Alan (the Lone Librarian) Teder’s Reviews > Double Sin and Other Stories > Status Update

“Murder?” said Miss Marple.
“Yes,” said Bunch. “Murder. That’s why I came to you, darling.”
Bunch’s remark might have seemed incongruous to an ignorant listener, but in certain spheres Miss Marple had a reputation for dealing with murder.

7. The Last Séance *** Another rare supernatural story. Simone, a medium, is to perform a final séance for Madame Exe in order to manifest her dead daughter. Tragedy occurs during the séance. The story was first published in Ghost Stories magazine in November 1926 under the title The Woman Who Stole a Ghost and then in The Sovereign Magazine in March 1927 under the title The Stolen Ghost.

6. The Double Clue *** Poirot is asked to look into a jewelry theft where there are only 4 suspects but two clues are left behind which implicate different people. Also, Poirot meets his equivalent of “the woman” (i.e. Irene Adler in the Sherlock Holmes story "A Scandal in Bohemia"). Story first published in The Sketch on December 5, 1923 – Issue 1610.

“What a woman!” cried Poirot enthusiastically as we descended the stairs. “Mon Dieu, quelle femme!

5. Greenshaw’s Folly **** Miss Marple becomes involved when her nephew Raymond West meets a Miss Greenshaw who is willing her oddly named house to her companion Miss Crenshaw, instead of her nephew. Then Miss Greenshaw is found shot dead by an arrow. The story was first published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine in March 1957 (Volume 29, Number 3).

“He’s got an alibi,” said the inspector.
“I always think alibis are definitely suspicious.”
“Maybe, sir,” said Inspector Welch. “You’re talking as a writer.”
“I don’t write detective stories,” said Raymond West, horrified at the mere idea.

3. The Theft of the Royal Ruby **** Hercule Poirot is in search of a missing ruby. He is undercover at a household for Christmas where several other guests are suspects in the ruby theft. Story first published in The Sketch magazine (December 12, 1923) and later collected in The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and a Selection of Entrées (UK only October 24, 1960).

2. Wasp’s Nest *** Hercule Poirot visits an old friend John Harrison and says he is in the vicinity in order to prevent a murder that has not yet been committed. Poirot notes a nearby wasp’s nest and plans accordingly. Story first published as The Wasp’s Nest in the Daily Mail on November 20, 1928 and in Detective Story Magazine on March 9, 1929 under the title The Worst of All.

Hercule Poirot entered his bedroom. It was a large room well provided with radiators. As he went over towards the big four-poster bed he noticed an envelope lying on his pillow. He opened it and drew out a piece of paper. On it was a shakily printed message in capital letters.
DON’T EAT NONE OF THE PLUM PUDDING. ONE AS WISHES YOU WELL.
Hercule Poirot stared at it. His eyebrows rose. “Cryptic,” he murmured.

1. Double Sin **** Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings are travelling on a bus when they become involved in a case of stolen miniature figurines. The story was first published in Detective Story Magazine March 30, 1929 under the title By Road or Rail.