REVIEW: Accident

 Accident
Author: Agatha Christie

A former police inspector sees a woman in the village that he is sure previously poisoned a husband for insurance money. He believes she intends a repeat performance and seeks to prevent it. But.....you know if Agatha Christie is in charge of the plot, it will never be that simple. :)

Very short story -- but wonderful! And definitely classic Christie! 

I listened to this story in audio format (The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories, HarperAudio). Hugh Fraser (played Hastings in the Poirot television show) is a perfect narrator! I love listening to Christie stories....it's relaxing to be read to! I enjoy these tales more when they are read in a familiar British accent. Lovely! 

This story was first published  in 1929 in the Sunday Dispatch under the title, The Uncrossed Path. It was included in The Listerdale Mystery story collection (UK, 1934). In March 1943, Accident was published in Ellery Queen Magazine in the US. It was later published again in the US in 1948 (The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories). It was adapted once into a stage play titled Tea for Three in 1939. 

On to the next! 

REVIEW: A Stranger in Town

 A Stranger in Town
Author: Kelley Armstrong

The Rockton series is one of my favorites! I eagerly await each new book! 

Rockton is a town hidden away in the wilds of Canada. Those who can afford to pay can go there to hide out. Victims of abuse, criminals, those who want to escape their past....the residents are a mixed lot. Residents can stay for up to five years as long as they work and follow the rules. There are dangers -- wild animals, hostiles who live in the forest, illness...and sometimes even each other. Detective Casey Duncan and her boyfriend Sheriff Eric Dalton work to keep Rockton running smoothly, while communicating to the council that runs the hidden town and approves all residents. Then something strange happens.....something that never ever happens.....a stranger appears in town. An injured hiker stumbles out of the woods, and against all rules, Casey and Eric bring her inside Rockton to treat her.  The injured stranger and the decision to bring her into town starts a series of events that bring the future of Rockton into question....

Loved this book! Covid and all the difficulties of juggling my job and home life at the moment led me to read this book late. I normally review before publication date...but life seems to enjoy getting in the way of my love for books and reviewing lately .... well, for the past year (just like everyone's lives have been derailed in one way or another). I finally got to visit Rockton! I grabbed the audio book of this newest installment in the series, and listened to A Stranger in Town while commuting to work, waiting for my son after football practice, while running errands....every spare moment I could find! Excellent story! And, excellent audio book! 

I love how this series is developing. There are changes coming....I can't wait for the next book! Kelley Armstrong never disappoints! I wish they would make this series into a Netflix show or a movie -- I would definitely watch! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy (and listened to an audio book from my awesome local library) of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.)

REVIEW: The Mystery of the Blue Jar

 The Mystery of the Blue Jar
Author: Agatha Christie

Jack Hartington is dragged into a strange mystery after hearing a haunting cry of "Murder! Help! Murder!'' coming from a nearby cottage. This story was first published in 1933 in The Hound of Death (UK). It wasn't published in the US until 1948 (The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories). 

This story caught me by surprise. It's a classic Christie deception. Loved it! 

I found no radio adaptations of this story, but it was used in an episode of The Agatha Christie Hour (episode 7, 1982). 

This story actually had me laughing out loud in several places. I could just see Agatha Christie writing away on this lovely little bit of fluff, smiling to herself as she fleshed out the plot. This story was not at all what I expected. A fun surprise -- very entertaining! 

The episode of The Agatha Christie Hour adds a few things to flesh the episode out to 60 minutes and changes the ending just a bit....but it sticks to the original well enough. Fun and very entertaining! 

Pretty much a piece of fluff....but a fun, humorous piece of fluff. Loved it! 

REVIEW: Wireless

 Wireless
Author: Agatha Christie

This story was first published in 1926 in Mystery Magazine (US) and in The Sunday Chronicle Annual (UK). It was later published in The Hound of Death in 1933 (UK). In 1948, it was published in The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories under the title Where There's a Will. 

An elderly woman hears what seems to be the voice of her deceased husband over a radio with deadly results. 

I loved this strange twisty short story. Can you imagine hearing the voice of a deceased family member coming in over your radio? Yikes! But....in this lovely tale....it's really so much more than just that. And the effects spell disaster for more than one person. 

I listened to an audio version of this story from The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories narrated by Christopher Lee. Very enjoyable! 

I wonder why the title was changed when the story was reprinted in the US in 1948? Maybe some readers wouldn't have understood that Wireless meant the radio? I like the original title better....wish they had just kept it! 

REVIEW: S.O.S.

 S.O.S.
Author: Agatha Christie

In my opinion, this is one of the weaker Christie short stories. First published in 1933 in The Hound of Death (UK), this story was not published in the US until 1948 (The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories). 

A man is stranded in the middle of nowhere and meets a family at a nearby secluded house. It seems fate brought him to the home by chance to stop a crime. Interesting premise, but the plot just seemed a bit too contrived. I still enjoyed it....but the plot just seemed weak. Out of the many short stories that Agatha Christie wrote, there are bound to be a few that just aren't for me....even though she is my favorite author. I didn't really care for this one. 

I found no adaptations for this story for radio or television. 

I listened to an audio version of this story (Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories. HarperAudio). It was narrated by Christopher Lee. I love Lee's readings of Christie's supernatural/strange tales from The Hound of Death. His voice just works so well for creepy/strange tales! 

On to the next! 

REVIEW: The Red Signal

 The Red Signal
Author: Agatha Christie

First published in the UK in The Grand Magazine in 1924, this story was included in The Hound of Death story collection in 1933. It was not published in the United States until 1948 when it appeared in The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories. 

Christie brings forth a bit of the supernatural in this tale once again. A group at a dinner party have a lively discussion about the possibility of premonitions, and then are entertained by a medium. The medium issues a warning: Don't go home. There is danger there. As they each go home, that warning rings true. 

Great story! This one surprised me....loved it! This story is a bit more classic Christie than some of the others in the Hound of Death collection. I couldn't find an audio book copy of The Hound of Death (or print either!) so I listened to this story as part of The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories (HarperAudio). The narrator was Christopher Lee (taken from an audio book of The Hound of Death, just like the stories from The Golden Ball and Other Stories that were previously from HOD). Lee is a perfect narrator for these supernatural/strange tales Christie wrote. His voice just lends itself to the theme!

I didn't find any radio adaptations of this story. It was adapted for television (The Agatha Christie Hour, episode 8, 1982). The episode was good, but there are a few changes to the plot that I didn't think were necessary. But, even with the changes, it was entertaining. 

On to the next! 

REVIEW: Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder

 Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder
Author: Joanne Fluke

I eagerly await the new Hannah Swensen cozy mystery each year. I have been faithfully reading this series ever since the first book came out in 2000. This series wasn't the very first culinary cozy series...but close to it. The plots aren't complex....the characters talk a lot about food....and recipes take up a lot of the pages...but for me Hannah Swensen books are a tradition. I love this series, and I will keep reading each book as quickly as Joanne Fluke can churn them out until it comes to a close. I love the characters (except for one that shall remain unnamed to not give spoilers for new readers.....but any reader who has read most of the books knows who I am referring to. Ugh)

This time, Hannah's sister Andrea is incredibly upset with Lake Eden's mayor. When the man turns up dead soon after, Hannah is on the case to find out who could have been mad enough to kill. Turns out the list of suspects is rather long. The mayor was a bit of a jerk. Hannah and her crew get to work to discover the culprit. 

I enjoyed this book...just as I enjoy every Hannah book. The mystery was a bit light in this one, but still interesting. The characters spent most of their time discussing cookies and kitchen tips with a bit of time left for sleuthing. The ending seemed almost abrupt. I wish there had been just a bit more mystery and a bit more character development for the Lake Eden crew in this one....but the story was entertaining and fun to read. It was a quick read...I finished in under 2 hours, mostly because I don't fully read through all the recipes. I only read ones I might actually try out. My husband is diabetic, so I skip all the dessert recipes. :) 

An enjoyable visit to Lake Eden. Not much mystery...but enough to keep me reading. And unless Joanne Fluke surprises me with a short story or visit to Lake Eden before next Christmas, that's my Hannah fix until the holiday season 2021. The tradition will continue! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Fourth Man

 The Fourth Man
Author: Agatha Christie

A man is travelling in a rail car with a doctor and an attorney. A fourth man is also in the car, but he appears to be asleep. They have a discussion about a woman in France that was afflicted with multiple personalities. Turns out, the fourth man is not asleep and knows the woman's true story. Another Christie short story with supernatural elements. 

This story was first published in The Grand Magazine in 1925, and then in The Hound of Death in 1933 (UK). It wasn't published in the US until The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories in 1948. I listened to the audio version of this short story in WPOS. Narrated by Christopher Lee, the story was excellent! 

I couldn't find any radio adaptations of this story, but it was adapted for television (The Agatha Christie Hour, episode 4) in 1982. 

I enjoyed this story. The premise is a bit far-fetched -- but isn't every supernatural tale?? I love listening to Christopher Lee read the stories from HOD. His voice just works so well with creepy/weird stories! 

On to the next! 

REVIEW: The Witness for the Prosecution

 The Witness for the Prosecution
Author: Agatha Christie

The Witness for the Prosecution is one of Agatha Christie's most famous short stories. The story has been adapted for the stage, radio, television and film. The story was originally published in the US in 1925 (Flynn's Weekly as The Traitor's Hands). It was included in The Hound of Death short story collection in the UK in 1933 and in The Witness For the Prosecution and Other Stories (US, 1948). The stage play was published in The Mousetrap and Other Plays (1993). 

Agatha Christie wrote the stage play version in 1953, and the story was made into a movie starring Marlene Dietrich in 1957. Radio City Playhouse presented a radio drama of the story in 1949. It has been adapted for television multiple times...the latest in 2016. And BBC4 Radio "modernized" the story for a radio drama in the early 2000s. I'm sure there are other adaptations of this story that I have missed, as this tale has been retold many, many times in just about every format possible. I wonder if Christie realized that she was writing a classic when she first penned this story? 

For a story to be adapted so many times, it has to be good! But...I have to admit that I have avoided reading, watching or listening to this story for a very stupid reason. When I was in high school, I acted and sang in every school production right down the line. I designed sets, helped block scenes, and really put my heart into every production. Then....my junior year, I was so delighted that the drama club was going to put on Witness for the Prosecution! But....the head of the drama department had been replaced by a former English teacher of mine who really didn't like me, and made no attempt to hide it. She really went out of her way to be....horrible. For no reason. I always did my work. I was respectful. I was always active in class. She just (for whatever reason) couldn't stand me. Even fellow students commented on it. And....she was in charge of auditions. I gave my best audition....followed her directions, read every line, discussed why I wanted to be in the play (Christie was my favorite author!). And three days later when cast and crew were posted ---- I was completely left out. Not even on the stage crew. This teacher stood outside her classroom door as I looked at the list and just smiled at me....a catty, nasty smile. And then she laughed. Seriously -- she smiled and LAUGHED. I learned years later that this teacher did not like my mother, and I suppose whatever issue they had trickled down down to me. After being totally left out of the play and that weird animosity from a teacher.....I just avoided this story. Never watched the film....avoided any television episodes....refused to read it. Silly I know.....but the whole event really pissed me off. She even left me off the stage and set crew assignments!!!! 

So....36 years later....it's time to get over it! People will be people....it was unfortunate, but that's no reason to avoid a classic story by my favorite author! I finally decided to break my boycott of Witness. It's not Agatha Christie's fault that I was slighted when I was 16 years old. 

I'm so glad I finally read this story! It's excellent! And it definitely has that famous Christie twist! I also watched the 2016 television adaptation. It was very very good! There were some pretty big changes to the story, but they were fleshing it out into an almost 2 hour movie. I have the BBC4 Radio dramatization as well. I haven't listened to it yet....I will amend this review when I have. I will read and review the play once I get to it in my travels through Christie in publication order. Got a couple decades to go first! I do know that Christie changed the ending when she wrote the stage play. She was dissatisfied with how the short story left things....so she revamped the ending for the play. 

I listened to an audio version of this short story (Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories, HarperAudio). The audio for all of the stories in the collection that were originally published in the Hound of Death story collection were read by Christopher Lee. They were obviously pulled from an audio book of Hound of Death, as Christopher Lee also read all the HOD stories in the audio book of The Golden Ball and Other Stories that I listened to (it even still had Lee's intro before the first story that he was reading Hound of Death by Agatha Christie). So glad that Lee read Christie's strange tales that were collected into HOD -- his voice just caters to horror/supernatural/bizarre stories. While Witness isn't supernatural or bizarre, it is diabolical. Lee was a perfect narrator! 

On to the next! 

REVIEW: The Golden Ball and Other Stories

 The Golden Ball and Other Stories
Author: Agatha Christie

This short story collection was published in the US in 1971. All but one of the stories it contains were first published in magazines in the UK in the 1920s and in the UK short story collections The Listerdale Mystery (1934) and The Hound of Death. (1933). 

I'm reading Agatha Christie in publication order because I've always wanted to read everything she wrote. Despite the fact this collection was published in 1971, a  majority of the stories it contains were published early in Christie's writing career. So I'm reviewing it early in my journey through her stories. 

There are 15 stories in this collection: 

The Listerdale Mystery
The Girl in the Train
The Manhood of Edward Robinson
Jane in Search of a Job
A Fruitful Sunday
The Golden Ball
The Raja's Emerald
Swan Song
The Hound of Death
The Gypsy
The Lamp
The Strange Case of Sir Arthur Carmichael
The Call of Wings
Magnolia Blossom
Next to a Dog

The Listerdale Mystery - first published in The Grand Magazine in December 1925 (UK) and later included in The Listerdale Mystery short story collection in 1934. An upper class family that has fallen down on their luck rents a very nice town house for next to nothing...but is there something sinister going on? 

The Girl in the Train - first published in The Grand Magazine in February 1924 and included in The Listerdale Mystery collection. George Rowland is a bit lazy and gets into a row with his uncle. He sets out on a journey to a town he finds in a tourist book -- Rowland's Castle. But....he finds a bit of an adventure instead! Adapted for television in 1982 for The Agatha Christie Hour (episode 3). 

The Manhood of Edward Robinson - An impetuous man who feels a bit controlled by his fiance, Maud, wins $500 in a contest on goes on a bit of an unexpected adventure. This story was first published in The Grand Magazine in December 1924 in the UK, and also in The Listerdale Mystery.  This story was adapted for television in 1982 for The Agatha Christie Hour (episode 10)

Jane in Search of a Job - Jane Cleveland needs a job. She sees an interesting advert, and ends up on quite the adventure! First published in the UK in The Grand Magazine in August 1924, and later included in The Listerdale Mystery. It was adapted for television in 1982 for The Agatha Christie Hour (episode 9). Some changes were made to the story, but the changes are minor.  

A Fruitful Sunday - A Housemaid on her Sunday off is tempted to make a poor decision. This story was first published in the Daily Mail in August 1928 and later included in The Listerdale Mystery.  No adaptations for radio or television for this story were found. 

The Golden Ball - After being fired by his wealthy uncle for being less than dependable, George Dundas meets a very interesting society girl who asks him to marry her, leading to a bizarre chain of events. This story was first published under the title Playing The Innocent in the Daily Mail in August 1929, and later published as The Golden Ball in The Listerdale Mystery story collection. No radio adaptations of this story were found. It was adapted for television by NBC in 1950 (Fireside Theatre Season 2 episode 18). I could not find video anywhere of this episode. It was not for lack of trying!!

The Rajah's Emerald - James Bond travels to the beach with his girlfriend, but feels slighted by her. A rash decision leads to unexpected events. First published in Red Magazine in July 1926 in the UK, and later included in The Listerdale Mystery short story collection.  I found no radio or film adaptations for this story.

Swan Song - An opera star agrees to a private performance, and gives the ultimate Swan Song. This story was first published in The Grand Magazine in September 1926 (UK) and later included in the short story collection, The Listerdale Mystery (1934).  This story has never been adapted for television. BBC4 Radio did a dramatization of this story in the early 2000s, but it was "modernized'' with major changes to the plot and characters. 

The Hound of Death - An American journalist investigates a WWI legend to find if it is merely a story or the truth. This short story first appeared in 1933 in the story collection by the same name. BBC4 Radio "modernized'' the story for a radio drama in 2010, so changes were made in the plot and characters. The story has never been adapted for television.

The Gypsy - After the breakup of his engagement, a man confides in a friend about a fear that has had an effect on him his whole life. This short, spooky tale was first published in the UK in The Hound of Death short story collection in 1933. This story was adapted by BBC4 Radio, but the story was "modernized'' so changes were made to plot and characters. 

The Lamp - A widow rents a very nice home at a ridiculously cheap rate, but the house comes with a ghost. This story first appeared in The Hound of Death story collection in 1933 (UK).  BBC4 radio adapted this story for BBC 4 Extra: Haunted in 1984 (Episode 15 from July 7, 1984). It has never been adapted for television. (You can find this episode of BBC Extra: Haunted by searching on Internet Archive -- it's excellent!)

The Strange Case of Sir Arthur Carmichael - Dr Edward Carstairs is called in to investigate a case. It seems the personality and behavior of young Sir Arthur Carmichael changed overnight and others in the house hear the strange yowling of a cat at night. This story was first published in The Hound of Death in 1933 (UK). It has never been adapted for television or radio. 

The Call of Wings -Silas Hamer is a happy man. He's made a fortune and has the sort of life he wants. But, when he witnesses a death, he starts wondering if he really has what he needs. Death could take it all from him. Then, he hears a street musician playing a song and his outlook, and his fate, is strangely changed. This story was first published in The Hound of Death story collection in 1933 (UK). I found no record of adaptations of this story for radio or television. 

Magnolia Blossom - A woman is about to run away with her lover, when she learns her husband's business concerns are about to fail. She rushes home to see if she can help...and learns that choices have consequences. She learns a lot about herself, her lover....and her husband.  This story was first published in The Royal Magazine in 1926. It was adapted for television by The Agatha Christie Hour in 1982 (episode 6) and was also later "modernized'' in a BBC4 Radio drama (Agatha Christie: Twelve Radio Mysteries). 

Next to a Dog - A poor widow will do just about anything to keep her beloved wire-haired terrier. This story first appeared in this collection. Agatha Christie had a personal fondness for wire-haired terriers and even dedicated one of her books to her dog, Peter. The story was included in the later UK story collection, Problem at Pollensa Bay (1991). 

I liked most of the stories in this collection. The final three really weren't to my taste -- but 12 out of 15 is pretty good! Not every story is for every reader....but only three of these fit into that "not-for-me'' category. Very enjoyable story collection, overall. 

I listened to the audio book format of this story collection. Most of the stories were narrated by Hugh Fraser (who played Hastings in the Poirot television show). The stories from Hound of Death were narrated by Christopher Lee -- very fitting! 

REVIEW: Next to a Dog

 Next to a Dog
Author: Agatha Christie

Next to a Dog is a short story first published in The Golden Ball and Other Stories, an Agatha Christie story collection printed in the US in 1971. It was printed in the UK as part of Problem at Pollensa Bay and Other Stories (1991). I could find no record of any television or radio adaptations of this story.

For me, this was another odd story....  Twelve of the stories in the Golden Ball collection I liked very much....3 of them not so much. This one falls in the Not-so-Much category. A widow is determined to keep her wire terrier dog. Even though she is unemployed, a month behind on her rent and basically starving, she is not going to be separated from her dog Terry because her husband gave him to her before he died in the war. The world can be a mean place....and this story definitely illustrates the choices women sometimes are forced to make. 

I found this story more troubling than entertaining. Out of all of the Agatha Christie short stories I have read so far (and there have been many of them!), the fact that I have only disliked 3 is a pretty good average. Not every story is for every reader....so in any short story collection or any author's works there are bound to be a few here and there a reader might not like. As a dog owner, there was one scene in this story that bothered me....and the ending was strange. I understand the meaning -- I just didn't like it. 

The story is well-written. I just didn't like the subject matter or the outcome. It is what it is....

I did read while doing my research on this story that Christie loved wire-haired terriers and even dedicated one of her books to her dog, Peter (who was a wire haired terrier). 

On to the next! 

REVIEW: Magnolia Blossom

 Magnolia Blossom
Author: Agatha Christie

A woman running away with her lover finds out her husband is facing financial ruin. She returns to her husband, and the situation rapidly gets completely out of hand. She learns a lot about herself, her lover....and her husband. 

Magnolia Blossom was first published in The Royal Magazine in 1926. It was later published in The Golden Ball and Other Stories in 1971. The BBC adapted this story for television in 1982 (The Agatha Christie Hour, episode 6). BBC Radio4 modernized the story in the early 2000s. This adapted version is part of the Agatha Christie: Twelve Radio Mysteries audio collection. 

A very interesting story about choices, mistakes, relationships, and human nature. Theodora makes a decision, and then has to play out the consequences. While this is much different than any other Agatha Christie story I have read before, I liked it. In life, at times we all learn the true nature of people we care about -- good and bad. And we all learn that choices and doing the right thing are sometimes very costly. 

I listened to an audio version of this short story read by Hugh Fraser (played Hastings in the Poirot television series). Fraser does such a great job narrating Christie stories! He is rapidly becoming one of my favorite narrators! 

On to the next! 

REVIEW: If I Disappear

 If I Disappear
Author: Eliza Jane Brazier

As a fan of true crime podcasts, I identified a little bit with the main character of this book, Sera. A little bit is the key phrase....Sera is obsessed with one podcaster. Rachel, who has a podcast about missing women called Murder, She Spoke. When the host goes silent on social media and no new episodes of Murder, She Spoke are appearing, Sera goes in search of her favorite podcaster.... 

I liked how snippets of the podcast were worked into the chapters of this story. The point of view was an interesting effect as well. Sera speaks as if the reader were Rachel. The story is intense....this isn't a comfortable read. Bizarre events. Strange people. A main character who seems strong and intelligent...but so close to a breakdown. An odd and unsettling story told in an odd and unsettling way.....but a compelling one. I binge read this book in one night because I couldn't put it down. 

The ending was a bit strange....but I had no problem with that as the entire story just pretty much lends itself to strange. Very entertaining book! It kept me on the edge of my seat with a strong case of the heebies from start to finish!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. **

REVIEW: The Call of Wings

 The Call of Wings
Author: Agatha Christie

Silas Hamer is a happy man. He's made a fortune and has the sort of life he wants. But, when he witnesses a death, he starts wondering if he really has what he needs. Death could take it all from him. Then, he hears a street musician playing a song and his outlook, and his fate, is strangely changed. 

This story was first published in The Hound of Death story collection in 1933 (UK). It wasn't published in the US until 1971 (The Golden Ball and Other Stories). 

I found this story interesting as it raises some questions about the human condition -- does money bring happiness? Can a person be truly happy with no thought or belief in spirituality? Can a selfless person truly be happy? Very complex concepts wrapped up in a very odd story...   I have to be honest and say the story is well crafted, but I didn't like it. It's just.....odd and depressing. I understand the point and the nuances, but by the end I just didn't care for this one. Not every story is for every reader (even those written by my favorite author!)....and this one was just a bit much for me. 

Odd. Weird. Depressing. But....a good story. My feelings as this story came to a close, I think, were the very feelings Agatha Christie wanted her readers to feel after this strange little tale. 

I listened to an audio version of this story from The Golden Ball and Other Stories (HarperAudio). The tales from The Hound of Death were read by Christopher Lee. His voice is so low and he speaks so slowly that his reading supernatural or bizarre stories just seems perfect somehow.

On to the next! 

REVIEW: The Gypsy

 The Gypsy
Author: Agatha Christie

After breaking his engagement, a man opens up to a close friend. It turns out his breakup isn't just about the woman involved, but more to do with a sort of nightmare the friend has endured his entire life. This short, spooky tale was first published in Agatha Christie's short story collection, The Hound of Death, in 1933 (UK). It did not appear in print in the United States until 1971 (The Golden Ball and Other Stories).

The idea of fate is an interesting one. Can a person be saved from their fate if someone knows that outcome ahead of time? Or is fate sealed? It took me about half this story to understand what Christie was getting at....but once I saw it, it hit home. That was the way she crafted the story....not letting the reader grasp if this was about a ghost, a vision, fate/fortune....or maybe a mix of all of it. Interesting! And very entertaining!

I could not find an audio version of The Hound of Death story collection, so listened to this short story in an audio book of The Golden Ball and Other Stories. Only when I reached the tales in GB that were included in Hound of Death did I discover the audio was taken from a prior HOD audiobook. These stories are narrated by Christopher Lee! I love that man's voice -- he does horror, fantasy and supernatural stories SO WELL! Perfect!

BBC4 Radio broadcast a "modernized'' version of this story in the early 2000s. While I applaud the adaptation of Christie's work for radio or television, I don't like it when the stories are fundamentally changed or modernized, so I skipped this one. It's no longer her story if it's radically changed. The modernized versions of 12 of her stories broadcast by BBC4 in the early 2000's are available -- Agatha Christie: 12 Radio Mysteries. So far I have resisted buying this collection because I know the stories have all been altered. I might change my mind at some point....but not yet. 

I enjoyed this story. I listened to it twice and found that I missed a couple important lines early in the story. This is one you have to read/listen to carefully to fully understand the ending. Very well told! I'm enjoying these short stories. 

The Hound of Death short story collection was first published in 1933 as part of a publisher's publicity campaign. Readers could cut out a coupon in the publisher's magazine and pay seven shillings to receive one of six books. The short stories were later re-published in a version for sale in bookshops in 1936. 

 

REVIEW: The Children's Blizzard

 The Children's Blizzard
Author: Melanie Benjamin

January 1888. The brutal cold winter had eased a bit. In the Dakota Territory, school children returned to class on a mild-for-January day. Some even ventured out without their heavy coats. It was nice to have a break from the cold snap they had been enduring. Nobody realized that later that day....just about the time for school children to be released to return home....a fast-moving, unexpected blizzard would hit. Blinding snow, dangerous cold, terrible wind, no visibility. 

The Children's Blizzard of 1888 is the stuff of legends. School teachers, barely out of childhood themselves, were faced with life and death choices. 

Melanie Benjamin's tale about the struggle to survive on that fateful day is based on the stories of survivors. 

I grew up in the midwest, and this story was legend. I don't know if I ever read any books about it growing up, but I was definitely told the story and warned what to do and not do in the case of blinding snow, or being caught away from home in a winter storm. The trunk of my car always had a survival kit in it -- blankets, hand warmers, sand, a shovel, etc. The Just-in-Case box is what we called it. Even in modern times, getting stuck in the snow between towns during a bitterly cold winter storm on the prairie can be extremely dangerous, even deadly. I can't even imagine how dangerous winter could be in the Dakotas in the 1880s. The tales of farmers tying ropes that led from the house to the barn so they could follow it as a guide to check on their animals and not get lost in the blinding snow and other prairie winter horror stories were told frequently by my grandfather and my parents. I remember a few storms that were severe for a day or two....and we had the luxury of sitting inside a house in town. Even if the power went off, we were relatively warm and dry. I always imagined braving the cold brutal winter out on a homestead before paved roads, before central heat, before modern comforts. I can only imagine what these families went through trying to survive this massive storm....hoping they had enough firewood, making life-and-death decisions, those who survived, and those who did not. 

Great book! It brought back a lot of memories for me, and made me nostalgic for my Opa's stories and Laura Ingalls Wilder books. 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Random House. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

REVIEW: The Strange Case of Sir Arthur Carmichael

 The Strange Case of Sir Arthur Carmichael
Author: Agatha Christie

Dr Edward Carstairs is called in to investigate a case. It seems the personality and behavior of young Sir Arthur Carmichael changed overnight and others in the house hear the strange yowling of a cat at night.

This story was first published in The Hound of Death in 1933 (UK). It was not published in the United States until 1971 (The Golden Ball and Other Stories). It has never been adapted for television or radio. I can understand why -- for me, this was the strangest Christie story I have read so far. I can't explain why without including spoilers. Let's just say....bizarre and unrealistic are two keys words. BUT -- that being said -- I still enjoyed the story. 

I listened to an audio version of this story read by Christopher Lee. (The Golden Ball and Other Stories - HarperAudio). Christopher Lee does such a great job as narrator. His voice just brings out the strangeness of this tale. 

Out of all the Christie stories I have read so far on my journey through all of her works, this is my least favorite so far. Just a bit too weird....  I didn't hate it, but I didn't exactly like it either. Creepy? Yes. Believable. No. Still entertaining....but really weird.

On to the next! 

REVIEW: The Lamp

 The Lamp
Author: Agatha Christie

A widow is looking for a home to rent. When she is offered a very nice spacious home at a low rent, she immediately inquires what is wrong with the house. Apparently, it comes with a ghost....

I absolutely LOVE haunted house tales, so this story is my favorite in these collections of shorts tales so far. It's subtle....and creepy! 

As far as I can tell, this story was first published in The Hound of Death, a collection of short stories (1933). It was not published in the United States until 1971 when it was included in The Golden Ball and Other Stories. 

I could not find an audio book version of The Hound of Death story collection, so I listened to this story as part of an audio book of The Golden Ball and Other Stories. I was delighted to discover that the book I checked out from the library (HarperAudio) actually used the narration from an earlier audio book of The Hound of Death read by Christopher Lee. Christopher Lee is a magician at reading classic ghost stories (there is a collection of MR James tales read by him on YouTube -- amazing!). 

This story was adapted into a radio play by BBC4 in 1984. It took me awhile to dredge this radio adaptation up online. Most sites had it listed (even BBC 4's site), but with no audio available. I finally found it! Internet Archive has it (of course), along with several other episodes of Haunted from BBC4. Just search the story/author on Internet Archive under audio, you will find it. The Lamp is episode 15 from July 7, 1984. The radio adaptation is full-cast with sound effects. The story is padded a bit for effect and has a few changes, but sticks to the story line pretty well. Very well done! It was totally worth the time I spent searching for it online! 

I am surprised this story was never adapted for television. One of those horror anthology shows would have been perfect -- Suspense, Night Gallery, Twilight Zone, or even Amazing Stories. Fabulous ghost story! I wish BBC or even PBS would do another Agatha Christie Hour type show and do a lot of these short stories that were never adapted for television before. 

I am SO glad that I finally am reading everything Christie wrote....I have wanted to ever since I was 9 years old and read my first Hercule Poirot novel. But some of the books were hard to find all those years ago and life got in the way.....now I have some time (kids raised!) and the internet to back me up!  Growing up in a small town with no book shop and only a very small public library made it so hard to read anything by Christie that wasn't a main stream best seller. Many of these short stories and lesser known novels are brand new to me -- I LOVE THIS! :) This bibliophile is in heaven! 

I do have a much better understanding of why it was so difficult for me as a girl to find some of Christie's works. Some were published under one title in the UK and another in the US. Others were only published in the UK, or only in the US. And these short stories.....right now to read all of the stories from The Hound of Death and The Listerdale Mystery I am jumping between 3 audio books to get them all, as they were never published in the US. Thank God for the internet! It is misused a lot -- but there is so much GOOD to be found on the 'net as well! Digital library books are the BOMB! Back in the 80s when I was trying my best to find all of Christie's books, I was just unable to do so. I have about 50 old paperbacks from my efforts....but I now know I never would have been able to find them all! I can now though -- all's well that ends well! 

I'm reviewing each short story separately and as a part of the collections they appeared in later because most were published in magazines long before being gathered into books. And I'm researching little bits and pieces as I go to find out which were adapted for radio or television, and anything else that strikes my fancy along the way. Fun times! 

On to the next! :) 

 

REVIEW: The Hound of Death

 The Hound of Death
Author: Agatha Christie

An American journalist is travelling in Cornwall when he hears a fantastic legend from WWI. Supposedly a nun called down supernatural forces to destroy a troop of German soldiers who had taken over her convent in Belgium. Finding out that the nun was evacuated to Cornwall and is still living there, he goes to meet her, curious if the story has any truth to it. She is under the care of a local doctor, who may have ulterior motives in his studies of the woman's hallucinations and strange mental state. 

This short story first appeared in 1933 in the story collection by the same name. The Hound of Death collection was never published in the US, and was released in the UK as an advertising campaign for a publishing company. The stories in the collection were later published in the US in several collections. The Hound of Death was included in The Golden Ball and Other Stories in 1971. 

I never realized until now that Agatha Christie wrote a few supernatural stories. I just read this story for the first time -- love it! I'm surprised this story was never adapted for a supernatural horror television show -- Suspense, Night Gallery, Twilight Zone -- any of those could have done it perfectly! I could not find an audio book version of The Hound of Death, so turned to an audio book of The Golden Ball and Other Stories to be able to listen. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the stories from The Hound of Death included in the copy of Golden Ball and Other Stories were actually taken from a prior audio book of the Hound collection read by none other than Christopher Lee!! He was a perfect narrator for The Hound of Death! 

This story was adapted as a radio drama by BBC4 in the early 2000s. The story was "modernized.''  While I applaud the adaptation of Christie's work for radio or television, I don't like it when the stories are fundamentally changed or modernized, so I skipped this one. It's no longer her story if it's radically changed. The modernized versions of 12 of her stories broadcast by BBC4 in the early 2000's are available -- Agatha Christie: 12 Radio Mysteries. So far I have resisted buying this collection because I know the stories have all been altered. I might change my mind at some point....but not yet. 

A very entertaining listen! Not all of the stories from The Hound of Death are supernatural (it also includes The Witness for the Prosecution), but I hope there are more like this! 

I can understand why Christie wrote some stories with a supernatural tone.....seances, spiritualism, table turning and the like were very popular in the 1920s/1930s. 

On to the next! 

REVIEW: Swan Song

 Swan Song
Author: Agatha Christie

Swan Song was first published in The Grand Magazine in September 1926 (UK) and later included in the short story collection The Listerdale Mystery (1934). The story was not published in the United States until 1971 (The Golden Ball and Other Stories). 

Paula Nazorkoff is difficult and egotistical....but she is also operatic soprano of amazing skill. So her diva behavior is forgiven by those around her. She is doing a short tour in London and is invited to perform in a private home. She agrees, but only if they are allowed to perform Tosca. She is famous for her past performances as the lead in Tosca, but that night she gives a very very memorable performance. 

Short, but very entertaining story! The ending of this one was a bit more obvious than most of these short stories, but I enjoyed it. The title is perfect. I listened to the audio version of this story. Hugh Fraser (played Hastings in the Poirot television series) narrated. He does such a great job! Fraser is rapidly becoming one of my favorite audio book narrators!

These early short stories were never meant to have detailed plots or fleshed out characters. Most were published early in Christie's career in magazines and then collected together in book form later. Paired with illustrations in magazines these early stories would have been great advertising for Christie's writing! Just some advice -- don't read these looking for the same detail, attention to plot and twisty surprises as in Christie's novels. These are "one minute mystery'' sort of stories with just a bit of story to set the scene, a bit of action and then the reveal. Knowing the pulp-y background of these stories  and reading these early stories with that in mind will help boost a reader's enjoyment. I've seen many reviews faulting these stories with comments like "Oh, this was so short!'' and "The characters and plot weren't detailed enough...''   These stories weren't written to be detailed. They were written for pulp detective and fiction magazines. Short....a bit of a zing....and done. Barebones characters....a simple plot...and a reveal. Read the for what they are. Pure entertainment, not perfect detailed craft. 

BBC4 Radio broadcast a "modernized'' version of this story in 2002 focused around a lesbian relationship.  While I applaud the adaptation of Christie's work for radio or television, I don't like it when the stories are fundamentally changed or modernized, so I skipped this one. It's no longer her story if it's radically changed. The modernized versions of 12 of her stories broadcast by BBC4 in the early 2000's are available -- Agatha Christie: 12 Radio Mysteries. So far I have resisted buying this collection because I know the stories have all been altered. I might change my mind at some point....but not yet. 

On to the next! 

REVIEW: The Raja's Emerald

 The Raja's Emerald
Author: Agatha Christie

This story is a bit of a He Who Laughs Last sort of tale. The Raja's Emerald is short and a bit of fluff, but a fun read! James Bond (the name made me smile -- Agatha Christie wrote this short story almost 30 years before Ian Fleming published his first spy novel) has travelled to a lovely tourist destination by the sea. The cost is a bit above his means so he's lodged in an out of the way boarding house while his girlfriend is staying with friends in much fancier digs. James is livid....jealous....and a bit angry. And Grace is being a bit thoughtless. Wanting to get between his girl and a foppish oaf that seems to have his eyes on her, James makes use of a private dressing hut at the beach instead of waiting in line for a tent to change. Little does he realize what will be in his pocket when he returns later to put his street clothes back on.....  And, he gets the last laugh in the end!

Cute story! I could see this all playing out in my head as I listened to the audio version (read by Hugh Fraser, the actor who played Hastings in the Poirot television show). I could just see the look on James Bond's face when he reached in his pocket and pulled out a wonder.....and his smile when he got a bit of revenge at the end. There really isn't much to this story. It's short and simple, but FUN. Loved it! 

The Raja's Emerald first appeared in Red Magazine (UK) in July 1926 and appeared in the short story collection The Listerdale Mystery in 1934. The story was not published in the US until 1971 in The Golden Ball and Other Stories. I could not find a copy of The Listerdale Mystery, so I've been listening to the stories in audio format using The Golden Ball and Other Stories and Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories. The audio books are narrated by Hugh Fraser -- perfect choice! He does a great job, and I love his voice! 

I wish I could find just one of these stories in their original magazine format. I'd love to see the accompanying illustration, ads from the magazine and other stories the edition contained! I continue to weasel around on the internet trying to find a scan or digital copy from a library or something! If I find any, I will definitely share a link so others can have a look too! And, if you know a source where I can get a glimpse at ANY of these original stories, please share and make this Christie fan incredibly happy! 

I found no information on any adaptations of this story for radio or television. Most likely because it's really a bit of fluff and more entertainment than serious plot. 

I'm loving my journey through Christie's writing! Another enjoyable short story by Christie -- on to the next!! 

REVIEW: The Golden Ball

 The Golden Ball
Author: Agatha Christie

After being fired by his wealthy uncle for being less than dependable, George Dundas meets a very interesting society girl who asks him to marry her, leading to a bizarre chain of events. George might have a lazy streak, but he certainly proves resourceful! 

This story was first published in the UK under the title Playing The Innocent in the Daily Mail in August 1929 and was included in the short story collection The Listerdale Mystery in 1934. It wasn't published in the US until 1971 when it was included in The Golden Ball and Other Stories. 

Cute story. Mostly fluff, but entertaining. I enjoyed reading it, but this story is not one of my favorites from this collection. I kept thinking how pissed off I would if I was George. Mary's behavior is really not funny. But, all's well that ends well....I suppose. George gets a rich girl with a bit of a mean streak....and Mary gets a brave man who is more than a bit lazy. Ugh. lol.

On to the next!

REVIEW: A Fruitful Sunday

 A Fruitful Sunday
Author: Agatha Christie

Dorothy, a housemaid, is out for a Sunday drive with her fellow, Edward. The car is old and in poor repair, but the pair are enjoying their Sunday outing nevertheless. They stop and buy a basket of fruit from a man at the roadside, who tells them they are getting more than their money's worth by buying one particular basket. What they discover inside nestled alongside the cherries sends them on quite the adventure! 

This story was first published in the Daily Mail in August 1928 in the UK, and later included in the story collection, The Listerdale Mystery, in 1934. It was not published in the US until 1971 when it was included in The Golden Ball and Other Stories. 

Cute story. Very entertaining. It was nice to get a break from stories that are all about the upper class where the characters make very judgmental comments about their servants or where the servants are the villains in one way or another. This time, the main characters are a servant out on her day off and her boyfriend who is a city clerk. The plot doesn't center around rich, spoiled people this time. I liked Dorothy. She's enjoying a day out where she doesn't have to please anyone but herself and doesn't have to feel like a servant, and she vents a bit about her job. And also gets tempted to make a poor decision, but learns a lot about herself -- and Edward -- in the process. Loved the story! 

I like these little views into 1920s/1930s English society. Well, fictionalized society, but a peek into the mindset of the time, nevertheless....or people would not have gravitated to Christie's writing like they did. A housemaid, out enjoying a Sunday drive with her man, is caught up in thoughts that she is just like everyone else out enjoying a car ride that day and not just a servant. And then fate poses her a question about her character....and she learns a lesson about herself and her man. Christie really did possess great storytelling powers! This tale was fun to read, and it had a nice lesson in the end! 

On to the next! 

REVIEW: All Things Bright and Beautiful

 All Things Bright and Beautiful
Author: James Herriot

There are few books that make me truthfully exclaim "Oh, I LOVE that book!'' There are many books I like....bunches I enjoy....those I really recommend. And a few....a chosen few....that I truly love. James Herriot's books fall into the love category. I first discovered these books on Sunday afternoons when we were stuck on family visits to my elderly uncle's house when I was 12 or so. My uncle firmly believed in not hearing or seeing children...so I pretty much disappeared into his huge house somewhere when my parents forced me to visit. There was a lovely upstairs bedroom where I could spend an entire afternoon lost in a book without my bothering him, or him bothering me. He wasn't exactly friendly and I just wanted to keep clear...

But in keeping clear I discovered wonderful books....Mrs. Mike, Call of the Wild, countless westerns....and James Herriot. 

When I heard that there was going to be a new television series (PBS Masterpiece), I started re-reading the books. I wanted to refresh my memory about all the lovely events from the books before watching a new adaptation. A re-read would allow me to ascertain if the show was following the books....or going off on tangents as so many adaptations do. That's ok with vampire fiction novels and the like.....but not ok when it's beloved stories like James Herriot's tales of a English vet in the 1930s. 

I'm glad to report that I love these books just as much as I did when I read them at 12 while hiding in a huge house from my cranky, old uncle....and the new television show is actually quite good! I  listened to the new audiobook version of this much loved novel. Narrated by Nicolas Ralph (the actor that plays Herriot in the new show), the audio is just short of 13.5 hours long. The story is worth every minute, and Ralph does a great job of narrating! 

Re-visiting this series has brought back some lovely bookish memories from my past....   The hours I spent in that sunny bedroom completely lost in a story until my mom would call up the stairs that it was time to go. The room where I first read The Hobbit....Mrs. Mike....Call of the Wild...Frankenstein....Dracula....and so many more.  My uncle was not enjoyable to be around....but he had great taste in books! 

Lovely books! James Herriot's stories are just magical! 

REVIEW: Peril at End House

 Peril at End House
Author: Agatha Christie

Peril at End House was first published in both the US and UK in 1932. It is the 7th book featuring Hercule Poirot. 

While on holiday, Poirot manages to trip over a mystery...literally. He bumps into Nick Buckley and twists his ankle a bit, so Poirot and his pal Hastings end up sitting with the girl and talking. Turns out, Nick (AKA Magdala Buckley) has had several narrow escapes from death recently. She puts them off as accidents until Poirot notices a rather telling, and sinister, hole in her hat. 

This story is Agatha Christie at her twisted best! Very interesting and twisty classic mystery! I had read this one before, but it had been so long that the story was like-new for me. I did not remember much about the plot. Very fun read! 

This book was made into a two part episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot (Season 2, episodes 1 and 2). The episode is very well done. David Suchet is phenomenal as Poirot as usual. The episode follows the story very closely, with only a few minor changes. The story has also been adapted into a stage play, graphic novels, manga, anime, and even a video game! :) 

I listened to the audio book version of this novel (HarperAudio). Narrated by Hugh Fraser (actor who played Hastings in the Poirot television series), the novel is just under six hours long. Very entertaining listen! Fraser always does a great job of narrating!

Definitely Christie at her best....great plot, wonderful setting, very human characters. 

On to the next! 

REVIEW: Jane in Search of a Job

 Jane in Search of a Job
Author: Agatha Christie

Jane in Search of a Job is a short story by Agatha Christie. The story was first published in The Grand Magazine in August 1924. It later appeared in the UK as part of the story collection The Listerdale Mystery. It was not published in the US until 1971 when it was included in The Golden Ball and Other Stories. 

Jane Cleveland needs a job. She's a bit down on her luck and living in a less than desirable boarding house. One day she sees an ad in the personal column in the newspaper. The ad offers a job to a woman with a slim build, light hair, a straight nose and who can speak French. Jane jumps at the chance for a job....and ends up getting much more than she bargained for!

This story is a light and cute short mystery, but certainly not very realistic. But then again, I'm not reading Christie for realism! Very enjoyable read. I listened to this story in audio format. I couldn't find a copy of The Listerdale Mystery, so listened to it as part of The Golden Ball and Other Stories (HarperAudio), narrated by Hugh Fraser. Fraser (who played Hastings in the Poirot television series) is an excellent narrator and brings the story to life. 

This story was adapted for the television show The Agatha Christie Hour in 1982 (episode 9). The story was changed just a bit, but the changes are minor. For the most part, it follows the original quite closely. Fun to watch! I'm glad they went back and dramatized some of these short stories. Wish someone would do the rest of them! 

On to the next story! 

REVIEW: The Manhood of Edward Robinson

 The Manhood of Edward Robinson
Author: Agatha Christie

This short story by Agatha Christie was first published in The Grand Magazine in December 1924. It was later published in the story collection, The Listerdale Mystery, in the UK in 1934. It was not published in the United States until The Golden Ball and Other Stories came out in 1971. 

Edward Robinson is feeling a bit controlled by his fiance, Maud. The girl won't marry him until he has more money saved up and is always the voice of common sense. Sometimes Edward doesn't want only common sense...so he rebels a bit!  He wins money in a contest and buys a car, purposefully not telling Maud so he can have a bit of a lark. To his surprise, he ends up having more adventure than he planned! 

This is s cute and very entertaining story! I don't have a copy of The Listerdale Msytery, so listened to the audio of this story from a copy of The Golden Ball and Other Stories (HarperAudio, narrated by Hugh Fraser). 

This story was adapted for television in 1982 for the show The Agatha Christie Hour (episode 10). Very enjoyable episode, although they do change the story just a little bit. It was a minor enough change that it didn't bother me. 

I'm really enjoying these little short stories. This is the first time I have read any of these. After loving Christie's books for a very long time, it's so much fun to fill in the gaps and read everything she wrote! It will take me a good long while...but I have made it to the 1930s in my quest to read her writing in publication order. I'm taking my time and savoring each story....going down rabbit holes to research whatever strikes my fancy. Having a great time! 

On to the next story! :) 

REVIEW: The Girl in the Train

 The Girl in the Train
Author: Agatha Christie

The Girl in the Train is a short story by Agatha Christie, first published in The Grand Magazine in February 1924. In the UK, the story was included in a short story collection, The Listerdale Mystery, in 1933. The story was not published in the US until 1971 when it was included in The Golden Ball and Other Stories. 

George Rowland is a bit of an upper class twit, and he's at odds with his uncle who controls the money. After a fight over his lack of direction and laziness, George decides to lay low for awhile. He hops a train to a spot he finds in a tourist guide -- Rowland's Castle. Little does he realize he will encounter a girl in distress and shady dealings that will, in the end, change the course of his life!

Fun, entertaining story! Loved it! 

I don't have a copy of The Listerdale Mystery story collection, so I'm re-creating it by reading the stories in later collections (The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories (1948) and The Golden Ball and Other Stories (1971), both audio books by HarperAudio). Loving the stories so far! I wish I could see one of them in the original magazine format! I'm sure that the illustrations, page layout and accompanying ads were awesome! I will keep scouring the internet in the hopes of finding a scan or digital copy of any of the old magazines that first featured Christie's short stories! 

In 1982, this story was adapted for television. It was one of 10 stories included in The Agatha Christie Hour (Episode 3). I had never heard of The Agatha Christie Hour before, but found all the episodes on AcornTV. The episode kept pretty close to the story as written -- cute and very entertaining! 

On to the next! :) 

REVIEW: The Listerdale Mystery (Short Story)

 The Listerdale Mystery
Author: Agatha Christie

First a bit of intro and then...the story! 

I'm going to be doing a bit of skipping around in my quest to read Agatha Christie in publication order. Backtracking ..... again.  Many of Christie's short stories were first published in detective and fiction magazines, and I found that most of the stories in the next two upcoming story collections were actually first published in the 1920s. So....stepping back....and looking at the stories from The Hound of Death and The Listerdale Mystery.  

The Hound of Death is a collection of 12 short stories published in 1933 in the UK. This book was never published in the US. But, the stories were published in later collections in the US (namely, The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories (1948), Double Sin and Other Stories (1961) and The Golden Ball and Other Stories (1961). Eight of the 12 stories in the collection were published in various magazines in the 1920s. No prior publications of 4 of the stories prior to the 1933 collection have been documented. 

The Listerdale Mystery is another collection of 12 stories published in book format in 1934. All 12 of these stories were published previously by Christie in magazines from 1924-1926. I couldn't find a copy of this particular collection, but all of the stories from it were also published in The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories and The Golden Ball and Other Stories. 

So, I have checked out the 3 later story collections from my local library's digital site in audio format and I'm re-creating these two story collections by jumping from book to book.  I'm going to review each story separately as they were first published at different times before being collected into a book. That way later I can check back and make sure I read/reviewed every short story. 

Why audio and not the print or ebook version? I just like Christie short stories in audio....that way I get the lovely British accent, correct pronunciation of any place names or foreign words, I think it's just more fun. :)  

That being said.....

The Listerdale Mystery!

The St Vincent family has fallen on hard times and lost their ancestral home. Mrs. St. Vincent hopes for better for her children than the boarding house where they now reside and lower marriages than they might once have had. When a town house comes up for rent at a ridiculously low cost, Mrs. St. Vincent hops at the chance, but her son Rupert thinks something untoward may have happened there. Who would let a fully furnished town house with servants included for so little....unless there was something shady about it? 

The Listerdale Mystery was first published in The Grand Magazine in December 1925, and re-published in the short story collection of the same name in 1934. The story was not published in the US until 1971 when it was included in The Golden Ball and Other Stories. 

I loved this story and was surprised to learn that it has never been adapted for television or radio. Maybe it's because the story doesn't involve any of Christie's well known fictional detectives like Hercule Poirot or Jane Marple. But those shows did not shy away from adapting other Christie stories to add the detective character of their choice....just surprised they passed this one up. 

Very entertaining story! I enjoyed it! 

I listened to an audio book version of this story from The Golden Ball and Other Stories (HarperAudio). Hugh Fraser (played Hastings in the Poirot television series) does a fabulous job of narrating as usual! Very enjoyable listen! I'm having to jump around a bit to listen to each story in this collection since I don't have a copy of The Listerdale Mystery....but that just makes the process a bit more fun! :) I will just sort of wind my way through all the stories from The Hound of Death and The Listerdale Mystery in the best way I can. :) 

On to the next!