Source: Purchased
Description: The feature of this nine short story collection is "Three Blind Mice" which is actually a novella.
The famous story opens with a blinding snowstorm trapping a small group of owners and guests in an isolated estate, recently re-purposed as a country inn. Although not aware of it, they are also trapped by a homicidal maniac! Out of this deceptively simple set-up, Agatha Christie fashioned one of her most ingenious puzzlers which, in turn, provided the basis for "The Mousetrap," the longest-running play in history.
The book includes this classic and eight more deliciously clever gems (solved to perfection by Hercule Poirot, Miss Jane Marple and Harley Quin). The inimitable Christie at her inventive best - proving her reputation as "the champion deceiver of our time." The New York Times
The collection includes: 1. Three Blind Mice; 2. Strange Jest; 3. The Tape-Measure Murder; 4. The Case of the Perfect Maid; 5. The Case of the Caretaker; 6. The Third Floor Flat; 7. The Adventure of Johnny Waverly; 8. Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds; and 9. The Love Detectives.
Of the nine, the 1st is an Agatha Christie standalone - not part of any series. Following that are Miss Marple in #2, #3, #4, and #5; Hercule Poirot in #6, #7, and #8, and the intriguing Mr. Harley Quin in #9.
Genre: Mystery - Classic, Short Stories
My Impression: I really love Christie's short story collections. She's one of a few authors that I've read who can tell a complete story in just a few pages. As well, she frequently used her short stories to experiment a bit or indulge in a more supernatural type story.
The star of this collection is Three Blind Mice which never disappoints and has all kinds of twisty details. After that my favorites are The Case of the Perfect Maid (featuring a very observant Miss Marple) and The Third Floor Flat but really they are all excellent.
In my opinion this is probably Christie's most solid short story collection and I thoroughly enjoyed every story.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!
Would I Recommend this Book? If you're new to Christie and want to give her a try without making a full length book commitment I think this would be an excellent short story collection to start with.
Would I Recommend this Book? If you're new to Christie and want to give her a try without making a full length book commitment I think this would be an excellent short story collection to start with.
I'll shelve this on Goodreads for next year. 📘
ReplyDeleteHoopla has the audiobook. 🙂
DeleteI like the sound of this one. If I ever need Christie reading advice it's you I would come to!!
ReplyDeleteI think I've read most of these and enjoyed them. There are so many editions and packaging variations of her works though.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
I've never read Christie's short stories. I'll have to try this one.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds wonderful! I have to look for this book.
ReplyDeleteAlways a good read a Christie. Thank you for this review.
ReplyDeleteIt's a real gift to be able to write a short story that a reader can really enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI like that this has both Miss Marple and Poirot tales- I think I might like Miss Marple as a protagonist a little more than Poirot. Although I haven't read enough to really know- I'm probably more going off the movies lol.
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