All Poirot short stories — The Agatha Christie Community Forum Archive

Favourite Poirot Short Story?

SirHenryClithering — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 16:37:11 +0000

What is your favourite short Poirot story from any collection? I personally enjoy The Stymphalian Birds from The Labours of Hercules, how about you?

Appointment with death

Ismail — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 13:25:32 +0000

A classic hercule poirot mystery

Of Frozen Coffee Drinks and Synopses

thincomme72 — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 14:00:20 +0000

Last week, the lovely author taught us all how to write a wonderful one-page synopsis. This week, she tackles why we writers need to just write the synopsis already and stop complaining about it. Author is the author of the short story Good Fences. Her novel, Fate’s Mirror, debuts today. Congratulations, author, and take it away!

I went to my favorite grocery store today, which has a Starbucks right inside it, perfect for my crazy busy life. My grocery list was long, but the line for coffee was short. Feeling lucky, I ordered a tall mocha frappuccino, the kind they whip up in a blender.

“Oh not another one,” the barista sighed. “Those are hard. I’ve been making them all day. I’m here all by myself . . .” He looked longingly at the hot brewed coffee and then shuffled slowly to the refrigerator to get the pitcher of cold blender mix. “And it’s not even real coffee.”

“Never mind. Thanks anyway,” I said. I put away my money and walked out.

I raced through the grocery aisles, pitching stuff into my cart, angry because I didn’t get my frozen mocha. Sure, I would have gotten one eventually, if I’d been willing to both wait and endure the barista’s whining. I was also bewildered. It was 93 degrees outside. What did he expect people to order? If you work at a coffee bar that sells frozen blender coffees, you are going to be making frozen blender coffees.

I was putting some laundry soap in my cart when the barista walked up to me carrying a large, beautiful frappuccino with whipped cream peaks drizzled in chocolate. “There you are!” he said, handing it over. “I couldn’t just let you leave.” I apologized to him, although I’m not sure why. Changing your mind about a business transaction isn’t wrong, especially since he hadn’t started preparing it yet. I reached for my wallet to pay, but he waved me off and went back to work.

I plunged the straw through the whipped cream into the heavenly mocha below, but stopped with it halfway to my mouth. I couldn’t bring myself to even try it. What if the barista had spit in it or done something else horrible? Odds are, probably not, but why take a chance, especially since it was free? I found the nearest garbage can and dumped the whole thing.

I’ve heard that many baristas dislike making frappuccinos. A lot.

Just like many writers dislike writing synopses. A lot.

When faced with writing a synopsis or buy a term paper online, the first thing we writers do is complain. I’ve already written the entire novel! Now you want me to do what? How can anyone get the sense of my novel from something all sweetened and diluted? (It’s not even real coffee!) Plus, it’s really, really hard. I don’t want to make it. I’m here all by myself…

But I’m the customer—or the editor—on the other side of the counter. I am angry and bewildered. The barista knew when he started working that he’d be expected to make frappuccinos just as we writers know we will write synopses. It’s just part of the job, and every job has unpleasant parts. What’s the big deal? Throw the coffee and some flavoring and ice into the blender and turn it on! And if it’s lumpy, make it pretty with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

A friend of mine published her first novel with a commercial press. When it came time for the second novel, her editor asked to see the first 100 pages and a synopsis. Guess what my friend said? “Oh, not another one. Those are hard. I’m here all by myself…” My friend eventually banged out a synopsis and reluctantly handed it in without any beta reads or proofreading.

It got rejected just as quickly as I threw away my beautiful frappuccino that day in the grocery store. I doubt my friend spit in her synopsis, just like I doubt the barista spit in my coffee, but you just never know.

Labours of Hercules music question

flybackwards — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 15:48:29 +0000

Hello Poirot fans ~ I am thrilled to have found this website. I have recently enjoyed watching the Labours of Hercules and I have a question about the music. In the scene where Poirot, the Countess, and Alice are playing cards the dog Binkey is howling. Binkey is howling because Dr. Lutz starts playing the piano. I love the classical piano piece he is playing but the song is not listed in the credits. Does anyone know the name of this piece? I would love to buy a copy and learn to play it. Thank you so much for your time!

'The Adventure of the Egyption Tomb'

SeaSnap — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 12:27:12 +0000

The short story in question is one of my favourites from 'Poirot Investigates'. It has also been included for Agatha's story in the Mystery collection 'WhoDunnit'. Post your comments on it here.

Poirot visits a seamstress

Damiond1 — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 19:41:32 +0000

Does anyone remember if there was a story where Poirot notices the stitching on his shirt is different and goes to visit the seamstress in the factory to see what has happened? I remember a vague recollection but I may be wrong. Please help. Thank you.

What IS the "double sin" in "Double Sin"?

hotwater — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 09:00:00 +0000

Does it refer to the pair of crooks themselves? Does it refer to the "theft" of the miniatures plus the ripping off of the American collector? Does it refer to the engineered "theft," plus the accusation against the innocent Kane? All or none of the above?

About Appoinment with Death!!!

Mystique — Fri, 08 May 2015 09:07:40 +0000

Hello There,

I just finished reading 'Appointment with Death' where Hercule Poirot features as detective. Its a good read and the climax was totally unexpected as is the case with most of Christie's novels/stories. I was just wondering about the cover page of this book which features a snake although there is no mention of any such thing in the whole story. Could this be an indicator to the puncture mark of the syringe on Mrs Boynton's wrist in the story/Mrs Boynton's attitude,behaviour may be...I am not sure though..I am interested to know what you guys think :)

Best Regards,

Mystique

Christmas Changes

JanetBrown — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 05:08:22 +0000

I know the adventure of the Christmas pudding is adapted from Christmas adventure, but I want to know what are the changes from Christmas adventure to the adventure of the Christmas pudding?

"LOST" 1955 POIROT BBC BROADCAST DISCOVERED!

TonyPS214 — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 14:13:05 +0000

A dramatization of the Poirot short story Murder in the Mews starring Richard Williams as Poirot thought "lost" was recently discovered in the BBC archives and broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra on Sunday 27 December 2015.

I downloaded it and have been listening to it; This production seems to give Inspector Japp (played by Jack Melford) a great deal more to do than Poirot and keeps Poirot more in the background, but the production values and sound quality are quite good for a 50's broadcast.

Brand new Poirot short stories

hotwater — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 01:10:44 +0000

I can't say that I've been much interested in Agatha Christie fan fiction in the past- I admit that I'm not even keen on Sophie Hannah's stuff- but this series of stories is different. They were written with the goal of staying as closely to the voice, plot style, and characters of Christie as possible, like "lost stories" of Christie. The theme is a bit similar to The Big Four, dealings with a crime organization called The London Syndicate. The stories are here: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11292256/1/The-London-Syndicate

The Dissapearance of Mr Davenheim

Tommy_A_Jones — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 15:14:10 +0000

I was listening to The Dissapearance of Mr Davenheim lastnight, could someone disappear of their own accord now?

"The Veiled Lady" isn't quite cricket

Daphne — Fri, 15 May 2015 13:32:12 +0000

The true identity of the veiled lady hinges on the quality of her shoes. I often miss details like that, so when I got to the end, I went back to find a reference, probably understated, to the woman's footwear. I could find nothing. Now, I find that Agatha Chistie usually plays quite fair with her readers, in giving them the information from which to deduce a conclusion. This story seems to have cheated a bit.

Christmas Adventure (1923)

christy.w.parker — Tue, 12 May 2015 17:30:57 +0000

In the Poirot reading list, it lists a short story called "Christmas Adventure" (1923). Does this refer to "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding?"

Bridge

Tommy_A_Jones — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 15:06:58 +0000

Can anyone suggest a Book I could read and use to teach myself Bridge Please?

'The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge'

SeaSnap — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 10:39:46 +0000

I love this problem from 'Poirot Investigates'. I like the fact that Hastings leaves Poirot in London to investigate solo. Post your comments on it here.

The Girdle of Hyppolita

Inspector Jeremy — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 10:07:40 +0000

I was reading The Girdle of Hyppolita and it struck me that Chief Inspector Japp was in it. The reason I was surprised was because I read on Wikipedia that Japp's last appearance in any of Agatha Christie's works was in one, two, buckle my shoe and the girdle story was published in 1947 which is after one two buckle my shoe. So I was wondering if The story is set before one, two, buckle my shoe or if one, two buckle my shoe is set after. What makes this question so even more difficult to answer is one, two, buckle my show was was published in 1941 which was during the war, and I believe Agatha Christie never set her novels during the war apart from N or M.

Which adaptation of The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan do you prefer

Nathan Robert Michael Rees — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 17:39:21 +0000

Having just recently watched a chinease subtitled version of Agatha Christie works on youtube, entitled "Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple" the first episode was based on The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan, two questions floated into my head. 1. What were the differences between the short story and the episode. 2. Which version do you prefer, the Agatha Christie's Poirot episode with David Suchet or the one I was just describing.