Agatha Christie Short Stories 2025: APRIL #AgathaChristieSS25

It's 1st April, and I'm quite happy because my tax course will take a three-week holiday (yay), meaning that I'll have a bit more time for blogging (not mentioning my February and March reviews, which was long overdue!) This month we will be reading from The Thirteen Problems and The Listerdale Mystery collections. You can find the complete reading list here, and please submit link to your reviews of this month's stories on the comment section of this post. Happy reading!

THE IDOL HOUSE OF ASTARTE

The Tuesday Night Club discuss a fancy dress party where a man was stabbed. But no one was close enough to have murdered him. The Club discuss the details of the case but it seems only Miss Marple knows the truth of the matter.

Published in 1928 in the Royal Magazine in the UK and Detective Story Magazine in the US. In the US the story had the title The Solving Six and the Evil Hour. It was included in the collection The Thirteen Problems in 1932.

THE PHILOMEL COTTAGE

When a distant relative dies, leaving Alix King a large inheritance, she marries in a whirlwind romance. But what does she really know about her new husband?

Published in the collection The Listerdale Mystery in the UK in 1934 and in The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories in 1948, it is one of the most successful short stories Agatha Christie wrote, examining the fear of the unknown when it manifests in a home.

Three Different Genres I've Enjoyed Recently: Mini Reviews

I have successively enjoyed three books from three different genres: one is a young-adult fantasy, the other a Golden Age mystery. The last one is a book from the middlebrow collection of Dean Street Press. I loved them all, and here's why...

Book of a Thousand Days (2007) by Shannon Hale

💙 This story was reimagined from a Grimm's fairy tale (an obscure one, which I doubt you've ever read - I haven't even heard of it). It becomes a sort of fairy tale, set in medieval Mongolia. Young Dashti is an orphaned commoner girl, who's brought up in steppes. After her parents died, she got a job as a lady's maid of Lady Saren, whose father is imprisoning her for seven years in a tower, for refusing to marry a wicked and cruel Lord Khasar. When Dashti agreed to serve her lady in imprisonment - for seven years, no less - I instantly loved her character. Serving here isn't just in the ordinary way, Lady Saren asked Dashti to pretend to be her, whenever Khan Tegus - Lady Saren's betrothed - came secretly to the tower. Thus I learned that Lady Saren isn't just a spoilt or lonely gentry girl, there's something dark and mysterious lurking in her heart. The mystery revealed when they have been out of the tower. Another thing revealed is that the Titor's Garden, the Realm whence they came, had been destroyed by Lord Khasar. Homeless and fearful, Dashti must save and protect her lady. But where could she go? And how could she do that by herself?

💙 All in all, it's a wonderful tale. There's enough of everything for everyone - the romance, the humour, the battle, the exotic background. And the story is told from Dashti's point of view, as a diary. When you read a diary of a pleasant and interesting character, it's bound to be entertaining. Add that with a medieval realm in Mongolian, well... like I said, a wonderful tale, is what you'll get.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Crook o' Lune (1953) by E.C.R. Lorac

🧡 Derived from the idyllic rural village in England, Lunesdale, E.C.R. Lorac presented a mystery set in High Gimmerdale, in the same dale. Chief Inspector Robert Macdonald is on holiday, and aiming to learn more about farming - an occupation of his dream after future retirement. However, when an arson and sheep-stealing cases took place, he couldn't say no when the local constable asked him to co-investigate. The fire was aimed to destroy Gilbert Woolfall's - the current owner of Aikengill - study. But his housekeeper was also found dead because of the fire. Who would have the motive? Was it the vicar, who resented the lose of a stipend; or the shepherd and his bethroted, who were promised by Gilbert Woolfall to stay at Aikengill if the housekeeper handed in her notice? Or was it only a decoy to smoothen a sheep-stealing scheme? 

🧡 I have realized from quite the beginning of the story, that its main attraction wouldn't be the mystery itself, but the vivid description of the beautiful countryside, the farming's hardship, and the people, which Lorac made live with her wonderful penmanship. You'd feel as though you yourself are making a holiday in Lunsdale, and breathing its countryside air. The result is a refreshing novel with an entertaining mystery. For once, I didn't try to guess the whodunnit or howdunnit, but just flowed with the story.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ten Way Street (1941) by Susan Scarlett

🤎 I have enjoyed some of Susan Scarlett's (pseudonym of Noel Streatfeild) novels before, and this one is no different. Number ten of Way Street is the the abode of an actress called Margot Cardew, with her three children. And that's where Beverley Shaw had landed her first job as governess right after finishing the training, provided by the orphanage school, where she had come from. Beverly is a spirited young woman with positive attitude, ready to bring the three unruly children to their better selves. Peter Crewdson, Margot's admirer and friend to the children, saw Beverley as Joan of Arc. You know the drill... a governess to work her way to the children's heart that they're afraid of losing her, again. Then a handsome guy fell in love with her, triggering jealousy, not only from the children, but their temperamental narcistic mother too.

🤎 As were with all Susan Scarlett's, though the premise is predictable, the story was woven skillfully, and the characters are perfectly drawn. The result is a delightful story and a page turner - I knew how it will end, but still, there'd be little surprises along the way - that in the end, I sighed contentedly after "the end". What more would you ask?

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Books from Two Women Writers New to Me: Mini Reviews

Cold Sassy Tree (1984) by Olive Ann Burns

🧡 Set in the early of 20th century of Southern America, here is a remarkably vivid story of a small rural village in Georgia, named after some iconic sassafras tree that shaded the village during hot summer days: Cold Sassy Tree. It's told from the POV of Will Tweedy, fourteen years old when the story begins. His Grandma had just been dead for three weeks when Grandpa E. Rucker Blakeslee announced that he is going to marry the young milliner who's been working at his store: Miss Love Simpson. The news shook both family and the village, like never before - the scandal, and the sheer audacity of it. Amidst all the turbulences, Will Tweedy learned substantial things, while growing up into adolescence. 

🧡 This is a wonderfully crafted story, vividly portraying the gossips and prejudices of rural villagers. I liked the heterogeneous characters; they are who drive the story. It tackles the theme of family, women's struggles, death, and religion. It is humorous, witty, and near the end, poignant and full of wisdom.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tea Is So Intoxicating (1950) by Mary Essex

☕ Germayne freed herself from what she felt as a boring marriage with a man called Digby, leaving her daughter, and ran away with her lover David Tompkins. They settled in a cottage in a small Kentish village called Wellhurst. David is the dreamy kind of chap. Right then his dream was to open a tea house; having worked at a tea house himself, though only as a bookkeeper. Although he didn't posses skill and experience, neither as cook nor businessman, David insisted that he's sure to make the tea house, aimed to cater weekend hiker and daily tourist, successful. The village's negative reaction and gossips doomed the tea house to be a failure from the start, not mentioning the Tompkins' lack of ability. And to add complication, entered an Italian flirtatious cake-cook that David hired, over whose furtive winks some men completely lost their heads.

☕ This is my first of Mary Essex - pseudonym of Ursula Bloom - and I liked her style. It's a satire without being too blatant; it's funny, though quite subtle. Based on this book only, I'll place her between Barbara Pym, Nancy Mitford, and PG Wodehouse. I know those are three different poles, but if you could draw three lines from them to one center point, that's where you'll find Mary Essex. A very entertaining and refreshing book!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Agatha Christie Short Stories 2025: MARCH #AgathaChristieSS25

What, we are already in March?! I haven't even posted my February reviews. Well, I would have to combine the two months into a post. Anyway, this month we will be back with Poirot and Tommy-Tuppence. You can find the complete reading list here, and please submit link to your reviews of this month's stories on the comment section of this post. Happy reading!

THE MYSTERY OF HUNTER'S LODGE

Poirot has influenza, but he is determined to solve a murder case in a country house. So, he asks Hastings to act as his legs. The story was first published as a book in the collection Poirot Investigates, 1924, by Bodley Head.

A POT OF TEA

Ensconced in the offices of Blunt’s International Detective Agency at 118 Haleham Street, London, the Beresfords meet their first client, Lawrence St. Vincent. His secret love, shopgirl Janet Smith has disappeared without a trace. A rather boastful Tuppence claims finding her will take but twenty-four hours, though it is by no means certain that they will meet this impossible task.

This story was published by Collins in the collection Partners in Crime in 1929, and had its title changed from Publicity to A Fairy in the Flat/ A Pot of Tea.

The Hollow and The Pursuit of Love: Mini Reviews

The Hollow (1946) by Agatha Christie

🔫 I'm sure I've read Agatha Christie's The Hollow, though I don't understand why I couldn't remember it being that good. It's a Poirot's story, though his involvement wasn't much. He even appeared midway through the story. Poirot happens to be a neighbor of the Angkatells' country house, where John Christow and his wife, Gerda were staying for the summer. Also staying are Edward and David Angkatell, Henrietta Savernake, and Midge Hardcastle.

🔫 John Christow was shot dead near the pool, only minutes before Poirot was about to arrive for dinner. Poirot felt that the scene was staged for his eyes. And this proved to be a crucial point in the investigation of this, apparently, crime passionell. Three women loved Doctor John Christow differently. His wife Gerda worshipped the ground he walks on, Henrietta provided intellectual mind he could discuss his works with, while Veronica Cray is an actress and his old flame. Who, of the three, was the murderer?

🔫 I loved a psychological mystery like this one. A crime within the closed circle of relatives, where we, the readers, could investigate the case by following the thoughts and gestures of each suspect, while Poirot was in the background, guiding us to the right path. Excellent! My new favorite, too!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

The Pursuit of Love (1945) by Nancy Mitford

❤ Having read two satisfying Mitford's before (Pigeon Pie and Wigs on the Green), I was looking forward to read The Pursuit of Love, which, some synopsis daubed as Mitford's funniest. I was disappointed. It's not remotely as funny as I've expected, though I think it's unexpectedly more poignant than the two, especially in the end.

❤ The story is told from the POV of Fanny Logan, who had been brought up alongside her cousin, Linda Radlett, whose pursuit of love made the center of the story. Living between the two wars in England, the Radletts from Alconleigh is an eccentric and rough-on-the-edges family. Linda and Fanny had been forming their ideals of love from childhood. And it is quite interesting to follow the realization in life of these, especially Linda's, views and ideals of love and marriage. It's a wickedly satirized misguided love adventures, with the main attraction of eccentric characters. The jokes were mainly dry, and it's not something I'll cherish for a comfort reading.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2

From Jansson, to Montgomery, to McCall Smith: Mini Reviews

Starting from February, my blogging time would be reduced to, perhaps, one post a week or two. No, I'm not in one of those blogger-block phases. I am, actually, taking part in weekend tax certification course (for my work), which will be going on until end of May. Thus, there will be very limited time for me to do reviews. I will keep reading, and participating in reading events, but unfortunately, my reviews will be very-very short. Now, here are my mini reviews for three books I have read these past two weeks.

The Summer Book (1972) by Tove Jansson

🏕 Sophia, six, and her grandmother, are staying in a tiny island in the Gulf of Finland. This book contains vignettes of their summer activities; a unique experience you'll ever have when staying by yourselves in a tiny island. They are exploring the island, midsummer boating and watching bonfires, and, for Sophia, sleeping in a scout's tent.

🏕 All the while, they are discussing about life and nature - a discussion that an elderly woman and a six year old precocious child could possibly have. The book isn't a plot driven story - indeed it hasn't any - but more of a character driven one. The nature - the woods, the sea - is the most important of all, as it invites us to its embrace. It's a subtle, but also poignant read. Not my favorite, but the summer description and activities are quite refreshing.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2

The Blue Castle (1926) by L.M. Montgomery

💙 Valancy Stirling - what an unusual name! - has been brought up by a snobbish, overbearing mother. She is more like his deceased father, though, a child with free spirit. But her "imprisonment" within the family (numerous aunts and uncles) made her insecure and clumsy. Moreover, Valancy, being not beautiful, is still single in her thirties. She had had no life at all, and only her imaginary Blue Castle and books of a certain writer that keep her alive, well, barely. But all these would soon change after she got a diagnosis of severe heart problem, with one year more to live. Having nothing to lose, Valancy now determined to live her life as she wants it to be. Forget all the family conviction; it's her life, so she makes her own rules. Including marrying the man she loves; no matter what others say, and even, no matter whether the man really loves her or not. The question is, will she be happy? Or will her life be ruined by her decision?

💙 I loved Valancy's transformation. It only proves, again, what we've learned from novels, that society often ruined one's life with its dictatorial rules. How freeing it is to be what one wants to be!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (1998) by Alexander McCall Smith

🕵🏽‍♀️ Precious Ramotswe, a widow, is opening the first ever female detective agency ever in Bostwana. This book, the first of a series, tells us Mma Ramotswe's personal life and struggles, in the social and cultural background of Africa near the turn of 21st century. Almost one third of the story is about her life, while the rest are first mysteries she solved, from missing husbands, as well as cheating ones; to a more serious and dangerous case - the missing of an eleven-year-old boy. 

🕵🏽‍♀️ All in all, it's a fascinating and quite funny book with interesting bits of African people and culture. I loved Mma Ramotswe's unperturbed character - a good quality in a detective. Now I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Agatha Christie Short Stories 2025: FEBRUARY #AgathaChristieSS25

For February, we will be reading one Miss Marple's story, and the other with no detective. 
You can find the complete reading list here, and please submit link to your reviews of this months' stories on the comment section of this post. Happy reading!

THE TUESDAY NIGHT CLUB

First published in 1932, this was the first story in Miss Marple's The Thirteen Problems. It was the first meeting of the newly formed Tuesday Night Club, where each must tell a mystery, and they would discuss as a group. It opens with Sir Henry's story. Three people were poisoned at dinner, but only one has died.

THE LISTERDALE MYSTERY

The story was first published in a collection in June 1934, under The Listerdale Mystery. It was not published in the US until the 1971 collection The Golden Ball and Other Stories. This was also the first story in the collection. Down on her luck and living with family in a boarding house, Mrs St Vincent comes across an advert to rent a beautiful house with a benevolent landlord.