Mini Reviews: Agatha Christie Short Stories 2025 - JANUARY #AgathaChristieSS25

The Adventure of the Cheap Flat (1924)

Hastings told Poirot that a woman called Mrs. Robinson had told him at dinner party, that she had just acquired an incredibly cheap flat. Everyone else thought it good luck on behalf of Mrs. Robinson, but Poirot smelled rat, there must be something goings on. He rented another flat in the same building, and at night watched the suspicious flat, together with Hastings. His suspicion was not unfounded. 

It's perhaps my least favorite from Poirot's short stories so far. Similar to any other Poirot-Hastings stories, this one is also a bit hilarious. The pair using the coal lift to reach the suspicious flat, for instance, was a quite funny scene to imagine. But other than that, the solution is just okay, it left no impression at all.

 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

A Fairy in the Flat (1929)

This one, in fact, was the first (very short) story in Partners in Crime. It took place six years after Tommy and Tuppence's adventure in The Secret Adversary. They were married, and Tuppence was bored - life has been dull. If only something exciting would come their way. The answer to her wish came when Tommy's boss offered them to take over a detective agency. It would serve as some kind of post for the secret service, but they were free to take on any case that may come their way. They were only to be wary of the number 16.

I realized right after finishing the twenty something pages, that this story served as introduction to the the whole collection. There's nothing going on in it, besides the news from Tommy's boss. It should be pairing with the following one: A Pot of Tea. Well, we will get to it in March, so I will be patiently waiting. Meanwhile, I will not rate this one, because there's no mystery whatsoever to rate!