Reading the Detectives discussion

Yay! A new Poirot arrived in the mail, which means it is almost time for the next book in the series: Peril at End House. We are in for a threat if we can believe Wikipedia here:

The novel was well received when first published, with the plot remarked as unusually ingenious and diabolically clever by reviewers. Writing in 1990, Robert Barnard found it cunning, but not one of Christie's very best. It has been adapted to stage, radio, film, television, graphic novel, and a computer game, and translated to many other languages as a book.

I think this book is great the way it deceives the reader to the very end. I realise that all Christie's stories keep the reader guessing but this certainly leads one in one direction to be astonished at the end

Yes, great surprise ending (no spoilers!) but overall, if I am being honest, not one of my favourites. It feels a little slow, as if Christie is just finding her feet again. I suppose this is her first really new novel, after all the emotional upset.

I remember loving this one when I first read it, so looking forward to a re-read.

Having already seen the TV adaptation with the incomparable David Suchet, I already knew the "surprise" ending, but I still enjoyed this quite a bit. An interesting cast of characters (as usual), and once again a touch of the supernatural, which is always fun.

By the way, for the two short stories next month:
October - The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest (short story) 1932
AND Second Gong (short story) 1932

Second Gong seems to be available as a kindle single The Second Gong: A Short Story
The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest is in a collection called While the Light Lasts
Obviously, if anyone has the Complete Stories, or whatever, they will be there too.

While the Light Lasts apparently includes the first short story that Christie ever wrote. I think I might give the collection a go, as I have never read it and we don't have a novel for next month.

Susan wrote: "While the Light Lasts apparently includes the first short story that Christie ever wrote. I think I might give the collection a go, as I have never read it and we don't have a novel for next month."

The collection is only $0.99 in the US, so I am going for it!

Tara wrote: "Susan wrote: "While the Light Lasts apparently includes the first short story that Christie ever wrote. I think I might give the collection a go, as I have never read it and we don't have a novel f..."

I think this is only for the short story "While the Light Lasts" as it refers to The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories.

But the story "the mystery of the Baghdad chest" is also available as a short story for 99 cents.

So I bought the two short stories from Amazon for 99 cents each.

I brought one short story on its own, but I couldn't get the other as a kindle single. I have a collection somewhere, but they are a bit soulless. I think I'd like to try the collection and just add on the extra story.

I will be reading Th e Bagdad Chest as part of The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories. It seems that isn't on kindle either

Really, it doesn't matter where we get it, I just thought I'd mention that collection, as it sounded interesting, with a lot of early work.

I sort of finished this book last month, oops. I remembered the David Suchet tv episode, but thorough enjoyed this book nonetheless. Christie and Poirot back at their best

Susan wrote: "Really, it doesn't matter where we get it, I just thought I'd mention that collection, as it sounded interesting, with a lot of early work."

That collection must have a different title here as all I could find with that title was the short story.

I think the short stories have been re-produced in all sorts of different collections, Jan. "While the Light Lasts," is a kindle single here, but not the "Baghdad Chest."

Oh I have been so busy with other stuff and some other books, but now as a reward, I get to start the Poirot of this month! Did you like it?

I liked it, Jessica, but not one of my favourites.

Are Mr & Mrs Croft husband and wife, or mother and son? I am rather confused from the text!

Husband and wife.

Susan wrote: "I brought one short story on its own, but I couldn't get the other as a kindle single. I have a collection somewhere, but they are a bit soulless. I think I'd like to try the collection and just ad..."

For those of you who have already prepared for next month :-) : Did you manage to actually get "The Mystery of the Baghdad chest"?

As I'm now searching for it, I find that The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest was published in US in The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories in 1939 and also in While the Light Lasts in 1997.

But also, that it was expanded by Agatha in 1960 and then retitled The Mystery of the Spanish Chest, which is the only version my usual book buying site offers.

Are you all sticking to the Baghdad Chest?

I'll be reading the expanded 'Spanish Chest' version which is in the collection The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'll be reading the expanded 'Spanish Chest' version which is in the collection The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding"

Ditto.

I got While the Light Lasts and The Second Gong: A Short Story as a single story.

My library has the Baghdad Chest and The Second Gong available on Overdrive as ebooks.

Tara wrote: "My library has the Baghdad Chest and The Second Gong available on Overdrive as ebooks."

As does mine, but on Hoopla.

Sandy wrote: "Tara wrote: "My library has the Baghdad Chest and The Second Gong available on Overdrive as ebooks."

As does mine, but on Hoopla."

Unfortunately mine (Borrow Box) does not. I will have to get the Second gong as a single story.

Read it,a few days ago.Pretty good,but the ending didn't surprise me.