Poirot's Early Cases / Postern of Fate

by Agatha Christie

Genres: Mystery, Agatha Christie, Crime

497 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1979

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

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read only Poirot's Early Cases, as its own collection--not in combination with the Postern of Fate. If only I could give 4.5 stars! Four really is insufficient, but if a five star rating is reserved for Christie tales like Murder on the Orient Express, And Then There Were None, And End House, then this can't quite compete. For one thing, at least one story was a total "cheat"--not all the facts were presented to the reader before the denouement (still entertaining, but also still a cheat). Also, 2-3 stories had been presented in collections I had already read.

Many of the short stories were of high excellence, however. Especially Double Clue, in which Poirot meets a Russian Countess who haunts later tales. I have been searching for the story of their meeting for years, so it was extremely gratifying to find it. I did manage to deviate from my typical Hastings-like thought process to unravel a couple of the solutions before the end :-)

A delightful read, a must for any Christie/Poirot fan.

[Cynthia Nobuta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finalmente leí un libro de Agatha Christie. Este en si, no es un libro son recopilaciones de pequeñas historias donde el protagonista es Hercule Poirot. Mi problema con este libro fue que cuando comenzaba a adentrarme en la historia, se acababa. Otra cosa que me ocurrió, quizá porque a estas alturas ya todo fue escrito y quizá existan cosas basadas en las historias de esta autora, pero a veces sentía que ya sabia para donde iba la cosa. Pero lo que si me gusto fue la manera en que se expresaban y me parece que era tan inocente que supongo que era por la época. Sí lo recomiendo si alguien quiere leer de esta autora por primera vez y quizá más adelante me decida a comprar otro de ella.

[Rory · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book I read only included all the early cases. And as I love Poirot I also really liked this. And if you're into short stories I think you'll love it. All the stories were great and I liked how not all of them were about murder, but about different crimes. Was nice for a change. But also I have to say I prefer the non short-stories featuring Poirot, because there's just more suspense in those and the crimes and the way they are being committed and solved just feel more complex.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable collection of Poirot short stories (my Kindle edition didn’t include “Postern of Fate”.) Some of these cases are mentioned in later books, like “The Chocolate Box.” Several were also adapted for the “Poirot” series starring David Suchet. As they are short stories, there isn’t much extra padding, but almost all of them feature Poirot’s little grey cells.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike modern mysteries we’ll read this 100 yrs. from now-no offense meant or taken. Always love the classics. 💕

[Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first Agatha Christie'a book that I've read, and got me to fall in love with Poirot

[Marthinus Jacobsz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great series of stories from one of my favourite authors. Gorgeous ❤️

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poirot and Tommy and Tuppence combined. For any avid Agatha Christie Reader you won’t be disappointed .

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little tidbits of stories - nice to listen to as an audiobook

[Dunai Fanni]

The affair at the victory ball:
Somebody killed Lord Cronshaw during a party which representes the old Italian Comedy... It was Davidson, who was Lord Cronshaw’s wife drug supplier... Stubbed him and than went away than come back in Lord Cornshaw’s costume to have an aliby.