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Agatha Christie Crime Collection: The Clocks / Third Girl / Murder In The Mews
543 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1971
About the author
Agatha Christie
6,069 books77.6k 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
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 11, 2020
Only reviewing The Third Girl as I've previously read and reviewed the others. I enjoyed Christie's take on greedy people trying to force a girl into a decent into madness and then suicide. Very reminiscent of a Murder, She Wrote episode I like. I'm sure they got the idea from Agatha.
May 23, 2022
I’m loving these Poirot shorts. Poirot features in all four. The Dead Man’s Mirror is a reimagined and further developed version of The Gong.
July 16, 2012
I actually only read "The Third Girl" but that option is not on Good Reads. This was a good whodunnit because I was really led astray. It reminded me a lot of a film I watched when I was younger. That awful feeling rhat you have gone mad. I also loved Agatha Christie's description of the late 70's and especially Dandy David who looked like a peacock.
April 22, 2023
Without a doubt Agatha Christie was ahead of her time. Most notable in the book “the third girl”. Agatha is a quick witted and very clever, creative writer. Even though there was a lot of conflict and information, it was simple to absorb and kept you enraptured.
I read through the whole collection and below are my ratings for each story:
The clocks: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It was quite well done, very interesting, however I wish the ending was a bit better of a conclusion. I enjoyed all characters, and it was a good story to introduce me into the world of Poroit.
The third girl: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This story will have to take the cake as my personal favourite. Everything about it was captivating, and the twist was intense! A lot of the characterisation of the younger generation in this book is still relatable to that of our current generation. It’s interesting to see how similar we are even if 100 years can go by.
Murder in the mews: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I quite enjoyed this story, a clever plot but I didn’t give it the 4 stars simply because even as it was original maybe for its time, became something quite common now.
Short stories:
The incredible theft: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ A political one, but Definitley a smart one. I was quite impressed by Agatha and her planning of these mysteries.
Dead man’s mirror: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Short and sweet, not the best work but the twist was a fun one. However, I feel this could have made a better story if it had more depth with the characters and the idea of egoism.
Triangle at Rhodes: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Quite different to the rest of the stories in this collection but a good one. The twist was fun, the story was angering with idea of adultry and the double standards - however everyone gets their due. I like the warning from Poroit that set the completion of the story.
In short, it is very clear that Agath is a queen but most importantly that M. Poroit sincerely needs a holiday.
I read through the whole collection and below are my ratings for each story:
The clocks: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It was quite well done, very interesting, however I wish the ending was a bit better of a conclusion. I enjoyed all characters, and it was a good story to introduce me into the world of Poroit.
The third girl: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This story will have to take the cake as my personal favourite. Everything about it was captivating, and the twist was intense! A lot of the characterisation of the younger generation in this book is still relatable to that of our current generation. It’s interesting to see how similar we are even if 100 years can go by.
Murder in the mews: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I quite enjoyed this story, a clever plot but I didn’t give it the 4 stars simply because even as it was original maybe for its time, became something quite common now.
Short stories:
The incredible theft: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ A political one, but Definitley a smart one. I was quite impressed by Agatha and her planning of these mysteries.
Dead man’s mirror: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Short and sweet, not the best work but the twist was a fun one. However, I feel this could have made a better story if it had more depth with the characters and the idea of egoism.
Triangle at Rhodes: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Quite different to the rest of the stories in this collection but a good one. The twist was fun, the story was angering with idea of adultry and the double standards - however everyone gets their due. I like the warning from Poroit that set the completion of the story.
In short, it is very clear that Agath is a queen but most importantly that M. Poroit sincerely needs a holiday.
April 24, 2023
“Third Girl” refers to the practice of an apartment’s principal renter’s finding a friend to share the place and the rent, then finding someone, a stranger, to further reduce the rent, the third girl. In this novel, that third girl is Norma, perhaps not sane, who is suspected of poisoning a stepmother. She confesses to Poirot, “I may have murdered someone,” then leaves before telling more, blurting, “You are too old.”
Poirot hurts, but continues to wonder here and there if he may not be too old to solve this one, where a central character is Mrs. Oliver, detective novelist. Christie the novelist reveals much through Oliver, such as her needing to learn how to trail someone. Though Oliver writes about trailing, she learns its difficulties, and dangers (p.64). Oliver also disguises herself to listen to Norma and a handsome boyfriend with long hair and dramatic clothes.
As always, Poirot speaks Frenchified English, particularly the definite article instead of the indefinite, or indeed, none: Poirot obeserves, “Ah. You had the good fortune”(72, 1987 Bantam).
Christie’s Brit English also needs translating, as in “chimney piece” for mantle piece,
or “pocket diary” for pocket calendar (60).
The plot features the Poirot convention of a supposed suicide which he suspects is murder, and also a character who disguises herself as another, in this case with a wig—which Poirot thinks significant long before the truth is revealed. The supposed suicide turns out to be the early mistress of the world traveller central character, whom we learn much later had died, replaced by the criminal fraudster. The two murdered could recognize the fraudster was not the traveller he claimed to be.
Poirot hurts, but continues to wonder here and there if he may not be too old to solve this one, where a central character is Mrs. Oliver, detective novelist. Christie the novelist reveals much through Oliver, such as her needing to learn how to trail someone. Though Oliver writes about trailing, she learns its difficulties, and dangers (p.64). Oliver also disguises herself to listen to Norma and a handsome boyfriend with long hair and dramatic clothes.
As always, Poirot speaks Frenchified English, particularly the definite article instead of the indefinite, or indeed, none: Poirot obeserves, “Ah. You had the good fortune”(72, 1987 Bantam).
Christie’s Brit English also needs translating, as in “chimney piece” for mantle piece,
or “pocket diary” for pocket calendar (60).
The plot features the Poirot convention of a supposed suicide which he suspects is murder, and also a character who disguises herself as another, in this case with a wig—which Poirot thinks significant long before the truth is revealed. The supposed suicide turns out to be the early mistress of the world traveller central character, whom we learn much later had died, replaced by the criminal fraudster. The two murdered could recognize the fraudster was not the traveller he claimed to be.
March 25, 2021
The Third Girl: A pretty good Poirot novel. Poirot is older now and there is something poignant about that--in fact, he becomes obsessed with the case because the "third girl" shows up and declares him "too old" to help her! George, Miss Lemon, and Mrs. Oliver provide a contrast to the 1960s setting--they don't quite fit in, and they know they don't quite fit in. There is a sense of time passing. The mystery was good, as usual--nothing is what it appears. I was able to half figure it out, which is more than usual! A recommended diversion!
September 11, 2022
My edition was actually just the Third Girl (not found as a solo book on Goodreads). The story takes place in the 1960s, as Poirot is getting older. His understanding of people is still strong, though and i it is fun ride. Ms. Oliver has quite a series of antics. I think this one would be interesting as a movie as the resolution might be more obvious with some visual cues.
April 14, 2022
Review:The Third Girl
This was a most enjoyable read…but I can’t figure out why Ariadne Oliver has no apples this time around? More upsetting was the denouement depending on a wig and some make up changing a person beyond recognitions. That was just too much.
This was a most enjoyable read…but I can’t figure out why Ariadne Oliver has no apples this time around? More upsetting was the denouement depending on a wig and some make up changing a person beyond recognitions. That was just too much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2021
Audible versions of these three mystery are available free stories are available for free listening on YouTube.
December 31, 2022
Almost a DNF, didn’t enjoy the characters 1.5 stars
July 15, 2023
Audiobooks
September 22, 2024
Цей детектив в доробку Агати Крісті трохи поступається іншим, частину я відгадала, бо було досить очевидно. Але друга частина сюжету не така проста.
March 10, 2025
Very Agatha. Always fun.
November 11, 2016
The Clocks
The typing agency had sent Sheila Webb with instructions to let herself into the house, which would not be locked, if Miss Pebmarsh had not returned home by three o’clock, so Sheila went in. There was something odd about the room in which she had been told to wait; there seemed to be a profusion of clocks; and a glance was enough to show that some of them were wildly in error – by the same amount of time. Even more strange, the room was not, after all, quite unoccupied. Sprawled on the floor beyond the sofa was the figure of a man. He turned out to be quite dead as the dark moist patch on the front of his suit suggested he might be…
Third Girl
Hercule Poirot was relatively immune to surprise at the strange behaviour of his fellows. Nevertheless, he confessed to mild astonishment when a young lady called in the hope of consulting him… about a murder she might have committed. In every other murder case in which Poirot had been involved, the murderer had been the person least in doubt concerning the identity of the perpetrator. But more outrageous than the hour of his visitor’s intrusion was her behaviour. After a brief and hesitant attempt to explain her reasons she changed her mind about discussing the matter and blundered from the room. “You’re too old,” she told Poirot. Inevitably Poirot felt challenged to get to the bottom of this strange business. His quest led him into a new and sometimes baffling world in which not only the women dressed colourfully and wore their hair long.
Murder in the Mews
Although many people must have heard the shot that killed Mrs Allen, there were too many explosions that night for a single shot from a small pistol to attract much attention. So it was not until November the sixth that the suicide was discovered. Or was it suicide: no suicide note was to be found – and the fatal wound was at odds with the position in which the pistol was found; and, if the door had really been locked from the inside, where was the key of the room? Strangely, although a possible motive for suicide emerges there seems to be none for Mrs Allen’s murder. Fortunately, Hercule Poirot is at Japp’s elbow to ensure that the jumbled facts become sorted out to establish the pattern of events as they really occurred on the fatal night. Admirers of Poirot will find here three other examples of the master’s technique in the short cases which complete this volume: The Incredible Theft, Dead Man’s Mirror and Triangle at Rhodes.
Agatha Christie's reputation is well-founded. The stories are full of twists and turns and the eventual reveal is quite surprising but totally makes sense. After a while the stories just get a bit drawn out as the detectives have to question all the suspects repeatedly.
The typing agency had sent Sheila Webb with instructions to let herself into the house, which would not be locked, if Miss Pebmarsh had not returned home by three o’clock, so Sheila went in. There was something odd about the room in which she had been told to wait; there seemed to be a profusion of clocks; and a glance was enough to show that some of them were wildly in error – by the same amount of time. Even more strange, the room was not, after all, quite unoccupied. Sprawled on the floor beyond the sofa was the figure of a man. He turned out to be quite dead as the dark moist patch on the front of his suit suggested he might be…
Third Girl
Hercule Poirot was relatively immune to surprise at the strange behaviour of his fellows. Nevertheless, he confessed to mild astonishment when a young lady called in the hope of consulting him… about a murder she might have committed. In every other murder case in which Poirot had been involved, the murderer had been the person least in doubt concerning the identity of the perpetrator. But more outrageous than the hour of his visitor’s intrusion was her behaviour. After a brief and hesitant attempt to explain her reasons she changed her mind about discussing the matter and blundered from the room. “You’re too old,” she told Poirot. Inevitably Poirot felt challenged to get to the bottom of this strange business. His quest led him into a new and sometimes baffling world in which not only the women dressed colourfully and wore their hair long.
Murder in the Mews
Although many people must have heard the shot that killed Mrs Allen, there were too many explosions that night for a single shot from a small pistol to attract much attention. So it was not until November the sixth that the suicide was discovered. Or was it suicide: no suicide note was to be found – and the fatal wound was at odds with the position in which the pistol was found; and, if the door had really been locked from the inside, where was the key of the room? Strangely, although a possible motive for suicide emerges there seems to be none for Mrs Allen’s murder. Fortunately, Hercule Poirot is at Japp’s elbow to ensure that the jumbled facts become sorted out to establish the pattern of events as they really occurred on the fatal night. Admirers of Poirot will find here three other examples of the master’s technique in the short cases which complete this volume: The Incredible Theft, Dead Man’s Mirror and Triangle at Rhodes.
Agatha Christie's reputation is well-founded. The stories are full of twists and turns and the eventual reveal is quite surprising but totally makes sense. After a while the stories just get a bit drawn out as the detectives have to question all the suspects repeatedly.
April 25, 2013
The Third Girl: It's interesting that this is in a collection with Murder in the Mews which I've already read, because I've only ever heard of the Mews from that story and it was mentioned in this one too. Anyway, this mystery was a pretty good one. I really enjoyed the beginning. I was very amused by Mrs. Oliver's antics! But the way that Poirrot figured this one out wasnt very impressive compared to his other cases and it went on too long without seemingly any progress. I sort if wish that his friend was in this story--his Watson. His comments mightve made it better. Oh well.
July 14, 2012
Actually I only read "The Third Girl". It was a recent reprinting of the book. I love Agatha Christie and I loved this book! I think I have her all figured out, but it usually never turns out the way I think it will!! Fun read with Hercule Poroit at his best, even though he is told he is "too old" to help! Takes place in the 1960s. So fun!
April 4, 2012
I only read third girl but they didn't have that edition on goodreads. mainly read it to see how different it was from the BBC version and it WAS different and somehow I liked it better than the tv version.
September 9, 2012
I came across Christie's Third Girl in my church's library (it was the only book that didn't look drop dead boring) and I am glad I found it. It was an intriguing little puzzle. I figured out the clue so now I feel superior and it made up for the murderer being so unbelievable.
January 16, 2011
I only read "The Third Girl" but they didn't have that on Goodreads.
February 17, 2011
Only reading The Third Girl, but that edition isn't available on Goodreads.
January 24, 2013
I only read Third Girl
June 12, 2013
Only read The Third Girl. Liked it a lot for there were many threads and options while trying to figure out who was what.
November 27, 2013
I only read the third girl and murder in the mews. So don't know bout the other one.
March 26, 2014
The Third Girl: Its great to have a mystery to get your mind off of work.
December 27, 2021
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/7...
The Clocks : 8/10 : read 2007, 2011, 2016
Third Girl : 8/10 : read 2010, 2011, 2016
Murder in the Mews : 8/10 : read 2009, 2014
The Clocks : 8/10 : read 2007, 2011, 2016
Third Girl : 8/10 : read 2010, 2011, 2016
Murder in the Mews : 8/10 : read 2009, 2014
October 4, 2008
i hope to read it after i'm done
May 27, 2013
Read Murder in the Mews and it was good, must look at the other ones
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews