The Mysterious Mr. Quin

Harley Quin #1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

by Agatha Christie

Librarian's note alternate cover for ISBN: 0425103536

The wind rose in a mournful wail, and as it died away there came three loud knocks on the big nailed door. The tall, dark stranger strode across the doorway of Royston just after the stroke of midnight, making his entrance like an actor on cue. Mr. Harley Quin's appearance sparked new life into the quiet New Year's Eve gathering, for he was no ordinary guest. He had come to unmask a murderer.

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

245 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1930

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

[Nandakishore Mridula · Rating 5 out of 5]

According to me, this is one of the underrated gems of Agatha Christie, where she flirts with fantasy. Even though none of the stories except the last one (Harlequin's Lane) cross over into fantasy territory, they are always on the borderline. That Christie does this without straining our credibility speaks volumes for her mastery of the medium.

Mr. Harley Quin is a thinly disguised Harlequin, transported into modern England. His specialty: he allows one to solve mysteries by stripping away the unnecessary details. He does this by asking one to imagine that the events happened in the remote past, to strangers: this removes the personal element from the equation and allows one to see clearer. Mr. Satterthwaite, an elderly bachelor who is interested in human beings and their affairs, is the usual beneficiary of Quin's method.

Most of the mysteries in the volume are dark and brooding. The first story, The Coming of Mr. Quin, sets the tone for the whole book when Quin appears at the doorstep of the country house where Mr. Satterthwaite happens to be spending his New Year's Eve, as the first visitor of the year. As he steps across the threshold, a queer trick of the light appears to give the impression that the visitor is dressed in motley and is wearing a mask. Then Quin sets out to make his presence felt by enabling the house-guests to solve the mystery of a suicide that happened in that house a year ago! In the process, he helps two lovers reunite.

This is Quin's trademark - love...and violent death. As Satterthwaite says, his friend seem to be interested in the welfare of lovers more than solving crimes. But in a Christie story, they often go hand in hand.

This book is a personal favourite of mine, read over and over countless number of times; especially on wet June nights, in the cavernous rooms of my ancestral home in Kerala, as the monsoon rages outside. I half expect Quin to step over the threshold every time, saying: "Damnable weather outside. Can I wait inside till it clears?"

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Agatha Christie novel starring Harley Quinn?!



No. Calm down, nerd.
But it does feature a character named Harley Quin, who helps our main character, Mr. Satterthwaite, solve a series of old mysteries that somehow relate to whatever situation our elderly hero finds himself in at the moment. <--at a house party, trip abroad, etc.



But in case you're thinking whothefuckcares if the name isn't Poirot or Marple, there's a paranormal TWIST to this one that I've never seen before in any of Christie's writing that makes this a worthwhile read for any fan.



Ok, and since I can't be the only person who didn't really know what the hell a harlequin was:
har·le·quin
/ˈhärləkwən/
noun
1.
a mute character in traditional pantomime, typically masked and dressed in a diamond-patterned costume.
Similar: jester, joker, merry andrew, droll, zany
So...like some sort of an even weirder mime or something?



Anyway, if nothing else, I now have one more useless piece of information floating around in my head. And maybe, so do you!



In all seriousness, if you're looking for something kind of different in an Agatha Christie story, then this just might fit the bill.

Below are links to reviews of each individual story in this collection for anyone who is interested.

The Coming of Mr. Quin
The Shadow on the Glass
At the "Bells and Motley"
The Sign in the Sky
The Soul of the Croupier
The Man from the Sea
The Voice in the Dark
The Face of Helen
The Dead Harlequin
The Bird with the Broken Wing
The World's End
Harlequin's Lane

[Simona B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

"Sentiment belonged to his age. It had no part to play in the modern world."

This is a Christie that is totally different from the one you and I know, or knew, or thought we knew. Even in her most-known and appreciated works, she always flirts with the supernatural and the mysterious, but, this time around, flirting isn't enough for her anymore: this time, she abandons herself to it; and yet without giving the impression of fully embracing it.

It's a mystery in itself, how she did it, the main and the most dense of the whole collection. Not once does the reader feel mocked or wronged because of the peculiar air the arcane presence of Mr. Harley Quin bestows on these stories, which is, to me, another marvellous paradox, being they crime stories -and Christie's at that. Agatha Christie, mother of the rational, precise, objective, infallible Hercule Poirot, and now she gives birth to this ghost, this wraith, this shadow of a man who appears, magically, whenever and wherever a new tragedy is about to happen or an old one needs to be put to sleep. I would have dismissed without a second thought any crime novel presenting such a premise, and I would have wronged myself terribly. I already knew I would find it brilliant (it's Christie we're talking about, after all), but I wasn't prepared to love its peculiarity and strangeness to the point of not being able to think of anything or little else for days afterwards. Mr. Quin is unjustly underestimated, if you ask me. I, for once, have found him to be extremely more remarkable and intriguing that the infamous Miss Marple ever was -but, banally, not as much as my Poirot is.

Not all of the stories of this collection are exceptional, but almost. One or two may result unusually lame (by Chritie's standard, which is to say good nonetheless), but I can promise the others won't disappoint. If Agatha were still alive, I would start a petition to have more Quin's stories. Twelve are far too few.

[Велислав Върбанов · Rating 5 out of 5]

Прекрасни разкази! „Загадъчният мистър Куин“ е по-различна от останалите творби на Агата Кристи, но е все така вълнуваща и елегантно разказана. Книгата се състои от свързани помежду си истории, в които доста изтънченият и наблюдателен мистър Сатъртуейт разплита криминални мистерии. В началото на сюжета той се запознава с изключително тайнствения мистър Харли Куин, който изненадващо се появява и му помага в заплетените случаи... Любимият ми разказ е „Звънчетата на клоуна“.




„— Странна е тази ваша идея — бавно каза мистър Сатъртуейт, — че след време нещата се виждат по-добре, отколкото в момента на събитието.
— Колкото повече време е минало, толкова повече нещата идват на мястото си. Виждат се истинските връзки между тях.“

[Metodi Markov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Дванайсет криминални истории, в които наблюдателния мистър Сатъртуейт излиза от привичната си неутрална роля на наблюдател и действа в услуга на доброто провидение и на съдбата.

Много фини и изпипани етюди, които показват творчеството на Агата Кристи в съвсем друга светлина.

Напълно съм очарован!

Цитат:

"Някои от най-грозните неща на света понякога ни изглеждат много красиви…"

[Carol, She's so Novel ꧁꧂ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much like the retro feel of my edition's cover



But some other editions have some quite brilliant cover art that capture the whole feel of this book


and above all



(I've had fun collecting these covers, all from Goodreads)

I didn't care for this title when I read it in my younger years, but the hint of the fantastic doesn't bother me now and with the exception of The Shadow of the Glass and The Bird With a Broken Wing (this one was too silly for me!) these were all good engrossing stories. I loved the complexity that Christie gave to Satterthwaite's character and his development as a detective. For he is more than an observer and he is greatly appreciated by Mr Harley Quin. Quin has his own back story which is fascinating to read.

These stories feel like a homage to Arthur Conan Doyle, and to certain extent, Edgar Allan Poe and are none the worse for that.

https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...

[Poonam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the only book of Harley Quin written by Agatha Christie and it is unlike any other Christie novel.

A collection of 12 short stories where the recurring characters are Mr. Harley Quin and Mr. Satterthwaite.

Mr Satterthwaite is different from Christie's other side-kick (Mr.Hastings of Poirot series). He is from British Upper class, is 60+ years old and loves his comfort.

Coming to Mr.Harley Quin, again very different from the famous Poirot or Miss Marple....
"This was Mr.Quin's doing. It was he was staging the play-- was giving the actors their cues. He was at the heart of the mystery pulling the strings, making the puppets work. He knew everything."

The mystery solving was not the usual kind. In some of the stories Mr.Quin did not even need to go to the crime scene. Just by playing on people's perception of what they have seen and how things could have happened, he is able to solve the mystery.
"Mr. Quin is a friend-- or should I say, an acquaintance of mine. He is a most remarkable man."
"One of these amateur solvers of crime, I suppose," remarked the Inspector disparagingly.
"No," said Mr.Satterthwaite." he is not that kind of man at all. But he has a power-- an almost uncanny power-- of showing you what you have seen with your own eyes, of making clear to you what you have heard with your own ears."

I liked the technique used to solve most of the mysteries but none of the stories made me bite my fingers or make my heart stop. 2 of the stories even left me a bit confused....
But I would still say that most of the stories are decent and make for a good cozy mystery read.

I was a bit disappointed with the ending- What is up with a supernatural twist at the end? That is soo not expected in a Christie novel....

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming collection of Agatha Christie stories, all revolving around a man with the unlikely name of Harley Quin.

Mr. Quin appears and disappears suddenly. But if the protagonist, Mr. Satterthwaite, sees him, he knows that something exciting is about to happen.

This book focused more on suicide than other Agatha Christie books I've read. Some stories didn't deal with murder or suicide, but the majority did.

1.) The Coming of Mr. Quin. Harley Quin shows up unexpectedly at a New Year's Eve dinner party and solves a decade-old mystery. In what is a classic Harley Quin theme, Quin helps Satterthwaite to determine who the true murderer was a decade ago - and clear the name of someone who was suffering the effects of being under suspicion. This someone was planning to commit suicide, but because of Satterthwaite/Quin's intervention - decides not to. True love triumphs.

2.) The Shadow on the Glass. A weekend party to which Mr. Satterthwaite has been invited. Two people you'd never suspect have an affair. Both are dead. A murder/suicide on the part of the male is suspected. Mr. Quin comes in at the end to help Satterthwaite put it all together.

3.) At the “Bells and Motley”. Rather far-fetched story about acrobats and cat burglars.

4.) The Sign in the Sky – Mr. Satterthwaite actually travels to Canada to investigate a murder, on Quin's urging. Again, true love triumphs and a man falsely accused is saved from hanging.

5.) The Soul of the Croupier – Satterthwaite ends up vacationing in Corsica. Again, themes of love.

6.) The Man from the Sea – Mr. Satterthwaite is on an island. I believe it's Corsica again. He meets a terminally ill young man (Anthony) who wants to commit suicide. He also meets an older woman. She was married at 18 to an abusive man who beat her so hard she lost her baby. She's suicidal, too, for various reasons. There are some great thoughts about suicide in this story. Also, the theme of preventing suicide and the triumph of true love are dominant.

7.) The Voice in the Dark - The second far-fetched story in the collection involving amnesia and false identities and a fortune. There is also, I think it's worth noting, a 25-year-old man being treated as a trophy by an older woman - and his name is Bimbo. :)

8.) The Face of Helen – A super-beautiful woman named Gillian is being fought over by two guys. She picks one, and the other decides to get his revenge by killing her. There is also a suicide in this story.

9.) The Dead Harlequin – A husband is murdered and it's made to look like suicide.

10.) The Bird with the Broken Wing – Quin summons Satterthwaite to Laidell with a Ouija board. o.O A "fairy girl" who seems to be not of this world is found dead, hanged in her bedroom. Suicide? Think again. This is one of the rare times Christie creates an insane killer who just kills for the hell of it.

11.) The World's End – Naomi's an artist who's going to commit suicide by driving off a cliff. Satterthwaite and Quin prevent her by solving a year-old crime. Now she can be with her true love again and she doesn't have to kill herself. Again, true love wins, suicide themes.

12.) Harlequin's Lane – Russian ballerina is married to a rather dull English man. Is he having an affair? Is she? This is a rather tragic tale.

So - as you can see, strong themes of suicide. But also strong themes of love, and the triumph of love over all.

The "true" identity or nature of Harley Quin is often hinted at but never stated outright. Is he Death himself? An advocate for the dead? A supernatural being that interferes in the matters of the living? An angel? The Angel of Death? Sometimes no one but Satterthwaite can see or communicate with Quin. A strange, supernatural bent to Agatha Christie's usual fare.

If suicide and suicidal talk are triggering for you, don't read this book.

[Bobby Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve come to adore these stories, but I never for a single second imagine them in my head as Mr. Quin stories. He is a mysterious, enigmatic figure who adds a touch of the supernatural to each story, righting past wrongs, averting tragedy at times, but also with the ability to bring mortal justice. Mr. Quin, who appears almost magically, brings clarity to events through Satterthwaite, a fairly wealthy older man whom life has passed by in a way.

There is wonderful atmosphere in Christie’s “Mr. Quin” stories, but anyone who has read them knows full well these should be considered the Satterthwaite and Mr. Quin stories. We know very little about Mr. Quin throughout the series of short stories, other than he is part of the supernatural world in some capacity. This is as it should be, holding something mysterious back from the reader. Satterthwaite, however, we learn a great deal about, and come to enjoy his company and his growth throughout the stories. It is poignant how much Mr. Quin’s appearances transform Satterthwaite, adding meaning to his life, adding enjoyment and purpose as he becomes an important catalyst in untangling matters.

There are two important takeaways from reading this collection. The first is that Christie wrote far too few of them. The second is that they should definitely — it isn’t even arguable — be called The Satterthwaite & Mr. Quin mysteries. Whatever you want to call them, you’ll rarely run across a collection of short stories more enjoyable than The Mysterious Mr. Quin.

Here is a quick take on the stories included —


AT THE BELLS AND MOTLEY :

For fans of Satterthwaite and the supernatural and mysterious Mr. Quin, there is some wonderful interaction between the two in this one. There is a compelling back and forth over a meal while Satterthwaite is stranded somewhere due to car trouble, and happens upon his mysterious old friend, Mr. Quin.

Satterthwaite comes alive as always when urged on by Mr. Quin, expounding on the mysterious disappearance for which the Bells and Motley is famous. Christie deftly weaves the unraveling of an old mystery, which has at its edge, like a faint echo, the heart of a young girl. There exists a promise of romance if Satterthwaite, urged on by the mysterious Mr. Quin, can figure out what happened. Only then can the suspicion haunting a young man's life — much to the distress of a girl obviously in love with him — finally be removed.

The Bells and Motley, by the way, also plays a part in Agatha Christie's Murder is Easy. Highly recommended.


THE SOUL OF THE CROUPIER :

A really special story involving Satterthwaite and Mr. Quin. At the conclusion of this gem it is left up to the reader’s heart and sensibilities whether it contains two happy endings, or only one. Agatha Christie is at her absolute finest here.


HARLEQUIN’S LANE :

Satterthwaite isn’t sure why he feels compelled to visit the Denmans as this edgy and tremendously atmospheric Mr. Quin story begins. The only reason he can come up with to justify his propensity to keep returning to those five acres outside London where Ashmead sits is a beautiful Chinese lacquered screen which seems so out of place with the almost dull personalities of its occupants.

The woman in question is Russian by birth. She is married to a very English Englishman who is somewhat of a bore. Satterthwaite is puzzled by them as a couple, because they don’t seem to fit. Despite her rather expressionless demeanor and surroundings, Satterthwaite senses something underneath that he cannot quite put his finger on.

From the moment Mr. Quin enters the frame, and the two old acquaintances talk a walk, this story in the series takes on an unsettling edge in its implications. Harlequin’s Lane in fact may be the closest readers ever get in the Mr. Quin and Satterthwaite stories to the shadows in which the mysterious Mr. Quin dwells.

Agatha Christie’s Harlequin’s Lane is almost an enigma, its many elements making it nearly impossible to describe. Christie creates amazing atmosphere in this one, with an old cottage above a rubbish heap, and a lane owned by Mr. Quin augmenting a story about lost love, moments of perfection, and the dance of Harlequin and Columbine. Even among the frightening rubbish heap, Mr. Quin teaches Satterthwaite that there can be beautiful things.

The overall complexity of this one, the unsettling inferences, and the incredible atmosphere make for a story not soon forgotten. Harlequin’s Lane is highly recommended, especially for fans of the mysterious Mr. Harley Quin and his old friend Mr. Satterthwaite.


THE BIRD WITH THE BROKEN WING :

Agatha Christie’s Mr. Quin stories, which I’ve noted are really the Satterthwaite and Mr. Quin stories, rank among her best, and there is ample evidence of that here in this story.

Sattethwaite is shown to be an odd little man who appreciates the finer things in life, but he also possesses a very good heart. Satterthwaite’s friendship with the lightly supernatural Mr. Quin breathes new life into his existence over the course of these stories, no more so than in The Bird with the Broken Wing.

The Bird with the Broken Wing is both an atmospheric and enthralling example of the Mr. Quin stories. It is not a traditional mystery at all, though there may have been a murder. I almost feel like I read a completely different story from many others, because there are deep and subtle things to glean from this story. Yes, there’s someone who commits a crime and they’re off their gourd, but the story is really not about that at all, it is about the underscore.

When The Bird with the Broken Wing begins, Satterthwaite is feeling a little old and pathetic. Bird with the Broken Wing is in fact a sad and quietly moving story of lost love, lifestyle choices, and the tragic consequences when comfort becomes more paramount than love. In the end, it’s about happiness and enchantment, represented by a lovely girl, and the gift Mr. Quin leaves for his old friend Satterthwaite before disappearing once again into the mysterious world from which he came.

Another great story from Agatha Christie that will have you lamenting there aren’t far more Mr. Quin stories left behind to enjoy.


THE VOICE IN THE DARK :

Another good one, though I found the ending a bit too tidy, compared to some of the others. Still very good though.


THE WORLD’S END :

“I happened to bring some biscuits and a stick of chocolate on board with me…When I found there was no dinner to be got, I gave the lot to her. The lower classes always make such a fuss about going without their meals.” — The Duchess

There is wonderful atmosphere in Christie’s Mr. Quin stories, but anyone who has read them knows full well these should be considered the Satterthwaite and Mr. Quin stories. We discover very little about Mr. Quin throughout the short stories, other than he is part of the supernatural world in some undefined capacity. Christie smartly withholds this information, making it more mysterious for the reader.

Mr. Satterthwaite, however, we learn a great deal about. We come to enjoy Satterthwaite’s company and embrace his growth throughout the stories. It is poignant in fact how much Mr. Quin’s appearances transform Satterthwaite, adding meaning and enjoyment and purpose to his life as he becomes an important catalyst in untangling matters.

Needless to say, I adore the stories featuring Satterthwaite and Mr. Quin, and this one is magnificent; it may in fact be my all-time favorite. The World’s End is more atmospheric than most of the Mr. Quin stories in that it is more resonating.

Satterthwaite’s acquaintance with a rather stingy and irritating Duchess leads to him meeting a charming yet unconventional artist named Miss Carlton Smith. A sadness surrounds her, because her love, Alec Gerard has been imprisoned for a year, convicted of theft.

A twisty, dangerous road up a mountain to a place called World’s End, and a sudden snowfall, strands her at the top with a very unexpected group. Among the group is the mysterious Mr. Quin. There is some wonderfully descriptive prose by Christie helping create atmosphere. Her skillful creation of mood makes for a truly memorable short story. Sublime, and for me, perhaps my favorite in the series.


THE SHADOW ON THE GLASS :

A wonderful and atmospheric buildup about a glass haunted by a shadow of former deeds. And then new murders occur after a woman’s arrival and interacts with others. It’s all very well done, the method of murder ingenious. Very good, if not great like a few others.


THE SIGN IN THE SKY :

“You are, I believe, a rich man, Mr. Satterthwaite. Not a millionaire, but a man able to indulge in a hobby without counting the expense. You have looked on at the dramas of other people. Have you never contemplated stepping in and playing a part? Have you never seen yourself for a minute as the arbiter of other people’s destinies — standing at the center of the stage with life and death in your hands?” — Mr. Quin

A train, a young woman desperate to break free from a marriage that was a mistake, a sign in the sky, and a girl perhaps not too bright leads Satterthwaite, urged on by the ever mysterious Mr. Quin, to Canada in search of a maid/servant to save a man’s life.

Great Satterthwaite and Mr. Quin story, with an especially wonderful ending; Christie makes the centerpiece an empty table. Highly recommended, as are all the Mr. Quin stories.


THE COMING OF MR. QUIN :

On New Year’s Eve, Satterthwaite finds himself among a group that includes Alex Portal and his wife, Eleanor. Satterthwaite finds Eleanor somehow strange — a blonde who has died her hair black — it’s so often the reverse. Eleanor Portal also appears to possess a hold of some nature which frightens her husband.

Mention of a New Year’s Eve superstition, and a tale of suicide by a man whom they all knew brings about the entrance of Mr. Quin. Our mysterious Mr. Quin is supposedly stranded. But is he really?

When Mr. Quin draws out those present into recalling events surrounding the aforementioned person’s suicide, an entirely different picture begins to emerge. Whether it will be a condemning one, or give a second chance for happiness to two people isn’t clear until the final moments of this splendid Satterthwaite and Mr. Quin story.


THE DEAD HARLEQUIN :

The Dead Harlequin is actually a painting in this tale from Agatha Christie featuring Mr. Satterthwaite and the mysterious Mr. Quin. Quin is connected to the supernatural world in ways never explained in any of the stories.

The artist of the aforementioned painting is soon to be famous. Satterthwaite is fascinated by him because the man in the painting bears a striking resemblance to his old acquaintance, Mr. Quin. Satterthwaite of course purchases the painting, and in an effort to get the background of its origins, has dinner with the artist and another man.

Like more than one of the Satterthwaite and Mr. Quin stories, the mystery of the room where the dead man lies involves an apparent suicide, with seemingly no other explanation. It is a tragedy which still haunts one woman. Through Satterthwaite’s efforts, aided by the sudden appearance of Mr. Quin, the truth is finally revealed.

Another outstanding Mr. Quin story, this one involving the legend of the Weeping Lady, a rug that moves from one room to another, and a tale of two women. Wonderful stuff.


THE FACE OF HELEN :

I love the Satterthwaite and Mr. Quin stories, and this is a particularly good one. The Face of Helen is an exciting story in which the reader finally gets a glimpse of Satterthwaite’s poignant missteps with romance, when he briefly recalls a heartbreaking moment. But that comes later.

One of those “chance” meetings with Mr. Quin — this time at the opera — leads to Satterthwaite’s introduction to the beguiling Gillian West. Her young beauty is so extraordinary it causes Saterthwaite and Mr. Quin to note how others like her throughout history, such as Cleopatra and Helen of Troy, inspired passions which left a trail of violence and tragedy in their wake.

Two very different types of men vying for Gillian’s love, a parting gift and request, and an opera singer said to be the next Caruso spell more violence and tragedy if Satterthwaite, inspired by the sense that the absent Mr. Quin is somehow walking side by side with him in a corporeal way, cannot put the jigsaw together in time to prevent a deadly plan from being executed.

Just wonderful stuff from Agatha Christie which will make you wish she’d written a hundred Mr. Quin stories.


THE MAN FROM THE SEA :

Finally a story which for my taste wasn’t on a par with the others. I’d classify it as good, rather than Very Good or Great. On the surface, the length and introspective delving into how we face death is weighty and substantive, and there is an ending for a couple of people filled with hope rather than gloom and doom, but there’s just something slightly off about the execution.

Christie used the sudden and tragic end for a dog, in real time, early on, to contrast the way animals and humans face the end, and I found it unpleasant and heartbreaking; yes, we are supposed to find it so, but it was a point she could have made just as easily some other way. There is a feeling of Christie meandering some in this story, with a few too many diverse thoughts she wanted to include. There are a few background things whose inclusion has only the slightest connection to the larger story in fact.

If Christie had focused solely on the single story of the man Satterthwaite temporarily talks out of committing suicide, and the vibrant Spanish woman behind the shutters, that past moment of love waiting for a second chance, The Man From the Sea would have still afforded an exploration of the same themes without the much too winding road getting there, and the startling death of the dog.

That being said, if read on its own this would probably read much better, but because this happened to be the last story I picked to read, it suffered somewhat within the collection because of all that had preceded it for me.


SUMMATION :

If like me you have never tackled these, preferring only Poirot or only Miss Marple, or both, you are truly missing out. Christie is at her best in the Satterthwaite and Mr. Quin mysteries. If you appreciate well executed short stories, especially those a bit mysterious, touched but not smothered in the supernatural, you will devour these, and lament there were not more of them. Highly recommended.

[mark monday · Rating 2 out of 5]

Choose Your Own Adventure!

You are the Mysterious Mr. Quinn. You are ever so mysterious. And yet you do not really hold a candle to Poirot or Marple or even the Tuppences. Your adventures are boring; your mysteries are trite. You are an Unfinished Book.

If you decide you want some hot Belgian action, choose https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

If you decide an older woman would be more your cuppa, choose https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Zai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este es un entretenido libro que se compone de 12 relatos en los cuales su nexo de unión es el señor Sattherwaite, en los cuales pasa de ser un mero espectador a tener la clave para resolver dramas humanos, los relatos que más me han gustado han sido:
- La llegada de Mr. Quin
- La sombra en el cristal
- El cadáver de Arlequín
- El pájaro con el ala rota
- El sendero de Arlequín

[Thibault Busschots · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to the brilliant writer of the Coming from Darkness series and macaron-loving tea connoisseur Eustacia Tan for recommending this to me.


The Mysterious Mr. Quin is exactly as the name suggests, mysterious. It’s a collection of short stories where the sociable protagonist Mr. Satterthwaite finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery, while Mr. Quin comes in to help him see things from a different perspective and leaves it to Mr. Satterthwaite to unravel the mystery. Considering this is written by the legendary Agatha Christie, it should come as no surprise that the mysteries themselves are interesting and of course really well written. And combined with the very subtle hints of the supernatural, it makes for quite an interesting set up.


Mr. Satterthwaite is not as strong a protagonist as Agatha Christie’s most famous protagonists Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Nor is Mr. Quin for that matter. And neither is the kind of sleuth in the way we’ve come to expect in Agatha Christie’s stories. Mr. Satterthwaite is mostly an observer in the murder mysteries while Mr. Quin pretty much appears from out of nowhere and helps Mr. Satterthwaite see the clues left behind in a new light, but he never solves the mystery himself. Both characters however are quite interesting in their own right. Mr. Satterthwaite is pretty much a rich old man but nevertheless a likeable and identifiable character. His strengths are his simplicity and his life experience. Mr. Quin is somewhat of an enigma. What makes him so fascinating is the air of mystery surrounding him and the fact that he almost never really does anything special. And as expertly shown in these stories: when it comes to the supernatural, sometimes less is more.


Overall, a very enjoyable read. It’s a light mystery short story collection with some hints of the supernatural that provides us with a little edge to elevate the stories as a whole.

[Phantasmagoric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shelved as: Favs!! Fav Mystery Novels!!
Status: wow, in love with Mr Harley Quin..❤️


At first it wasn't really my cup of tea but then it started growing on me. Harley Quin, this character is just beautiful, he's really one of a kind!

I quote:
"Folks that come & go..." a very apt description of Mr Quin." I'm in love with his character, I wanna befriend him, just like Mr Satterthwaite did.

I quote:
«Perhaps, as a result of the price you have paid, you see things that other people do not» I also want to mention that I absolutely love Mr Satterthwaite's character as well, for he played a big role in the stories.. He's an actor, not a looker-on nor a listener anymore!

The Queen of Detective Fiction 'Agatha Christie' did great by creating such complexity & mystery that is wonderfully written & I am very glad that it was such an enjoyable read, a very nice addition to my reading list as well as to my reading challenge..

#HarelyQuin #TheMysteriousMrQuin #AgathaChristie #readingchallenge

[Jack Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars. The adjective Christie applied to her lead character, Mr. Quin, was "mysterious." After reading all 12 short stories, and the two extras located elsewhere, several other adjectives come to mind: extraordinary, psychic, and manipulative. He's a magician who conjures up scenes to assist a person, invariably distraught and involved in a love affair of some sort. Usually there's a crime but not always. He often doesn't act directly but guides his friend Mr. Satterthwaite in the right direction. Harlequin, on which Harley Quin is modelled, is a fictitious character, a song and dance man from Italy's commedia dell'arte. There's much we don't know about Mr. Q.! Where is his home? How does he get his information? How is he able to appear at precisely the right time? But that's the art of Christie. These are fantasies on the edge of science fiction. My favourites? In The Sign in the Sky, Mr. S visits beautiful Banff in the Canadian Rockies to find a clue. In The Voice in the Dark, the colour of a young maid's eyes is the give-away. And in The Dead Harlequin, the background in a lovely painting is crucial. Quin is from a different world. You'll enjoy meeting him. (Oc2021/Se2025)

[Stratos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Το βιβλίο αυτό απαρτίζεται από μικρές μικρές ιστοριούλες μυστηρίου. Οι περισσότερες όμως δεν δικαιώνουν τη φήμη της συγγραφέως

[Dr. Laurel Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am going to give this collection of short stories 5 stars because I truly cannot find fault with it. I just reviewed The Labours of Hercules and remarked that sometimes Christie had to force the stories to fit the theme, to their detriment. With Mr. Quin, there is no such strain--the overarching motif (stories with a touch of the supernatural and the whimsical) is elastic enough to accommodate a fine variety of excellent stories. I think this collection is unique in that Dame Agatha had the chance to integrate the two sides of her authorial persona--Mary Westmacott, the romantic Englishwoman, and Agatha Christie, the Queen of Crime. The result is a collection of stories with a romantic or Gothic atmosphere that ultimately (with one or two notable exceptions) resolve into a logical and clever solution.

I also think that the mystery of Harley Quin himself is quite fascinating. He is a shadowy figure from the underworld who appears to intercede on behalf of the dead--those who have a mystery to solve or a wrong to set right. He more or less follows the pattern of the Harlequin character from the Italian Commedia dell'arte, and he is attractive, beguiling, and at times extremely frightening. He likes to haunt places associated with his archetype--an inn called the Bells and Motley, a restaurant called Arlecchino (Italian for "harlequin"). He dresses in black but has a way of catching the light from, say, a stained glass window, so that he appears briefly to be dressed in motley.

I think of Mr. Quin as the "control" spirit for a medium, in this case dapper Mr. Satterthwaite. Satterthwaite is not usually numbered among Christie's detectives, but he manages to solve a number of mysteries with a little prodding from Mr. Quin and his messages from beyond.

The tone of the stories is dreamy and romantic and the tales of love and murder stick with the reader, especially The Dead Harlequin and The Man From the Sea in my case. Although one might complain that the stories are a departure from Christie's usual Miss Marple or Poirot cases, I found the change refreshing and actually many of the stories have the classic detective fiction "twists" we expect from Christie. I think her more open-minded fans will find a lot to admire and enjoy here.

[Veronique · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25*

Short stories always feel a little ‘less’ than novels to me and yet, here, Christie gives us much to ponder... What seems at first entertaining mysteries can also be seen as sharp glimpses into the human psyche!

Twelve mysteries are served to the reader, featuring the likeable Mr Satterthwaite, who prefers to witness what happens around him rather than participate. However, with the appearance of the enigmatic Mr. Quin, our deal old gentleman is forced into the role of mystery solver.

I love the way Christie paints one scene, totally clear, only to rip it apart and show something utterly different. The collection might be name after Mr. Quin, but his role is that of ‘fuse’, inciting Mr Satterthwaite to action. In a way, he is like a glass prism that changes white light into a plethora of colours, transforming what appears to be one truth into very different perceptions. Masterly done.

[Ona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter involves a separate mystery that is solved through the interaction between observant man Mr Satterthwaite and Mr Quin, who appears and disappears almost magically at the most opportune moments.

[Alan (the Lone Librarian rides again) Teder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christie's Only Paranormal Character?
A review of the William Morrow eBook (February 10, 2010) of the original William Collins & Sons hardcover (April 14, 1930) which collected short stories first published in various magazines (1924-1929).

I have a certain friend—his name is Mr. Quin, and he can best be described in the terms of catalysis. His presence is a sign that things are going to happen, because when he is there strange revelations come to light, discoveries are made. And yet—he himself takes no part in the proceedings.

The lead character in these short stories is actually aging socialite Mr. Satterthwaite, who travels around various estates, resorts and hotspots in England and Europe. In each situation, a crime or a mystery occurs. When Mr. Satterthwaite pursues the solution, the title character of Mr. Quin appears in order to give him guidance by hinting at the direction he should pursue.

The character is most often introduced with his head in shadow and a harlequin diamond pattern somehow projected on his clothes through window light or other lighting effect. After providing advice, Quin then disappears, often in a seemingly supernatural manner. At one point he appears to walk off a cliff!


The cover of the original William Collins & Sons hardcover (1930). Image sourced from Wikipedia credited as it is believed that the cover art can or could be obtained from William Collins & Sons., Fair use, Link

Although Mr. Quin is obviously inspired by the classic comedy/romance stage character Harlequin, in these stories he is more of a muse or a trickster. He points Mr. Satterthwaite in the correct direction to solve each mystery and then is gone from the plot.

Although this is a book of short stories, they have a sameness to them which didn't inspire me to give individual ratings and reviews. They were all of a GR 3 star "Like" calibre. If you want the details (Note: the plot descriptions are spoilers) of each story you can click on the Wikipedia link above.

Trivia and Links
The Mysterious Mr. Quin will not enter the public domain in the USA until 2026, 96 years after first publication.

The first story in the collection The Coming of Mr. Quin (first published in the Grand Magazine March 2024) became the basis for the very first movie adaptation of a Christie plot, the 1928 silent film The Passing of Mr. Quin. Reading the plot description for the film indicates that it varies considerably from the original. The Mr. Satterthwaite character does not even appear in the film.

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quite uneven collection, I think, with some definite highs but also some pretty melodramatic lows. I think if I had been more charmed by the somewhat supernatural element woven into the trajectory of Mr. Quin and Mr. Satterthwaite, possibly the collection would have been more successful for me. Still, the enjoyable early Christie effervescent prose carried a lot for me

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gelesen für die #readchristie2022 Challenge im Februar `22: „Featuring travel and romance“

Das hier war mal ein richtiges Blind Date! Da ich das vorgeschlagene Buch für die Februarchallenge mal als Film gesehen habe und mich noch ziemlich gut an den Plot erinnere, wollte ich für die Vorgabe diesen Monat einen der Alternativtitel lesen. Auf „der seltsame Mr. Quin“ fiel die Wahl, da das Buch interessant aufgemacht war und ich es bisher selten irgendwo beworben gesehen habe.

„Der seltsame Mr. Quin“ ist eine Kurzgeschichtensammlung, die alle in sich geschlossene Kriminalgeschichten sind. Dabei begleiten wir jedes Mal den ältlichen Mr. Sattersways, der sich meistens auf Gesellschaften oder im Urlaub rumtreibt, wo er wohlhabende Bekannte trifft. Immer wieder begegnet er dabei einem gewissen Mr. Quin, der jedes Mal unter… eher ungewöhnlichen Umständen auftaucht und verschwindet. Eigentlich macht Mr. Quin gar nicht so viel. Oft sitzt er nur herum und stellt kurze Fragen. Und doch, nach jeder Begegnung mit diesem seltsamen Mann ohne Heimat und Familie hat Mr. Sattersways wieder einen Kriminalfall gelöst. Was hat es mit Mr. Quin nur auf sich?
________________

Internetquellen behaupten, Mr. Quin und Mr. Sattersways wären Christies eigene Lieblingsermittler gewesen und auch ich muss gestehen, dass ich den mysteriösen Harlekin und den alten Mr. Sattersways sehr gerne mochte. Beide sind sympathisch und lösen Fälle auf eine cleane, nüchterne Art. Schade, dass es keinen ganzen Roman über die beiden gibt.

Was ich leider mal wieder feststellen musste, ist, dass Kurzgeschichten einfach nicht mein Ding sind. Diese ständigen Wechsel zwischen Schauplätzen und Protagonisten finde ich eher anstrengend. Das spannende Ermittlerduo hat zwar dafür gesorgt, dass ich das Buch ganz gerne gelesen habe, aber so richtig gezogen hat es leider nicht. Auf jeden Fall ein interessanter Christie, bei dem sich das Lesen mal lohnt, auch wenn er für mich kein Favorit wird.

[Zoha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high expectations from this one after reading Poirot and Marple. While this book did not exactly deliver what I looked for, it did end up giving me something else entirely...

The Mysterious Mr Quin is a short story collection, based on two characters: Harley Quin, a mysterious man who comes and goes. And Mr Satterthwaite, an old man who solves mysteries with Quin's aid.

Each story was interesting on its own. While I much rather prefer smart old H. Poirot and the keen Miss Marple, it would be unfair to compare them with the characters of this book. Mr Quin is an unusual man. He is an advocate of lovers and the dead. I sometimes personally believe he might not be real at all but more of a figment of Mr Satterthwaite's own imagination.

Nevertheless, the book was definitely an interesting read. I am now intrigued to read more of Harley Quin works by Christie.

[Ayman Gomaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

مع تانى تجرية ليا مع اجاثا كريستى و اول تجربة مع مجموعة قصصية لها استطيع ان اقول انها كانت مغامرة ممتعة و مملة فى بعضها مجموعة من الجرائم تحدث او حدثت يتم تناولها بشكل مثير بين السيد ساترثوايت و السيد كوين الغامض الذى ظهوره يبشر بالحب او نذيرا للموت
بعض القصص كانت رتيبة و البعض الاخر كان ممتع و مثير
على الرغم من هذا فقد اعجبت بالسيد ساترثوايت اكثر :)
تقييمى للقصص
1- مجى السيد كوين 2.5 نجمة
2- ظل على الزجاج 2 نجمة
3-فى نزل بيلز و موتلى 3 نجوم
4- علامة فى السماء 3.5 نجوم
5-روح مدير اللعبة 5 نجوم
6- رجل من البحر 1 نجمة
7- صوت فى الظلام 1 نجمة
8- وجه هيلين 1 نجمة
9- المهرج الميت 2 نجمة
10- الطائر ذو الجناح المكسور 2 نجمة
11- نهاية العالم 1 نجمة
12- زقاق المهرج 2 نجمة

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agatha Christie like you've never quite seen her before. And that's probably for the best.
Meet Mr. Satterthwaite, an elderly gentleman who prides himself on knowing everyone worth knowing. People often unburden their souls to him and he passively observes as they go on the merry way. Until he meets the mysterious Mr. Quin. He begins to notice that every time Mr. Quin shows up, something exciting happens. And slowly, Mr. Satterthwaite starts to take the lead on those happenings, leaving passivity for activity.
This collection of short stories provides a mixed back both in terms of quality and entertainment. Most I wouldn't recommend bothering with. The stories center on dramatic, supernatural intervention. They often end tragically or center on tragic events. And even when they have a happy ending, the stories lack much compelling plotline.
But then a gem like 'The Man from the Sea' comes. And it is GOOD. Not just good, but positively 5-star worthy with both message and pacing.
There is some intriguing possibility with Mr. Quin as a character. But he's no Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot. But that is also probably because these aren't, at the end of the day, mysteries. While a few murders might get solved, they play a secondary role to the overarching drama. And the drama isn't super exciting. Except when it is. I really don't know what I think of this.

[Molly Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite collection of short stories, all tied together around the realm of the harlequinade as experienced by the dapper, if wizened, Mr. Satterthwaite.

As others have mentioned, there's no sense of strain in these stories, no sense that the beloved by many, Agatha Christie, had problems matching Mr. Quin to his supernatural side, by bringing in the ever curious Mr. Satterthwaite to help bring walking spirits to rest, perhaps bring the guilty to justice, and even to help the lonely discover love. Does he save the doomed? I like to break enough of the spoiler-free to yes.

If you want well written stories that are not mysteries in the sense of stories to be solved? You can find few finer collections than this one. These are more literary fiction with fantasy and mystery twined within.

Before she became Dame Christie, Agatha Christie wrote her favorites from this collection were; "World's End," "The
Man from the Sea," and "Harlequin's Lane." I would say this collection, along with her two non-fiction and "Curtain," make up my favorites out of all her writing. Perhaps a few more make the grade, but these are the top of them all.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a much different sort of style than most Agatha Christie novels (though often her short stories are very bizarre). Unlike her other novels with Poirot and Miss Marple, Mr. Quinn seems always to be exactly in the right place at the right time, sometimes appearing out of seemingly nowhere. I rather liked this set of stories. Firstly, because it was a different style of detective, which led to a stranger story. A lot of the plots have similar beginnings, but you never quite solve the mystery, no matter how obvious it may seem. After being a fan of Agatha Christie since I was a young adult and having read most of her books multiple times, it was a very pleasant surprise to finally read something she wrote that was new to me. I suppose I waited this long, because I thought nothing could stand up to her previous characters. Pleasantly surprised to wrong in this case.

[Vikas Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a collection of twelve stories that Agatha wrote for various magazines between 1924-1929. These were then compiled in a single edition in 1930. In 1953 Penguin published ten of Christie’s novels of her liking and this edition was one of them. In special foreword written by Agatha she picks three stories as her favorite- Man from the sea, The World’s end and Harlequin’s lane. Mr. Quinn was one of Christie’s favorite creations and there is a good deal of suspense around him. He appears suddenly in the story and then disappears equally quickly. But each story has a happy ending and most of them involve matters of the heart. Overall light enjoyable read.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been learning so much about my favorite author by reading her stories in publication order! I have loved Agatha Christie's characters and classic mysteries since I was 9 years old and read my first Hercule Poirot novel. But up until my current reading project I had never read any of her short stories and several novels are new-to-me as well. And I keep having to backtrack to read some stories that were published first in magazines and then collected into book form later.

I loved the early Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple short one-minute style mysteries! All of the stories were written and published in detective and fiction magazines and then published as short story collection books. Come to find out The Mysterious Mr. Quin is the same situation!

Mr. Quin is a mysterious, almost supernatural man, who appears unexpectedly to help uncover the truth behind unsolved crimes. An older gentleman, Mr. Satterthwaite, finds himself a very willing accomplice as he likes looking into the everyday drama of human lives.

I listened to the audio book version of these stories. The audio is narrated by Hugh Fraser who played Hastings in the Poirot television series. He does a great job of narrating. Very enjoyable listening experience!

I did not realize until I had finished the book that The Mysterious Mr. Quin is another collection of stories first published in magazines. There are 12 stories in all. Here is a bit on each one:

The Coming of Mr. Quin - This story was first published as The Passing of Mr. Quin in The Grand Magazine in March 1924. The very myserious Mr. Quin makes his first appearance at a country house where a man committed suicide by shooting himself years ago. Mr Harley Quin comes to the door saying his car has broken down....and by the time his chauffeur has repaired it, Mr. Quin has helped solve the mystery.

The Shadow on the Glass - Another country house. A ghost. And a murder. Quin appears to help Mr. Satterthwaite figure out the truth behind the shooting. First published in The Grand Magazine in October 1924.

At the Bells & Motley - Mr. Satterthwaite is travelling but flat tires cause him to shelter from an oncoming storm at the local inn....and he meets up with Mr. Quin. The innkeeper states that the storm is very like one on the very day a local mystery started. Sleuthing follows, as usual. This story was first published in 1925 in The Grand Magazine.

The Sign in the Sky - Mr. Satterthwaite attends a murder trial that ends in a finding of guilty and a death sentence. He then proceeds to a restaurant and finds his friend, Mr. Quin. It appears not all the evidence is what it seems.... This story first appeared in The Grand Magazine in July 1925.

The Soul of the Croupier - Mr. Satterthwaite is in Monte Carlo. Mr Quin appears right on cue of course....and drama plays out at the roulette table. I admit I had to look up what a "Croupier'' is -- the person in charge of a gaming table, paying out money or tokens. There is no murder in this tale....just human drama. First published in Story-Teller Magazine in January 1927.

The World's End - This time Mr. Satterthwaite has travelled to Corsica. He again miraculously bumps into his friend Mr. Quin and they solve the mystery of a missing opal. First published in Story-Teller Magazine in February 1927.

The Voice in the Dark - World hopper Mr. Satterthwaite is now in the French Riviera at Cannes. Mysterious voices, a shipwreck and a vast estate create the mystery that Satterthwaite and Quin come together to solve. First published in Story-Teller Magazine in March 1927.

The Face of Helen - This time Mr. Satterthwaite goes to the opera where he meets up with Mr. Quin and gets pulled into another love-related drama. The life of a beautiful woman hangs in the balance as Satterthwaite works to put all the pieces of the mystery together. First appeared in Story-Teller Magazine in April 1927.

The Dead Harlequin - Mr. Satterthwaite buys a painting that depicts a Harlequin gazing in a window at his own dead body on the floor. The body is a likeness of his friend Harley Quin. So, he buys the painting and ends up pulled into a mystery. This is my favorite story from the collection! First published in Detective Fiction Weekly in June 1929.

The Bird with the Broken Wing - Mr. Satterthwaite happens to be in the same room with a group of people having a séance, when a message comes through for him. He figures out the message and stumbles into yet another mystery. This story is one that did not first appear in a magazine. It was first published in The Mysterious Mr. Quin in 1930.

The Man from the Sea - The setting is a Spanish island. Mr. Satterthwaite is walking on a high cliff enjoying the sights when he stumbles into a mystery. Quin of course makes an appearance as well. First published in Brittania & Eve magazine in October 1929.

Harlequin's Lane - Mr Satterthwaite is at yet another country house where he meets up with Mr. Quin. They investigate a murder. First published in Story-Teller Magazine in May 1927.

The first story, The Coming of Mr. Quin, was adapted into a movie - The Passing of Mr. Quin - in 1928.

I enjoyed these stories! They all center around lovers or relationships damaged by violence or unsolved crimes. Mr. Quin has a supernatural element to him, which adds a splash of extra fun to the tales.

Mr. Satterthwaite is a bit of wealthy snob. He's big on class distinctions and proper behavior in the wealthy class and "lower'' strata. I see this theme repeated often in Christie's characters, and racist nuances pop in at times. Colonial opinions. Commentary on other cultures, races. Characters giving opinions on the poor, servants, lower and middle classes. I still love the stories, but they are definitely a product of 1920's-1930s upper class white European opinions.

I'm really enjoying my journey through Christie's writings in publication order (Or as close to publication order as I can get) and researching whatever little rabbit holes I find on the way. And I'm loving reading Christie's works as a 52-year old and discovering little tidbits of social commentary and early 1900s nuances that I missed as a child/teenager reading these stories for the first time. The mysteries hold up and are just as much fun to read as they were back when I first read them.....but the social opinions and ideas expressed by some characters in the stories do not hold up to nearly 100 years of time passing. Thank God!

I have yet to read Christie's autobiography or a biography on her...reading through all her fiction first. I'm curious as to one thing -- did Christie hold the opinions of her upper class characters? Or....was she making thinly veiled social commentary?? I can't wait to find out!

In my quest to read all of Christie, I'm going to skip over The Floating Admiral (1931) for now because Christie helped write it as part of the The Detection Club, a group of mystery writers. I'm going to read it -- and the other books written by the Club -- but focusing on works written only by Christie for right now. So...moving on to: The Sittaford Mystery (also published as The Hazelwood Mystery). This is one I haven't read before -- can't wait!!!!

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Many years ago, an elderly friend once told me that the Harley Quin stories put her off reading Agatha Christie for life. She found them "disturbing" in a spiritual sense, but then she is one of those christians that gets hung up on all things demonic. Dare I say it made me curious to read them, even though IMO short stories are not the best showcase for mystery fiction.

After finishing this book I felt slightly sick, the way you do when you've eaten a whole bag of potato chips at a sitting. I personally didn't detect any overt woo-woo or "disturbing" spiritual content. The only story that implies something of the sort is the last in the book, which had me rolling my eyes with impatience. They're just not very good. After awhile I began to feel like I was reading the same basic story over and over and over, tricked out to look like something different without managing it. I mean, how many locked-room faux suicides can you fit into one book? Christie was notorious for recycling plots and favourite elements--the poisoned chocolates/cake are an example, but this got obnoxious. Her alter ego, Mary Westmacott, wrote romance novels; I haven't read any of those yet, but there was definitely far too much star-crossed-lovering going on in this collection.

Besides, Quin has a few cameos and that's all. It's a walk-on part at best. Lord Peter Wimsey made a better Harlequin, and creepier by far--but then Sayers is the better writer of the two. Christie's Harley Quin is a very weak hook to hang the plots on; he does no real sleuthing, leaving it all to Mr Satterthwaite, a fussy little old man who is a bizarre melding of Miss Marple and Poirot at his most OCD, who may just possibly have been a parody of Dorothy Sayers' Montague Egg. ETA: Or perhaps I mean that Egg is a parody of Satterthwaite, which seems more likely now that I think about it. Quin's sudden appearances and disappearances are apparently meant to make him all supernatural and mysterious; I simply came to the conclusion that Satterthwaite is delusional and Quin is his imaginary friend.

A star and a half; the first three or four stories were diverting but by the end they were just repetitive and annoying.

[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books!

Read the review here

P.S: Ignore the typos.