“He was her man and he did her wrong . . .” Death on the Nile is my favorite Hercule Poirot novel. I ranked Five Little Pigs higher on my Top Ten Christies list, and it deserves its place there. But it is a different sort of book than Nile, and I enjoy Christie’s 1937 tale more. Pigs is one of … Continue reading THE POIROT PROJECT #14: Death on the Nile
Agatha Christie
THE POIROT PROJECT #13: Hallowe’en Party
“’Someone, you know, someone had shoved her head down into the water with the apples. Shoved her down and held her there, so that she was dead, of course. Drowned. Drowned. Just in a galvanized iron bucket, nearly full of water. Kneeling there, sticking her head down to bob at an apple. I hate apples,’ said … Continue reading THE POIROT PROJECT #13: Hallowe’en Party
LUCID, LUDIC AND WELL-CLUED: The Murder Game, by John Curran
Recently, I shared photos with you as evidence of my wall to wall to wall to wall assortment of mystery books. Interspersed amongst the novels and plays and story collections are books about mystery fiction. There are the historical, like Martin Edwards’ The Golden Age of Murder i(2015), the critical, like Julian Symons’ Mortal Consequences (in Britain Bloody Murder, 1973) and the playful, like Dilys … Continue reading LUCID, LUDIC AND WELL-CLUED: The Murder Game, by John Curran
THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY GREAT BIG GIGANTIC AGATHA CHRISTIE QUIZ ANSWERS
Ten years ago on this very day, I posted for the first time. I promised you I would cover classic mysteries in every format – page, stage, and screen - and I made no bones about my adoration for Agatha Christie. No wonder I decided to celebrate my first decade with a quiz for all … Continue reading THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY GREAT BIG GIGANTIC AGATHA CHRISTIE QUIZ ANSWERS
THE POIROT PROJECT #12: Elephants Can Remember
“’Elephants don’t forget,’ said Mrs. Oliver. ‘You know, a story children get brought up on? How someone, an Indian tailor, stuck a needle or something in an elephant’s tusk. No, Not a tusk, his trunk, of course, an elephant’s trunk. And the next time the elephant came past he had a great mouthful of water … Continue reading THE POIROT PROJECT #12: Elephants Can Remember
THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY GREAT BIG GIGANTIC AGATHA CHRISTIE QUIZ
Today marks the beginning of the annual Agatha Christie Festival in Torquay! While you read this, there are walks and teas and library events and detection galore going on all around Torquay and neighboring Paignton! How we all wish we could be there, right? I tell you what, though: I don’t mind in the least … Continue reading THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY GREAT BIG GIGANTIC AGATHA CHRISTIE QUIZ
THE POIROT PROJECT #11: Hickory Dickory Dock
Dr. John Curran’s description of what he found over the fifty pages of Notebook 12 that comprised the planning of Hickory Dickory Dock (U.S. title: Hickory Hickory Death) suggest that Agatha didn’t have much fun writing it: “Each of the first five pages of notes for this book is headed ‘Holiday Task,’ suggesting that it was written … Continue reading THE POIROT PROJECT #11: Hickory Dickory Dock
SIX SKIDOO: My Favorite Mysteries of the 1920’s
The real fun with my Book Club occurs when we toss aside the traditional “Read-of-the-Month” format and talk about books in general. When we read something together, we make quick work of our discussion: if we all loved it, we cover that love in twenty minutes; ditto if we all despised it. And if we … Continue reading SIX SKIDOO: My Favorite Mysteries of the 1920’s
FILM, FILIM, DIANYING, PELICULA: International Agatha Christie She Watched
If you come here often, you may have picked up that I love talking about movies. Sadly, the most fraught discussions tend to center around the adaptations of my very favorite subject - Agatha Christie. I can’t say I’m surprised: a conversation with the Dame herself would have elicited fervent emotions on the subject. Why shouldn’t her … Continue reading FILM, FILIM, DIANYING, PELICULA: International Agatha Christie She Watched
THE POIROT PROJECT #10: Murder in Mesopotamia
“Your travel life has the essence of a dream . . . you are yourself, but a different self.” (Agatha Christie) Full disclosure: I’ve tried writing this article five times, and it becomes increasingly difficult to stick to the subject. My basic issue around Murder in Mesopotamia is that, despite a few interesting features, what fascinates me … Continue reading THE POIROT PROJECT #10: Murder in Mesopotamia
Ah Sweet Mystery! 