What do you think?
Rate this book
The Detectives: Miss Marple, Poirot and Others Short Stories
The Queen of Crime is at her baffling best in these ten miniature masterpieces featuring her favourite detectives. A society playboy is stabbed in the heart while his fiancée dies of a cocaine overdose... A travelling salesman's wife dies suddenly one night after eating dinner... A glamorous actress is shadowed by a murder... An RAF officer dies in the desert before he can reveal the truth about a mysterious disappearance... Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Harley Quin, Parker Pyne, Tommy and Tuppence and Ariadne Oliver are on top form as they solve these and other challenging puzzles.
180 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
4 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,775 books74.6k 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
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 27, 2014
I love a good novel, I also love a good collection of short stories, and this little collection has been in and out of my travel bag for quite some time. Novels are great for long journeys or lounging by the pool, but when you have a short hop or can’t be bothered to be bogged down by a tome the size of Belgium, short story collections are definitely the answer.
This collection consists of 10 stories, three featuring Miss Jane Marple, three featuring Hercule Poirot, one the mysterious Mr. Harley Quin, two with Mr. Parker Pyne and finally one featuring husband and wife sleuths Tommy and “Tuppence” Beresford.
Miss Marple – Three stories
The Tuesday Night Club – Is the first of a handful of stories concerning the Tuesday Night Club of the title. At a gathering of friends over dinner and drinks it is decided that it would be a fun idea for all of those assembled to tell a tale of crime. One person in the group will recount an incident and the rest will try and come up with the answer. None of those sitting around in their comfortable chairs really thinks the little grey haired old lady in her house in the village of Saint Mary Mead will have all the answers. But are they wrong?
The Thumb mark of St Peter – This story is recounted by the little grey haired old lady herself, Miss Marple. She begins in her usual genteel way and tells of an incident within her own extended family; Miss Marple always seemed to have a large number of nieces and nephews in my opinion. The story involves mental illness, suspicion of murder and… fish. Can the rest of the group work it out?
The Affair at the Bungalow – comes from another member of the group, Jane Hellier, the well known if somewhat vacuous actress and deals with a burglary at a bungalow, a lady and her parlour maid who may or not be what they seem, the arrest of an innocent man (or is he?) and an affair of the heart that could lead to scandal. Once again, it is up to the members of the Tuesday Night Club to try and solve the mystery.
Hercule Poirot – Three stories
The Affair at the Victory Ball – is one of the early cases of Hercule Poirot. A group of six people attended a masked ball. All does not go well. Arguments ensue and death occurs. But who killed Lord Cronshaw and was the death of “Coco” Courtney accidental? Was it suicide? Was it murder? It is up to Scotland Yard’s Inspector Japp and the legendary “little grey cells” of Hercule Poirot to discover the Truth.
The Submarine Plans – in a desperate summons from the minister in charge of Britain’s defences, Hercule Poirot is asked to help discover the whereabouts of some stolen submarine plans. There are a small number of distinguished suspects, including the ministers own son, so there must be no hint of scandal. Can Poirot solve the case? Will there be scandal? Was there really a mysterious figure outside the study window? Did the maid really see a ghost?
How Does Your Garden Grow? A letter leads Poirot to investigate the death of the elderly woman who sent it. There is a niece reluctant for Poirot to get involved, an autopsy revealing murder by strychnine poisoning, a young Russian girl with a strong motive for murder and a garden the reveals the possible solution to the whole case.
Others – Four stories
The Dead Harlequin – This story features Mr. Satterthwaite, and “The Mysterious Mr. Quin”. Mr. Satterthwaite is attending an art exhibition, takes a fancy to a painting, buys it, and then discovers that it could be evidence to a “suicide” that took place many years before. When the artist and one of Mr. Satterthwaite’s old friends discuss the events of that night, Mr. Quin makes one of his unexpected appearances to help then on the path to the solution.
The Gate of Baghdad – “Are you happy? If not consult Mr. Parker Pyne”. In this case rather than making someone’s dream come true, Mr. Pyne has to help solve the murder of a fellow traveler on route to Baghdad.
The Case of the Discontented Soldier - “Are you happy? If not consult Mr. Parker Pyne”. A soldier newly returned from abroad is bored with life that is until he makes a call on Mr. Parker Pyne. Secret maps, buried treasure and romance follow… and so does danger.
The Man in the Mist – features the husband and wife crime fighters Tommy and Prudence “Tuppence” Beresford. They are the “bright young things” of their age and revel in the thrill of the chase. After the less than successful end to their current case they become involved in a case that has a thick fog, a “ghostly” policeman, a pacifist poet and the murder of a young actress.
This collection consists of 10 stories, three featuring Miss Jane Marple, three featuring Hercule Poirot, one the mysterious Mr. Harley Quin, two with Mr. Parker Pyne and finally one featuring husband and wife sleuths Tommy and “Tuppence” Beresford.
Miss Marple – Three stories
The Tuesday Night Club – Is the first of a handful of stories concerning the Tuesday Night Club of the title. At a gathering of friends over dinner and drinks it is decided that it would be a fun idea for all of those assembled to tell a tale of crime. One person in the group will recount an incident and the rest will try and come up with the answer. None of those sitting around in their comfortable chairs really thinks the little grey haired old lady in her house in the village of Saint Mary Mead will have all the answers. But are they wrong?
The Thumb mark of St Peter – This story is recounted by the little grey haired old lady herself, Miss Marple. She begins in her usual genteel way and tells of an incident within her own extended family; Miss Marple always seemed to have a large number of nieces and nephews in my opinion. The story involves mental illness, suspicion of murder and… fish. Can the rest of the group work it out?
The Affair at the Bungalow – comes from another member of the group, Jane Hellier, the well known if somewhat vacuous actress and deals with a burglary at a bungalow, a lady and her parlour maid who may or not be what they seem, the arrest of an innocent man (or is he?) and an affair of the heart that could lead to scandal. Once again, it is up to the members of the Tuesday Night Club to try and solve the mystery.
Hercule Poirot – Three stories
The Affair at the Victory Ball – is one of the early cases of Hercule Poirot. A group of six people attended a masked ball. All does not go well. Arguments ensue and death occurs. But who killed Lord Cronshaw and was the death of “Coco” Courtney accidental? Was it suicide? Was it murder? It is up to Scotland Yard’s Inspector Japp and the legendary “little grey cells” of Hercule Poirot to discover the Truth.
The Submarine Plans – in a desperate summons from the minister in charge of Britain’s defences, Hercule Poirot is asked to help discover the whereabouts of some stolen submarine plans. There are a small number of distinguished suspects, including the ministers own son, so there must be no hint of scandal. Can Poirot solve the case? Will there be scandal? Was there really a mysterious figure outside the study window? Did the maid really see a ghost?
How Does Your Garden Grow? A letter leads Poirot to investigate the death of the elderly woman who sent it. There is a niece reluctant for Poirot to get involved, an autopsy revealing murder by strychnine poisoning, a young Russian girl with a strong motive for murder and a garden the reveals the possible solution to the whole case.
Others – Four stories
The Dead Harlequin – This story features Mr. Satterthwaite, and “The Mysterious Mr. Quin”. Mr. Satterthwaite is attending an art exhibition, takes a fancy to a painting, buys it, and then discovers that it could be evidence to a “suicide” that took place many years before. When the artist and one of Mr. Satterthwaite’s old friends discuss the events of that night, Mr. Quin makes one of his unexpected appearances to help then on the path to the solution.
The Gate of Baghdad – “Are you happy? If not consult Mr. Parker Pyne”. In this case rather than making someone’s dream come true, Mr. Pyne has to help solve the murder of a fellow traveler on route to Baghdad.
The Case of the Discontented Soldier - “Are you happy? If not consult Mr. Parker Pyne”. A soldier newly returned from abroad is bored with life that is until he makes a call on Mr. Parker Pyne. Secret maps, buried treasure and romance follow… and so does danger.
The Man in the Mist – features the husband and wife crime fighters Tommy and Prudence “Tuppence” Beresford. They are the “bright young things” of their age and revel in the thrill of the chase. After the less than successful end to their current case they become involved in a case that has a thick fog, a “ghostly” policeman, a pacifist poet and the murder of a young actress.
August 26, 2019
No complaints. Love an Agatha Christie short story. Easy reading with a gentle “aha!” at the end of each one. Particularly liked the Marple ones. I like that she is always underestimated.
July 30, 2021
Ms Christie making Poirot: may I offer you an egg in these trying times?
August 22, 2022
Excellent selection of Agatha Christie's short stories.
November 24, 2009
This is a collection of short stories, about Poirot, Miss Marple, Harley Quinn, Parker Pyne, Tommy and Tuppence and Ariadne Oliver. I think I have read the stories before, but Christie is always entertaining, and I enjoyed them all over again!
January 24, 2015
Yet another fun read from Mrs Christie! What can I say, it doesn't matter how many times before I've read the stories or seen the screen adaptation, I just love reading anything by dear old Agatha and this was no exception:)
August 16, 2012
It's Agatha Christie - whats not to love? This collection contains not only Marple and Poirot stories but Tommy and Tuppence and Parker Pyne stories that were similar but as good as the legendary two.
February 21, 2013
A great collection of short stories, a mixture of Marple, Poirot, Pyne, Quin & Tommy & Tuppence. Filled part of my half-term break.
April 14, 2015
Agatha christie condensed into bite size portions - yes please!
August 19, 2015
Poirot and Marple mysteries excellent... not so keen on the others
January 9, 2016
Nice short stories that captured imagination and kept the interest.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews