“’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

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

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

“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

After blogging for ten years on classic crime – with a focus on Agatha Christie, mind you – I could still forgive myself for not having written closely about . . . The Secret of Chimneys . . . or Hickory Dickory Dock . . . or Elephants Can Remember (although the last two will be rectified before the year is … Continue reading THE POIROT PROJECT #9: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

It’s easy to argue that The Big Four represents the artistic nadir of Agatha Christie’s career. It barely makes a mention in the biographies: Laura Thompson calls it “one of the worst pieces of writing she ever published but . . . it sold well.” Janet Morgan dismisses it as “a stopgap.” Gillian Gill takes a more … Continue reading THE POIROT PROJECT #8: The Big Four