Poirot Investigates
Ratings101
Average rating3.7
(Yay, be proud of me that I finally finished a book this year. ... Only five weeks late. Now enjoy this unhappy little review and my overuse of parenthesis.)
(When I mention ‘the show' or the ‘adaptation' I mean the tv series featuring David Suchet unless otherwise noted.)
(Fair warning? I didn't enjoy most of these and I am looking at them through a modern lens.)
The Adventure of the “Western Star”
I remember this one well and I was also never impressed with it. The adaptation is only marginally better and I just thought it was rather...easy.
(I lost my notes I made when I read this one and all I really remember was the strong racist tones. ... And Hastings being an ass, as usual.)
The Tragedy of Marsdon Manor
This one starts off with a very bland info dump and continues to plod along at much the same pace.
Now, I did see this episode of the show, but I think I only half watched it and there is absolutely nothing memorable about this ‘case.' (Except, admittedly, for the - at the time - rather inventive manner of death. That, however, has been - if you pardon the pun - done to death since.)
(And by all means, let's have Hastings mooning over the girl with the ‘pretty pouting mouth.' ... No one is pretty when they pout.)
(A little discrepancy, didn't you notice it? You didn't? No, I won't tell you what it is because then this story would only be five pages long instead of fifteen.)
(And let's not forget a touch of ghostly melodrama.)
(And one of Poirot's ‘proofs' is a woman's use of too heavy makeup. Ugh.)
The Adventure of the Cheap Flat
You know, everyone always talks about the ego Poirot has - but Hastings is at least as big for much fewer reasons.
Anyway, the story is okay, entertaining enough in that it's not a bog standard murder mystery. A minus for me is that I'm discovering I'm not thrilled with the espionage plots that seem so often to go along with a Christie mystery.
The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge
The whole conceit for this mystery is, honestly, impossible. Look, the adaptation was better, because we actually had more suspects and things happening, but it was also worse because it took what's wrong with this story and turned it up to eleven.
Anyway, another case of ‘the murder already happened off screen - here, have an info dump'. The two things that actually make this worse is Poirot is convalescing from the flu and Hastings gets to bumble alone and the fact that there is a grand total of three suspects. (Total. This is the most claustrophobic murder I've ever read.)
(I wonder when the ‘show, don't tell' adage came in, because that's advice that Christie certainly never heard.)
The mystery itself (as well as the ‘resolution') is very lackluster and disappointing.
The Million Dollar Bond Robbery
You already know about this, I know you know about this, but let me recap for the readers anyway.
le sigh
I think this is the problem when you try writing mystery short stories that average seventeen and a half pages each: so much recapping. And that's just not fun.
(Also, don't ever start off a monologue with ‘as you know'.)
As for the mystery itself - for all my complaining - I actually like it. My first read of this case certainly colored my opinion on all thefts.
(Side note: the so called ‘friendship' between P & H is insufferable at best and absolutely horrid at worst.)
The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb
You know, I cannot believe how much a simple hour long show can expand on these truncated stories.
This was always one of the stories that fascinated me and creeped me out in equal measure when I was young. (If you want a taste of that and this story doesn't do it anymore - it probably won't - watch the show. It is delightfully creepy.)
The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
(Hastings, Poirot and Japp act, in turns, like they are better than each other the others and their so called friendship baffles me.)
I actually like this case (though maybe not the way that its is handled) and it was one of the stories instrumental in the way I look at missing persons stories.
The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman
(Poirot has a fan boy that proceeds to mock him. It's like if Hastings or Japp doesn't, someone has to.)
On the case, I have never been a fan and several of the clues are really obvious. (And a couple others are so obscure that I don't think anyone would pick up on them.) (Also, why not dirty the plates and then flush the food?)
‘Poirot was right. He always is. Confound him.' There's the lovely sentiment you get from your dear friend.
The Case of the Missing Will
Oh, wonderful, Hastings doesn't like ‘modern women.' (Honestly, this whole story screams sexism at me.)
Hastings is complaining about Poirot's vanity again - even though at the close of the last story he admits that Poirot is ‘always right'. (Cake and eat it too, Hastings?)
The case itself is one I've always found forgettable.
The Veiled Lady
They make note of how young and pretty a woman is. A woman that is heavily veiled and first seen at a distance and through a window. Once closer, before she removes the veil, it is ‘impossible to distinguish he features'. But of course she is young and pretty. Hastings needs someone to fawn over.
(The lady is quoted as saying that her fiance is jealous and suspicious and prone to think the worst. Wonderful set up for a marriage. (Yes, I know, but Hastings and Poirot didn't at the time and her description was unremarkable. Even to the ‘gentleman' Hastings.))
The case is...not a favorite of mine and the reveal relies too heavily on a throwaway comment. (I always felt that this story didn't play fair.)
The Lost Mine
I don't have much to say about this case. It's a telling by Poirot of a previous case - so Hastings isn't around to make an ass of himself. But it's also a strong case of telling and not showing and I really couldn't care less.
(Although, I think the Chinese men in here are probably insulting to more than just the Chinese. (‘peace-y pipe' indeed.))
The Chocolate Box
Hastings has a good job. What is it? Is he still a recruiter? Will we ever find out?
Another past case for Poirot to tell Hastings about - only this one we go into knowing that Poirot failed.
(So, the woman is so distraught that the man she's in love with dies, that she thinks it's murder, without any evidence or proof. And there's never a moment that, oh, she was right. (And then she joins a convent.))
I'm really surprised that, of all cases, this is the one Poirot got wrong. I mean, some of them are complicated and convoluted and I'm still not convinced on some of the outcomes - but this one is so painfully obvious. I mean, there's this huge, glaring clue that Poirot has to willfully ignore to fail. (Poirot was ooc. Oh, my gosh, I just realized it.)
In wrap up: I'm not looking favorably on my reread attempt. I'm definitely not enjoying the books as much as I thought I would and I'm really beginning to doubt that I'll make my entire Christie catalogue before I get irredeemably disgusted.
A collection of short stories with Poirot and Hastings at the helm.
This is my first time reading a short story collection and I don't think they're for me, each story was quite interesting but with the knowledge it's going to be solved in a few pages just lead to me not being as invested in the story.
Would be good for a commuter reading in short bursts, or if you're trying to get out of the “one more chapter” cycle before bed
An enjoyable collection of short stories involving Poirot and Hastings. It was interesting that the author included a couple of cases where Poirot failed, in one case relying on karma to catch up to the guilty party. I particularly liked one story where Poirot plays up his belief in the supernatural, much to his companions' disbelief. The mystery and tension that builds up over the previous Poirot entries are of course absent here, considering that these are short stories, so they did not grip me in the same way as Christie's earlier offerings. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable collection and made for very easy reading.
This was a nice collection of stories and perfectly captured the spirit of a Poirot mystery.
But you simply can't execute an intricate plot and unfold it fully in so few pages.
Three stories in I was already feeling a bit fed up. So, this would be nice to read in several sittings, rather than all at once.
Great short story collection. I really prefer the full length novels so I can get more into the story, but these are great for short reads.
A collection of some head-scratching mysteries, with varied settings and subjects! I especially liked the Egyptian tomb mystery, myself. Of course, the stories are of their time, and do reflect some of the prevalent stereotypes, etc–so a grain of salt is required for some!
Fun read
Fun book with bite sized mysteries. As each are unrelated to each othe I find this a great introduction to Mr. Poirot!
Poirot Investigates Shorts:
The Adventure of “The Western Star”: 4I feel like this story felt the most whole out of all the short stories I've read so far. It felt like it was building the entire time and not just a random short story that was more just an idea, but was later published. I could have done with less stereotyping of “Chinamen,” but it was published in 1923...I love how this story sets up Captain Hastings being in the right for once, just to later disprove him, making him the stupid one once more. What a brilliant literary tool he is. The Tragedy At Marsdon Manor: 4
I liked that this story decided to go down the road of spookiness for a second there. Calling Mrs. Maltravers mediumistic and asking about séances and hauntings. For a second I really thought there was something supernatural going on, but I guess I should have known better. A little twist, but I enjoyed it.
“You did not observe them, Hastings? No? As I always tell you, you see nothing!” And this right here sums up Hastings in a nutshell...
The Adventure of the Cheap Flat: 3I liked how this story started with just Hastings and the people make him feel good about himself. He even gets in a good Sherlock and Watson reference, not know that he himself is worse than even Watson. Otherwise I think this story was incredibly short and didn't really make a lot of sense. Without the lengthy explanation from Poirot we're just left to believe his little blurb about it without more The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge: 4
“Rather the case of the cart without the horse, you being here without him, isn't it?” Japp dishes out the perfect summary for us. Captain Hastings finally gets an outing all on his own while Poirot is in bed with influenza. Once I saw that Poirot required him to contact him with details daily I realized he was done for. I was a little more surprised that Japp was also entirely wrong, but here we are again with Hercule Poirot being the smartest while half-dead with sick.
The Million Dollar Band Robbery: 3Honestly I was originally really excited to read this one because I read a review on goodreads that said that Poirot solved the case without even leaving his armchair. Unfortunately that just is not the case, he certainly does leave it, and he does a deal of traveling and lunching while solving this case as well. The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge is a story where Poirot is sick and solves a case from home while Hastings is on scene, so maybe they confused them? Regardless, this is a short, fun, run-of-the-mill Poirot short. The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb: 3
“You misunderstood me, Hastings. What I meant was that I believe in the terrific force of superstition.” Christie once again tears my heart out by toying with supernatural stories and then taking them away right at the end through Poirot's reason. I find these stories to have the power to be the spookiest and I hope throughout them every time even though I should know what's coming.
The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan: 3Not a bad short story, the crime and solving were interesting enough, however it was hurt by being what it is—short. I liked the idea that Poirot is so well established now that even when Hastings takes him on a weekend get away he's immediately recognized and needed to solve a crime. Also, I'm pretty sure Christie remarks that Hastings “knows nothing” in every single short story she writes. Captain Hastings is the precursor to Jon Snow The Kidnapped Prime Minister: 3
Strange that this one is later in the book because when he is approached by the UK government he asks why they are looking for his help because he is “unknown in London.” Unless he simply means in the sense that government agents would have taken notice?
At least in this short story Poirot is assigned two additional helpers, so Hastings lack of understanding is actually due to his (mostly) being uninformed and uninvolved. However, this story really did grab me as being just a giant red herring with the trip to France and the lack on involvement of Hastings. Without constant interjections from Poirot, the reader only has the information provided by Hastings, which is NEVER good. It was harder to believe this way and luckily it was short.
The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim: 3I believe this is the story someone confused with ‘The Million Dollar Bank Robbery' because I saw a review saying he solves a crime without leaving his armchair and obviously that is this story instead. Poirot makes a bet with Japp that he can solve the case without leaving... although this includes updates from Japp and he is allowed to ask for things (pretty much the same as being there...???). I liked how both Poirot and Japp thought it was like stealing from a child from their POV with the bet. Otherwise it was as silly and ridiculous as most of the other short stories, but enjoyable nonetheless. The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman: 4
“Endeavour to have the common sense.” “Never, never will you use the brains the good God has given you.” Hastings is a punching bag I don't know why he sticks around.
I liked how this one started with Captain Hastings recounting how their neighbor, a doctor, liked to stop by for intelligent conversation with Poirot. Even he himself doesn't realize he's an idiot by design. This is one story that is short but sweet. I enjoyed the simple twist as opposed to the many seen in some of the other ones.
The Case of the Missing Will: 4*
I really liked how this one involved a will and for once there was no crime, murder, or police involvement. I feel like overall this was a fitting story/showing for his skill-set, but it still included randomness in the end that we all accept as Poirot's genius...
I think this one was a good ending to her short story book in general because it ended happily, without a murder case, and with Poirot wholeheartedly believing Miss March has earned the money honestly by hiring him.
This is a fast read of eleven Hercule Poirot short stories. None of the mysteries stood out to me as being particularly remarkable, but there is some fun character development for Hastings and Poirot. It's like icing on the Agatha Christie cake.