Recent reading: "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd"

 

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie 

 

I'm still behind on #ReadChristie2026 and haven't been reading much the past couple of weeks, but I finally finished The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (June). 

 

Poirot has retired to the village of King's Abbott to grow vegetables and live in anonymity,  but the murder of a wealthy local brings him back to the detecting business. His next door neighbor, Dr. Sheppard, a personal friend of Ackroyd's, helps out due to his knowledge of the players and fills the Hastings role, as Poirot admits to missing his long-time friend, now living in Argentina. But Dr. Sheppard is no Hastings, and not only is Poirot's revelation of who killed Roger Ackroyd a shocker, but so is how he treats the guilty party. As usual, it's a treat to learn how Poirot unravels the mystery.

 

I first read this years ago, and knowing the identity of the guilty party made for a different experience than the first read. Once you find out, you'll want to go back and re-read it to see how Christie sprinkled hints and issues that lead the legendary Hercule Poirot to the killer. The book is rightly famed for its twist ending.

 

I do remember that when this story was produced for Poirot, for some reason the producers felt the need to turn the quiet, confessional ending into a chase that could not have been further from how Christie resolved the story, and it was quite a disappointment. So it was nice to go back and read this again. Just one of the best mysteries ever.

 

From the book:

 

Poirot, too, was smiling, and at the same time shaking an eloquent finger at me. "Have I not told you at leasst thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?" he demanded. "That in such a case he finds out?"

  

Recent reading: "The Labors of Hercules" (Intro and Stories 1, 2 and 3)

The Labors of Hercules

by Agatha Christie 

 

I'm way behind on #ReadChristie2026. I'm currently still working on May's assignment, The Labors of Hercules, a series of short stories where Hercule Poirot accepts cases based on the Greek legend. Here are the introduction and first three cases: 

 

Introduction:

 

Dr. Burton expresses surprise that Hercule Poirot has not spent time studying classic literature and the discussion prompts Poirot to dive into Greek mythology. He isn't impressed, but it does give him the idea to devote the rest of his career to cases that correspond symbolically to the actual Labours of Hercules. 

 

1. "The Nemean Lion"

 

Hercules: Tasked with and succeeded in slaying a lion in spite of it having fur that was impervious to arrows.

 

Poirot: Sir Joseph Hoggin asks Poirot to look into the case of his wife's stolen Pekingese (Pekinese in the story) dog. The dog has been returned safely after a two hundred pound ransom had been paid, but Hoggin is angry at the fact that his wife paid it without consulting him and he wants his money back. Poirot discovers that this dog isn't the only stolen and ransomed Pekinese.

 

This is one of the cleverest short stories I've ever read. There's actually two cases at the end and the way Christie sprinkled clues and red herrings throughout was so not obvious, but when Poirot solves the case everything falls into place perfectly. It's a master class on how to do that. There's a reason she's referred to as the queen of mystery. There was an extra twist at the end that was just brilliant. This story was a great start to the series.

 

Symbolic relationship: One of the characters refers to the breed's origin myth, "...according to the legend, Pekinese were lions once. And they still have the hearts of lions!" Apparently during Christie's time period the Peke was a favorite of rich women, which makes them potential targets for ransom.

 

2. "The Lernean Hydra" (Lernaean in the myth)

 

Hercules: Tasked with slaying the multi-headed Hydra, a task complicated by the fact that every time he cuts off a head, two new heads grow back. 

 

Poirot: A year earlier and after some years as an invalid, Dr. Charles Oldfield's wife passed away, since then he has been beset by local gossip that he poisoned his wife. He feels helpless to refute the rumors due to the sheer volume and being outnumbered. He also doesn't think the police can't help him and so approaches Poirot as a last resort.

 

Poirot believes a jealous woman is involved and Dr. Oldfield finally admits that his relationship with his demanding invalid wife had been strained, and also to being romantically involved with his much younger pharmaceutical dispenser, Jean Moncrieffe. And while the guilty party was telegraphed a little more than usual for Christie, it was still, as always, fascinating to see how Poirot finally identified the murderer, and how he exploited the very town gossips that plagued Dr. Oldfield to solve the case. 

 

Symbolic relationship: As Poirot describes it, "Rumour is indeed the nine-headed Hydra of Lernea which cannot be exterminated because as fast as one head is chopped off, two grow in its place." Poirot solved the dilemma by explaining, "...my task, like that of my namesake Hercules, was to reach the first - the original head." In other words, "Who had started the rumour?" 

 

3. "The Arcadian Deer" (Ceryneian Hind in the myth)

 

Hercules: Tasked with capturing the Ceryneian Hind, a stag-like creature sporting golden horns that is so swift of foot it can outrun arrows shot at it. Hercules captures it alive by throwing a net over it as it sleeps. After he presents it to King Eurystheus (who gave him with the task in the hopes it would cause him to run afould of the goddess Artemis), Hercules thwarts the king by returning the beast to Artemis rather than letting him keep it for himself, angering the king and pacifying the goddess.

 

Poirot: Hercules Poirot's car breaks down in a small country village, where the handsome young mechanic who is repairing the car requests the great detective's help in finding the lady's maid of a Russian ballerina who was visiting a local estate, but who mysteriously disappeared seemingly without a trace.

 

The young mechanic, Ted Williamson, is described as, "...one of the handsomest specimens of humanity he (Poirot) had ever seen, a simple young man with the outward semblance of a Greek god." And this sweet, simple young man is desperately in love with the young lady's maid, in spite of only meeting her a couple of times. He doesn't even know her last name, just her first: Nita. Poirot takes pity on Ted and goes above and beyond the call of duty to track down the missing girl. When he does, we learn that Nita was no lady's maid, but someone putting on a performance.

 

Symbolic relationship: The obvious tie of Ted being described as a Greek god. Poirot having once seen the ballerina dance the role of a hunted hind. Nita's golden hair being described as flipping up on each side of her face "like wings" (the Hind's golden horns). At the end there is also the hope that "Nita" might return to Ted as the Ceryneian Hind was returned to Artemis, with Poirot suggesting, "And why should you not be the wife of a garage hand in a country village? And have children as beautiful as gods, and with feet, perhaps, that will dance as you once danced."

 

I have to say that although (at least so far) these stories have been pretty short, quick reads, Christie packs an amazing amount of information and red herrings in them. This is really the first time I've read her short stories and in addition to her amazing novels, she was also a gifted short story author. The woman really could do it all. Looking forward to the next batch of Poirot's labors.

 

Recent reading: "A Caribbean Mystery"

A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie 

 

For me, this Miss Marple story was far superior to January's experience, and I think it's because she's away from St. Mary Mead and among people who don't know anything about her expertise in solving crime. Jane Marple is on vacation in the Caribbean when a mysterious death piques her interest. But to the hotel owners and other guests, she's just a pleasant old lady who likes to knit, not a potent amateur sleuth, and how Miss Marple exploits this in her investigation is part of the fun.

 

A Caribbean Mystery features the usual Agatha Christie colorful cast of characters/suspects/victims. The hotel owners are a young couple who have sunk their life savings into the venture and are desperate for it to succeed, and the last thing they need is a murder or two. Among the guests are a blustery, old-school British colonel who likes to regale others with wild tales from his glory days and who becomes the first victim, a pair of upper-class couples who travel together, but whose outer propriety hides two damaged relationships, and a very elderly (and very rich) man traveling with his masseuse and secretary. And how Miss Marple finally figured out the mystery was highly entertaining and very unexpected.

 

I'm still trying to catch up on #ReadChristie2026 (this was April's read). The theme for 2026 is "Biggest, Best, Beloved" and A Caribbean Mystery was chosen as "Beloved in Your Collection". For May we have The Labours of Hercules, a collection of Hercule Poirot short stories based on the mythological Labours of Hercules. If I can finish them by the end of the month I'll be caught up. June should be easy because it's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, one of my all-time favorites that never gets old. If I can get caught up maybe I can work on the other book club I committed to this year and which has totally fallen by the wayside. 

 

Recent reading: "Murder on the Orient Express"

 

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

 

Still running behind in #ReadChristie2026. 

 

With his train at a snowbound standstill, Hercule Poirot seeks the murderer of an American passenger among the colorful cast of characters aboard the Orient Express. What he uncovers is an elaborate plan of revenge on a man who had gotten away with murder. 

 

Ultimately, after exposing how the passengers played jury and executioner, Poirot, along with his friend Monsieur Bouc (a director of the train company) and Dr. Constantine, who examined the deceased, plays judge in determining the fate of the killers. It's an unusual decision for a detective so devoted to justice, but he also understood there was another case of long-delayed justice finally being served. 

 

The theme for Read Christie this year is Biggest, Best, Beloved, and Murder on the Orient Express was picked for "Biggest Impact on You As A Young Reader", although I wasn't reading Christie as a young reader - I was buried in horse books. 

 

Next up: The April selection of Miss Marple and A Caribbean Mystery (Beloved in Your Collection) and May's The Labours of Hercules (Best Short Story Collection). If I can finish both this month I will be caught up.

 

Recent reading: "Mrs. McGinty's Dead"

Mrs. McGinty's Dead: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

by Agatha Christie

 

I'm behind on reading, as usual. This was actually the February book for #ReadChristie2026 and due to being uprooted by a temporary move, I just finally got to this one. And it was a good one.

 

After a wonderful dinner at a French restaurant, Hercule Poirot's gastronomic reveries go by the wayside when he returns home and finds Superintendent Spence of the Kilchester Police waiting for him. They once worked a case together and Spence has a favor to ask. It concerns the murder of a widowed charwoman whose supposed killer has just been convicted and will be hung. The problem is that even Spence, an experienced investigator, doesn't think they have the right man, although the evidence - collected by Spence himself - resulted in a quick conviction. Intrigued, Poirot agrees to take the case.

 

He heads to Broadhinny to round up the usual suspects, and as is usual in Christie's works, there is a large and colorful cast of characters/suspects. The convicted man himself is the most colorless, the type of person my Dad euphemistically referred to as "not one of life's winners." James Bentley was Mrs. McGinty's lodger, had lost his job and was two months behind in paying for his room. In addition to being murdered Mrs. McGinty's room had been ransacked and money taken and stashed in the yard. Bentley had no alibi other than he had been out walking on his own, nothing pointed to anyone else, and the jury was presented with what appeared to be an open and shut case. Bentley is also not very helpful, having resigned himself to his fate, but fortunately for him Poirot is determined to find Mrs. McGinty's real killer.

 

It turns out Mrs. McGinty wasn't killed for money, but for having discovered a dark secret about one of Broadhinny's residents. How Poirot, who himself feels frustrated during most of the investigation, determines the actual guilty party was a lot of fun. I got through it in just a couple of sittings. Definitely better than January's experience.

 

One of the many things I really loved about this story was Poirot's musings on his love of good food and how he and Superintendent Spence celebrated solving the mystery with dinner back at the French restaurant from the beginning of the story.

 

The theme for Read Christie this year is Biggest, Best, Beloved, and Mrs. McGinty's Dead was picked for Beloved Character(s). Next month: Murder on the Orient Express. It's supposed to represent "Biggest Impact on You As A Young Reader" but believe it or not, I've never read it. I didn't really read mysteries as a young reader, I was buried in horse books. But it's a Poirot and I can't imagine not loving it, although I do already know the twist in its ending. But it's Poirot, and I do love him, so I'm looking forward to it.

 

Recent reading (Book Clubs): "The Body in the Library" and OMG "Lonesome Dove"

 The Body in the Library: A Miss Marple Mystery 

by Agatha Christie

 

I have to confess that I didn't enjoy this Miss Marple story anywhere near how much I did the first one, A Murder at the Vicarage (although I was happy that the Vicar and his wife made a brief appearance in this one). The ending felt rushed to me and how Jane Marple foresaw the second murder and figured it out seemed too much of a stretch. If I were to go back and re-read it I might find a few clues, but on the first reading there were few if any. Also, the police seemed a bit too fatuous and reliant when it came to Miss Marple.

 

Christie gets the action going right out of the gate. Colonel and Mrs. Bantry awake to the news that the body of a young woman has been found in their library. The victim sports heavy makeup and dyed platinum blonde hair, is dressed for a party, and is completely unknown to the Bantrys or any of their staff. 

 

The strangulation of Ruby Keene leads the police and Miss Marple, who is immediately summoned by Mrs. Bantry, to a local hotel where Ruby was a dancer, and to a wealthy old man who took a fatherly interest in her. There's the obvious suspect, a local louse with a penchant for bottle blondes. But how Miss Marple wrapped up the case, including discovering not one, but two secret marriages among the cast of characters, just seemed too much for me, unless Miss Marple is psychic. 

 

The good news was that up until the end, the story was a fast read as the investigation propelled forward. I started it in the afternoon and finished it that later that night. That's how good it was until the end, which is why I was so disappointed.

 

The theme for Read Christie this year is Biggest, Best, Beloved, and The Body in the Library was picked as Best Opening. Next month: Beloved Character (s) and the Poirot novel Mrs McGinty's Dead.

 

And then my copy of Larry McMurtry's Pulitzer Prize winning Lonesome Dove arrived today and holy moly, I had no idea what I was getting into. Lonesome Dove is the January/February "Big Read" for the Hardcore Literature Book Club, emphasis on "Big Read". This baby is 858 pages. It's a brick. I could hurt someone with this book, just chuck it at their head in self-defense. Good thing I got the Christie reading done early, because I'll need to spend some serious time on Lonesome Dove. Wish me luck!

Reading resolutions on steroids

One thing I've been wanting to do is stop the time-wasting activities (looking at you internet and my personal laziness) and more time reading. With that in mind I've made a couple of big commitments this year. First up: taking another shot at Read Christie. I tried this in 2024 but didn't make it all the way through, but I'm hoping for better results this time around. 

The 2026 theme is "Biggest, Best, Beloved" and here is the monthly schedule:

 

January (Best Opening): The Body in the Library (Marple)

 

February (Beloved Character/s): Mrs McGinty's Dead (Poirot)

 

March (Biggest Impact on You as a Young Reader): Murder on the Orient Express (Poirot)

 

April (Beloved in Your Collection): A Caribbean Mystery (Marple)

 

May (Best Short Story Collection): The Labours of Hercules (Poirot)

 

June (Best Read in One Sitting): The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Poirot)

 

July (Best-Kept Secret): The Rose and the Yew Tree (Agatha Christie writing as Mary Westmacott)

 

August (Beloved Duo): By the Pricking of My Thumbs (Tommy and Tuppence)

 

September (Best According to Agatha): Endless Night (Stand alone)

 

October (Best Cold Case): Sleeping Murder (Marple)

 

November (Biggest Inspiration): And Then There Were None (Stand alone)

 

December (Best Seasonal Read): Hercule Poirot's Christmas

 

2026 (Best Book About Agatha Christie): An Autobiography     

 

This means we have five Hercule Poirots, three Miss Marples, one Tommy/Tuppence, two stand alones, one of the novels Christie wrote under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and her autobiography. Of all of these, I've only read Roger Ackroyd and And Then There Were None, so this year promises lots of new experiences.

 

As if that wasn't enough, I also recently discovered the Hardcore Literature Book Club when the video announcing their 2026 schedule popped up on my YouTube feed. I was blown away by the sheer depth of materials they read and although it's hideously overambitious, I just couldn't help signing up.  

 

For January/February we're reading Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove and some ancient Greek tragedies, most of which I already covered in my Mythology class earlier this year. So that will involve revisiting material I've already read including Oedipus Rex, which was my favorite out of everything we read (which was saying a lot - I loved pretty much everything in that class). 

 

Just some of the works on the 2026 schedule are The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, along with The Bhagavad Gita and Beowulf. There will also be short stories and poetry, and a TBA surprise Dickens novel for the holidays. 

 

Wish me luck.