English Mysteries Club discussion

Here is the thread to discuss anything you like about Agatha Christie and her books. France-Andrée will be hosting this thread :)

(If you're going into specifics about a plot though, please use spoiler tags!)

(Edit: late 2020 - France-Andrée is now the sole host for this thread.)

Great question! I quite like "Cinderella" from the second Poirot book, The Murder on the Links. Her real name is (view spoiler)[Dulcie Duveen, and she and her twin sister are acrobats. At the end of the novel she marries Captain Hastings and they then go and live on a ranch on South America. (hide spoiler)]

She's there in the background for some of the subsequent novels, but just referred to. I think she's quite spunky for the time, with those unusual talents, and she shows how bright she is in the novel. Plus the idea of running a ranch singlehanded, while (view spoiler)[ Hastings keeps coming back to help his friend solve crimes - and can you imagine him being much use on a ranch anyway? - (hide spoiler)] is admirable :)

Bionic Jean wrote: "Great question! I quite like "Cinderella" from the second Poirot book, The Murder on the Links. Her real name is [spoilers removed]

She's there in the background for some of the subs..."

I have to wonder how well that worked out since Hastings seems to spend a lot of time away from home!

Rita wrote: "I have to admit that my heart belongs to Hercule Poirot."

Why do I find this so funny? After all, it wouldn't be if you said "Sherlock Holmes"? ;)

Leslie wrote: "I have to wonder how well that worked out since Hastings seems to spend a lot of time away from home! ..."

Since they are chalk and cheese, perhaps that is the best way?! I know at least two couples in real life who seem to fit this mould.

Rita - "I don't understand why she married him. Even though he's married, he can't keep his eyes off of the girls" LOL, but nothing ever happens, and he's a true gentleman :) Perhaps that is very flattering for her to know; that although he is attracted, he never succumbs, and chooses her above all others?

I'm sure Agatha Christie would have some justification of it!

Ah, but there's the challenge ;)

I´m definitely on the side of Hastings, as he´s a common fellow, like many of us, and he´s loyal to his friend Poirot, though sometimes a bit stupid - but that´s necessary to explain things for the reader.

As well as the autobiography, I recommend Come, Tell Me How You Live her book about her life on archaeological digs in the Middle East with her husband Max, pre-war.

When I was younger, I liked some of Dame Agatha's standalone heroines, such as Anne in The Man in the Brown Suit and Victoria in They Came to Baghdad.

Now I think my favourite has to be Miss Marple, but I also have a soft spot for Mrs Oliver, Dame Agatha's alter ego.

Rita wrote: "I would highly recommend that everyone read Agatha Christie: An Autobiography . Agatha Christie led a very unique life and it giv..."

I started reading this a few weeks ago, and am really enjoying it 😊

Victoria wrote: "Now I think my favourite has to be Miss Marple, but I also have a soft spot for Mrs Oliver, Dame Agatha's alter ego..."

I also have a soft spot for Ariadne Oliver. I think she gives some wonderful hints about Christie's feelings about Poirot when she (Oliver) talks about her detective!!

I have a soft spot for Inspector Japp in the Hercule Poirot series.

Rita wrote: "Who is your favorite Christie character?"

I am about three quarters through all the Christie books and stories, and the character I most like is Mr. Harley Quinn followed by his sidekick of sorts, Mr. Satterthwaite. Those stories are very different from the Poirot/Marples/Tommy and Tuppence/etc. mysteries, and I like the supernatural element of that character

My next favorite character is probably Joyce Lambert, who appeared in the story Next to a Dog: A Short Story. Not sure if she appeared in any other stories or novels.

There is a podcast that rates and reviews all the Christie mysteries, including short stories, in sequence: All About Agatha. The latest download is "They do it with Mirrors" and I expect all the older episodes are available. They introduced me to Harley Quinn. Don't listen before reading as they discuss the plot.

Rita wrote: "David wrote: "Rita wrote: "Who is your favorite Christie character?"

I am about three quarters through all the Christie books and stories, and the character I most like is Mr. Harley Quinn followe..."

I inherited a leather bound set of all Christie's works from my mother (well almost all). I've buddy read all the Miss Marples and am now into the 3rd year of a Poirot Buddy read. Next will be all the non Marples and Poirots, which I'm looking forward to a lot. The Harley Quinns, Tommy and Tuppences and the non specifics.
Any view on where I should start in January ??

Adrian wrote: "Any view on where I should start in January ?? ..."

I know the Poirot challenge/buddy read you're following is elsewhere, but there's also one in the other group I moderate, (which is just over a year through) and also there you'll find a general Agatha Christie challenge. Sorry to be a bit vague here, but I do try not to advertise one group in another! I just happen to know you're in both, and have apparently never noticed these :)

Bionic Jean wrote: "I know the Poirot challenge/buddy read you're following is elsewhere, but there's also one in the other group I moderate, (which is just over a year through) and also there you'll find a general Agatha Christie challenge. Sorry to be a bit vague here, but I do try not to advertise one group in another! I just happen to know you're in both, and have apparently never noticed these :) ..."

As you rightly say Jean, I am a member of that other group where you are moderator as well. I did know you were doing Poirot, but had unforgivably not noticed you had a general Agatha Christie challenge, which I think I might join. 😬 As it would give me the chance to read the generic Christies for want of a better word.

I wonder if she would be surprised at us :)

Seems like a good thread to add that I really enjoyed Emilia Fox's narration of They Came to Baghdad.

I'm now about a third of the way through The Labours of Hercules, and its ok, but not outstanding.

Rita wrote: "I watched a movie on prime video based on Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse I thought it was quite good."

Is it the new version with Rufus Sewell ? Ive got that recorded but not watched yet.

Adrian wrote: "Rita wrote: "I watched a movie on prime video based on Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse I thought it was quite good."

Is it the new version with Rufus Sewell ? Ive got that recorded b..."

So I watched this video today. I do think that it was quite well done but this isn't one of Christie's books that I like very much. Rufus Sewell does indeed star - and was as attractive as ever (at least in appearance - his character isn't very nice though).

He played Aurelio Zen in the shortlived PBS adaptation of Michael Dibdin books and of course, lots of other things.

I'm actually watching this tonight, so I shall let you know my thoughts as well. Although I can say straight away I probably won't find Rufus Sewell attractive 😊, although I will check my wife's thoughts

Lol Adrian!

Leslie wrote: "Lol Adrian!"

Well i thought it was ok, but that said I've never read the book, so I didn't really have anything to compare it with. If I'm honest I did get al little lost towards the end so I hope when I read the book I shall understand it better.
And the feedback from my wife, was that he was indeed rather attractive, still couldn't see it myself, but there ya go !!

I found him attractive too, Adrian. It's those cheekbones.

Susan wrote: "I found him attractive too, Adrian. It's those cheekbones."

Nope, didn't get them. lol.

My favourite Christie character is Miss Marple, definitively played, for me, by Joan Hickson. She reminded me slightly of my great-grandmother, though I think Grannie would have thought solving mysteries was a little vulgar! I like the way Miss M sits quietly listening and then applies her observations of village life.

Just read the entire thread so...

My favorite has to be Poirot especially with Hastings and he’s my second. I think in one off characters, I like the little girl in Hallowe’en party, the one that lives.

The autobiography is a gem. I have on my TBR The Complete Notebooks by John Curran, and that will probably be my next AG related
Book.

And finally, thank you to the person who mentioned the podcast... I needed that in my life.

Regarding The Pale Horse, I only watched it because of Rufus Sewell lol, though he looked a bit odd in this. The mini-series is different from the book - which I read afterwards - and I didn´t find anyone who understood the end. ;)

Susan wrote: "I found him attractive too, Adrian. It's those cheekbones."

Me too. I fell for him when I saw him in the TV series 'Victoria' where he played Lord Melbourne :-)

Michaela wrote: "Regarding The Pale Horse, I only watched it because of Rufus Sewell lol, though he looked a bit odd in this. The mini-series is different from the book - which I read afterwards - and I didn´t find..."

I'm glad It wasn't just me, who didn't get the end Michaela. I am going to have to read the book first opportunity.

And related, doesn't the producer of these annual "Christie" adaptations have a history of subtly (and drastically) changing the story from the original ??

Dorothy wrote: "Susan wrote: "I found him attractive too, Adrian. It's those cheekbones."

Me too. I fell for him when I saw him in the TV series 'Victoria' where he played Lord Melbourne :-)"

Aah thats where I know him from, thank you. My wife and I enjoyed Victoria.

I am just watching Victoria now and Sewell is not doing well as Lord Melbourne (he's dying).

While I always enjoy Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot and in my younger years Tommy and Tuppence (five in the series), I have to admit that recently I have enjoyed Superintendent Battle, who appeared in five books and writer Araidne Oliver, who appears in 8 — four of which I hadn't read.

Adrian wrote: "Michaela wrote: "Regarding The Pale Horse, I only watched it because of Rufus Sewell lol, though he looked a bit odd in this. The mini-series is different from the book - which I read afterwards - ..."

Yes, I heard about that too! :P

It's been on twice here, and I think I missed it both times :(

Bionic Jean wrote: "It's been on twice here, and I think I missed it both times :("

You need to catch it Jean. It IS atmospheric and well acted, but I'm still confused about the ending. I really need to read the book.

That's good to know! It was on the timer to record before, but clashed with something else, so we only got half and deleted it.

Bionic Jean wrote: "That's good to know! It was on the timer to record before, but clashed with something else, so we only got half and deleted it."

Jean, I've just checked and its available on BBC iPlayer for about 30 days !!

Thank you Adrian!

GeraniumCat wrote: "My favourite Christie character is Miss Marple, definitively played, for me, by Joan Hickson. She reminded me slightly of my great-grandmother, though I think Grannie would have thought solving mys..."

I totally agree with you on Joan Hickson. Geraldine McKewan in the role was just not right.

I think so too - Geraldine McEwan seemed altogether too mannered and knowing. There was one I gave up on, as it seemed to be played for laughs :(

I've also seen a couple with Julia McKenzie, and quite enjoyed them for a change.

I only saw a couple with Julia McKenzie. I saw her in "The Body in the Library" and they changed the culprit - made Adelaide homosexual (I guess to modernize it) and in a lesbian relationship with Josie. I know that isn't McKenzie's fault but I stopped watching after that!

I can't remember which I saw, but not that one. I don't usually like it when they depart so much from the author's intention either :(

The Body in the Library is with Geraldine McEwan. Julia McKenzie was a better Miss Marple, but they tried to tack her on in non Marple stories like Endless Night and that didn’t work so well. My favourite Miss Marple is Margaret Rutherford because I found her so funny even though they went a little on the wild side with canon there too.

Ah, you are right France-Andree! I like Margaret Rutherford too but only because I convinced myself to think about her as a totally separate character from Christie's Miss Marple. She is indeed hilarious!

Leslie wrote: "I only saw a couple with Julia McKenzie. I saw her in "The Body in the Library" and they changed the culprit - made Adelaide homosexual (I guess to modernize it) and in a lesbian relationship with ..."

My wife and I had never seen any of the McKenzie / McEwan Miss Marple's (we have all the Joan "Marple" Hickson DVDs) so we decided in these days of self-isolation that we'd buy them and watch just to see what they were like. So they'll be the next box set.
We've just finished the last Lynley mystery on DVD and they were good (never read any though).

Rita wrote: "Does anyone have a favorite Christie book? Mine is And Then There Were None."

Though it´s sad, I think Curtain is very good, but I guess there are others too. Have to think...

I saw Geraldine McEwan a few times as Miss Marple, then I saw Joan Hickson and wasn´t so impressed by her. My husband also liked the first better. We might be the only ones in the Christie-verse, but that can´t be helped. ;)