So I thought Dick would ride to the rescue and save her stupid ass.
No! In an incredible twist
So. There you go.
This is definitely one of my top 10 Agatha Christie shorts.
Highly recommended. Read it!
Originally published in 1924 in The Grand Magazine.
Read as part of the short story collection The Last Seance: Tales of the Supernatural.
September 22, 2018
The ending is very abrupt, but I liked this little story, so refreshingly different from Agatha's usual style. The ambiguity of the resolution is marvelous, although I'm not sure it was really intended
November 14, 2022
4 Stars for Philomel Cottage (audiobook) by Agatha Christie read by Hugh Fraser.
Wow, this was a short story with a surprise ending. I didn’t see that coming.
Wow, this was a short story with a surprise ending. I didn’t see that coming.
September 12, 2020
Well sweet damn, I was beginning to think that this was a cliche, "I instantly fell in love with a man with a mysterious past and it turns out he has some dirty secrets," kind of story. But that ending...
The plot twist at the very end completely blindsided and impressed me, I thought I had the plot all figured out from the very first sentence and it shocked me. A very suspenseful and tension-filled tale with a brilliant twist at the end.
The plot twist at the very end completely blindsided and impressed me, I thought I had the plot all figured out from the very first sentence and it shocked me. A very suspenseful and tension-filled tale with a brilliant twist at the end.
July 18, 2021
Agatha Christie...another ending in “didn’t see that coming”! Agatha - what can we say that has already not been said? Just pure brilliant. Audio version just under 51 minutes. Great for a quick listen/read!
September 28, 2025
"It doesn't take everyone eleven years to find out that they're in love with a girl."
- Agatha Christie, Philomel Cottage: An Agatha Christie Short Story
This is the second short story I have read by Agatha Christie in the last 24 hours.
I had no idea she had so many short stories.
This one is a real mindfuck, and reminded me more of a Stephen King short story than something that Christie would write.
So picture this – a couple falls madly in love, after knowing each other for about a week or so. They get married, and they move to a charming and bucolic cottage in the country.
Everything seems wonderful, right? Right?
Well – maybe just maybe it’s not.
See the bride is having dreams and the happy newlywed is vanishing, turning into an obsessive and ruminating woman who does not understand why she is having the same dream over and over and over and over and over and over again.
In her dream – and this is not a spoiler because you find it out in the very beginning and it’s also in the description of the book, her new husband is murdered by her ex-boyfriend, and she thanks the ex boyfriend afterwards.
I guess the honeymoon is over!
As time goes on, the bride begins to panic, realizing she doesn’t really know her new husband. Just who is he?
Is he a player? Does he have other ladies in his past that he hasn’t gotten over? Is he a bundle of secrets? Is he a sociopathic? Insane psycho, son of a bitch? These are the thoughts that go through the mind of the now terrified bride.
I cannot say anymore because to do so would give spoilers and that I do not want to do.
I will say, though that I didn’t love it. The short story I read the other night I gave five stars. It may be one of my favorite short stories of all time. This one bothered me a little bit.
Perhaps it bothered me because there is so much ambiguity. Perhaps it bothered me because this one was a little bit too short and I really couldn’t get to know the characters as much as I would’ve liked.
OK now we are heading into
SPOILERS :
The twist. Everyone’s talking about the twist! I didn’t love it honestly. Sometimes I like these twist endings, and sometimes I don’t.
On the one hand, I can appreciate that it’s up to the reader to make up their own mind.
On the other hand, I don’t know , I almost feel like this would have been better as a full length book or even as a bit longer novella because I feel that so much more could’ve been explored.
I mean, I would’ve love to know what happened with the police afterwards. The book ends very abruptly. And the thing is we really don’t know who the crazy one was here.
Now , leave it to o to drive us All crazy! I have to hand it to her. I think she had a mischievous streak. But this reminds me of The classic book, My cousin, Rachel. It actually reminded me of that very much.
I still did enjoy this and would thoroughly recommend it. I mean, if you like short stories, or you dig mysteries or you like little creeper stories or you just love Agatha Christie how could you pass this one up?
It also left It’s imprint on my brain. I’m trying to make sense of that ending and I’m telling you that I still don’t know what I think.
I do not know What the truth was. I honestly don’t know. I guess that is part of this little book’s ambiguous and ironic, charm.
- Agatha Christie, Philomel Cottage: An Agatha Christie Short Story
This is the second short story I have read by Agatha Christie in the last 24 hours.
I had no idea she had so many short stories.
This one is a real mindfuck, and reminded me more of a Stephen King short story than something that Christie would write.
So picture this – a couple falls madly in love, after knowing each other for about a week or so. They get married, and they move to a charming and bucolic cottage in the country.
Everything seems wonderful, right? Right?
Well – maybe just maybe it’s not.
See the bride is having dreams and the happy newlywed is vanishing, turning into an obsessive and ruminating woman who does not understand why she is having the same dream over and over and over and over and over and over again.
In her dream – and this is not a spoiler because you find it out in the very beginning and it’s also in the description of the book, her new husband is murdered by her ex-boyfriend, and she thanks the ex boyfriend afterwards.
I guess the honeymoon is over!
As time goes on, the bride begins to panic, realizing she doesn’t really know her new husband. Just who is he?
Is he a player? Does he have other ladies in his past that he hasn’t gotten over? Is he a bundle of secrets? Is he a sociopathic? Insane psycho, son of a bitch? These are the thoughts that go through the mind of the now terrified bride.
I cannot say anymore because to do so would give spoilers and that I do not want to do.
I will say, though that I didn’t love it. The short story I read the other night I gave five stars. It may be one of my favorite short stories of all time. This one bothered me a little bit.
Perhaps it bothered me because there is so much ambiguity. Perhaps it bothered me because this one was a little bit too short and I really couldn’t get to know the characters as much as I would’ve liked.
OK now we are heading into
SPOILERS :
The twist. Everyone’s talking about the twist! I didn’t love it honestly. Sometimes I like these twist endings, and sometimes I don’t.
On the one hand, I can appreciate that it’s up to the reader to make up their own mind.
On the other hand, I don’t know , I almost feel like this would have been better as a full length book or even as a bit longer novella because I feel that so much more could’ve been explored.
I mean, I would’ve love to know what happened with the police afterwards. The book ends very abruptly. And the thing is we really don’t know who the crazy one was here.
Now , leave it to o to drive us All crazy! I have to hand it to her. I think she had a mischievous streak. But this reminds me of The classic book, My cousin, Rachel. It actually reminded me of that very much.
I still did enjoy this and would thoroughly recommend it. I mean, if you like short stories, or you dig mysteries or you like little creeper stories or you just love Agatha Christie how could you pass this one up?
It also left It’s imprint on my brain. I’m trying to make sense of that ending and I’m telling you that I still don’t know what I think.
I do not know What the truth was. I honestly don’t know. I guess that is part of this little book’s ambiguous and ironic, charm.
November 3, 2016
Well, what the hell was that!? Was that a twist ending? Was it a cliff-hanger? Am I hallucinating? What did I just listen to? Oh, Agatha, why do you do this to me? I really don't know what to think. I definitely enjoyed listening to the story, which was read by Hugh Fraser, but that ending...
February 22, 2021
An heiress marries in haste, and comes to wonder how well she really knows her husband. Is he plotting? First published in The Grand Magazine in 1924. It was later included in The Listerdale Mystery story collection in 1934 (UK) and The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories in 1948 (US).
This is one of Agatha Christie's most adapted stories. It was adapted for radio 3 times for the OTR show Suspense (1924. 1943 and 1946), and once by BBC4 Radio in 2002 (modernized version). It has also been adapted for the stage (1936, titled Love from a Stranger), television (Fireside Theatre, 1950) and film (1947 in the US, titled A Stranger Walked In). The stage play (titled Love from a Stranger) was adapted for film and television four times (1938, 1947 and 1958 and once for West German television in 1957).
A story re-told that many times, in nearly every format, must be a great tale! And it is!
The 1937 movie, titled Love From a Stranger, is available on Youtube. It starred Basil Rathbone, Ann Harding and Binnie Hale. The film is based on the 1936 stage play. In the United States the movie was titled A Night of Terror. The movie fleshes out the story and makes a few changes, but it's still very good.
This story is very clever. I can see why it was adapted so many times. It is definitely classic Christie.
I listened to this story in audio format from The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories, narrated by Hugh Fraser. Loved it!
On to the next!
This is one of Agatha Christie's most adapted stories. It was adapted for radio 3 times for the OTR show Suspense (1924. 1943 and 1946), and once by BBC4 Radio in 2002 (modernized version). It has also been adapted for the stage (1936, titled Love from a Stranger), television (Fireside Theatre, 1950) and film (1947 in the US, titled A Stranger Walked In). The stage play (titled Love from a Stranger) was adapted for film and television four times (1938, 1947 and 1958 and once for West German television in 1957).
A story re-told that many times, in nearly every format, must be a great tale! And it is!
The 1937 movie, titled Love From a Stranger, is available on Youtube. It starred Basil Rathbone, Ann Harding and Binnie Hale. The film is based on the 1936 stage play. In the United States the movie was titled A Night of Terror. The movie fleshes out the story and makes a few changes, but it's still very good.
This story is very clever. I can see why it was adapted so many times. It is definitely classic Christie.
I listened to this story in audio format from The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories, narrated by Hugh Fraser. Loved it!
On to the next!
February 8, 2021
A wonderful time filler!
Twists and turns galore and a conclusion that leaves you thinking.....
Twists and turns galore and a conclusion that leaves you thinking.....
January 25, 2019
That plot twist at the end completely blindsinded me. Bravo, Agatha Christie!
September 9, 2025
One of the greatest psychological thriller stories ever written.
Nothing more to be said about it.
If you have read it, I am sure you would agree.
If you haven’t read it yet, what are you waiting for?!?
Highly recommended.
Nothing more to be said about it.
If you have read it, I am sure you would agree.
If you haven’t read it yet, what are you waiting for?!?
Highly recommended.
July 9, 2016
A quick intriguing read. One I hadn't read before, so that was cool. Very cool. These mini stories are perfect in between other books :)
November 20, 2022
Good story
September 21, 2021
Oops. I accidentally reread this. The title didn't stick with me and I got halfway through when it dawned on me. It must've been in a collection, no doubt glommed onto a novella. Had I remembered, I wouldn't have bothered. It's not a great story. It's decent, and since I was hazy as to its ending, I finished the reread. There are plenty of other Christie books that I would have rather reread.
March 6, 2014
Description: The recently married Alix Martin is obsessed with a recurring dream of her new husband’s murder. Each time she can see the murderer clearly, and it’s the mild-mannered man she had previously been engaged to, taking his revenge. But, what’s worse is that at the end of the dream she thanks the murderer. Perplexed, Alix tries to calm herself by spending time in the garden of her picturesque cottage. But her gardener confuses her further by wishing her well on her trip to London—a trip which Alix knows nothing about. Now Alix is scared: is the gardener imagining things, or is she?
A Miss Marple shorty
"More mushrooms?"
A Miss Marple shorty
"More mushrooms?"
June 16, 2018
*Read for class.
3.75/5
I've read this short novella for my paper about the Bluebeard and I loved how the plot of the original was transformed into a short mystery. The reveal was pretty obvious, even if you don't know the fairy-tale, but I still enjoyed it a lot. Plus, the ending made me go "what?" and reread the last couple of paragraphs. Agatha Christie truly is a genius, I love her works, even though I haven't read a lot. Yet.
3.75/5
I've read this short novella for my paper about the Bluebeard and I loved how the plot of the original was transformed into a short mystery. The reveal was pretty obvious, even if you don't know the fairy-tale, but I still enjoyed it a lot. Plus, the ending made me go "what?" and reread the last couple of paragraphs. Agatha Christie truly is a genius, I love her works, even though I haven't read a lot. Yet.
April 23, 2020
I'm not a short story person but after hearing praise about this one I gave it a go. I rather enjoyed it though the end is a little predictable.
October 7, 2020
I hadn't read this one before and enjoyed it very much. I did not see it ending the way it did. Very well done.
June 9, 2025
I've listened to this book so many times this year, and I figured it warranted a rating. I love this and fall asleep to it regularly.
February 24, 2024
Philomel Cottage by Agatha Christie
First published in The Grand Magazine in 1924.
Blurb -
The recently married Alix Martin is obsessed with a recurring dream of her new husband’s murder. Each time she can see the murderer clearly, and it’s the mild-mannered man she had previously been engaged to, taking his revenge. But, what’s worse is that at the end of the dream she thanks the murderer. Perplexed, Alix tries to calm herself by spending time in the garden of her picturesque cottage. But her gardener confuses her further by wishing her well on her trip to London—a trip which Alix knows nothing about. Now Alix is scared: is the gardener imagining things, or is she?
My brief thoughts -
A very clever and intense story full of menace and self-doubts punctuated with a 'didn't-see-this-coming' ending. Kudos to AC for a heart pounding experience.
First published in The Grand Magazine in 1924.
Blurb -
The recently married Alix Martin is obsessed with a recurring dream of her new husband’s murder. Each time she can see the murderer clearly, and it’s the mild-mannered man she had previously been engaged to, taking his revenge. But, what’s worse is that at the end of the dream she thanks the murderer. Perplexed, Alix tries to calm herself by spending time in the garden of her picturesque cottage. But her gardener confuses her further by wishing her well on her trip to London—a trip which Alix knows nothing about. Now Alix is scared: is the gardener imagining things, or is she?
My brief thoughts -
A very clever and intense story full of menace and self-doubts punctuated with a 'didn't-see-this-coming' ending. Kudos to AC for a heart pounding experience.
November 10, 2017
This short story kept me on my toes until the very end. I felt like the foreshadowing followed a natural speed and was obvious enough for any reader to pick up on. I made my friend read this story so I could discuss it with them because I couldn't find anyone online analyzing the ending. I re-read it and still was amused by the ambiguity.
March 12, 2021
Short but very effective.
Packed with twists & turns, emotional turmoil & thrill; this short story was a great read but even more it inspired a number of movies & shows to use similar tactics in their plot. One of which is the movie “The Gift” (2000) which I highly recommend if you enjoyed this short story.
Packed with twists & turns, emotional turmoil & thrill; this short story was a great read but even more it inspired a number of movies & shows to use similar tactics in their plot. One of which is the movie “The Gift” (2000) which I highly recommend if you enjoyed this short story.
Read
October 15, 2025A woman inherits money and gets married to someone she just met. Then she starts dreaming that her "ex" kills her husband and she is happy about it. What is going on? the ending was kind of open but it was a fun ride
August 22, 2013
it's always unexpected in the end..
January 24, 2014
From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
Alex meets Terry and is coaxed to start a business out in the country. Mike Walker's revamped whodunnit with Lizzie McInnerny.
Alex meets Terry and is coaxed to start a business out in the country. Mike Walker's revamped whodunnit with Lizzie McInnerny.
June 15, 2018
What was it that I just read! (mindblown)
June 10, 2024
2.5 stars -> read for english
yk this had potential... but literally no. thats all I have to say, no
yk this had potential... but literally no. thats all I have to say, no
December 28, 2024
this was so fucking stressful. i listened to the audiobook while playing a chill video game and had to pause it while i finished the story. good lord, agatha christie.
March 7, 2014
Wonderful short mystery!!
August 26, 2017
Philomel Cottage has been an interesting experience. Different from Agatha Christie's other works, but highly engaging. I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews