Book Club

Poirot Stories

Poirot is Agatha Christie's most famous and popular detective.  No doubt he would agree that he deserves that accolade!

Here is the place to discuss all of his stories in detail with other fans.  The most insightful comments will be added to the Stories pages.  But remember to beware spoilers!

If you can't find your favourite Poirot story here, don't worry - we'll be adding them all soon.

Warning: These discussions may contain spoilers!

Cards on the Table

Moderator1 05 Nov 09 at 11:48 a.m. GMT

A friendly game of bridge in an exotic house - what could possible go wrong.  Well the death of the host, Mr Shaitana, for a start.  It's just as well that among the guests are Hercule Poiort, Superintendent Battle, Colonel Race and Ariadne Oliver all of whom are no strangers to investigating murder.  With only four other guests in the house at the time the list of suspects isn't exactly endless so surely it should be wrapped up very quickly...

Does Christie do a 'locked-room' mystery as well as some of her fellow crime writers?  Is it a method she uses enough in her books?  Do you have to know about the game of bridge to appreciate this book?

Login or register to add posts and reply

63 replies

Reverse order

SeaView 23 Oct 11 at 3 p.m. GMT

Great 'locked-room' mystery, and I enjoyed seeing the bridge scores printed inside the book, since I don't play bridge. The doctor with his anthrax, whew! Anthrax after the recent scares in the U.S. about six years ago wasn't it? well, that brings this book into our times mighty quick. Shaitana, what a wild character. The spin on name "Satan" led me to believe Mr. Shaitana would be the one doing the killing, and how differently it turned out. I thought the pyschology of the evil young girl who had killed before and how she was a true sociopath ready to drown her current female friend rather than risk exposure, worked well. Christie delineates clearly how she had the charm of the sociopath to fox the men investigating. Wow, Christie gave the doctor a hard time. I kept suspecting the lady who had cancer and who visited Harley Street doctors and who had once killed her husband. Poirot admired her for not justifying herself with explanations why.

LauraPoirot 10 Aug 11 at 7:55 p.m. GMT

@Mr West: I don't think they should meet. Mainly Poirot and Miss Marple

Would Not fit together in One Crime! That Would Not work. Agatha Christie Said that Too and I think she's right (like almoust always). But the Thing with Figuring out the crimes near their homes  is a good idea. I'd just take other sleuth characters and One of the Above to solve the whole Mystery with all the results of the others.

But really a good idea!

Regards!

Mr_west 10 Aug 11 at 6:46 p.m. GMT

I love this book! When I started to reaed I thought that there won't be any surprisings or twists, but it turned out to be one of my favorite Poirot's.

This book gave me an idea: a book in which Poirot, Mrs. Oliver, T&T, Miss Marple, Harley Quin and satterwaitte, and Parker Pyne are the detectives. Not all together of course because that would be improbable and impossible to write, but every one of them will try to figure out a murder which happen close to their homes, and was comitted by the same man (serial killer). And on the way, they will meet each other (like happen in The ABC Murders). I can see that happening: Tuppence arguing with Poirot on the way they should detect, Miss Marple embarrass Tommy when he treat her like an old innocenct lady (and of course Mrs. Oliver will tell him all about her ideas of women in the Scotland Yard), Harley Quin become friend of Parker Pyne (from some reason they seem like a good couple) etc. 

It could have been fun to read that kind of book, but it was also a lot of work for Christie to write five different plots whivh happen in parallel.  

Quin90 15 Jul 11 at 5:22 a.m. GMT

I don't have to know the game of bridge well enough to appreciate this book. I read it some time back and hardly remember the characters as much but all in all,it was a lovely book. One that i clearly remember liking alot!!?

Agatha Christie does prove she's good at locked-room mysteries. Better than her fellow crime writers...I can't really say!!?

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Apr 11 at 4:28 p.m. GMT

It could have been interesting if Satterthwaitte had been in the book but he couldn't have filled any of the roles that were taken Poirot Master Detecxtive, Race Military Info about Despard, Battle The erving Policeman on hand and Ariadne the Woman's point of view if anyone could have been swapped it is Race in favour of Hasstings which would have been interesting as he thinks he has the skills to be a Great Detective and it would have showed he hasn't, Carbury being a Military Man could have replaced Race but not adequately.

NightRayDuck 20 Apr 11 at 8:17 p.m. GMT

oops.. typographical error. Thank Christie and everyone involved in the publication of this novel... that Miss M, T&T Beresford, or Mr. Satterthwaite did not fill one of the detective positions in this story. 

Tommy_A_Jones 20 Apr 11 at 4:54 p.m. GMT

This book is from the Classic Christie era where the books are lighter and not as Dark as ITV made the Adaptation which is one reason why the Adaptation didn't work. If the Investigations had been more serious it would have spoilt the book.

I didn't quite understand your last paragraph, are you suggesting Poirot, Race, Battle and Ariadne shpold have been Ditched in favour of Tommy, Tuppence, Miss Marple and Mr Satterthwaitte? Interesting idea but Poirot has to be there and you can't split up Tommy and Tuppence can you so that would make 5 and spoil the symmetry and the book had to have a Proffessional serving Policeman so that would make 6 and really spoil the symmetry 

NightRayDuck 20 Apr 11 at 4:58 a.m. GMT

I enjoyed Cards on the Table as a casual read, not as a serious mystery mainly because I am like Stylestocurtain... no idea how bridge is played, and couldn't spot that psychological clue of a murderer being excited and not paying attention to the bridge game. Oh well... and since the victim, Mr. Shaitana, wished to showcase four murderers to four sleuths, it couldn't help being rather scattered and tedious. I am surprised that Christie didn't try to describe a serious investigation for each sleuth in this story (if she did so, the story would have looked even more tedious, although perhaps a little more structured).

I do think, hmm, thank Christie's inspiration and little grey cells, and her editors, publishers, and any friends who had tried reading an advance copy of this story, that Miss Marple, Tommy Beresford, Tuppence Beresford, or Mr. Satterthwaite filled one of the positions of the "four detectives".

MissQuin 11 Apr 11 at 2:59 p.m. GMT

stylestocurtain

Maybe Christie deliberately put Mrs Oliver there for that reason, to torture Poirot!

hahah, maybe. I think Mrs O met Parker Pyne first, then Poirot. It's odd how opposite people can get along though. Poirot is annoyed by most people. Yet he regarded Hastings with fondness. Mrs Oliver is a woman who knows her own mind. She has her own ideas about things "There should be a woman in Scotland Yard". So I admire her for that.

Wheras it was easier to put down Hastings, I think Mrs Oliver is too independent. Maybe Poirot likes that about a woman? Countess Vera was a feisty lady. Not that Poirot and Ariadne relationship is romantic. But Poirot might like someone who thinks so differently to himself and knows their own mind.

I recommend McGinty's Dead to you Styles- it's a very good book. There's some classic Poirot scenes in it.

Tommy_A_Jones 11 Apr 11 at 1:18 p.m. GMT

I think you might be right stylestocurtain, you can like someone and find them maddening and Ariadne calls on Poirot in 4 of the Books she is in with him so she massages his ego, perhaps that is part of it.

stylestocurtain 10 Apr 11 at 9:42 p.m. GMT

Tommy_A_Jones

I do like Ariadne and I think theChemistry between her and Poirot is Great, I first came across Ariadne with Cards On The Table My memory of  Elephants Can Remember is sketchy as is Dead Man's Folly I am not a fan of Mythology so the name thing went over my head at first and still don't see it to important Cards On The Table is one of the books that got me into AC I didn't get on with Third Girl first time but Miss Quin is right you can't please everyone.

It just surprises me that she doesn't drive Poirot crazy .., I mean, a woman who steps out of her car and loads of apple cores roll out? Mixing with a gentleman who cannot bear even ornaments to be out of place?

Maybe Christie deliberately put Mrs Oliver there for that reason, to torture Poirot!

Tommy_A_Jones 09 Apr 11 at 4:06 p.m. GMT

I do like Ariadne and I think theChemistry between her and Poirot is Great, I first came across Ariadne with Cards On The Table My memory of  Elephants Can Remember is sketchy as is Dead Man's Folly I am not a fan of Mythology so the name thing went over my head at first and still don't see it to important Cards On The Table is one of the books that got me into AC I didn't get on with Third Girl first time but Miss Quin is right you can't please everyone.

stylestocurtain 08 Apr 11 at 7:09 p.m. GMT

Ah I haven't read Third Girl, but I did enjoy Dead Man's Folly.

Yeah I'm sorry I didn't enjoy Cards on the Table too! I wanted to a lot, but I suppose you can't please everyone.

I did try and watch the adaptation but gave up, since they tend to ruin the books I *did* enjoy so I don't think I'd enjoy watching one I didn't! (the new adaptations I mean).

MissQuin 08 Apr 11 at 3:50 p.m. GMT

I agree with you Styles about Mrs Oliver. When I read Cards I didn't like her. I read Dead Man's Folly (my least favourite book) and same feelings.

It's only when I read McGinty and Third Girl- I could see an affinity between Poirot and Ariadne. The fact they have names from Greek mythology gives them a connection too. Also she does sometimes provide much needed comic relief in the books and the series.

Third Girl is good in that it makes a bond between two older people, trying desperately to make some sense of the younger generation.

Tommy_A_Jones 08 Apr 11 at 3:42 p.m. GMT

I am sorry you didn't enjoy it stylestocurtain, I loved it although I do remember once when I was going to re-read it I couldn't remember who the Murderer was but I don't think that is a bad thing, it is at least 7 years since I last read it (For The 4th or 5th Time) which is probably why I don't recall the bits you mention, I was really sad (And yes Miss Quin Bitter) that ITV didn't do a good jop and chose to make so many Changes, I will get around to reading it again and am looking forward to it.

stylestocurtain 08 Apr 11 at 1:24 p.m. GMT

I think I'm in the minority here but...

I hated Cards on the Table. I thought it was one of the most dull and boring Poirots I've ever read. The concept really excited me, but all that stuff with the Bridge and everything was just so tedious (I've never played anything more complicated than "Snap").

I'm not really a Mrs Oliver fan either ... her and Poirot make an unlikely pair and I just don't think they gel. I'm surprised he can stand her, being so muddled as she is.

I usually class the good AC's as ones I remember - the more I rememeber them, the better they are. With this one I can barely remember who the murderer was! I just remember they were at a game of Bridge and Mr S was killed - then there was a window cleaner and a boat at the end. But that's seriously all I can remember.

monsieurpaul 23 Jan 11 at 2:07 p.m. GMT

The book is great but i don't now to play bridge so i was difficult to read some parts

Mr_Graves 19 Jan 11 at 5:14 a.m. GMT

This is one of my newest favorites.. I loved the concept, the characters, the gripping plot, and of course the unfailing intelligence that is behind every great Agatha Christie book. This is the Queen of Crime at the height of her reign. Such a pity about the 2006 adaptation, though. I mean, they started off so well, with the set and the cast and the dialogue spot on, but from there on it all went downhill! Twisting it all around like that- was there a need for it? Sigh.... That's ITV for you!

Tommy_A_Jones 31 Aug 10 at 3:42 p.m. GMT

MissQuin 31 Aug 10 at 3:34 p.m. GMT

Click on the smiley face icon then it comes up, choose one, then it'll come up, try a smile for me?