60. Hickory Dickory Death (1955)

 {also published as Hickory, Dickory, Dock}

Dear Agatha,

Hickory, dickory, dock, the mouse ran up the clock.  The police said, "Boo," I wonder who, will eventually stand in the Dock?

Twisty, twisty, twisty.  When you know it can't be X, because it's too obvious, so you suspect Y, Z, and A through E, and then we get right back to X again.  Bad person, that X.  

Glad I never resided at 26 Hickory Road.  What an absolute mess.

Thanks for the fun,

b.

59. Destination Unknown (1954)

 {also published as So Many Steps to Death}

Ah, Agatha ~

This book... hmmm...

I loved Hilary and her story, and the book was interesting enough for me to keep on because I wanted to see how that all would turn out, but... this one... this one I'm not sure stands the test of time.  Or perhaps it does, but I am just not a fan of whatever genre this is.  A mystery, yes - and even a murder thrown in at the end - but the politics / conspiracy / spy / take-over-the-world genre... not really my favorite.

But no worries... I have many more to go.

Respectfully,

b.

58. A Pocket Full of Rye (1953)

 Dear Agatha,

It's been awhile.  It's been awhile since I have read anything, but I have especially missed you.  I've worked.  We've moved.  In fact, I'm not sure where my next Christie even is... 

But this book was sure a wonderful one to return to.  I loved how you used an innocent nursery rhyme as a blueprint for a murder mystery.  I read someone used the term "rhyme crime" and you've certainly used that pattern before and again, but I love it and find it wonderful.  The whole conflict between the innocence of childhood and the that wickedness of adults is such a perfect tension.

From Goodreads:  Librarian's note: this is one of 13 books in the Miss Marple series, which includes twelve novels and one collection of short stories - "The Thirteen Problems." There are a total of 20 short stories about Miss M, seven of which can be found in other collections. Entries for each of the novels and short stories can be found on Goodreads.

Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds,
Baked in a pie.

When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing;
Wasn't that a dainty dish,
To set before the king.

The king was in his counting house,
Counting out his money;
The queen was in the parlour,
Eating bread and honey.

The maid was in the garden,
Hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird
And pecked off her nose.

Thanks again, Dame Agatha,

b.

57. Funerals are Fatal (1953)

 {also published as After the Funeral}

Dear Agatha,

I enjoyed this book so much!  I was nervous at first because there were so many characters, but within a few chapters I had managed to sort out who was who and each had such a distinct personality.  I loved it.

But.

Miss Gilchrist was a spare faded-looking woman with short iron grey hair.  She had one of those indeterminable faces that women around fifty so often acquire.

I'm still trying to figure out (a) what this means, and (b) whether or not to be offended.  But I guess since you were older than 60 when this was published, I won't worry about it too much.

I don't know why I let so much time go between reading my Christies.  I am never disappointed. Maybe 2021 will be the year I finish.  Not likely, but maybe.

Merry Christmas, Agatha.

b.

55. Mrs McGinty's Dead (1952)

{also published as Blood Will Tell}

Agatha!  Bravo!  Bravo!

Some of my favorite parts were Ariadne Oliver's clear references to what it's like for you to be writing of Hercule Poirot:

Mrs. Oliver interrupted:  "He's 60."
"Oh no!"
"He is."
"I don't see him like that.  Thirty five - not a day older."
"But I've been writing books about him for thirty years and he was at least thirty five in the first one."

...

"How do I know?" said Mrs Oliver crossly.  "How do I know why I ever thought of the revolting man? I must have been mad!  Why a Finn when I know nothing about Finland? Why a vegetarian? Why all the idiotic mannerisms he's got? These things just happen. You try something - and people seem to like it - and then you go on - and before you know where you are, you've got someone like that maddening Sven Hjerson tied to you for life.  And people even write and say how fond you must be of him. Fond of him? If I met that bony gangling vegetable eating Finn in real life, I'd do a better murder than any I'd ever invented."

...

And this, though not in reference to Poirot, but it made me giggle because I get it:

"I'm afraid you're tired," said Robin.
"Not really. The truth is I'm not very good with people."
"I adore people, don't you?" said Robin happily.
"No," said Mrs Oliver firmly... I think trees are much nicer than people, more restful."

...

This one, I just thought was right on:

"Madre," (Robin) said solemnly, "would have wished me to go on with my work."
Hercule Poirot had heard many people say much the same thing. It was one of the most convenient assumptions, this knowledge of what the dead would wish. The bereaved had never any doubt about their dear ones' wishes and those wishes usually squared with their own inclinations.

5 stars on this one, dear Agatha!

Always,
me

54. The Under Dog and Other Stories (1951)

Good morning, dear Agatha,

Nothing like a global pandemic to get me reading more, eh?  The kids and I are doing another reading challenge, too - seeing how many pages we can read by the beginning of May.  I'm over 800.  I would guess Grace is about the same, and Josh probably has 246,129.

So, I really enjoyed the main story of this collection, "The Under Dog."  I also liked hearing from sweet Hastings again for the rest of the stories.  

When people talk about you, Dame Agatha - it's always to call you the Queen of Crime and discuss the different complicated plots and solutions of your mysteries.  One thing that isn't mentioned that much, in my humble opinion, is your humor.  I love it because it's subtle, but these scenes from "The Under Dog" certainly made me chuckle.

"I believe in small men!  They are the clever ones!"  (Followed up by Poirot's observation that Inspector Miller is a tall man)

"A heavy thud," he said impressively.

"If I mistake not, it is a dull thud in most works of romance," murmured Poirot.

"Maybe, sir," said Parsons severely.  "It was a heavy thud I heard."

"A thousand pardons," said Poirot.

"Do not mention it, sir.  After the thud, in the silence, I heard..."

Some of the stories seemed vaguely familiar to me.  Perhaps I'd read them before I started this blog - I'm not sure.  I don't see reference to them in skimming my blog posts and the only other collection I see them as part of is Poirot's Early Cases (1974).  For example, the scene of "The Submarine Plans" where the bold young man stole a kiss from the French maid on the stairs seemed familiar, as well as the masquerade of "The Affair at the Victory Ball" (although granted the characters they dressed up as do pop up here and there in some of your other works).

All in all, while I do prefer your novels over your short stories, this was, as always, a great read.

53. They Came to Baghdad (1951)

Agatha!

This book really, really exemplified the word adventure!  And Victoria Jones - what a badass!  (Sorry if that's inappropriate, but really!!)  She starts out mildly annoying and immature and transforms over the next two hundred pages into a clever, brave badass!  She reminded me of Anne Beddingfied in The Man in the Brown Suit (although honestly it took me a bit to remember her name and story.)

When I saw this title came up, I honestly wasn't too excited about it.  Baghdad.  Middle East.  Dust.  Not really my thing.  And the politics of spying and such - over my head.  But you managed to pull me in within a few lines and I loved the craziness of it all.

Fun characters, twists and turns, an exotic setting... thanks again for the ride.

Always,
Beth