Published in 1924, "Poirot Investigates" is a collection of short stories featuring Agatha Christie's Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. This compilation is significant in Christie's oeuvre as it demonstrates her ability to craft compelling mysteries in a shorter format, while still maintaining the complex plots and misdirection for which she was becoming known. The collection includes eleven stories in the UK edition (and fourteen in the US...

In Agatha Christie's short story, "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding," Poirot is asked to attend a Christmas celebration in order to apprehend a jewel-thief who has taken advantage of an unwary eastern prince. Full of English holiday tradition and plenty of intrigue, this holiday tale first appeared in the December 12, 1923 issue of The Sketch magazine.

The recently married Alix Martin is obsessed with a recurring dream of her new husband's murder. Each time she can see the murderer clearly, and it's the mild-mannered man she had previously been engaged to, taking his revenge. But, what's worse is that at the end of the dream she thanks the murderer. Perplexed, Alix tries to calm herself by spending time in the garden of her picturesque cottage. But her gardener confuses her further by wishing her...

In Agatha Christie's short story, "The Market Basing Mystery," Poirot and Hastings are called on to investigate the suspicious death of a landowner in a small English town. What looks at first like a simple case of suicide quickly becomes more complex as Poirot interrogates the suspects in the home. This short story originally appeared in the October 17, 1923 issue of The Sketch magazine.

In this classic short story, Miss Marple steps in to investigate when her niece is accused of murdering her violent husband. During the first meeting of the Tuesday Night Club at Miss Jane Marple's home, her guests present real tales of mystery. Miss Marple is the first to share a story . . . Fifteen years ago, Miss Marple's niece, Mabel Denman, was married to an abusive and hot-tempered man-until he suddenly died. Was it the mushrooms he...

When her maid asks Miss Marple to intervene in the delicate problem of her rather opinionated cousin Gladys, she doesn't think much can be done. Poor Gladys has been accused of stealing a precious brooch belonging to her employers, the reserved Misses Skinner. While one sister malingers with mysterious ailments, the other attends to her every need, and they've both decided that Gladys must go. But, one day there appears a paragon to replace her, the...

Set in Essex in the English countryside, The Mysterious Affair at Styles is one of the great classic murder mysteries. The victim, Mrs. Emily Inglethorp, is the wealthy mistress of Styles Court. After an evening of entertaining family and guests, she is found poisoned in her locked bedroom. The long list of suspects includes her gold-digging new husband, her stepsons, her best female friend, and a visiting doctor. As luck would have it, a brilliant,...

Pretty Lily Margrave is not convinced that Hercule Poirot is needed in the matter of Sir Atwell's murder. At the request of her employer, Lady Atwell, she has already recounted what happened ten days ago in the Tower Room, and the victim's nephew has been charged with the murder. Nevertheless, Lady Atwell brings Poirot up to the great house, Mon Repos, to see if he can find out anything. While at first the family is struck by Poirot's ardent endeavor...

In Agatha Christie's short story, "The Adventure of the Cheap Flat," Poirot's suspicions are aroused when he hears of a sweetheart deal on a flat. Doing a little freelance investigating, he soon learns that the flat is at the center of a case of international espionage and a potentially fatal double-cross. This short story originally appeared in the May 9, 1923 issue of The Sketch magazine.

Throwing on an almost convincing French accent, Tommy is determined to act the Great Detective Hanaud to his and Tuppence's latest, lovely client. Miss Hargreaves has recently received a box of chocolates from nobody knows who, and, due to her dislike of chocolates, was the only one to not fall afoul of the arsenic-spiked treats. But, Miss Hargreaves is not the first recipient of such a gift; three other large country houses have received arsenic-laced...