REVIEW: The Labors of Hercules

 The Labors of Hercules
Author: Agatha Christie

The Labors of Hercules is a short story collection gathering 12 tales featuring Hercule Poirot. The collection was first published in 1947 in both the US and UK. 

In the UK, 11 of the stories (The Capture of Cerberus was rejected) were first printed in The Strand magazine from 1939 - 1940. In the US, 11 of the stories were printed (The Augean Stables was left out) in magazines from 1939 - 1947. 

This is the first time I read this short story collection. I've had the paperback on my Agatha Christie shelf for years, but never actually read the book. So glad I finally did -- I enjoyed all of these stories!  

The forward sets the stage for all of the stories....Hercule Poirot wants to retire and spend his days growing vegetable marrows and relaxing, rather than solving crimes. Maybe take a vacation or enjoy a weekend getaway to the country without a murder taking over his leisure time. But first.....Hercule plans to spend a year taking only cases that interest him so he can go out with style and on his own terms.  

My first task before reading this book was to investigate and find out exactly what vegetable is a "vegetable marrow" -- I wasn't sure if this was summer squash, zucchini, cucumber....so I made use of the lovely tool that is the internet and found out...... 

Zucchini - allowed to grow large (courgette). Yum!! When I have finished this book, I will have to buy some zucchini and saute them with onion and spices and celebrate Hercule's dream of cultivating, improving and leisurely growing vegetable marrows. :) 

I read my old paperback version from 1972 (really odd cover art lol) while listening to an audio book [HarperAudio, 2012, narrated by Hugh Fraser, 8 hrs 45 minutes]. And, when I finished I threw my ancient paperback copy in the recycle bin. 

NOTE: I find it really annoying that I can't add cover photos to Goodreads anymore.  Yes, I could apply to be a librarian on the site, but.....I only want to add information or editions for books that I am reviewing. So, not going to bother applying to be a librarian. Just annoys me that my review of this book on Goodreads is without a cover picture because there isn't one already loaded to the site. That's really disappointing when so many of the old paperbacks have really odd/cool/interesting covers like this one!!  

One interesting thing about the book -- it had a very old mystery book club advertisement inside:

It's a shame really, as the thick paper of the ad screwed up the spine of the book over time. But, it was really interesting to read the old ad. 

The introductory offer for The Detective Book Club was 4 volumes with 3 stories in each for $1 plus shipping. After that, each volume with 3 stories was $3.99. Nice mix of authors. I would imagine that a lot of people took them up on the offer. I looked up what $1 in 1972 would be in 2025 dollars: $7.69.  But, that $3.99 price tag per book after that equals to about $30 per book. Yikes! ha ha 

I love it when I find things tucked into old books, even advertisements! I've found shopping lists, book marks, letters, and other ads (even for cigarettes - why in a book?). Always fun! 

 

And, my old paperback also had a used bookstore stamp in it from Asheville, NC. 

I googled the business because I'm nosy and it's always fun to see if shops are still open. And, alas, The Book Rack is no more. There is a Books by Linda listed at the same address, but I couldn't find it on street view so not sure if that store is still open.  Anyone from NC / Asheville??? Let me know if this bookshop still exists! Just an aside -- Asheville is the only thing I miss from NC! Malaprops Bookstore is the bomb!! 

 

Now on to the stories! 

 The Nemean Lion - Poirot gets pulled into a case to investigate the kidnapping of a Pekinese dog. Of course, it turns out that the case has much more to it than a missing doggo. This is a very cute story. I enjoyed it! 

The Lernaean Hydra - A doctor hires Poirot to investigate the death of his wife who died a year previouly. He's anxious for the case to be looked into because people are gossiping that he poisoned her. He is enduring gossip, people avoiding him and even poison pen letters. Poirot takes the case and discovers there is nothing more difficult to defeat than a rumor and that there really is no smoke without at least a bit of fire. Great story!  

The Arcadian Deer - A garage mechanic approaches Poirot about a girl he met. He spent one day with her, fell in love....and then she disappeared. Poirot does much traveling and asks many questions to track down the mysterious, beautiful disappearing ladies maid. Great story! Just a feel-good tale. Loved it! And I really love it when Poirot takes cases because they are right and not because the person can pay his usual fees.  

The Erymanthian Boar -  Poirot is called upon to help catch a notorious killer in Switzerland. Very interesting and enjoyable story! I loved listening to Poirot's thoughts on all of the guests at the hotel. I kept wondering if I was faced with a group of strangers and had to pick out a criminal from among them, could I figure out who the bad guy was? I don't think I could! Poirot has those skills -- I do not! 

The Augean Stables -  A political scandal involving a former Prime Minister may create a really bad outcome for England. Hercule Poirot is called in to discredit a unscrupulous newspaper, but he has to do it in a most unusual way. This story gave me a bit of deja vu, as political scandal is never out of the press. Interesting twist on an old problem. 

The Stymphalean Birds -  Poirot is hired by a young politician who is being blackmailed after he tried to help a distressed woman. Great story with a fun, entertaining twist. Loved it! 

The Cretan Bull - A woman seeks out Poirot's help for an unusual problem with her fiance. Not the sort of case Poirot usually takes on, but that fact made this a very entertaining story! 

The Horses of Diomedes -  A doctor hires Poirot to help with a girl who has fallen in with a very bad crowd. His job? To find out who is supplying cocaine to young people in the area. This was a very odd story, but still really good. And, it's amazing (and sad) that after 90 years, society is still dealing with this same problem. Hugh Fraser did such a great job of voicing a country busybody character in this story -- just delightful!  

The Girdle of Hippolyta - Poirot investigates an art theft and the strange case of a girl who disappeared from a moving train. This one kept me guessing until the end. Very entertaining story! 

The Flock of Geryon -  Poirot investigates a strange cult with the help of a former acquaintance. Enjoyable story with just a touch of creepiness because similar incidents still happen. Yikes! 

The Apples of the Hesperides -  When a priceless goblet with a macabre history is stolen, Poirot is called in to recover it. Entertaining story! 

The Capture of Cerberus -  A chance meeting with a woman from his past sends Poirot on a strange search for her in "Hell." What an entertaining story -- my favorite of the book.  And, if "Hell" actually existed....I would have to go there! :)  

Adaptations:

I only found one adaptation of sorts. 

Agatha Christie's Poirot: An episode of this long-running television show [Poirot's Final Cases 2013,

episode 4] combined the plots of four of the stories into a single episode. [The Arcadian Deer, The Erymanthian Boar, The Stymphalean Birds, and The Capture of Cerberus]. The stories have some pretty significant changes to meld them all together. Frankly, it made a bit of a jumbled mess out of it, but....I still enjoyed the episode.

I had to do some research on this because I was under the impression that David Suchet had played Poirot for all of the novels/stories on the show.  Turns out that some of the story themes were combined with other bits and pieces to extend other episodes, some of the stories were deemed unsuitable to adapt for television, and some were found to be too similar to other Christie stories/novels. The producers picked which stories were included in the episode. The "final cases" season was meant to mop up the Christie books/story collections that hadn't been featured in the show previously. So, although not every story was completely represented, they did at least touch on every book. I read an article that said that every story featuring Poirot was mentioned/touched on by the series in some way, even if some were never a fundamental part of an episode. 

I enjoyed the episode! I have yet to find an episode of Poirot that I didn't like!

Old worn out paperwork has gone into the recycling bin and on to the next:   Taken by the Flood! Another Poirot mystery! :) 

 

 

REVIEW - The Hollow

 The Hollow
Author: Agatha Christie

This Poirot mystery was first serialized in magazines in the US and UK in 1946. It was published in novel form that same year. It also appeared under the title Murder After Hours in 1954 (Dell books).

I read my old paperback copy from 1986 and listened to an audio book version (HarperAudio, 2012, narrated by Hugh Fraser, 7 hrs 15 minutes).  

This is my first reading of this book. I've had the old paperback on my Christie shelf for years, but never got around to actually reading the story.  

 This story is truly classic Christie. A gathering at a country house. People with secrets. And, one of the party ends up dead. Luckily, Hercule Poirot is there to investigate. You would think Poirot would start turning down invitations to country weekends with upper crusties....they always bump someone off and expect him to clean up the mess! He can't even go on vacation or take some time away from the city without someone being killed! 

 I had to sit and think over the ending of this book. Agatha Christie was just a genius when it comes to weaving a great mystery. I did not see the end coming. So interesting, creative and different! Overall, this was a very enjoyable Poirot investigation!  

Adaptations: 

Stage Play: Agatha Christie adapted The Hollow into a play in 1951, but removed Poirot from the story. The play was highly successful. The script is included in a collection of Christie's plays -- The Mousetrap and Other Plays. I will review the book at a later date. :) 

Kiken na onnatachi - Japanese film adaptation from 1985.  

Agatha Christie's Poirot: The long-running television series with David Suchet as Poirot did an episode based on the book in Season 9 (Episode 4). Minor character changes were made, but otherwise the episode follows the book pretty closely. Very well done! 

Le Grand Alibi - French movie released in 2008. I tried to find this movie, but it was just not available for me. I desperately need a VPN. Amazon has it, but it has the dreaded "not available in your region" message for me. 

Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie: This French television show adapted this story in 2021. The setting is moved to France. The characters are all changed, and the time period is the 1970s. I found this episode on Kanopy. The season is titled Agatha Christie's Criminal Games - The 1970s in the US. And, thankfully it is subtitled in English! Interesting changes in the plot. The doctor is a plastic surgeon. Enjoyable episode with lots of comedy elements added. The 1970s vibe was an interesting addition. But, the story is so fundamentally changed that it really isn't the same story anymore. Still an enjoyable watch! 

Moving on! Old, damaged paperback sent to the recycle bin. Next up in my Christie reading journey is The Labors of Hercules, a short story collection!  

REVIEW: Sparkling Cyanide (Remembered Death)

 Sparkling Cyanide (Remembered Death)
Author: Agatha Christie

This book was published in the United States in 1945 as Remembered Death and released in the UK that same year as Sparkling Cyanide. I prefer the British title as it just has that Christie ring to it. :) 

This is the final appearance of Colonel Race. 

I read my old paperback copy from 1975 while listening to an audio book (HarperAudio 2012, 6 hrs 30 minutes, narrated by Hugh Fraser).  

This is my first reading of this book. I always stuck with the more famous Poirot and Marple stories, and left the less famous characters to languish on my book shelf. There is one thing my reading challenge to enjoy all of Christie's writing in publication order is teaching me -- some of the mysteries involving the lesser known characters are actually very, very good! 

And now.... on to the story. 

It dawned on me as I read this story just how many Christie mysteries involve unfaithful husbands, "the other woman," and unhappy marriages. This story is another such tale. I wonder if Christie's masterful depictions of the emotions involved were pulled from her own life? Her first husband, Colonel Archibald Christie, left her in 1928 (after 14 years of marriage) for another woman. Christie had a mental breakdown of sorts and actually disappeared for 10 days. They divorced and Agatha's ex-husband married the woman he left her for. I'm very glad she channeled those emotions into writing rather than poisoning her husband's lover.  Makes you wonder if she thought about it!!  She literally had the know how, and real knowledge of medicines, poisons and venom to do someone in if she had ever wanted to. It's a good thing she wrote books instead! 

The plot of Sparkling Cyanide is close to an earlier Poirot short story, Yellow Iris. Christie really didn't recycle the entire plot, just the basics of the murder. The identity of the killer and the investigation are quite a bit different. 

I am finding that I enjoy the stories she wrote that aren't focused on one investigator. Colonel Race is in the story and he does interview suspects, but several characters assist with the investigation. Definitely a group effort.  

While reading and listening to this story, I found myself picking a killer and then changing my mind several times. In the end, my guesses were totally wrong. Great ending! 

Adaptations:  

This story has been adapted several times (but none are very faithful to the book):

Made for TV Movie - 1983: I watched some clips from this television movie adaptation and read a bit about the basic plot. The movie has significant changes in plot and characters, and some of the casting choices seemed odd to me. I didn't watch this one. I couldn't find it online for free, and didn't want to pay $10 to buy what looks like a bad 1980s version of the story that I won't watch again. I will watch this if it pops back up on one of the streaming services I have. 

Movie - 2003: This movie adaptation also makes significant changes to the characters and basic story. An elderly couple who are spies investigate the murder of a soccer club manager's wife. My first thought was that it sounded like they made it a Tommy and Tuppence story rather than Colonel Race. I watched this adaptation on BritBox. Enjoyable, but some of the changes were a bit odd. 

BBC Radio drama - BBC Radio 4 released an audio drama in 2012. The audio runs 1 hr 24 minutes. Wonderful quality as usual. Full cast and sound effects. The drama sticks relatively close to the book, with changes made to condense the plot for time. Very enjoyable listen! And, it keeps Colonel Race in the story! 

Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie - This French television show changes the setting to France and adapts to having all French characters, but the basic plot sticks pretty much to the original. I actually found this episode on Kanopy through my local library. The series is renamed as Agatha Christie's Criminal Games in the US. I had assumed this show would not be available to me, but Kanopy even has English subtitles! I discovered I can access the show through my library while searching for the 1983 movie. I never did find the movie, but now I can go back and watch the French adaptations I missed! :) Yay! The Sparkling Cyanide episode is 1 hr 33 minutes long (Season 1 of Agatha Christie's Criminal Games, Episode 1), and although it makes sweeping changes to the story, it is very entertaining! It's set in the 1950's. A film star dies after sipping poisoned champagne. Loved it! Very colorful and campy! 

Chimunizu-kan no himitsu - A 2006 Japanese graphic novel includes adapatations of Sparkling Cyanide, The Secret of Chimneys and Towards Zero. 

Well, goodbye Colonel Race - thank you for the 5 lovely  mysteries! 

I enjoyed this story. I'm beginning to get over my dislike of Christie's lesser known characters. It's too bad I just started to enjoy Colonel Race and this book is his last appearance. 

I'm wondering why this book was adapted to film twice, and both times they mangled Christie's plot? Why adapt a story that is excellent the way it is....and completely mess with the way the author wrote it? Just write a similar story with a different title altogether and leave the classic mystery alone! The 2003 movie wasn't bad. I really enjoyed it, but it wasn't the same story. It's not ok to take a Christie novel, fundamentally change everything about it, but still plonk her book title onto the film (just my honest opinion).  

On to the next!  The Hollow -- a Poirot Mystery! I look forward to a Poirot investigation after reading 3 books in a row without Poirot or Marple. :) 

 

REVIEW: Towards Zero

 Towards Zero
Author: Agatha Christie

I'm not really a huge Superintendent Battle fan, but when I saw how many times this story by Agatha Christie has been adapted, I knew it must be a good story! Usually I'm a Poirot & Marple snob. Hopefully my personal reading challenge to journey through all of Christie's works in publication order will help me learn to enjoy all her characters, not just two of them. 

This novel was published in both the US and the UK in 1944. It is the last of Christie's novels to feature Superintendent Battle.  

I read a beat up paperback copy from my bookshelves (Pocket Books, 1986) while listening to an audio book (HarperAudio, 2012, narrated by Hugh Fraser, 6 hrs 15 minutes). 

The old paperback was on my bookshelves for years and I never read it. I'm happy that I finally got to enjoy the story....and then the old book went into the recycle bin. Bookshelf space is at a premium now that I'm in an apartment. And the book was so old that the pages were starting to separate from the spine just from age. It was time to let it go....and make room for new books. 

 Now...on to the story! 

I actually found myself enjoying this Superintendent Battle mystery from the start! Interesting set up, and the plot kept my attention from start to finish. 

I found Christie's original ending a bit strange and creepy. Others must have as well, as each adaptation I watched removed a certain character from the story altogether.  

This book has been adapted several times. 

Stage Plays - Agatha Christie adapted this story for the stage twice, once in 1945 and again in 1956. I tried to find scripts online but was unsuccessful. I wonder what changes she made?? I read where the script for the earlier play was found in 2015, but I didn't find a copy anywhere to read. Note to self -- keep looking! :)

Verso L'ora Zero - this is an Italian made-for-television movie version released in 1980. I don't speak Italian, so didn't try to find this film version. 

Innocent Lies - This movie is based on the book, but the Christie Estate required the title change and character changes. Released in 1995, the movie had only mild success. There are multiple places to stream this movie online for free. 

Chimunizu-kan no himitsu - this Japanese Manga book collects 3 Christie stories: The Secret of Chimneys, Towards Zero and Sparkling Cyanide. It was published in 2006.  

Agatha Christie's Marple - the popular Miss Marple television series adapted the book (Season 3, Episode 3) in 2007, replacing Superintendent Battle with Miss Marple as investigator. I was so excited during the episode as I recognized two actors in the cast - Tom Baker and Julian Sands. Geraldine McEwan is excellent as Miss Marple -- as usual. There was one character left out and related plot changes that I didn't really like, but the episode on the whole was very good. 

L'Huere Zero - French film adaptation released in 2007. From what I read online, the film sticks pretty close to the novel. I don't speak French, so I didn't watch the movie. 

Radio Drama - BBC Radio 4 broadcast an audio drama based on Towards Zero in 2010. It runs 1 hr 15 minutes. The BBC Radio 4 Christie adaptations are so well done. I have enjoyed them all so far! The cast is excellent --- Hugh Bonneville plays Nevile Strange!  This was very well done as usual. There were some changes to the plot, most likely to condense the story a bit for time.  Loved it! 

Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie - Season 2 of this French television series had an episode based on Towards Zero in 2019. I don't speak French, but this show did so many adaptations of Christie stories that I wish I did! I read online that the setting is moved to France and the characters are all changed. I am not sure if the plot stuck close to the book or not. 

2025 BBC adaptation - Britbox streaming service has this 3 part series available, released by the BBC in 2025. I don't watch these new film versions until I've read the book so had to wait a few months after its release to watch this one. It was SO HARD to wait!! It released in March, so at least I didn't have to wait long. Hard to avoid spoilers, but I managed!   There were some major changes to some of the characters and the plot. I think most of the changes were to smooth out some events and also to extend for time / dramatize for film. I didn't mind the changes. Very enjoyable adaptation! Angelica Huston was phenomenal! 

 On to the next!! 

  

  

 

 

 

Death Comes as the End

 Death Comes as the End
Author: Agatha Christie

Death Comes as the End was published in the US in 1944 and released in the UK in 1945. This is the only novel by Agatha Christie that is not set in modern times. The setting is Thebes in 2000 BC. 

I read my old paperback copy (Pocket Books, 1972) from my bookshelves while listening to an audio book (HarperAudio 2012, 7 hrs 11 minutes, narrated by Emilia Fox). 

I've had this paperback for years. In fact, I found my name written on the inside front cover and it was my maiden name...so I've had this book for at least 35 years. And I never actually read it. I know why....I am sure the minute I discovered it was set in ancient Thebes and didn't involve any of Christie's usual characters I lost interest in reading it. And, even today, I pretty much felt the same way. I had to force myself to read this book. I felt no interest at all in reading a Christie murder mystery set in ancient times. It isn't because I'm not interested in ancient history. It's just that at times Christie's writing has racial undertones that thankfully have not aged well. And an upper class English woman writing an Egyptian murder mystery because of the Egypt-obsessed public of the time just really doesn't float my boat. Others love this book....I just pretty much guessed that it wouldn't be my thing. 

My ancient paperback was sent off to the recycle bin when I finished reading. Not just because I won't be reading this one again, but also because it was so old its pages were literally falling out. I had to put a rubber band around it to keep it intact long enough to finish reading. 

 Now....on to the story! 

 I'm glad I gave this book a chance. I did listen to the entire audio book and gave it my best shot. But....I didn't like this book. I think there's a reason why Agatha Christie only wrote one book set back in ancient times. It was a one-off, suggested to her by a friend who was a professor. Interesting concept and she did basically pull it off, but I'm glad she only did it once. After completing my reading, I know why this book was never adapted into a movie or television mini series. It would be too expensive for one thing. And, it would just need extensive work to make it into a viable script for modern viewers. 

I did love the fact that Christie based the story loosely on scrolls found in a tomb at Luxor. The scrolls were written by an ancient priest who was complaining about the way his family treated his concubine.  

Agatha Christie has been my favorite author since I was 9 years old. But, as a reviewer, I give my honest opinions about every book I read. So, despite the fact this might be an unpopular opinion, this book was pretty cringeworthy. I wasn't five minutes into the book before there was a racial comment made by a character. And, it was difficult to listen to an audio book with an English woman voicing ancient Eqyptian characters.  The characters seemed drawn from Christie's usual fare, but plonked down in ancient Egypt with a hasty slight makeover to make them fit the setting. It's obvious that Christie read and did research about what life in ancient Egypt was like such as family dynamics, concubines and other aspects of ancient culture before writing. But, for me, it just made for a lackluster story that came off as a very white attempt at portraying an ancient culture. 

 That's only my opinion. I'm glad others enjoyed this book.  And, when you read an author's entire life work, there are bound to be some stories that just aren't favorites. This book is my least favorite of Christie's novels and the only one so far that I did not enjoy reading.  

Adaptations:

I could only find one adaptation of this book -- a Swiss graphic novel published in 2023. 

At one time, the BBC was going to do a mini-series with release scheduled for 2019. But, no updates have been forthcoming about the project for years. It has either been postponed or cancelled altogether.  

I'm moving on.....next book!! Sparkling Cyanide (or Remembered Death - US title). And, another book with a lesser known character investigating. It's the last appearance of Colonel Race. 

 

REVIEW: The Moving Finger

 The Moving Finger
Author: Agatha Christie

This story was serialized in US and UK magazines in 1942. It was published in book format in the US in 1942, followed by the UK in 1943. 

I read my old paperback copy from 1984 (Berkley Mystery) and listened to an audio book (HarperAudio, 2012, Narrated by Joan Hickson (yay!!), 5 hours 45 minutes long). More on the audio book later in the review....

 I collected many of Agatha Christie's novels and short story collections over the years. They've been on various bookshelves and moved with me from place to place for literally decades. The only problem -- I never got a chance to really read very many of them! 

To solve this problem once and for all -- In 2019, I started a personal reading challenge to read all of Christie's writing in publication order. Only about half way through.....and it has taken me years! Life got in the way. Returning to work. A Pandemic. Divorce. A cross country move. New Job. New Life. How dare life get in the way of my reading aspirations!!

Now that I'm settled into my wonderfully peaceful and happy new life, I'm reading at a slightly faster pace. I'm not in a hurry. Just meandering my way through. I look up references that interest me, watch and listen to all adaptations, and just enjoy spending time with Christie's characters. 

It's going to take me a long time to finish! I think I will be sad once I read that very last word....and know that there isn't any more!! I suppose at that point I will read some of the various knock off books that have come out in the last few years written by other authors. :)

Now, on to the story!!  

 While this is technically a Miss Marple mystery, she doesn't appear until about 2/3 through the story. Once I realized, I thought it would really annoy me, but I found myself really liking the narrator and his sister. It actually set the scene much better with Miss Marple joining in later. 

I enjoy Joan Hickson. She was incredible as Miss Marple in the 80's television series. But I have to admit that I had to switch audio books to another version narrated by Richard E. Grant (HarperAudio, 2013, 6 hrs 23 minutes). It was just too confusing to have Miss Marple's voice narrating for a male character before she was in the story. And, I'm not sure if Joan Hickson was having speech problems later in life or had ill fitting dentures....but something was off that made her really difficult to understand. Her reading pace was also very fast. I've listened to other audio books she narrated and enjoyed her performances very much. This one, for whatever reason, just didn't work for me. Richard E. Grant did a great job. I especially loved his portrayal of Mr Pye -- so over the top and just perfect!! And, although I had to pass on her audio book narration, I loved Hickson's performance in the Miss Marple television episode!! Superb!

 This was the first time I read this story. I'm glad I finally got the chance to enjoy it! The plot was just wonderful, and as usual Agatha Christie built the suspense masterfully. The book kept my attention from start to finish. 

I grew up in a small town. And, I found myself wondering what effect anonymous poison pen letters would have had in my hometown. If the writer was as skillful at hitting nerves like the one in this book, I'm sure it would have been just as big of a scandal. I can see how hitting just the right nerve might lead someone to commit violence, even murder. Thinking back through the years, I remember several scandals that came to light in my hometown and the explosive results. A town of 4000 people may be tiny, but, when everyone knows everyone, hiding anything is next to impossible. Eventually, the truth will come out. And there's nowhere to hide in a small town. Everyone knows. It's not like a large city where you can move to another suburb or blend into the crowd.  That made the plot of this book really hit home for me. And.....made me glad I live in a very large city now. I couldn't go back to the spiteful gossip, nosy busybodies, and judgemental nastiness that hid just under the surface of the town I grew up in. Nope. Never looking back. I haven't been back there in 23 years...and don't plan to ever go back again. Awful place. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! There were definitely enough twists and turns to keep my attention the entire time!  

This story has been adapted several times:

Miss Marple - The TV series starring Joan Hickson (Season One, Episode 2) adapted this tale into a two part episode in 1985. Miss Marple joins the story much sooner in this version, and leads the investigation for the most part. Loved every minute of both episodes! The plot/characters are changed in some minor ways, but it sticks to the book relatively closely. 

Agatha Christie's Marple - Starring Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple, this episode came out in 2006 (Season 2, Episode 2). I love McEwan as Miss Marple, but this episode made too many unnecessary changes to the plot, in my opinion. As in Miss Marple, Jane is added into the story almost from the start, which is a complete change from the book, but I didn't mind that change. But the rest.....not necessary and some changes were just....odd. But, McEwan's performance saved it for me. She's is just delightful as Miss Marple. :) 

Le Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie - In 2009 a French television series had an episode loosely based on this novel. It switches the setting to France and changes the investigators.  

BBC Radio 4 audio drama - June Whitfield voices Miss Marple in this 2009 radio play. It's just about 1.5 hours long. Very enjoyable listen if you like radio drama!! You can find quite a few of these Agatha Christie radio programs here: https://fourble.co.uk/podcast/bbcradio7  

Miseu Ma, Booksooui Yeoshin - Korean television had a show based on Agatha Christie's stories. Episodes 5-8, broadcast in 2018, were an adaptation of The Moving Finger. 

On to the next novel - Towards Zero!  It features Superintendent Battle. I'm trying to feel excited about it, but I really have a hard time liking Christie's lesser known characters. I hope Battle surprises me and offers a very interesting investigation!!  

REVIEW: Sleight of Paw

 Sleight of Paw
Author: Sofie Kelly

I originally started reading this series several years ago. Then life got in the way and I lost track of these books amid everything. Back now -- and I started reading from the start of the series again. :)

Sleight of Paw is the second book in the Magical Cats Mystery series. 

My favorite characters? Hercules and Owen, of course! I can't choose one kitty over the other, so they will just have to share the top spot. :) 

Librarian Kathleen Paulson finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation again when a local elderly woman is killed. Owen and Hercules jump in to help, as well as Kathleen's loyal group of friends. Even small towns like Mayville Heights hide secrets. Kathleen and her buddies discover just how dangerous it can be when hidden secrets get revealed. 

I enjoy this series. The idea of two cute kitties with paranormal abilities is just a fun concept. I really like how the author even has Owen and Hercules help investigate. They actually come up with the best clues! 

The plot of this second book kept me fully engaged the entire time. I kept trying to guess the killer's identity and changed my mind several times. The story has a balanced blend of amateur sleuthing, character development and background, and humor. The small town/library/cat portion of the plot does not overshadow the mystery plot, but adds depth to it. 

Another entertaining book in this series! Moving on to the next!