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The Early Cases of Hercule Poirot
This collection of 25 Hercule Poirot adventures by Agatha Christie are compiled from short stories written for The Sketch magazine from March to December 1923. In these stories, including “The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim,” “The Veiled Lady,” and “The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb,” the eccentric private detective slowly and surely solves mysteries involving jealousy, revenge and greed. These stories were well-received at the time and cemented Christie’s reputation as the worthy successor to Arthur Conan Doyle.
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Published January 1, 2019
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About the author
Agatha Christie
5,792 books74.9k 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 195 reviews
December 13, 2022
This is a huge collection of 25 of Agatha Christie's best short stories.
However, regardless of the similarity of the titles, it does not contain the same stories as Poirot's Early Cases, which contains only 18 short stories and includes several that are different from this collection. I only mention this because as I was listening to this collection, it didn't match up to what I thought I should be reading and it confused the hell out of me.
Each short story is linked to a longer review I've done individually. Feel free to skip those unless you're a glutton for punishment.
The Affair at the Victory Ball
An influential man is murdered at the Victory Ball. Simultaneously, his girlfriend overdosed on crack (<--not crack) the same night after leaving the ball early due to a fight with the now-dead man.
Whodunnit and whytheydunnit?
Enter Poirot! <--and Hastings
The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
Did the French maid make off with Mrs. Opalsen's pearls?
Nah. That would be too easy, right?
The King of Clubs
The King of Clubs is one of those fun Poirot shorties where he discovers what really happened but the police never do.
The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
Never bet against a Belgian!
Japp tells Poirot about a case he's working on that deals with a wealthy banker who walked out of his house to go into the town and mail a few letters, and disappeared off the face of the earth.
The Plymouth Express
Toot! Toot!
An heiress is murdered on a train and her grieving father hires Poirot to find her killer. This short was later expanded into the full-length novel, The Mystery of the Blue Train.
The Adventure of the Western Star
Cursed jewelry, a beautiful actress, and a woman being blackmailed by a past indiscretion.
Hastings makes a mess of things but Poirot swoops in and saves the day anyway!
The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor
A heavily insured man facing financial ruin suddenly drops dead, leaving his much-younger wife set for life. The insurance company wants Poirot to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death before they pay up, though. And so, with Hastings in tow, Hercule takes a trip to Essex to visit Marsdon Manor and see if anything looks fishy.
The Kidnapped Prime Minister
You will never guess who gets kidnapped!
Ok, maybe you will.
David MacAdam, the Prime Minister of England, has been kidnapped and it's up to Hercule and Hastings to figure out whodunnit.
The Mystery of the Hunter’s Lodge
Hasting gets to take off the training wheels!
Sort of.
The Chocolate Box
Poirot outwitted?! Say it ain't so!
But it is so.
Sitting around together one evening, Poirot tells Hastings of the one case that he failed to solve.
And Poirot tells Hastings to say the words chocolate box if he ever feels that Hercule gets a bit too big for his britches. I'm sure Hastings was tempted to walk behind Poirot with a megaphone repeating those words at the top of his lungs for most of the time they spent together.
He didn't.
Such is the power of friendship.
The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb
After several untimely deaths surrounding an archaeological dig site prompt a frantic mother to call in Poirot, he and Hastings race against the clock to unravel the mystery.
Is there really an ancient Egyptian curse or is something far more corporeal to blame?
The Veiled Lady
A hot chick wearing a veil walks into a bar...
Ok, not a bar. She walks into Poirot's house, and hires him to try to retrieve a scandalous letter from a blackmailer.
Always burn the letters, ladies!
The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly
Poirot locates a child being held for ransom.
When the child of a wealthy family is kidnapped right under the noses of the parents and the police, Poirot is called in to help.
The Market Basing Mystery
Is a suicide sometimes just a suicide?
That's what Poirot wonders when he, Hastings, & Japp get called in to look at a potential locked room murder that has the local constable scratching his head.
The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman
Count Foscatini has been coshed over the head!
But who is Count Foscatini? And why should we care if he got his head coshed in?
Poirot and Hastings get pulled into this murder mystery because they were having dinner with their friend and neighbor, Dr. Hawker, when he got a desperate call from the Count telling him he had been attacked.
Help! <--says Foscatini
The Case of the Missing Will
What good is an education?
More specifically, what good is an education for women? <--said Violet Marsh's Uncle Andrew. Upset that she went against his wishes and furthered her education, he cut Violet out of his will. But when he died he left her a sporting chance to inherit if she could figure out where he had hidden a new will.
So in Violet's case, education told her to always call in an expert.
Poirot solved the mystery, while Hastings wondered what her uncle would think about the way Violet beat him at his own game.
The Submarine Plans
Whodunnit?
It's not what you think in this strange tale of spies, lies, blackmail, and (most surprising of all!) morally upright politicians.
The Adventure of the Clapham Cook
One of my personal favorites!
Poirot is such a snob. And in this one, he waves away an annoying middle-class woman, Mrs. Todd, who wants him to find her missing cook. Or he tries to anyway.
When she points out that her cook is worth just as much to her as some rich woman's priceless jewels, he realizes she's right and agrees to take the case.
The Lost Mine
Poirot visits an opium den.
So that shouldn't be boring, right? But it is. I've read and listened to this story multiple times over the years and it's never managed to keep my interest.
The Cornish Mystery
Agatha, you sneaky devil.
This has the same basic plot as Death on the Nile: A Parker Pyne Short Story, but Christie swapped Pyne for Poirot.
The Double Clue
Double Clue!? <--That's 2 clues too many, bitches.
And everyone's favorite Belgium detective is onto that shit.
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is also known as The Theft of the Royal Ruby.Both titles make sense because the pudding plays a part in the recovery of the ruby.
The gist of this one is that Poirot is called in to help an eastern prince because he's messed up in a big way. He's engaged to be married but unwisely decided to have one last hurrah with a ho.
Unfortunately for him, this chick made off with his family jewels. And he needs these jewels to present to his wife-to-be and her family. One of Poirot's most beloved shorts and a must-read for any fan.
The Lemesurier Inheritance
The story opens with a friend of Hastings & Poirit getting killed accidentally almost immediately after he learns of his father's death, and right before he inherits his estate.
Supposedly there's a curse attached to the family that (because of some wrongdoing by an ancestor) won't let any firstborn son inherit.
When a young boy is threatened years later, Hercule and Hastings get a call once again.
It's all very convoluted but Poirot unravels the mystery and saves the day.
An excellent selection of stories.
Highly Recommended!
However, regardless of the similarity of the titles, it does not contain the same stories as Poirot's Early Cases, which contains only 18 short stories and includes several that are different from this collection. I only mention this because as I was listening to this collection, it didn't match up to what I thought I should be reading and it confused the hell out of me.
Each short story is linked to a longer review I've done individually. Feel free to skip those unless you're a glutton for punishment.
The Affair at the Victory Ball
An influential man is murdered at the Victory Ball. Simultaneously, his girlfriend overdosed on crack (<--not crack) the same night after leaving the ball early due to a fight with the now-dead man.
Whodunnit and whytheydunnit?
Enter Poirot! <--and Hastings
The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
Did the French maid make off with Mrs. Opalsen's pearls?
Nah. That would be too easy, right?
The King of Clubs
The King of Clubs is one of those fun Poirot shorties where he discovers what really happened but the police never do.
The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
Never bet against a Belgian!
Japp tells Poirot about a case he's working on that deals with a wealthy banker who walked out of his house to go into the town and mail a few letters, and disappeared off the face of the earth.
The Plymouth Express
Toot! Toot!
An heiress is murdered on a train and her grieving father hires Poirot to find her killer. This short was later expanded into the full-length novel, The Mystery of the Blue Train.
The Adventure of the Western Star
Cursed jewelry, a beautiful actress, and a woman being blackmailed by a past indiscretion.
Hastings makes a mess of things but Poirot swoops in and saves the day anyway!
The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor
A heavily insured man facing financial ruin suddenly drops dead, leaving his much-younger wife set for life. The insurance company wants Poirot to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death before they pay up, though. And so, with Hastings in tow, Hercule takes a trip to Essex to visit Marsdon Manor and see if anything looks fishy.
The Kidnapped Prime Minister
You will never guess who gets kidnapped!
Ok, maybe you will.
David MacAdam, the Prime Minister of England, has been kidnapped and it's up to Hercule and Hastings to figure out whodunnit.
The Mystery of the Hunter’s Lodge
Hasting gets to take off the training wheels!
Sort of.
The Chocolate Box
Poirot outwitted?! Say it ain't so!
But it is so.
Sitting around together one evening, Poirot tells Hastings of the one case that he failed to solve.
And Poirot tells Hastings to say the words chocolate box if he ever feels that Hercule gets a bit too big for his britches. I'm sure Hastings was tempted to walk behind Poirot with a megaphone repeating those words at the top of his lungs for most of the time they spent together.
He didn't.
Such is the power of friendship.
The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb
After several untimely deaths surrounding an archaeological dig site prompt a frantic mother to call in Poirot, he and Hastings race against the clock to unravel the mystery.
Is there really an ancient Egyptian curse or is something far more corporeal to blame?
The Veiled Lady
A hot chick wearing a veil walks into a bar...
Ok, not a bar. She walks into Poirot's house, and hires him to try to retrieve a scandalous letter from a blackmailer.
Always burn the letters, ladies!
The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly
Poirot locates a child being held for ransom.
When the child of a wealthy family is kidnapped right under the noses of the parents and the police, Poirot is called in to help.
The Market Basing Mystery
Is a suicide sometimes just a suicide?
That's what Poirot wonders when he, Hastings, & Japp get called in to look at a potential locked room murder that has the local constable scratching his head.
The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman
Count Foscatini has been coshed over the head!
But who is Count Foscatini? And why should we care if he got his head coshed in?
Poirot and Hastings get pulled into this murder mystery because they were having dinner with their friend and neighbor, Dr. Hawker, when he got a desperate call from the Count telling him he had been attacked.
Help! <--says Foscatini
The Case of the Missing Will
What good is an education?
More specifically, what good is an education for women? <--said Violet Marsh's Uncle Andrew. Upset that she went against his wishes and furthered her education, he cut Violet out of his will. But when he died he left her a sporting chance to inherit if she could figure out where he had hidden a new will.
So in Violet's case, education told her to always call in an expert.
Poirot solved the mystery, while Hastings wondered what her uncle would think about the way Violet beat him at his own game.
The Submarine Plans
Whodunnit?
It's not what you think in this strange tale of spies, lies, blackmail, and (most surprising of all!) morally upright politicians.
The Adventure of the Clapham Cook
One of my personal favorites!
Poirot is such a snob. And in this one, he waves away an annoying middle-class woman, Mrs. Todd, who wants him to find her missing cook. Or he tries to anyway.
When she points out that her cook is worth just as much to her as some rich woman's priceless jewels, he realizes she's right and agrees to take the case.
The Lost Mine
Poirot visits an opium den.
So that shouldn't be boring, right? But it is. I've read and listened to this story multiple times over the years and it's never managed to keep my interest.
The Cornish Mystery
Agatha, you sneaky devil.
This has the same basic plot as Death on the Nile: A Parker Pyne Short Story, but Christie swapped Pyne for Poirot.
The Double Clue
Double Clue!? <--That's 2 clues too many, bitches.
And everyone's favorite Belgium detective is onto that shit.
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is also known as The Theft of the Royal Ruby.Both titles make sense because the pudding plays a part in the recovery of the ruby.
The gist of this one is that Poirot is called in to help an eastern prince because he's messed up in a big way. He's engaged to be married but unwisely decided to have one last hurrah with a ho.
Unfortunately for him, this chick made off with his family jewels. And he needs these jewels to present to his wife-to-be and her family. One of Poirot's most beloved shorts and a must-read for any fan.
The Lemesurier Inheritance
The story opens with a friend of Hastings & Poirit getting killed accidentally almost immediately after he learns of his father's death, and right before he inherits his estate.
Supposedly there's a curse attached to the family that (because of some wrongdoing by an ancestor) won't let any firstborn son inherit.
When a young boy is threatened years later, Hercule and Hastings get a call once again.
It's all very convoluted but Poirot unravels the mystery and saves the day.
An excellent selection of stories.
Highly Recommended!
March 15, 2020
This book gathers 25 early Hercule Poirot short stories. Christie wrote these tales while on an around-the-world tour leading up to the British Empire Exposition. For those who want more information, a book about the 10-month tour in 1922, The Grand Tour, gives details of the trip, the people who traveled with Christie, and some of the sites/events that the group encountered. :)
I read the print version of this book while listening to the stories on audio. Poirot stories tend to contain a lot of French, so I decided to read and listen. That way I got to enjoy Poirot's French pronounced correctly...not the garbled mess I make of it in my head while reading silently. The audio book is narrated by Charles Armstrong. Armstrong reads at a nice pace and his voice is pleasant. He's not David Suchet....but does a fine job reading Poirot.
I enjoyed these stories. Most are very short, so other than the main characters -- Poirot, Hastings and Inspector Japp -- there really isn't much character development. But that's ok....the most important things are Poirot's investigations and his little grey cells. And those items are in these stories in abundance! Christie was quite skilled at fitting a nice little mystery into just a few pages.
I did have one problem with this collection. Some of the stories within are the original versions of tales that were later expanded and re-written into longer novellas. One such story, Christmas Adventure, was first published as a short story in 1923, but was later expanded into novella length in 1960. The expanded version changed character names and some plot modifications were made. This anthology is supposed to be the early stories about Hercule Poirot, but instead of including the original Christmas Adventure, the book includes the longer revamped version of the story, The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding. I'm on a quest to read all of Christie's works in publication order.....so this change really tweeked my reading goal OCD. I got sucked down a rabbit hole chasing after Christmas Adventure. It was published as an ebook in 2014, but is now unavailable to purchase. It was included in one UK anthology in the 90's....which was published under another name (The Harlequin Tea Set) in the US....and the US version did not include Christmas Adventure. So finally I had to give up.....until I can purchase a used copy of the UK anthology (While the Light Lasts and Other Stories). I made due with The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding.....with only slight harrumphing.
I enjoyed the fact that the audio book gave the original publication date for each story at the beginning. And there wasn't a single story in the book that I didn't enjoy reading (even the pudding *smile*)
Great collection of Poirot mysteries! I had never read any of these stories before, so it was just awesome to read something "new'' by my favorite author!!
I read the print version of this book while listening to the stories on audio. Poirot stories tend to contain a lot of French, so I decided to read and listen. That way I got to enjoy Poirot's French pronounced correctly...not the garbled mess I make of it in my head while reading silently. The audio book is narrated by Charles Armstrong. Armstrong reads at a nice pace and his voice is pleasant. He's not David Suchet....but does a fine job reading Poirot.
I enjoyed these stories. Most are very short, so other than the main characters -- Poirot, Hastings and Inspector Japp -- there really isn't much character development. But that's ok....the most important things are Poirot's investigations and his little grey cells. And those items are in these stories in abundance! Christie was quite skilled at fitting a nice little mystery into just a few pages.
I did have one problem with this collection. Some of the stories within are the original versions of tales that were later expanded and re-written into longer novellas. One such story, Christmas Adventure, was first published as a short story in 1923, but was later expanded into novella length in 1960. The expanded version changed character names and some plot modifications were made. This anthology is supposed to be the early stories about Hercule Poirot, but instead of including the original Christmas Adventure, the book includes the longer revamped version of the story, The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding. I'm on a quest to read all of Christie's works in publication order.....so this change really tweeked my reading goal OCD. I got sucked down a rabbit hole chasing after Christmas Adventure. It was published as an ebook in 2014, but is now unavailable to purchase. It was included in one UK anthology in the 90's....which was published under another name (The Harlequin Tea Set) in the US....and the US version did not include Christmas Adventure. So finally I had to give up.....until I can purchase a used copy of the UK anthology (While the Light Lasts and Other Stories). I made due with The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding.....with only slight harrumphing.
I enjoyed the fact that the audio book gave the original publication date for each story at the beginning. And there wasn't a single story in the book that I didn't enjoy reading (even the pudding *smile*)
Great collection of Poirot mysteries! I had never read any of these stories before, so it was just awesome to read something "new'' by my favorite author!!
September 7, 2020
This wasn't a bad price ($4.99) for 25 stories starring Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings. I have to say that only one story wasn't my cup of tea, but that's because I read a different version of it which omitted Captain Hastings and changed up the names of all involved. I was surprised to see it though included here. Other than that, the majority of the stories showcase Hercule and Hastings which I love. I realize that you need that other person there who is going around in circles slightly investigating with Poirot, but also making sure Poirot doesn't get too full of himself. We even have some stories involving Japp and I liked it best when the three of them appeared.
The Affair at the Victory Ball (5 stars)-This one will definitely baffle readers. I was goofy though and didn't get the how did they do it all worked out though I figured out the murderers pretty quickly.
The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan-(5 stars)-This one definitely will keep you guessing. It's a slight locked room mystery story too.
The King of Clubs (3.5 stars)-This one was confusing to the extreme and when you read the resolution I went, so is this when Poirot started to just let murderers go free? Okay then.
The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim (4 stars)-This one was a bit too much. I get what happens, but you read it and go who has that kind of time?
The Plymouth Express (2.5 stars)-Honestly this story reads a lot like "The Mystery of the Blue Train" which is why I rated it so low. If you read the standalone first, you are going to realize who did what to who and how they got away with it.
The Adventure of the Western Star (3.5 stars)-There's a lot of racial slurs in this one about "Chinamen" and the shape of their eyes and all of that. I didn't think this was a great story in the end anyway when you get to the reveal.
The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor (5 stars)-This one was actually pretty ingenious.
The Kidnapped Prime Minister (5 stars)-Hastings tells this story but informs us he is only telling us know since it's been years since this event and people won't freak about it. We hear how Poirot figured out where the current Prime Minister was through using his "grey little cells."
The Million Dollar Bond Robbery (4.5 stars)-A really interesting mystery that involves boats. I did realize something was up though when you realize that Christie provides a clue about a passenger that you can then trace back to someone we are introduced to.
The Adventure of the Cheap Flat (3 stars)-This seemed overly complicated.
The Mystery of the Hunter's Lodge (3.5 stars)-I always remain unconvinced when supposedly a person dresses up as another and no one notices. The ending though shows how Poirot and Hastings didn't get their murder(ers) and we get kind of a karma comes to us all ending.
The Chocolate Box (5 stars)-I liked this one. One of Poirot's failures and we find out about a case he looked into in his native Belgium.
The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb (4.5 stars)-I liked this one and thought getting to what was going on was a really nice surprise. Reading about Poirot and Hastings in Egypt made for a nice change of scenery too.
The Veiled Lady (5 stars)-This one was delightful and I loved the ending.
The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly (5 stars)-A really great mystery and I didn't see the ending coming the first time I read it, and I still don't see it though this is the 3rd or maybe 4th time I have read this short story.
The Market Basing Murder (4.5 stars)-At this point if you notice Poirot sniffing you are missing something obvious. I realized what it was right away and just waited for Hastings to catch up.
The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman (3.5 stars)-Once again, this one seemed overly complicated to me.
The Case of the Missing Will (3.5 stars)-I agree with Hastings, seems a bit like cheating to me.
The Submarine Plans (3 stars)-Read this before and it was renamed "The Incredible Theft" and had plot elements changed. I liked "The Incredible Theft" a lot more.
The Adventure of the Clapham Cook (4 stars)-Honestly this one had me re-read it twice since I got confused. Once again it seems a bit overly complicated to me.
The Lost Mine (3.5 stars)-I found this one to be a bit boring honestly.
The Cornish Mystery (5 stars)-This one was really good and you honestly don't know who could have done it or did it until Poirot reveals it.
The Double Clue (5 stars)-Ahh first appearance of Vera Rossakoff.
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (5 stars)-Still one of my favorite Poirot stories. Taking place around Christmas and we have an older Poirot who remains baffled by the young people of the day. I did like the resolution of this one.
The Lemesurier Inheritance (5 stars)-I don't know if this was a strong one to end on, but it's a thought provoking one. Especially when Poirot brings up something I noticed too while reading and it had to do with the color red.
I read this for "Murder Most Foul" square.
The Affair at the Victory Ball (5 stars)-This one will definitely baffle readers. I was goofy though and didn't get the how did they do it all worked out though I figured out the murderers pretty quickly.
The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan-(5 stars)-This one definitely will keep you guessing. It's a slight locked room mystery story too.
The King of Clubs (3.5 stars)-This one was confusing to the extreme and when you read the resolution I went, so is this when Poirot started to just let murderers go free? Okay then.
The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim (4 stars)-This one was a bit too much. I get what happens, but you read it and go who has that kind of time?
The Plymouth Express (2.5 stars)-Honestly this story reads a lot like "The Mystery of the Blue Train" which is why I rated it so low. If you read the standalone first, you are going to realize who did what to who and how they got away with it.
The Adventure of the Western Star (3.5 stars)-There's a lot of racial slurs in this one about "Chinamen" and the shape of their eyes and all of that. I didn't think this was a great story in the end anyway when you get to the reveal.
The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor (5 stars)-This one was actually pretty ingenious.
The Kidnapped Prime Minister (5 stars)-Hastings tells this story but informs us he is only telling us know since it's been years since this event and people won't freak about it. We hear how Poirot figured out where the current Prime Minister was through using his "grey little cells."
The Million Dollar Bond Robbery (4.5 stars)-A really interesting mystery that involves boats. I did realize something was up though when you realize that Christie provides a clue about a passenger that you can then trace back to someone we are introduced to.
The Adventure of the Cheap Flat (3 stars)-This seemed overly complicated.
The Mystery of the Hunter's Lodge (3.5 stars)-I always remain unconvinced when supposedly a person dresses up as another and no one notices. The ending though shows how Poirot and Hastings didn't get their murder(ers) and we get kind of a karma comes to us all ending.
The Chocolate Box (5 stars)-I liked this one. One of Poirot's failures and we find out about a case he looked into in his native Belgium.
The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb (4.5 stars)-I liked this one and thought getting to what was going on was a really nice surprise. Reading about Poirot and Hastings in Egypt made for a nice change of scenery too.
The Veiled Lady (5 stars)-This one was delightful and I loved the ending.
The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly (5 stars)-A really great mystery and I didn't see the ending coming the first time I read it, and I still don't see it though this is the 3rd or maybe 4th time I have read this short story.
The Market Basing Murder (4.5 stars)-At this point if you notice Poirot sniffing you are missing something obvious. I realized what it was right away and just waited for Hastings to catch up.
The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman (3.5 stars)-Once again, this one seemed overly complicated to me.
The Case of the Missing Will (3.5 stars)-I agree with Hastings, seems a bit like cheating to me.
The Submarine Plans (3 stars)-Read this before and it was renamed "The Incredible Theft" and had plot elements changed. I liked "The Incredible Theft" a lot more.
The Adventure of the Clapham Cook (4 stars)-Honestly this one had me re-read it twice since I got confused. Once again it seems a bit overly complicated to me.
The Lost Mine (3.5 stars)-I found this one to be a bit boring honestly.
The Cornish Mystery (5 stars)-This one was really good and you honestly don't know who could have done it or did it until Poirot reveals it.
The Double Clue (5 stars)-Ahh first appearance of Vera Rossakoff.
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (5 stars)-Still one of my favorite Poirot stories. Taking place around Christmas and we have an older Poirot who remains baffled by the young people of the day. I did like the resolution of this one.
The Lemesurier Inheritance (5 stars)-I don't know if this was a strong one to end on, but it's a thought provoking one. Especially when Poirot brings up something I noticed too while reading and it had to do with the color red.
I read this for "Murder Most Foul" square.
February 25, 2019
Unlike modern mysteries we’ll read this 100 yrs. from now-no offense meant or taken. Always love the classics. 💕
September 23, 2019
A collection of 25 short stories, told by Hastings, chronicling some of Poirot’s earlier cases, prior to his fame/success from The Mysterious Affair at Styles.
I really enjoyed this collection, every single story was at least pretty good. I feel a little sorry for Hastings, though - he puts up with a lot...
The stories were as follows:
1. The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan- 5 Stars
2. The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim - 5 Stars
3. The Adventure of the “Western Star” - 4 Stars
4. The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor - 4 Stars
5. The Million Dollar Bond Robbery - 3 Stars
6. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat - 4 Stars
7. The Mystery of the Hunter’s Lodge - 4 Stars
8. The Kidnapped Prime Minister - 4 Stars
9. The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb - 4 Stars
10. The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman - 4 Stars
11. The Case of the Missing Will - 5 Stars
12. The Chocolate Box - 5 Stars
13. The Veiled Lady - 4 Stars
14. The Lost Mine - 3 Stars
15. The Affair at the Victory Ball - 5 Stars
16. The Adventure of the Clapham Cook - 4 Stars
17. The Cornish Mystery - 4 Stars
18. The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly - 4 Stars
19. The Double Clue - 3 Stars
20. The King of Clubs - 3 Stars
21. The Lemesurier Inheritance - 4 Stars
22. The Plymouth Express - 4 Stars
23. The Submarine Plans - 3 Stars
24. The Market Basing Mystery - 5 Stars
25. The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding - 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this collection, every single story was at least pretty good. I feel a little sorry for Hastings, though - he puts up with a lot...
The stories were as follows:
1. The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan- 5 Stars
2. The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim - 5 Stars
3. The Adventure of the “Western Star” - 4 Stars
4. The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor - 4 Stars
5. The Million Dollar Bond Robbery - 3 Stars
6. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat - 4 Stars
7. The Mystery of the Hunter’s Lodge - 4 Stars
8. The Kidnapped Prime Minister - 4 Stars
9. The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb - 4 Stars
10. The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman - 4 Stars
11. The Case of the Missing Will - 5 Stars
12. The Chocolate Box - 5 Stars
13. The Veiled Lady - 4 Stars
14. The Lost Mine - 3 Stars
15. The Affair at the Victory Ball - 5 Stars
16. The Adventure of the Clapham Cook - 4 Stars
17. The Cornish Mystery - 4 Stars
18. The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly - 4 Stars
19. The Double Clue - 3 Stars
20. The King of Clubs - 3 Stars
21. The Lemesurier Inheritance - 4 Stars
22. The Plymouth Express - 4 Stars
23. The Submarine Plans - 3 Stars
24. The Market Basing Mystery - 5 Stars
25. The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding - 5 Stars
February 18, 2019
Some of the cases are quite entertaining, but I have to admit after seeing David Suchet as Poirot, I do not like the 'in print" Belgian quite so much. His arrogance is aggravating, and his fussiness is even more so. He has his good points, but frankly I wouldn't last 5 minutes in a room with him before I'd pour a bottle of ink on him.
My favorite case is the one about the Clapham Cook, in which he gets a comeuppance, but I felt bad for the poor cook. Christie must have enjoyed creating such a character since she knew she could ALWAYS get the better of him.
My favorite case is the one about the Clapham Cook, in which he gets a comeuppance, but I felt bad for the poor cook. Christie must have enjoyed creating such a character since she knew she could ALWAYS get the better of him.
September 2, 2020
It has been some time since I read any of Agatha Christie's books. But after recently watching all the older TV adaptions of Poirot's cases, I spotted this collection and thought it would be fun to do a re-read. The TV adaptions were good, but there is nothing like reading the stories they were based on. It was delightful to lose myself in these short stories demonstrating Poirot's brilliance and his friendship with Captain Hastings and Detective Inspector Japp.
This latest re-read was with the audiobook edition and was my first experience with Charles Armstrong as narrator. It took me a few minutes to separate the TV actor voices from the book characters, but his superb narration work made this an easy transition. It was not long before I was completely immersed in the characters and stories. He did Poirot's French accent and occasional French so well, but also Hastings and the grand assortment of characters in each story. Definitely a narrator to watch for more.
I think this collection of twenty -five stories is great for someone who doesn't have time for a full-length novel, but can slip in a short story here and there in their busy day. Though short, the stories are well-developed and engage the reader quickly.
This latest re-read was with the audiobook edition and was my first experience with Charles Armstrong as narrator. It took me a few minutes to separate the TV actor voices from the book characters, but his superb narration work made this an easy transition. It was not long before I was completely immersed in the characters and stories. He did Poirot's French accent and occasional French so well, but also Hastings and the grand assortment of characters in each story. Definitely a narrator to watch for more.
I think this collection of twenty -five stories is great for someone who doesn't have time for a full-length novel, but can slip in a short story here and there in their busy day. Though short, the stories are well-developed and engage the reader quickly.
February 24, 2024
A collection of short stories and novellas in which we learn that nobody--and I mean NOBODY--can outsmart Hercule Poirot. And thank heavens for that!
March 4, 2023
Poirot and his little grey cells 😍
Such a fun, humorous collection of short mysteries.
Such a fun, humorous collection of short mysteries.
July 15, 2022
I've read some of these stories as individual kindle books.
Some of these were stories were Poirot fails, which as a Christie and Poirot newbie, was a nice surprise.
I do fell a bit sorry for Hastings, less so for Japp. But the funny thing is - for all his old fashion appearance and quirks, Poirot tends to see woman as people whereas Hastings, at least here, sees them as something else.
I really enjoyed this short stories, because like Marple, Poirot focuses on the humanity, more than anything else.
Some of these were stories were Poirot fails, which as a Christie and Poirot newbie, was a nice surprise.
I do fell a bit sorry for Hastings, less so for Japp. But the funny thing is - for all his old fashion appearance and quirks, Poirot tends to see woman as people whereas Hastings, at least here, sees them as something else.
I really enjoyed this short stories, because like Marple, Poirot focuses on the humanity, more than anything else.
January 11, 2019
Lovely little collection. Audio book is excellent, expertly voiced by David Suchet-the best voice of Hercule Poirot.
June 13, 2021
Stories included:
-The Affair at the Victory Ball (murder)
-The Adventure of the Clapham Cook (missing person)
-The Cornish Mystery (murder)
-The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly (Kidnapping)
-The Double Clue (stolen jewels)
-The King of Clubs (murder)
-The Lemesurier Inheritance (treasure hunt)
-The Lost Mine (murder)
-The Plymouth Express (murder)
-The Chocolate Box (murder)
-The Submarine Plans (stolen papers)
-The Third Floor Flat (murder)
-Double Sin (stolen art)
-The Market Basing Mystery (murder)
-Wasps' Nest (murder)
-The Veiled Lady (blackmail)
-Problem at Sea (murder)
-How Does Your Garden Grow? (murder)
-The Affair at the Victory Ball (murder)
-The Adventure of the Clapham Cook (missing person)
-The Cornish Mystery (murder)
-The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly (Kidnapping)
-The Double Clue (stolen jewels)
-The King of Clubs (murder)
-The Lemesurier Inheritance (treasure hunt)
-The Lost Mine (murder)
-The Plymouth Express (murder)
-The Chocolate Box (murder)
-The Submarine Plans (stolen papers)
-The Third Floor Flat (murder)
-Double Sin (stolen art)
-The Market Basing Mystery (murder)
-Wasps' Nest (murder)
-The Veiled Lady (blackmail)
-Problem at Sea (murder)
-How Does Your Garden Grow? (murder)
March 27, 2020
I got this as a freebie on my kindle app, and even though it took me 8 months to finish it, I really enjoyed it. Quick mysteries for rainy days.
December 26, 2024
Clearly a Sherlock Holmes knockoff, but fun just the same.
July 3, 2025
“Well, each to their fancy. But it’s not a bad thing to see your way clear ahead.”
“I do not see,” murmured Poirot. “I shut my eyes—and think.”
When I read collections or anthologies, I usually just rate the entire thing based on vibes and overall feelings, but this time, I went through the effort of rating and writing a mini review for every short story, and then getting an average at the end. And in a nice case of serendipity, my instinctual reaction to give this 3 stars lines up fairly nicely with the mathematical rating of 3.175, based on an average of all my ratings. This was a pretty good collection overall, but I only had a few standouts and favourites. I LIKE classic mystery short stories (see: my unending love of the Sherlock Holmes canon) but Christie's Poirot short stories are all VERY short, and while they each have a fair amount of ingenuity and cleverness and charm, very few of them manage to make a lasting impression on me.
As usual, there was some outdated and racist language that really soured me, no matter how much it was just 'of its time' or whatever. There were a few stories that I'd read before, in 'Poirot Investigates', but it was interesting to revisit them, now that I've read so much more of Christie. Some of them I liked just as much, some of them, a little less. My favourites of the collection were "The Cornish Mystery", because I love sweet older ladies, and "The Lemesurier Inheritance", which really surprised me. I gave both of those 4 stars. Otherwise, these were mostly 2.5 to 3 star stories, with some 3.5s which were slightly better. Lots of generalisations that I got annoyed at, and aphorisms that undoubtedly made sense in the time, but fell flat for me. Hastings was particularly annoying in several of these. Poirot's ego and his bombastic nature are part of his charm, but sometimes it honestly ticks me off, haha. He's so paternalistic. And I know I've observed this before, but in some stories, Christie is clearly either tipping her hat to, or making fun of Sherlock Holmes. Sometimes it made me smile; sometimes it irritated me.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Charles Armstrong... sorta. Most of these stories have also been recorded in other places by Hugh Fraser or David Suchet, who are my favourite Poirot narrators, so whenever possible, I listened to those versions instead. I think I ended up only listening to a few of Armstrong's performances. Which were okay! But I vastly prefer Fraser and Suchet. They're the actors from the series (which I recently started watching) and they both embody the characters in slightly different ways, but I love them both. I also ended up listening to a few extra stories from another collection, Poirot's Early Cases. Most of those were only so-so. I think my opinion remains the same: I really like Christie's Poirot novels, but the Poirot short stories just don't have the same allure for me. Still pretty good, overall.
Spoiler filled mini-reviews for all stories:
October 7, 2025
Now I know where so many of the episodes of Poirot come from!
August 12, 2021
Well hello, Poirot. Er ... bonjour Monsieur, et pardonne moi. I hope you won't mind if I speak to you for a moment? Mon dieu, this is difficult. You see, I've harbored an embarrassing little crush on you since the day we met. Do you recall? It was on that train famously bound for a deadly snowbank somewhere between Stamboul and London? Oh, dear ... I know, my feelings are quite foolish. You are a famous detective genius, and I ... well, I am just a simple reader of books. Truly, Monsieur Poirot, I didn't mean anything by it. I didn't care a whit about the mysteries, really. I simply sought out your early cases to learn more about ... you. Do forgive me. It is understandable no? If I'm honest, a smart man and snappy dresser who stays cool in the face of swirling danger is bound to make my heart beat faster. You bring it on yourself with your ... savoir faire. Unfortunately, the poseur who voiced you, here, did you a grave disservice. Merely serviceable, he exhibited no joie de vivre, brought not a jot of your depth, courage, or ... noir to the table. C'est la vie, the mistake was all mine. These were only your early cases, Monsieur. It is no matter. And I promise to read for myself next time, employing more of my own little gray cells, indeed. And when I do, I very much hope to find the Poirot I thought I knew. Au revoir for now, dear Monsieur Poirot. Jusqu'à la prochaine fois, mon ami. Jusqu'à ce que nous nous revoyions.
July 7, 2021
likes: short story collections are my jam and this one is pretty solid. Lots of settings, intrigues, and a variety of villains.
dislikes: a tad more racism than the usual Christie fare, which is saying something. As these were all written in the early 1920s, it's consistent with the time, but it's still not fun.
dislikes: a tad more racism than the usual Christie fare, which is saying something. As these were all written in the early 1920s, it's consistent with the time, but it's still not fun.
May 23, 2020
Read brilliantly by the one and only David Suchet.
July 19, 2023
3.5
A fun collection of short stories about our favorite detective.
A fun collection of short stories about our favorite detective.
October 6, 2025
5/5 stars 🌟
January 14, 2020
I love Christie and got this book on sale on Audible. I didn’t enjoy it as much as her longer Hercule Poirot stories, but it was perfect to listen to on my commute as each story was around 20-30 minutes. These aren’t intended to be funny per se, but I still laughed nearly every story because of how cleverly each character is described and how cheerfully arrogant Poirot is. You gotta love the guy. After reading most of these short stories, it was fun to feel like I got a sense of how she sets up her stories and who the “bad guy” probably is. Much easier to do with these early cases than her other works. Moving forward, I’ll probably stick to longer stories. Despite most of them being murder mysteries, they’re quite tame and this would be great to read aloud to kids.
September 9, 2021
I've only ever read full length Agatha Christie novels before. After the first few short stories in this collection, I thought that I much preferred the novels, as these short stories cut out the character development and rich detail that Ms. Christie is known for. After a few stories, though, I found I rather liked the short story form, and by the end, I immensely enjoyed the format. Why? Chiefly because, though they lack the rich details added in the novels, Ms. Christie is an absolute genius with her plots. Her imagination knew no bounds, and the short stories here are packed with ingenuity.
If you are looking for short stories that intrigue, amaze, and impress, this is a collection for you.
If you are looking for short stories that intrigue, amaze, and impress, this is a collection for you.
August 15, 2024
The Early Cases of Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie
Emotional, funny, informative, inspiring,
mysterious, and reflective.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25 Stars
I had fun reading/listening to the cases that Hercule Poirot solved (or in one case, didn't solve).
It was fun to read about the different positions that he was put in and the world around him, at the time, but it also became repetative and lost its lusture over time.
I wanted more, and it seemed so surface level. So, I will have to read other great detective stories...to "scratch that itch" I feel.
Glad I read it, but wanted more.
Emotional, funny, informative, inspiring,
mysterious, and reflective.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25 Stars
I had fun reading/listening to the cases that Hercule Poirot solved (or in one case, didn't solve).
It was fun to read about the different positions that he was put in and the world around him, at the time, but it also became repetative and lost its lusture over time.
I wanted more, and it seemed so surface level. So, I will have to read other great detective stories...to "scratch that itch" I feel.
Glad I read it, but wanted more.
May 18, 2021
While I have great love for Hercule Poirot and his esteemed mustaches, this collection of short stories does not do the character justice. Perhaps it was that I had read most of these in other collections. Perhaps it was the bizarre and jarring use of what are now considered racial slurs as casual and neutral descriptors.
Given the evolution of words and the value in treating readers with dignity, why can't we update the language to reflect context better? It wouldn't even be the first time her work was edited to not be disrespectful to people of color (see amended title of "And Then There Were None"). Cannot recommend.
Given the evolution of words and the value in treating readers with dignity, why can't we update the language to reflect context better? It wouldn't even be the first time her work was edited to not be disrespectful to people of color (see amended title of "And Then There Were None"). Cannot recommend.
July 2, 2025
Is there anything as delightful as a Belgian detective dishing out savage comments in reply to the observations of his English companion? The BURNS that Colonel Hastings doesn't seem to comprehend are magnificent. Especially how through the whole book Colonel Hastings gives thorough descriptions of all of the ladies they encounter and finally Poirot says, "You worship women, Hastings, but you do not understand them." LEGENDARY.
This book has been such a marvelous companion for walks for the last three years and I'm sad to be done with it.
This book has been such a marvelous companion for walks for the last three years and I'm sad to be done with it.
December 22, 2021
It’s been a long time since I’ve gone back to the deep well of Agatha Christie’s mystery novel. Hercule Poirot was always a fun character and this collection of short mysteries was entertaining. My “little gray cells” were put to work trying to outguess the famous detective. Of course, I thinks it’s hilarious some of the deductions and the immediate confessions of the guilty party, but we do want things nice and neat, right?
January 2, 2021
I adore Hercule Poirot and this collection of short stories was an absolute delight! All of Poirot's charm and quirks were on full display.
All of the stories in the collection were engaging, fast reads.
Readers who already know Poirot will love this collection, and it would be a great introduction to readers who haven't had the pleasure of meeting him yet.
All of the stories in the collection were engaging, fast reads.
Readers who already know Poirot will love this collection, and it would be a great introduction to readers who haven't had the pleasure of meeting him yet.
February 5, 2019
A great selection
A very fun repacked compilation of Hercule and his adventures with Captain Hastings
Of course I see David Suchet in my mind now so the stories really come to life
A very fun repacked compilation of Hercule and his adventures with Captain Hastings
Of course I see David Suchet in my mind now so the stories really come to life
January 19, 2021
While it was really good to have so much of Poirot and Hastings together, this was a full of mini sessions of her longer works. Many of them slightly different but I much prefer the longer versions with more details and twists.
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