What do you think?
Rate this book
Hercule Poirot #30
Tres ratones ciegos
Por culpa de una intensa nevada y de un crimen, un grupo de amigos queda atrapado en Monskwell Manor, «una casona antigua, llena de muebles victorianos pasados de moda». Este es el punto de partida de la primera historia recogida en la presente selección, del que Agatha Christie se sirvió más tarde para escribir La ratonera, que ostenta el honor de ser la obra de teatro que acumula más representaciones de la historia. Junto con el resto de relatos, casi todos protagonizados por la brillante Miss Marple, conforman un volumen que encandilará a los más exigentes lectores de misterio.
223 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
671 people are currently reading
14779 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,177 books75.5k 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 - 30 of 1,437 reviews
July 9, 2023
Another Agatha Christie short collection.
The (slightly) longer reviews for all of the short stories are in the link, but that's mostly for my own benefit as I'm trying to make sure I'm not missing any them.
Three Blind Mice
A killer stalks victims trapped in a manor house during a snowstorm.
Molly and Giles are newlyweds who have inherited a manor house from Molly's aunt. When they decide to turn it into a guest house they have no idea that someone with a tragic past will use it to exact their revenge on the people they feel wronged them.
Strange Jest
Ho-ly shit. Joan Hickson's accent is TERRIBLE in this particular story.
I couldn't make out half of what she was lisping out of her mouth and had to go back and re-listen to parts of this one over and over again. She's narrated several of the Miss Marple stories that I've listened to but for whatever reason, in this one, she was incredibly hard to understand.
Beyond that, this is a story of a rich uncle who leaves his niece and nephew (who want to get married) to hunt for his fortune after he dies. To be honest it felt a bit like Manx Gold because in that one you have two cousins who want to get married but have to hunt for the treasure that their rich old relative leaves for them, as well. However, that one is more of a real treasure hunt with clues, and this one is that he didn't trust banks and they're just hunting around in the house for what the crazy old fart did with all of his money.
Tape-Measure Murder
Not my favorite Marple.
And yet, is any Marple a bad Marple?
So. This one deals with a woman whose husband is the main suspect in her murder, mainly because he isn't showing the appropriate amount of emotion.
The Case of the Perfect Maid
Miss Marple knows.
She's like Santa Clause or something when it comes to who has been bad or good, and her friends and neighbors would do well to listen to her advice when it comes to the hiring and firing of servants.
Or employees as we call them these days.
The Case of the Caretaker
The gist is that a ne'er-do-well young man finally makes good, and comes triumphantly home to his village with a rich, lovely wife who adores him. But things start to go wrong for them from the start, and end with the tragic whinny of a horse bucking its rider off and to their death.
Of course Marple susses out what happened and why it happened.
The Third Floor Flat
And I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those pesky kids!
Four friends accidently stumble into the wrong house and discover a murder in their building.
Guess who else lives in that building?
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.
Four and Twenty Blackbirds
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 Love Detectives
Sir James Dwighton is found dead, the victim of a vicious murder.
His wife and her lover should be the obvious suspects but after they both clumsily confess to the murder in what looks like an effort of each to protect the other, the police begin to think that there may be someone else running around with a motive to kill.
This is a pretty decent collection. For me, the title story is probably the best, but there are some other good ones mixed in with it. A little Marple, a little Poirot, and even some Mr. Quin/Mr. Satterthwiate to go with the stand-alone Three Blind Mice.
Recommended for fans of Agatha Christie & cozy mysteries.
The (slightly) longer reviews for all of the short stories are in the link, but that's mostly for my own benefit as I'm trying to make sure I'm not missing any them.
Three Blind Mice
A killer stalks victims trapped in a manor house during a snowstorm.
Molly and Giles are newlyweds who have inherited a manor house from Molly's aunt. When they decide to turn it into a guest house they have no idea that someone with a tragic past will use it to exact their revenge on the people they feel wronged them.
Strange Jest
Ho-ly shit. Joan Hickson's accent is TERRIBLE in this particular story.
I couldn't make out half of what she was lisping out of her mouth and had to go back and re-listen to parts of this one over and over again. She's narrated several of the Miss Marple stories that I've listened to but for whatever reason, in this one, she was incredibly hard to understand.
Beyond that, this is a story of a rich uncle who leaves his niece and nephew (who want to get married) to hunt for his fortune after he dies. To be honest it felt a bit like Manx Gold because in that one you have two cousins who want to get married but have to hunt for the treasure that their rich old relative leaves for them, as well. However, that one is more of a real treasure hunt with clues, and this one is that he didn't trust banks and they're just hunting around in the house for what the crazy old fart did with all of his money.
Tape-Measure Murder
Not my favorite Marple.
And yet, is any Marple a bad Marple?
So. This one deals with a woman whose husband is the main suspect in her murder, mainly because he isn't showing the appropriate amount of emotion.
The Case of the Perfect Maid
Miss Marple knows.
She's like Santa Clause or something when it comes to who has been bad or good, and her friends and neighbors would do well to listen to her advice when it comes to the hiring and firing of servants.
Or employees as we call them these days.
The Case of the Caretaker
The gist is that a ne'er-do-well young man finally makes good, and comes triumphantly home to his village with a rich, lovely wife who adores him. But things start to go wrong for them from the start, and end with the tragic whinny of a horse bucking its rider off and to their death.
Of course Marple susses out what happened and why it happened.
The Third Floor Flat
And I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those pesky kids!
Four friends accidently stumble into the wrong house and discover a murder in their building.
Guess who else lives in that building?
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.
Four and Twenty Blackbirds
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 Love Detectives
Sir James Dwighton is found dead, the victim of a vicious murder.
His wife and her lover should be the obvious suspects but after they both clumsily confess to the murder in what looks like an effort of each to protect the other, the police begin to think that there may be someone else running around with a motive to kill.
This is a pretty decent collection. For me, the title story is probably the best, but there are some other good ones mixed in with it. A little Marple, a little Poirot, and even some Mr. Quin/Mr. Satterthwiate to go with the stand-alone Three Blind Mice.
Recommended for fans of Agatha Christie & cozy mysteries.
March 16, 2024
Another entertaining bunch of Agatha Christie short stories. If you've read any previous collections of her stories, you know exactly what to expect: twisty whodunits featuring some of her most famous characters - Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Harley Quin (minus "Three Blind Mice," which is a stand-alone). I have no real complaints, other than that the narrator who reads the Miss Marple stories for the audiobook (Joan Hickson) sounds like she's talking with marbles in her mouth. Apparently she also played Miss Marple on television so I guess she's technically the OG voice for the character, but it just doesn't translate well to audiobook for some reason. But, still, if you enjoy Dame Agatha's stories, this collection is worth a read (or listen). Four stars.
July 20, 2020
Από τα πολλά δικά της που έχω διαβάσει νιώθω πως έχω μάθει τον τρόπο σκέψης της και δεν καταφέρνει να με ξαφνιάζει πια όπως παλιά. Σα να επαναλαμβάνονται συγκεκριμένα μοτίβα. Το συγκεκριμένο μου θύμισε "Τα Χριστούγεννα του Πουαρώ".
Η μικρή έκταση της ιστορίας, δε σου επιτρέπει να δεθείς με τους χαρακτήρες, ούτε και αφήνει περιθώρια να κορυφωθεί η αγωνία. Άλλο ένα μείον το ότι λείπει ο αγαπημένος μου στρουμπουλός ντετέκτιβ :)
Παρ'όλα αυτά μια καλή ιστορία που διαβάζεται εύκολα μέσα σε ένα απόγευμα!
Η μικρή έκταση της ιστορίας, δε σου επιτρέπει να δεθείς με τους χαρακτήρες, ούτε και αφήνει περιθώρια να κορυφωθεί η αγωνία. Άλλο ένα μείον το ότι λείπει ο αγαπημένος μου στρουμπουλός ντετέκτιβ :)
Παρ'όλα αυτά μια καλή ιστορία που διαβάζεται εύκολα μέσα σε ένα απόγευμα!
October 26, 2021
Curious whether the story Three Blind Mice has anything to do with the nursery rhyme? You'll need to read it to find out. I devoured these many times in the past, most recently when watching a tv series that turned several of her short stories into episodes. I'm always amazed by what the producers and directors change vs. keep.
In their natural state, Christie created wonderful characters and plots... and to think she did this 75-100 years ago, when books were much less dark (generally speaking) is eye-opening. I can only imagine the spectacle when she herself disappeared as part of a real-life mystery.
That said, I recommend reading all the shorts first, then jumping into the 12 full-length novels / novellas... these will give you a sense of her writing style, plot potential, and the Marple traits we've come to love. I'm about 1/2 way thru my second read of the collection, so it's exciting to see which I've remembred and which I've forgotten too.
In their natural state, Christie created wonderful characters and plots... and to think she did this 75-100 years ago, when books were much less dark (generally speaking) is eye-opening. I can only imagine the spectacle when she herself disappeared as part of a real-life mystery.
That said, I recommend reading all the shorts first, then jumping into the 12 full-length novels / novellas... these will give you a sense of her writing style, plot potential, and the Marple traits we've come to love. I'm about 1/2 way thru my second read of the collection, so it's exciting to see which I've remembred and which I've forgotten too.
September 6, 2022
Se trata de un libro de relatos en el que el más extendido es precisamente el que da lugar al nombre del libro: Tres ratones ciegos. El resto de relatos consta de aproximadamente 12 páginas cada uno, protagonizados principalmente por Miss Marple y Hercule Poirot.
Es el libro que menos me ha gustado y eso que me encanta Agatha. El relato de Tres ratones ciegos, es el que más me ha gustado y aún así creo que el final es demasiado precipitado.
A continuación os dejo mi valoración de todos los relatos del libro:
Tres ratones ciegos 4/5
Mrs Marple:
Una broma extraña 3.5 /5
El crimen de la cinta métrica 3.5/5
El caso de la doncella perfecta 3/5
El caso de la vieja guardiana
3/5
Hércules Poirot:
El tercer piso 3.5/5
Las aventuras de Johnnie Waverly 2.5/5
La tarta de zarzamoras 2.5/ 5
Sr. Quin:
Detectives aficionados 3.5/5
Es el libro que menos me ha gustado y eso que me encanta Agatha. El relato de Tres ratones ciegos, es el que más me ha gustado y aún así creo que el final es demasiado precipitado.
A continuación os dejo mi valoración de todos los relatos del libro:
Tres ratones ciegos 4/5
Mrs Marple:
Una broma extraña 3.5 /5
El crimen de la cinta métrica 3.5/5
El caso de la doncella perfecta 3/5
El caso de la vieja guardiana
3/5
Hércules Poirot:
El tercer piso 3.5/5
Las aventuras de Johnnie Waverly 2.5/5
La tarta de zarzamoras 2.5/ 5
Sr. Quin:
Detectives aficionados 3.5/5
November 28, 2017
τρία μικρά ποντικάκια, που τα καημένα θα βρεθούν νεκρά, ευθεία απειλή για τον αριθμό των θυμάτων...
ένα παιδικό τραγουδάκι, που ταιριάζει γάντι για τρία μικρά αδερφάκια που η παιδική τους ηλικία δεν ήταν και τόσο ρόδινη
Ποιος είναι αυτός που ζητάει εκδίκηση; Ποιος από όσους βρέθηκαν αποκλεισμένοι στο ίδιο σπίτι, μια χειμωνιάτικη νύχτα ταιριάζει περισσότερο στο προφίλ του δολοφόνου;
Το μυστήριο θα το λύσει ο αστυνομικός που έχει σταλεί από τη Σκότλαντ Γιαρντ... ποιος είναι όμως αυτός;
Άντε, χειμωνιάζει και πολύ μου άρεσε μια τέτοια κλειστοφοβική ιστορία!
ένα παιδικό τραγουδάκι, που ταιριάζει γάντι για τρία μικρά αδερφάκια που η παιδική τους ηλικία δεν ήταν και τόσο ρόδινη
Ποιος είναι αυτός που ζητάει εκδίκηση; Ποιος από όσους βρέθηκαν αποκλεισμένοι στο ίδιο σπίτι, μια χειμωνιάτικη νύχτα ταιριάζει περισσότερο στο προφίλ του δολοφόνου;
Το μυστήριο θα το λύσει ο αστυνομικός που έχει σταλεί από τη Σκότλαντ Γιαρντ... ποιος είναι όμως αυτός;
Άντε, χειμωνιάζει και πολύ μου άρεσε μια τέτοια κλειστοφοβική ιστορία!
September 7, 2025
3 stars
Original English title: Three Blind Mice and Other Stories
short review for busy readers:
According to the Wikipedia article, this collection of mixed Agatha Christie stories has been published in many different countries -- but never in the UK! I read the Spanish language edition. As with any collection, some were quite good but others didn't land well with me.
Contents:
Tres ratontes ciegos (Three Blind Mice/The Mousetrap) 3.5
The prose version of the world's longest running play. Reads rather like a comedy with the over-the-top personalities of the characters and the unforeseeable twist. The owners of a rural guesthouse are snowed in with their guests. One of them is a murderer.
Una broma extraña (Strange Jest) 4
A greedy couple contacts Miss Marple to help them find the hidden valuables their recently deceased relative promised them, but which seem to be nowhere.
El crimen de la cinta métrica (The Tape-Measure Murder) 2
A rather awkward mystery about the murder of a resident of St Mary Mead. One of the weakest of the collection.
El caso de la doncella perfecta (The Case of the Perfect Maid) 4.5
When a pair of pernickety sisters unfairly fire their maid - who just happens to be a relative of Miss Marple's maid - and hire one from a London agency, Miss Marple says she'll speak with them....and smells a rat. Very enjoyable.
El caso de la vieja guardiana (The Case of the Caretaker) 1
Odd and blurry mystery about St Mary Mead's rich golden boy marrying and tearing down the old manor house to build a new one, much to the chagrin of the old caretaker.
El apartamento del tercer piso (The Third Floor Flat) 4.5
M. Poirot just happens to live on the top floor of an apartment house under an assumed name. When the lady in the apartment on the 3rd floor is murdered, he immediately gets involved. Entertaining, but the coincidences are far too many.
La aventura de Johnnie Waverly (The Adventure of Johnny Waverly) 3
The distraught parents of a kidnapped child hire M. Poirot to find their darling now that the police seem to be getting nowhere. Poirot ventures forth to the couples' estate and solves the kidnapping in about an hour.
La tarta de moras (Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds) 3
Poirot has dinner with a friend and by chance stumbles onto a possible murder. He sticks his nose in to satisfy his curiosity and finds...how could it be otherwise?... that he was right. It was murder.
Los detectives del amor (The Love Detectives3.5
One of the Mr Quin stories. The lord of an estate is murdered and Mr Quin joins the police investigation through strange means which might not be so strange after all.
Added together: 3.2 so rounded down to 3.
Original English title: Three Blind Mice and Other Stories
short review for busy readers:
According to the Wikipedia article, this collection of mixed Agatha Christie stories has been published in many different countries -- but never in the UK! I read the Spanish language edition. As with any collection, some were quite good but others didn't land well with me.
Contents:
Tres ratontes ciegos (Three Blind Mice/The Mousetrap) 3.5
The prose version of the world's longest running play. Reads rather like a comedy with the over-the-top personalities of the characters and the unforeseeable twist. The owners of a rural guesthouse are snowed in with their guests. One of them is a murderer.
Una broma extraña (Strange Jest) 4
A greedy couple contacts Miss Marple to help them find the hidden valuables their recently deceased relative promised them, but which seem to be nowhere.
El crimen de la cinta métrica (The Tape-Measure Murder) 2
A rather awkward mystery about the murder of a resident of St Mary Mead. One of the weakest of the collection.
El caso de la doncella perfecta (The Case of the Perfect Maid) 4.5
When a pair of pernickety sisters unfairly fire their maid - who just happens to be a relative of Miss Marple's maid - and hire one from a London agency, Miss Marple says she'll speak with them....and smells a rat. Very enjoyable.
El caso de la vieja guardiana (The Case of the Caretaker) 1
Odd and blurry mystery about St Mary Mead's rich golden boy marrying and tearing down the old manor house to build a new one, much to the chagrin of the old caretaker.
El apartamento del tercer piso (The Third Floor Flat) 4.5
M. Poirot just happens to live on the top floor of an apartment house under an assumed name. When the lady in the apartment on the 3rd floor is murdered, he immediately gets involved. Entertaining, but the coincidences are far too many.
La aventura de Johnnie Waverly (The Adventure of Johnny Waverly) 3
The distraught parents of a kidnapped child hire M. Poirot to find their darling now that the police seem to be getting nowhere. Poirot ventures forth to the couples' estate and solves the kidnapping in about an hour.
La tarta de moras (Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds) 3
Poirot has dinner with a friend and by chance stumbles onto a possible murder. He sticks his nose in to satisfy his curiosity and finds...how could it be otherwise?... that he was right. It was murder.
Los detectives del amor (The Love Detectives3.5
One of the Mr Quin stories. The lord of an estate is murdered and Mr Quin joins the police investigation through strange means which might not be so strange after all.
Added together: 3.2 so rounded down to 3.
July 13, 2021
He disfrutado mucho de la relectura de este libro de Agatha Christie, es un libro de relatos y está dividido en 2 partes, la primera parte la compone el relato Tres ratones ciegos que se público por primera vez en 1950, este relato fue adaptado a obra de teatro, y es la obra más famosa de Agatha, tanto que sigue representándose en Londres.
Y la segunda parte esta compuesta por diversos relatos cortos; 4 protagonizados por miss Jane Marple, 3 protagonizados por Hercules Poirot y 1 protagonizado por mister Quin y mister Satterwaitte.
De todos ellos, destaco los siguientes que son los que más me han gustado; Tres ratones ciegos, El caso de la vieja guardiana, El tercer piso y La tarta de zarzamoras.
Y la segunda parte esta compuesta por diversos relatos cortos; 4 protagonizados por miss Jane Marple, 3 protagonizados por Hercules Poirot y 1 protagonizado por mister Quin y mister Satterwaitte.
De todos ellos, destaco los siguientes que son los que más me han gustado; Tres ratones ciegos, El caso de la vieja guardiana, El tercer piso y La tarta de zarzamoras.
August 23, 2022
En este libro nos encontramos la historia de Tres ratones ciegos junto con otros relatos cortos. Empezando con Tres ratones ciegos, al igual que el resto de relatos que le siguen, es corto por lo que se lee bastante rápido. Es entretenido y está bien escrito, no obstante, no es la mejor historia que he leído de Agatha Christie. Quizás, si se hubiera extendido un poco más en las descripciones de los personajes y hubiese mantenido algo más la intriga, hubiera ganado mucho. Aun así, no es un mal relato, al contrario, es una buena historia que te mantiene enganchada pero para mi gusto le falta alargar un poco más el misterio.
Con respecto a los relatos cortos tienen intriga, están bien escritos, pero con unos finales demasiado rápidos para mi gusto. No son malos, pero tampoco de lo mejor que he leído de esta escritora.
Es un libro recomendable sin duda alguna, pero que no está a la altura de otras obras de Agatha Christie.
Con respecto a los relatos cortos tienen intriga, están bien escritos, pero con unos finales demasiado rápidos para mi gusto. No son malos, pero tampoco de lo mejor que he leído de esta escritora.
Es un libro recomendable sin duda alguna, pero que no está a la altura de otras obras de Agatha Christie.
January 5, 2022
Bueno no ha estado mal el libro.
Consta de una obra principal como el propio título indica:
Tres ratones ciegos 4/5
Y luego de una serie de historias cortas protagonizadas por:
la Mrs Marple:
Una broma extraña 3.5/5
El crimen de la cinta métrica 2/5
El caso de la doncella perfecta 3/5
El caso de la vieja guardiana 2/5
Del Gran Hercules Poirot:
El tercer piso 3.5/5
La aventuras de Johnnie Waverly 3/5
La tarta de zarzamoras 3.5/5
Del enigmático Sr Quinn:
Detectives aficionados 3.5/5
Al ser historias tan cortas y resolverse más rápido les ha quitado parte de una valoración mayor.
Consta de una obra principal como el propio título indica:
Tres ratones ciegos 4/5
Y luego de una serie de historias cortas protagonizadas por:
la Mrs Marple:
Una broma extraña 3.5/5
El crimen de la cinta métrica 2/5
El caso de la doncella perfecta 3/5
El caso de la vieja guardiana 2/5
Del Gran Hercules Poirot:
El tercer piso 3.5/5
La aventuras de Johnnie Waverly 3/5
La tarta de zarzamoras 3.5/5
Del enigmático Sr Quinn:
Detectives aficionados 3.5/5
Al ser historias tan cortas y resolverse más rápido les ha quitado parte de una valoración mayor.
February 6, 2016
Όσο και να έκανα σενάρια στο μυαλό μου, τον αληθινό δολοφόνο ούτε που τον υποψιάστηκα!!
September 5, 2019
Όταν πλησίαζαν τα 80ά γενέθλια της Βασίλισσας Μαίρη, το BBC τη ρώτησε πως θα ήθελε να τα γιορτάσει, διαλέγοντας οτιδήποτε ήθελε από Σέξπηρ μέχρι Όπερα, εκείνη όμως ζήτησε κάτι διαφορετικό. Είπε πως ήθελε να χει ένα νέο έργο της Αγκάθα Κρίστι και η συγγραφέας έγραψε αμέσως ένα ημίωρο ραδιοφωνικό έργο με τίτλο «Τρία Τυφλά Ποντίκια». Αυτό έμελλε στη συνέχεια να γίνει η μακροβιότερη παράσταση που παίχτηκε ποτέ στην ιστορία του θεάτρου, η «Ποντικοπαγίδα». Τα ρεκόρ της;
-Μέχρι σήμερα πάνω από 400 ηθοποιοί και 250 αντικαταστάτες αυτών έχουν εμφανιστεί στο έργο.
-23/5/1955 1.000 Παραστάσεις
-13/09/1957 Ανακυρήσσεται το μακροβιότερο έργο στο West End
-09/12/1964 5.000 Παραστάσεις
-12/12/1974 Ανακυρήσσεται το μακροβιότερο έργο στον κόσμο
-17/12/1976 10.000 παραστάσεις
-16/12/2000 20.000 παραστάσεις
-25/11/2002 επέτειος των 50 χρόνων με την παράσταση να τιμάται με την παρουσία της Βασίλισσας Ελισάβετ της Αγγλίας
-18/11/2012 επέτειος 60 χρόνων και 25.000 παραστάσεις.
Αυτά τα «λίγα» (;), για ένα από τα σημαντικότερα και επιδραστικότερα “whodunit” μυθιστορήματα της παγκόσμιας βιβλιογραφίας.
Εννοείται υπάρχει δωρεάν στο ίντερνετ, οπότε κατεβάστε το άκοπα και βυθιστείτε αμέριμνοι στις 100 συναρπαστικότατές του σελίδες με την πρώτη ευκαιρία.
-Μέχρι σήμερα πάνω από 400 ηθοποιοί και 250 αντικαταστάτες αυτών έχουν εμφανιστεί στο έργο.
-23/5/1955 1.000 Παραστάσεις
-13/09/1957 Ανακυρήσσεται το μακροβιότερο έργο στο West End
-09/12/1964 5.000 Παραστάσεις
-12/12/1974 Ανακυρήσσεται το μακροβιότερο έργο στον κόσμο
-17/12/1976 10.000 παραστάσεις
-16/12/2000 20.000 παραστάσεις
-25/11/2002 επέτειος των 50 χρόνων με την παράσταση να τιμάται με την παρουσία της Βασίλισσας Ελισάβετ της Αγγλίας
-18/11/2012 επέτειος 60 χρόνων και 25.000 παραστάσεις.
Αυτά τα «λίγα» (;), για ένα από τα σημαντικότερα και επιδραστικότερα “whodunit” μυθιστορήματα της παγκόσμιας βιβλιογραφίας.
Εννοείται υπάρχει δωρεάν στο ίντερνετ, οπότε κατεβάστε το άκοπα και βυθιστείτε αμέριμνοι στις 100 συναρπαστικότατές του σελίδες με την πρώτη ευκαιρία.
August 5, 2019
What makes this collection a must read is that it includes the short story Three Blind Mice that has been successfully adapted as play Mousetrap. The story has never been published in UK because then there will be no suspense and great end. Four stories in the collection feature Miss Marple, three Hercule Poirot and one Harley Quin. All the nine stories are full of suspense and mystery with a twisted end that leaves you marveling that how the author could write such an engrossing story in such a short story line. A must read for all her fans.
August 6, 2020
Three blind mice. Three blind mice.
See how they run. See how they run.
They all ran after the farmer’s wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,
Did you ever see such a sight in your life,
As three blind mice?
Sweet children's ditty, eh?
I'd not been a particular fan of Christie stories, and thus basically didn't read most of the Poirot story collections when I was reading all of her books in recent years, but rereading the title story here almost made me want to reverse course and reread every story she ever wrote. Almost. That story is wonderfully entertaining, and became the basis for the longest-running play of all time, The Mousetrap (about which I would like to take the opportunity to inform you, mid-sentence, that I played Christopher Wren in a production once upon a time, wearing multiple colorful cravats simultaneously and bouncing all over the stage with quirky energy, takes belated bow).
I said "almost," in that the rest of the stories--four of them featuring Miss Marple, three featuring Hercules Poirot and one Harley Quin!--are just okay, compared to the rest of her work. Good, but not great. I listened to them, some read by great readers such as David Suchet and Joan Hickson, so that bumps the whole thing up to at least 3.5 stars.
One thing I like about Dame Agatha that I saw in these stories and in my Miss Marple run here in 2020: Most (white) people in provincial British towns seem to worry that The Murderer is one or some of the following: 1) an outsider, foreigner, alien; 2) a person of color; 3) differently-abled, and/or 4) "mad," which is to say "normal" people don't commit crimes. And (spoiler alert), that murderer is almost never any of the above. I like her small, light contribution to tolerance.
See how they run. See how they run.
They all ran after the farmer’s wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,
Did you ever see such a sight in your life,
As three blind mice?
Sweet children's ditty, eh?
I'd not been a particular fan of Christie stories, and thus basically didn't read most of the Poirot story collections when I was reading all of her books in recent years, but rereading the title story here almost made me want to reverse course and reread every story she ever wrote. Almost. That story is wonderfully entertaining, and became the basis for the longest-running play of all time, The Mousetrap (about which I would like to take the opportunity to inform you, mid-sentence, that I played Christopher Wren in a production once upon a time, wearing multiple colorful cravats simultaneously and bouncing all over the stage with quirky energy, takes belated bow).
I said "almost," in that the rest of the stories--four of them featuring Miss Marple, three featuring Hercules Poirot and one Harley Quin!--are just okay, compared to the rest of her work. Good, but not great. I listened to them, some read by great readers such as David Suchet and Joan Hickson, so that bumps the whole thing up to at least 3.5 stars.
One thing I like about Dame Agatha that I saw in these stories and in my Miss Marple run here in 2020: Most (white) people in provincial British towns seem to worry that The Murderer is one or some of the following: 1) an outsider, foreigner, alien; 2) a person of color; 3) differently-abled, and/or 4) "mad," which is to say "normal" people don't commit crimes. And (spoiler alert), that murderer is almost never any of the above. I like her small, light contribution to tolerance.
February 15, 2016
Πέντε υπέροχες ιστορίες μυστηρίου, από την Μάστερ του είδους. Είχα χρόνια να διαβάσω Christie, από μικρό παιδί. Οπότε τώρα την διάβασα με άλλα μάτια. Παρατήρησα πόσο διεισδύει στον ψυχικό κόσμο των ηρώων. Ότι εκτός από το να προκαλεί ατμόσφαιρα μυστηρίου, η Christie αγαπάει και τον τρόμο. 2-3 από τις ιστορίες του βιβλίου είναι ιστορίες φαντασμάτων, ούτε καν που θα το φανταζόμουν. Παρόλο που η Ποντικοπαγίδα δεν έχει για ήρωα της τον Ηρακλή Πουαρό (γεγονός που όταν το συνειδητοποίησα με απογοήτευσε), το βιβλίο αυτό με αποζημίωσε με χίλιους δύο άλλους τρόπους. Διαβάζεται απνευστί.
September 6, 2020
Listened to this while working on a jigsaw puzzle with family members. Our favorite story was the first one, "Three Blind Mice." It was a real treat to hear Joan Hickson read the Miss Marple stories.
Here are quotes that stood out to us as we listened:
"Molly peered inquisitively through the banisters. She saw an elderly man with a small black beard and Mephistophelean eyebrows. A man who moved with a young and jaunty step in spite of the gray at his temples."
"With a deepening frown she rummaged wildly in the silken trifle she called an evening bag."
"Always sweep in the corners."
Here are quotes that stood out to us as we listened:
"Molly peered inquisitively through the banisters. She saw an elderly man with a small black beard and Mephistophelean eyebrows. A man who moved with a young and jaunty step in spite of the gray at his temples."
"With a deepening frown she rummaged wildly in the silken trifle she called an evening bag."
"Always sweep in the corners."
July 22, 2018
Η πρώτη νουβέλα κάτι είπε αλλά τα τέσσερα διηγήματα που ακολούθησαν δεν ανταποκρίθηκαν στις υψηλές προσδοκίες που είχα από ένα βιβλίο της Agatha Christie. Η μικρή φόρμα δεν επέτρεψε την ανάπτυξη της πλοκής ώστε να κορυφωθεί το ενδιαφέρον και οπωσδήποτε οι εν λόγω ιστορίες δεν ήταν από τις πιο εμπνευσμένες της Christie. Δεν πειράζει, την αγαπάμε κι έτσι τη βασίλισσα του αστυνομικού μυθιστορήματος.
November 15, 2022
3.5
Tenía esta reseña pendiente desde hace tiempo y me apetecía subir algo de Agtha, una historia que leí con
.
Una novela algo diferente ya que son una serie de relatos , protagonizados por Miss Marple o por Poirot.
.
El relato más largo es el que da nombre a la novela y el que más me ha gustado , toda la historia gira en torno a una canción infantil , como siempre una historia enrevesada hasta el mismo final…
.
Normalmente las novelas de Agtha son cortas y si añadimos que son relatos se hace mucho más corto… es verdad que se leen súper bien y son entretenidos, un libro totalmente para desconectar y muy en su línea.
Tenía esta reseña pendiente desde hace tiempo y me apetecía subir algo de Agtha, una historia que leí con
.
Una novela algo diferente ya que son una serie de relatos , protagonizados por Miss Marple o por Poirot.
.
El relato más largo es el que da nombre a la novela y el que más me ha gustado , toda la historia gira en torno a una canción infantil , como siempre una historia enrevesada hasta el mismo final…
.
Normalmente las novelas de Agtha son cortas y si añadimos que son relatos se hace mucho más corto… es verdad que se leen súper bien y son entretenidos, un libro totalmente para desconectar y muy en su línea.
Want to read
November 19, 2018Ήταν απλά συμπαθητικές ιστορίες. Δεν μπορώ να πω ότι ξετρελάθηκα....Έχει γράψει πολύ καλύτερα!!!
September 16, 2019
Actually, 2,5 star.
November 11, 2024
Cuando me vendieron el libro como que Hercules Poirot y Miss Marple estaban juntos no me imagine esto.
Realmente no están "juntos" son historias cortas que claramente salen de forma individual y como es costumbre las de Miss Marple me parecieron aburridas y hasta un tanto absurdas a comparación de las de Hercules Poirot donde se notaba la diferencia, no se porque no podían tener un espiritú similar pero en fin.
Le di 3 estrellas por lo mismo.
Realmente no están "juntos" son historias cortas que claramente salen de forma individual y como es costumbre las de Miss Marple me parecieron aburridas y hasta un tanto absurdas a comparación de las de Hercules Poirot donde se notaba la diferencia, no se porque no podían tener un espiritú similar pero en fin.
Le di 3 estrellas por lo mismo.
December 11, 2020
4.5 Stars for Three Blind Mice (audiobook) by Agatha Christie read by Denholm Elliott. This was my first Agatha Christie. I really enjoyed it.
October 4, 2021
Puntuar un libro de relatos cortos es complicado porque no todos dejan la misma sensación, pero como siempre, leer a Agatha es una delicia.
Uno de los puntos a favor de este recopilatorio es que incluye tanto historias de Poirot como de Miss Marple como historias independientes sin ninguno de esos dos detectives (Harley Quin es uno de los nuevos y seré simple, pero me ha hecho mucha gracia), así que tenemos aquí reunidas unas cuantas muestras variadas de lo que es capaz de hacer la Reina del Crimen.
El libro empieza con Tres ratones ciegos, la historia corta en la que se basa la famosa obra de teatro La ratonera. Con este relato, Agatha me la ha vuelto a pegar. Y me da rabia porque el recurso que emplea aquí con respecto a la identidad del asesino, es algo que ya he visto antes en otros libros suyos más largos, pero aun así ha conseguido liarme y despistarme. Qué gran maestra.
Y eso es algo que ha pasado en otros de los relatos, que sí he podido intuir la resolución del caso porque ha usado soluciones que ya había usado antes, con lo cual me he sentido contenta de ir pillándole el truco. En algunas historias, no en todas, porque sí es verdad que algunas son tan cortas que no te da tiempo a procesar todos los detalles que pueden ser pistas antes de que se nos dé la resolución.
Uno de los puntos a favor de este recopilatorio es que incluye tanto historias de Poirot como de Miss Marple como historias independientes sin ninguno de esos dos detectives (Harley Quin es uno de los nuevos y seré simple, pero me ha hecho mucha gracia), así que tenemos aquí reunidas unas cuantas muestras variadas de lo que es capaz de hacer la Reina del Crimen.
El libro empieza con Tres ratones ciegos, la historia corta en la que se basa la famosa obra de teatro La ratonera. Con este relato, Agatha me la ha vuelto a pegar. Y me da rabia porque el recurso que emplea aquí con respecto a la identidad del asesino, es algo que ya he visto antes en otros libros suyos más largos, pero aun así ha conseguido liarme y despistarme. Qué gran maestra.
Y eso es algo que ha pasado en otros de los relatos, que sí he podido intuir la resolución del caso porque ha usado soluciones que ya había usado antes, con lo cual me he sentido contenta de ir pillándole el truco. En algunas historias, no en todas, porque sí es verdad que algunas son tan cortas que no te da tiempo a procesar todos los detalles que pueden ser pistas antes de que se nos dé la resolución.
May 30, 2017
Here is a good collection of short stories from the Queen of Crime & nothing too taxing on the brain. While I find the Miss Marple tales a little too sweet for my taste the Poirot ones are quite entertaining. My favourite story is Three Blind Mice, which takes place in an isolated country house during a snow storm. Although I prefer the play it became (The Mousetrap) there are some nice touches of humour amid the drama.
November 30, 2021
¡Qué onda con esta edición! El primer relato: Tres ratones ciegos está ok pero todo el libro está lleno de typos yyyyyy en la contraportada dice que en esta compilación aparece Poirot y Hastings y NO APARECEN. Si no pasaron todos los relatos a su traducción en español este es un error terrible de edición. Ay no, qué vergüenza.
Mi crítica es hacia la edición y traducción, a Christie la tqm, no son sus mejores obras pero están divertidas como siempre.
Mi crítica es hacia la edición y traducción, a Christie la tqm, no son sus mejores obras pero están divertidas como siempre.
January 16, 2018
Por fin tengo el primer libro del año leído. Ya creía que el bloqueo lector me iba a durar para siempre xD.
A ver, en general, el libro me ha gustado, pero tampoco me ha fascinado. Ahora voy a puntuar y a hablar un poco sobre cada uno de los relatos que aparecen en esta novela. Al final intentaré darle una puntuación global (algo que realmente me va a resultar bastante difícil).
Empiezo:
- Tres ratones ciegos.
Es el relato más largo y el que más me ha gustado. Como siempre, Ágatha Christie me termina sorprendiendo un montón al final y eso que yo pensaba más o menos que todo terminaría de una forma distinta xD.
Lo único malo que le veo es que no se termina explicando la historia de Christopher Wren. La gente que haya leído entenderá a lo que me refiero xD.
Le voy a dar 4/5 estrellas ya que me ha gustado bastante, pero me ha faltado saber algo más de Chris y me parece que en el final todo pasa súper rápido.
-Una broma extraña.
Es un mini relato en el que por primera vez veo aparecer a Miss Marple. El relato me ha dejado totalmente indiferente ya que es muy corto y la trama no es gran cosa, pero me ha sorprendido el ingenio de miss Marple.
Le doy 2.5/5 estrellas.
-El crimen de la cinta métrica.
El título es un spoiler, así que lo he deducido todo desde el principio. Esto ha hecho que realmente no me intrigara mucho y que me resultara todo muy obvio.
Le doy 2/5 estrellas.
-El caso de la doncella perfecta.
Aquí Ágatha Christie me vuelve a sorprender. La trama en sí no es gran cosa, pero el final me dejó con la boca abierta. Aquí empecé a cogerle más cariño a Miss Marple.
Le doy 3.5/estrellas.
-El caso de la guardesa.
ME HA GUSTADO MUCHO. Miss Marple es súper inteligente y yo nunca hubiera llegado a la misma conclusión que ella. La trama de este relato me ha gustado más y creo que el crimen estaba muy bien elaborado.
Le doy 3.8/5 estrellas.
-El apartamento del tercer piso.
Aquí empiezan los relatos de Hercules Poirot. Me encanta este hombre xD. La verdad es que este relato me pareció un poco predecible y desde el principio me imaginaba lo que iba a pasar, aunque llegando ya al final me despistó un poco.
Le doy 3/5 estrellas.
- La aventura de Johnnie Waverly.
Este relato ha estado bastante bien pero se me hizo muy corto. También me sorprendió bastante el final.
Le doy 3/5 estrellas.
- La tarta de moras.
Aquí también me olía algo y me terminé acercando bastante a la realidad. Estuvo bien, pero tampoco me fascinó.
Le doy 2.5/5 estrellas.
-Los detectives del amor.
Me gustó muchísimo como se lleva a cabo el crimen, pero los personajes no me llegaron a convencer. Tampoco me convence como llegan a conocer la verdad del crimen, ya que se me hizo un poco forzado, pero no estuvo mal.
Le doy 2.5/5.
Gracias a este libro he podido comprobar que los libros de relatos no están hechos para mí, ya que me termino cansando cuando leo varios relatos del mismo estilo.
Le doy 3.5 estrellas ya que creo que está bastante bien.
A ver, en general, el libro me ha gustado, pero tampoco me ha fascinado. Ahora voy a puntuar y a hablar un poco sobre cada uno de los relatos que aparecen en esta novela. Al final intentaré darle una puntuación global (algo que realmente me va a resultar bastante difícil).
Empiezo:
- Tres ratones ciegos.
Es el relato más largo y el que más me ha gustado. Como siempre, Ágatha Christie me termina sorprendiendo un montón al final y eso que yo pensaba más o menos que todo terminaría de una forma distinta xD.
Lo único malo que le veo es que no se termina explicando la historia de Christopher Wren. La gente que haya leído entenderá a lo que me refiero xD.
Le voy a dar 4/5 estrellas ya que me ha gustado bastante, pero me ha faltado saber algo más de Chris y me parece que en el final todo pasa súper rápido.
-Una broma extraña.
Es un mini relato en el que por primera vez veo aparecer a Miss Marple. El relato me ha dejado totalmente indiferente ya que es muy corto y la trama no es gran cosa, pero me ha sorprendido el ingenio de miss Marple.
Le doy 2.5/5 estrellas.
-El crimen de la cinta métrica.
El título es un spoiler, así que lo he deducido todo desde el principio. Esto ha hecho que realmente no me intrigara mucho y que me resultara todo muy obvio.
Le doy 2/5 estrellas.
-El caso de la doncella perfecta.
Aquí Ágatha Christie me vuelve a sorprender. La trama en sí no es gran cosa, pero el final me dejó con la boca abierta. Aquí empecé a cogerle más cariño a Miss Marple.
Le doy 3.5/estrellas.
-El caso de la guardesa.
ME HA GUSTADO MUCHO. Miss Marple es súper inteligente y yo nunca hubiera llegado a la misma conclusión que ella. La trama de este relato me ha gustado más y creo que el crimen estaba muy bien elaborado.
Le doy 3.8/5 estrellas.
-El apartamento del tercer piso.
Aquí empiezan los relatos de Hercules Poirot. Me encanta este hombre xD. La verdad es que este relato me pareció un poco predecible y desde el principio me imaginaba lo que iba a pasar, aunque llegando ya al final me despistó un poco.
Le doy 3/5 estrellas.
- La aventura de Johnnie Waverly.
Este relato ha estado bastante bien pero se me hizo muy corto. También me sorprendió bastante el final.
Le doy 3/5 estrellas.
- La tarta de moras.
Aquí también me olía algo y me terminé acercando bastante a la realidad. Estuvo bien, pero tampoco me fascinó.
Le doy 2.5/5 estrellas.
-Los detectives del amor.
Me gustó muchísimo como se lleva a cabo el crimen, pero los personajes no me llegaron a convencer. Tampoco me convence como llegan a conocer la verdad del crimen, ya que se me hizo un poco forzado, pero no estuvo mal.
Le doy 2.5/5.
Gracias a este libro he podido comprobar que los libros de relatos no están hechos para mí, ya que me termino cansando cuando leo varios relatos del mismo estilo.
Le doy 3.5 estrellas ya que creo que está bastante bien.
November 14, 2016
Three Blind Mice was my first Christie. It was a fitting introduction to the Queen of Crime's world that would hold me enthralled through my teens.
Three Blind Mice is not a very long book- it does not have to be, because every word in this little novella has purpose; no sentence is superfluous or wasted. A true master does not need long flowery paragraphs to set the scene, create the right atmosphere, or to bring the characters alive. She does not need to ramble on for pages to distract the reader from figuring out the mystery, she just needs to understand human psychology.
Three Blind Mice is not a very long book- it does not have to be, because every word in this little novella has purpose; no sentence is superfluous or wasted. A true master does not need long flowery paragraphs to set the scene, create the right atmosphere, or to bring the characters alive. She does not need to ramble on for pages to distract the reader from figuring out the mystery, she just needs to understand human psychology.
August 19, 2022
Well, the title story (AKA "The Mousetrap) was the best the fact I saw the play in London (UK) way back in 1977 probably provided the extra star for my rating - and the story did not feature either Marple or Poirot. Such a great variety characters and wonderful story lines with twists and turns leading you from the orphanage to the inn.
As for the rest & with short stories, not all capture one's attention and we have those we like and those we don't. As for me, I preferred the ones with Ms. Marple because I liked the stories better than those with Poirot and Quin. But, it was nice to see the re-occurring police offices and/or friends of the two gentlemen in their respective stories.
If anyone gets the chance to visit London, do yourself a favour and see the play. Or, if you can't get there and it is playing at your local playhouse, go see it.
Recommend for AC fans.
As for the rest & with short stories, not all capture one's attention and we have those we like and those we don't. As for me, I preferred the ones with Ms. Marple because I liked the stories better than those with Poirot and Quin. But, it was nice to see the re-occurring police offices and/or friends of the two gentlemen in their respective stories.
If anyone gets the chance to visit London, do yourself a favour and see the play. Or, if you can't get there and it is playing at your local playhouse, go see it.
Recommend for AC fans.
December 18, 2020
Loved the first story, the title story, read by my absolute favourite narrator, Simon Vance, but then came Joan Hickson's voice and I had to skip the 3 stories read by her, incomprehensible they were, I don't know what it is with her voice, lisping perhaps, but absolutely not suited for reading books aloud, in my opinion, sorry to say.
August 6, 2017
This collection of short stories features not only Hercule Poirot, but also Miss Marple and Harley Quin!
The Stories.
Three Blind Mice. Molly and Giles Davis are proud to be renovating their aunt’s home and opening it as a “guest” house. It gives them an excuse to keep the mansion and to make money on the side. It isn’t until their first set of guests are settled in that a police officer arrives telling them that among their tenants is a murderer who has killed before and is planning to kill again…
Strange Jest. Charmian Stroud so wants Miss Marple’s help! Her Uncle Edward has died leaving everything to her and her cousin, Edward Rossiter. The trouble is, they know he had lots and lots of money – they just don’t know where it is! He hid it somewhere before he died, and for the life of them, they can’t figure out where…
Tape-Measure Murder. It was strange to say the least. Mrs. Spenlow had agreed to have her dress fitting at three thirty, yet she’s not answering Miss Politt’s knocks. Miss Politt and Miss Hartnell decide to peer through the window to find signs of life. What they find is a very dead Mrs. Spenlow!
The Case of the Perfect Maid. Gladys is very upset about the whole thing. She knows she isn’t a perect maid, but she tries very hard, she does – and she certainly never stole that Miss Skinner’s brooch. Miss Marple promises to speak to the Miss Skinners and uncovers a plot that involves much more than a dismissed maid…
The Case of the Caretaker. Miss Marple is feeling languid – depressed. Tired of life. Doctor Haydock decides that there’s only one cure for her apathy, and brings Miss Marple a mystery he’s been writing. Can she untangle the clues and solve the puzzle?
The Third-Floor Flat. It all started when Pat misplaced her flat key. Jimmy and Donovan offered to climb up to her apartment through the coal lift and let the girls in from the inside. But the boys lost count as they ascended floors and let themselves into a stranger’s flat. The stranger was lying on the floor in a dark pool of blood…
The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly. Ransom notes are the usual thing. But they’re only supposed to be delivered after the kidnapping, not before. And yet, this note writer threatens to kidnap little Johnnie Waverly on the twenty-ninth unless he is sent twenty-five thousand pounds! How ridiculous! Now that Johnnie’s parents know the date of the kidnapping, they can protect him! On the twenty-ninth, Johnnie disappears…
Four and Twenty Blackbirds. Mr. Bonnington does not think anything is particularly wrong when their waitress mentions that a man who had never before ordered a blackberry tart and suet pudding suddenly deviated from his course. After all, man is changeable! But Poirot sees more than something wrong – he sees murder.
The Love Detectives. Sir James Melrose has been murdered in his own library. Colonel Melrose and Mr. Satterthwaite rush to the scene of the crime, accidentally bumping into Harley Quin on the way. Their accident turns providential when Quin makes the deduction which captures the criminal…
Conclusion. Fun, mind-twisting stuff.
The Stories.
Three Blind Mice. Molly and Giles Davis are proud to be renovating their aunt’s home and opening it as a “guest” house. It gives them an excuse to keep the mansion and to make money on the side. It isn’t until their first set of guests are settled in that a police officer arrives telling them that among their tenants is a murderer who has killed before and is planning to kill again…
Strange Jest. Charmian Stroud so wants Miss Marple’s help! Her Uncle Edward has died leaving everything to her and her cousin, Edward Rossiter. The trouble is, they know he had lots and lots of money – they just don’t know where it is! He hid it somewhere before he died, and for the life of them, they can’t figure out where…
Tape-Measure Murder. It was strange to say the least. Mrs. Spenlow had agreed to have her dress fitting at three thirty, yet she’s not answering Miss Politt’s knocks. Miss Politt and Miss Hartnell decide to peer through the window to find signs of life. What they find is a very dead Mrs. Spenlow!
The Case of the Perfect Maid. Gladys is very upset about the whole thing. She knows she isn’t a perect maid, but she tries very hard, she does – and she certainly never stole that Miss Skinner’s brooch. Miss Marple promises to speak to the Miss Skinners and uncovers a plot that involves much more than a dismissed maid…
The Case of the Caretaker. Miss Marple is feeling languid – depressed. Tired of life. Doctor Haydock decides that there’s only one cure for her apathy, and brings Miss Marple a mystery he’s been writing. Can she untangle the clues and solve the puzzle?
The Third-Floor Flat. It all started when Pat misplaced her flat key. Jimmy and Donovan offered to climb up to her apartment through the coal lift and let the girls in from the inside. But the boys lost count as they ascended floors and let themselves into a stranger’s flat. The stranger was lying on the floor in a dark pool of blood…
The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly. Ransom notes are the usual thing. But they’re only supposed to be delivered after the kidnapping, not before. And yet, this note writer threatens to kidnap little Johnnie Waverly on the twenty-ninth unless he is sent twenty-five thousand pounds! How ridiculous! Now that Johnnie’s parents know the date of the kidnapping, they can protect him! On the twenty-ninth, Johnnie disappears…
Four and Twenty Blackbirds. Mr. Bonnington does not think anything is particularly wrong when their waitress mentions that a man who had never before ordered a blackberry tart and suet pudding suddenly deviated from his course. After all, man is changeable! But Poirot sees more than something wrong – he sees murder.
The Love Detectives. Sir James Melrose has been murdered in his own library. Colonel Melrose and Mr. Satterthwaite rush to the scene of the crime, accidentally bumping into Harley Quin on the way. Their accident turns providential when Quin makes the deduction which captures the criminal…
Conclusion. Fun, mind-twisting stuff.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,437 reviews