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Four and Twenty Blackbirds
An overheard quarrel that led to murder ... the strange case of the dead man who altered his eating habits ... and the puzzle of the victim who dreamt his own death. These are just some of the mysteries that appear in this collection.
Audio Cassette
First published November 9, 1940
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About the author
Agatha Christie
5,818 books75.4k followersAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
February 2, 2023
How important are white teeth?
In the grand scheme of life, not very. However, if you're a Belgian detective, you may just be able to solve a murder based on the color of someone's chompers.
The gist of this one is that Poirot gets interested in the eating habits of a nameless man he and his friend see at a restaurant. After discovering that he eats the same meal each week and talking about habits, Poirot is concerned to discover upon returning to the restaurant that the man did not come back the next week. When he investigates the man's disappearance he finds out that he died from a fall down his steps.
ON THE SAME DAY HIS TWIN BROTHER DIED LEAVING HIM A SMALL FORTUNE.
Something about this doesn't seem right and Poirot is going to find out exactly what it is.
Originally titled Poirot and the Regular Customer, some sources say it was first published in 1926 in an unnamed US magazine. But others say that it was initially published in the US Colliers the National Weekly in 1940, and in the UK in the Strand Magazine in 1941.
It doesn't make a lot of sense that it would take so long between publishing it in the US and publishing it in the UK. Most of the short stories I've run across were only published a year apart between the two countries, so I tend to believe the story is most likely from the 40s.
Read in the short story collection Three Blind Mice and Other Stories.
In the grand scheme of life, not very. However, if you're a Belgian detective, you may just be able to solve a murder based on the color of someone's chompers.
The gist of this one is that Poirot gets interested in the eating habits of a nameless man he and his friend see at a restaurant. After discovering that he eats the same meal each week and talking about habits, Poirot is concerned to discover upon returning to the restaurant that the man did not come back the next week. When he investigates the man's disappearance he finds out that he died from a fall down his steps.
ON THE SAME DAY HIS TWIN BROTHER DIED LEAVING HIM A SMALL FORTUNE.
Something about this doesn't seem right and Poirot is going to find out exactly what it is.
Originally titled Poirot and the Regular Customer, some sources say it was first published in 1926 in an unnamed US magazine. But others say that it was initially published in the US Colliers the National Weekly in 1940, and in the UK in the Strand Magazine in 1941.
It doesn't make a lot of sense that it would take so long between publishing it in the US and publishing it in the UK. Most of the short stories I've run across were only published a year apart between the two countries, so I tend to believe the story is most likely from the 40s.
Read in the short story collection Three Blind Mice and Other Stories.
May 13, 2021
The murderer was obvious because they didn't mention enough characters, and the reasons for murder were just kind of boring.
All in all an ok short story when you want something quick and not too thought provoking, but nothing to come back to.
All in all an ok short story when you want something quick and not too thought provoking, but nothing to come back to.
December 19, 2020
I like her long stories better than the short ones, except for 2 - The Witness for the Prosecution and The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding: A Hercule Poirot Short Story, both are a real treat!
Read
March 14, 2024Another short investigation. Not sure what to say without spoiling it really. Poirot is having lunch with a friend and his suspicion is ariden when talking to the waitress that something is amiss with a regular patron. He investigates. A nice short
December 2, 2020
I mean - it's Agatha Christie. Do I really need to say anything else?
February 7, 2017
This is an audio version of 3 of Christie's short mysteries. David Suchet doesn't simply read them, he acts them. His voices for all the characters are distinct and have such energy, you'd swear you were listening to an entire cast. The stories in the collection are "4 and 20 Blackbirds,""The Third Floor Flat," (both Poirot stories), and"The Love Detectives," a Mr. Quin story. The Poirot stories are good mystery, typical of Christie's puzzle stories. The Third Floor Flat was one of my favorites even before I heard it read aloud. I was glad to find a Mr. Quin story in the bunch. It's rare to find them outside their original publications. I highly recommend the collection. As I said in my review of last Christie short story audio book, I wish it had been longer.
October 24, 2019
This was a very short audiobook, lasting just 30 minutes. I decided to download it because I had just seen an Agatha Christie play on stage, which I really enjoyed. This mystery seemed just too quick for me. By the time I absorbed the circumstances of the mystery-to-be solved, it was over. I will try another book, or maybe just stick to Agatha Christie plays.
May 29, 2020
I guess I just don't like Agatha Christie's short fiction. Again, my issues seem to stem from the fact that it's so short she doesn't give us the breadcrumbs needed to figure things out for ourselves. Poirot simply narrates it for us, and then the story's done. Just not what I want when I sit down for a mystery.
September 19, 2020
It was described as a short story and that was an understatement. It could have been written on a crisp packet!
There was barely any investigation or real deduction The plot was obvious and underdeveloped. Even the writing style was odd. It was clipped and not at all like the usual poetic and ornate Poirot style.
There was barely any investigation or real deduction The plot was obvious and underdeveloped. Even the writing style was odd. It was clipped and not at all like the usual poetic and ornate Poirot style.
June 29, 2024
This one wasn’t bad but it wasn’t my favorite. I found myself having to go back and relisten to what was said. However, I did enjoy how they solved the murder.
November 14, 2022
another nice quick but entertaining story with poirot and his quick mind.
with a read and all well read by the audiobook narrator.
with a read and all well read by the audiobook narrator.
October 25, 2020
[2020 PopSugar Challenge - A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title]
My first Agatha Christie/Hercule Poirot story... and there was not much to this. There was not much to work with as most of the story was scene-setting and then Poirot's narration of what happened.
My first Agatha Christie/Hercule Poirot story... and there was not much to this. There was not much to work with as most of the story was scene-setting and then Poirot's narration of what happened.
November 16, 2013
Well... Right now I feel that I like Poirot more than before because this case was really interesting.
December 25, 2018
Fun read except that the explanation is given too fast. Also I feel more could have been done with the twin story. Finally not enough characters to really get surprised.
December 27, 2021
i definitely prefer her longer stories more, i was still invested in the mystery but since there was literally only ONE suspect, it was pretty obvious who the killer was going to be.
December 17, 2024
هي واحدة من القصص القصيرة في مجموعة "قضايا بوارو المبكرة". تبدأ القصة عندما يتناول المحقق الشهير هيركيول بوارو عشاءً تقليديًا مع صديقه القديم بونينغتون في مطعم يثير اهتمامه بشكل غير متوقع.
تجذب انتباه بوارو شخصية أحد رواد المطعم، الذي يُعرف بمجموعة من العادات الغريبة. فقد كان هذا الرجل يتناول العشاء في المطعم كل ثلاثاء وخميس لمدة عشر سنوات، ومع ذلك، لا يعرف أي من طاقم العمل اسمه أو تفاصيل عن حياته. هذه المفارقة تثير فضول بوارو، المعروف بقدرته الفائقة على استنتاج الحقائق من التفاصيل البسيطة.
تتبع كريستي أسلوبها المميز في بناء الحبكة من خلال تقديم شخصية "الأب العجوز" كغموض محير. تتصاعد الأحداث بشكل مثير عندما يتوقف هذا الرجل فجأة عن زيارة المطعم، مما يدفع بوارو إلى اعتبار هذا التوقف دليلاً محتملاً على وجود شيء أكبر وراءه.
رغم العدد المحدود للشخصيات، فإنها تُظهر عمقًا نسبيًا. بوارو، بذكائه الاستثنائي، يتجاوز سطح الأحداث ليغوص في دوافع الشخصيات، مما يجعل القارئ يتفاعل مع كل تفصيل. تنعكس هذه الديناميكية أيضًا في تفاعلات بوارو مع بونينغتون، مما يضيف لمسة من الإنسانية إلى القصة.
في الختام، تُعتبر القصة مثالًا جيداً على فن الغموض الذي تتميز به أجاثا كريستي. من خلال سرد متقن، تبقي القصة القارئ في حالة من الترقب حتى النهاية، مما يعكس براعة كريستي في كتابة الألغاز المثيرة.
Four and Twenty Blackbirds is one of the short stories in the collection "Poirot's Early Cases." The story begins when the famous detective Hercule Poirot enjoys a traditional dinner with his old friend Bonnington at a restaurant that unexpectedly piques his interest.
Poirot is intrigued by a diner known for his peculiar habits. This man has been dining at the restaurant every Tuesday and Thursday for the past ten years, yet no one among the staff knows his name or any details about his life. This paradox sparks Poirot's curiosity, as he is renowned for his ability to deduce truths from simple details.
As is typical of Christie’s brilliance in plot construction, she presents the character of "Old Father Time" as a puzzling mystery. The tension escalates when this man suddenly stops visiting the restaurant, prompting Poirot to consider this absence as a potential clue to something larger at play.
Despite the limited number of characters, they exhibit a relative depth. Poirot, with his exceptional intellect, goes beyond the surface of events to delve into the motivations of the characters, engaging the reader with every detail. This dynamic is also reflected in Poirot's interactions with Bonnington, adding a touch of humanity to the narrative.
In conclusion, "Four and Twenty Blackbirds" is a good example of the mystery genre that Agatha Christie is known for. Through a well-crafted narrative, the story keeps the reader in a state of anticipation until the very end, showcasing Christie’s mastery in writing captivating mysteries.
تجذب انتباه بوارو شخصية أحد رواد المطعم، الذي يُعرف بمجموعة من العادات الغريبة. فقد كان هذا الرجل يتناول العشاء في المطعم كل ثلاثاء وخميس لمدة عشر سنوات، ومع ذلك، لا يعرف أي من طاقم العمل اسمه أو تفاصيل عن حياته. هذه المفارقة تثير فضول بوارو، المعروف بقدرته الفائقة على استنتاج الحقائق من التفاصيل البسيطة.
تتبع كريستي أسلوبها المميز في بناء الحبكة من خلال تقديم شخصية "الأب العجوز" كغموض محير. تتصاعد الأحداث بشكل مثير عندما يتوقف هذا الرجل فجأة عن زيارة المطعم، مما يدفع بوارو إلى اعتبار هذا التوقف دليلاً محتملاً على وجود شيء أكبر وراءه.
رغم العدد المحدود للشخصيات، فإنها تُظهر عمقًا نسبيًا. بوارو، بذكائه الاستثنائي، يتجاوز سطح الأحداث ليغوص في دوافع الشخصيات، مما يجعل القارئ يتفاعل مع كل تفصيل. تنعكس هذه الديناميكية أيضًا في تفاعلات بوارو مع بونينغتون، مما يضيف لمسة من الإنسانية إلى القصة.
في الختام، تُعتبر القصة مثالًا جيداً على فن الغموض الذي تتميز به أجاثا كريستي. من خلال سرد متقن، تبقي القصة القارئ في حالة من الترقب حتى النهاية، مما يعكس براعة كريستي في كتابة الألغاز المثيرة.
Four and Twenty Blackbirds is one of the short stories in the collection "Poirot's Early Cases." The story begins when the famous detective Hercule Poirot enjoys a traditional dinner with his old friend Bonnington at a restaurant that unexpectedly piques his interest.
Poirot is intrigued by a diner known for his peculiar habits. This man has been dining at the restaurant every Tuesday and Thursday for the past ten years, yet no one among the staff knows his name or any details about his life. This paradox sparks Poirot's curiosity, as he is renowned for his ability to deduce truths from simple details.
As is typical of Christie’s brilliance in plot construction, she presents the character of "Old Father Time" as a puzzling mystery. The tension escalates when this man suddenly stops visiting the restaurant, prompting Poirot to consider this absence as a potential clue to something larger at play.
Despite the limited number of characters, they exhibit a relative depth. Poirot, with his exceptional intellect, goes beyond the surface of events to delve into the motivations of the characters, engaging the reader with every detail. This dynamic is also reflected in Poirot's interactions with Bonnington, adding a touch of humanity to the narrative.
In conclusion, "Four and Twenty Blackbirds" is a good example of the mystery genre that Agatha Christie is known for. Through a well-crafted narrative, the story keeps the reader in a state of anticipation until the very end, showcasing Christie’s mastery in writing captivating mysteries.
November 26, 2025
I always make a fool of myself whenever I even dare to think I could solve an Agatha Christie mystery. Let alone the books, I can't even seem to solve a short story! This one was disgustingly well crafted and had surprisingly very limited suspects (still couldn't crack it lol)
Poirot is having dinner with his friend when an old man enters the restaurant. The waitress mentions his unusual behavior to Poirot as gossip, but the Belgian detective, with his strangely fast little grey cells, becomes interested quickly. Apparently, the old lad visits the restaurant twice a week and orders the same dish, but his current and last visit has been rather odd due to a change in order.
PROS:
It's a great short story, and I enjoyed my time reading it. Do give it a try. The suspects are limited, making the story more exciting, and the plot makes sense.
CONS:
I hate that I couldn't crack it in the first go. It was so obvious.
Poirot is having dinner with his friend when an old man enters the restaurant. The waitress mentions his unusual behavior to Poirot as gossip, but the Belgian detective, with his strangely fast little grey cells, becomes interested quickly. Apparently, the old lad visits the restaurant twice a week and orders the same dish, but his current and last visit has been rather odd due to a change in order.
PROS:
It's a great short story, and I enjoyed my time reading it. Do give it a try. The suspects are limited, making the story more exciting, and the plot makes sense.
CONS:
I hate that I couldn't crack it in the first go. It was so obvious.
February 19, 2022
I think what I enjoyed most about this short story were the characters and their link, feelings to habits.
This story doesn't have Poirot being asked for help or to investigate a murder or a crime. Poirot is meeting a friend for a meal, when psychology takes over after a comment is being made about the habits of a man at the same restaurant.
This one made me think about Jessica Fletcher in the murder she wrote series. Daily trivial remarks are also for her always quickly analyzed and stored in her memory. While others just disregard them.
This is what Poirot does and what this short story is based on.
This story doesn't have Poirot being asked for help or to investigate a murder or a crime. Poirot is meeting a friend for a meal, when psychology takes over after a comment is being made about the habits of a man at the same restaurant.
This one made me think about Jessica Fletcher in the murder she wrote series. Daily trivial remarks are also for her always quickly analyzed and stored in her memory. While others just disregard them.
This is what Poirot does and what this short story is based on.
June 8, 2021
It's an interesting case, and I like the concept, but the short stories are really missing a lot of Poirot's thought process, and the leaps he makes come out of nowhere. The crime occurs and then a page later Poirot's accusing the killer. But it's still an enjoyable quick read when you're not in the mood to sit down with a book.
February 6, 2024
This story is hardly an investigative novel, it is more of a light story in a detective format.
Everything was very short and very Brief, and in fact Agatha wrote many similar crimes and even the culprit in all the stories is the same one who was in this story.
I expected more but didn't find it.
1.5/5
Everything was very short and very Brief, and in fact Agatha wrote many similar crimes and even the culprit in all the stories is the same one who was in this story.
I expected more but didn't find it.
1.5/5
November 13, 2024
Poirot is dining with Bonnington in the Kings Road. He hears about a man who has been dining there twice a week for ten years, but who turned up 3 times recently and changed his choices.
When said man is found dead some days later, Poirot investigates.
An enjoyable if convoluted short story about blackberries of all things!
When said man is found dead some days later, Poirot investigates.
An enjoyable if convoluted short story about blackberries of all things!
October 31, 2019
Another great Hercule short. Poirot can't turn his fantastic little gray cells off. When he hears that a regular patron at a restaurant orders a strange meal he investigates and finds murder and deceit. Short and sweet! I'm going to be consuming a lot of these audio stories.
October 24, 2020
Honestly, this was an easy one to figure out but because dummies/ventriliquists have always given me the creeps it gave the story a creepy and more foreboding mood to me. Also, I had the audio and David Suchet always goes above and beyond in his readings.
December 10, 2020
A great little story feature a great detective, Hercule Poirot. Made me want to read more of his...Read it for #2020popsugarchallenge category, a book with 20 in it. Closer in length to a short story than a novella, but it has been published separately.
March 7, 2021
Read it when you are craving for some Mystery between some heavy books.. although you can guess the Killer easily..
But yes not how Poirot did it..
With all the clues leading to it..
No you can't do with clues, you can only guess..
For clues have to read this..
Very quick read and light too
But yes not how Poirot did it..
With all the clues leading to it..
No you can't do with clues, you can only guess..
For clues have to read this..
Very quick read and light too
November 22, 2021
Maybe my favorite Poirot short story, there aren't any brilliant deductions or shocking conspiracies, I just enjoyed the restaurant setting of the mystery and found the discussion between how men and women eat amusing.
October 9, 2023
I'm glad I watched the Hercule Poirot BBC episodes before I read these short stories because the TV shows are so much better. Once again Poirot solves the murder by himself in five minutes and narrates the solution to a friend. Not impressed!
January 31, 2024
A sudden inexplicable change in a regular customer's diner order just before his unsuspicious death attracts Poirot's attention.
How odd that post mortems at the time didn't routinely investigate what was in the contents of the stomach. The timeline, and thus motive, was a little hard to follow.
How odd that post mortems at the time didn't routinely investigate what was in the contents of the stomach. The timeline, and thus motive, was a little hard to follow.
December 11, 2024
Very fun twist! This Poirot short story was very enjoyable. Poirot contemplates the mystery of a man who changes his usual meal. It was enjoyable even if it wraps up quickly at the end.
Overall Rating: 4.25/5
TW: death
Overall Rating: 4.25/5
TW: death
January 1, 2026
By this point in Agatha Christie's writing, she's become very adept at telling a very plausible story of detecting. While not always the case, the author often has her hero explain his detection art to someone of the story (including the perpetrators).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews