A Merry Murderous Christmas: The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson and The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie

 

I am not reading as much as I hoped.  Cooking, baking, decorating, shopping, Christmas films...

The Christmas Guest is a novella by Peter Swanson. It is largely the written diary of American college student Ashley Smith. She's invited to an English manor home for Christmas by her sometimes friend Emma Chapman.

The manor is called Starvewood Hall. Not so charming, right?  Emma's brother Adam, though! He is a dream.  Ashley develops what she describes as a crush on him immediately.

While the manor family isn't cozy, the house and all of the Christmas trimming are wonderful. 

There's a tiny crack in the charm. Adam is a suspect in the late summer murder of a local girl.  Couldn't be him!  

There's a scary Santa who strolls out of the woods and draws his finger across his throat at Ashley, walking alone in the evening.  There's an attack on Emma from a similar figure.

Through it all, Ashley only sees dreamy dream Adam.

 

The Big Book of Christmas Stories: The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie (A Novella)

 I'm reading the stories in this book of 60 (!) tales on the side.  I think each week as I write up my other Christmas books, I'll include the stories read from this book.

Poirot, who hates cold English Manors, especially in the winter, is talked into investigating a jewel theft that  might have ties to a Christmas gathering at King's Lacey.   The company gathered is interesting. The food is a revelation.  Particularly the Pudding!  It's full of things!  A silver Bachelor's Button, a pig, a thimble, 2 rings,a ten shilling piece, and a red cut stone.  I would really not like to bite into something hard and unexpected, no matter how tasty the pudding. 

The thieves are in place among the guests.  Poirot is tested by the children of the manor as they present him with a dead body.  He has one of his best holidays ever. 

First Line Friday April 29, 2022

 

“After all,” murmured Poirot, “it is possible that I shall not die this time.”

The Hunter’s Lodge Case

By Agatha Christie

 

Review: Death On The Nile by Agatha Christie

Am I imagining things, or do the plots of the Hercule Poirot novels become more twisty as time goes on? Who could possibly guess whodunnit with all of the characters and motivations, and means?

 

In Death On The Nile, a large cast of characters are on holiday taking a cruise up the Nile.  

The stars of the trip are a newly married couple named Linnet and Simon Doyle.  She's got everything, beauty, wealth, business acumen, charm.  He's a puppy dog of a man who doesn't seem to have much more than his looks and boyish ways to recommend him.

Unfortunately for the couple, they're being stalked by Simon's old girlfriend, who was also Linnet's best friend.  Her disappointment in losing Simon has left her a bit unhinged with jealousy.

Poirot and his old friend Colonel Race observe the passengers, and try to make out who on the ship is actually a threat to Linnet, who confides to Poirot that there are many who hate her.  Colonel Race is also onboard to find a killer who has been ruthless in his underworld dealings.

The pleasure cruise takes a dark turn as there are murders, thefts and other dark crimes uncovered.

Once again Poirot, the romantic, cannot help but be moved by young love. Will this keep him from exposing the killer?

Soon to be a major motion picture!

Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie

 

 Hercule Poirot appears very little in this novel, and that is mostly near the end of the story.  In spite of this, Three Act Tragedy is a highly entertaining mystery.

Thirteen are gathered for dinner (plus one) at the home of famous actor Sir Charles Cartwright.  We learn all about the various attendees from an omniscient narrator and somewhat from the observations of Mr. Satterthwaite, a fellow who is a patron of the arts and who considers himself a keen observer of human nature.

Practically before the dinner party has a chance to  get started, one of the guests, a clergyman, suddenly seems to choke on his cocktail, and in moments he's dead.

A doctor on the scene, Bartholomew Strange, pronounces Stephen Babbington dead.  Babbington had a few health problems, so it is assumed one of those took the elderly man at this misopportune moment.

Charles Cartwright, however thinks something more happened, and he discusses this theory with his friends Satterthwaite and Strange.  He also mentions his theory to young Hermione "Egg" Lytton Gore, who has a bit of hero worship for the older Charles.

A few months later, there's another dinner party, with many of the same attendees, sans Poirot.  Another death immediately after a drink is taken.

Now the game is on, with Satterthwaite, Cartwright and Egg consulting and crisscrossing the countryside to try to find out who the murderer is, for they're all certain now there were two murders.

The first murder, of the innocent seeming clergyman must hold the key.  What could be the motive, and why was there no trace of poison in the glasses used by either victim?

I wondered at the point of view and the leaving Poirot out of the hunt for the killer for much of the story.  The would be detectives have a thrilling time out asking questions of witnesses.  Was this to give the reader a viewpoint wherein they knew what the detectives knew, and they could solve the murder right along side them? Poirot himself famously holds much information back.

I, for once, actually suspected the killer, but not their motive or method.  I was a bit proud of myself.

Three Act Tragedy was formerly published as Murder In Three Acts which is a better title, all in all, I think.