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!

Cat Among the Pigeons

Moderator1 09 Nov 09 at 1:14 p.m. GMT

Having a Middle Eastern Princess at Meadowbanks School certainly livens things up but when the school mistresses begin to turn up dead this is perhaps a little to much excitement.  Is there any connection between the Princess and the murders?  And what does Jennifer's new tennis racquet have to do with any of it?

Was Christie trying to combine a thriller with a murder mystery in this story?  And if so, did she succeed?  Given that he doesn't appear until almost the end of the story is there really a place for Poirot here?  Could Joan Sutcliffe have had a more prominent part instead of Poirot?

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Monsieur_bob1 04 Jan 12 at 9:43 p.m. GMT

One of my favourite adaptations but one of my least favourite books  -in that (as already mentioned by previous comments) Poirot comes in to the book far to late for my liking.  Far from thinking that Joan Sutcliffe could have had a more prominent part, this book to me really belongs to Julia Upjohn and it was pleasing to see this played out to some extent in the tv adaptation.

xxchristielover123xx 16 Dec 11 at 6:52 p.m. GMT

I liked this, kinda.. I hated how Poirot didnt come in until the end though...

Tommy_A_Jones 26 Nov 11 at 1:35 p.m. GMT

Thankyou Popbubble, for the 1st time ever I have understood the Title which I think is the only thing which let this book down, having said that I prefer other Poirot books and prefer this one to others.

rossana 25 Nov 11 at 9:06 a.m. GMT

"A cat among the pigeons" is not one of my favourites. I liked it, but I didn't love it. I love Poirot and I missed him, when I was reading the book. All the same, I can't forget Poirot's theory about the knees!

xxchristielover123xx 20 Nov 11 at 12:31 a.m. GMT

hi

Hughsy 13 Oct 11 at 6:54 a.m. GMT

This is the first Agatha Christie novel I'm reading at the moment and I'm loving it since the beginning of the first page. The first half of the book I must say was very well detailed with introducing the setting, characters and the main plot. I think the book builds up with the main plot and the sub- surronding it that results in the murder of the unpopular, nosey Miss Grace Springer. I was still intrigued by the book without Poirot who I guess will later come in to book because there was a part in the book (THIS IS A SPOILER) where I think one of staff from the book sees Bob Rawlinson writes that note for his sister when he tries to smuggle Prince Ali's jewels in her luggage. As I read, I still hope that Poirot comes in at one point of the book.

popbubble 04 Aug 11 at 7:56 a.m. GMT

I like this book a lot! It might just be because of the idea of a murderer walking among the staff (a cat among the pigeons). It probably would be funny if they added Hastings. But I don´t think that the kids at Medowbank get a very good education that year, cause all the teachers end up dying. OK I´m exagerating, but quite a lot of them die! It is strange that miss. Springer ends up getting skewered in the Suchet film, rather than shot! I supose it is just more dramatic! And how does Poirot manage to work out that Ann did it?! He wasn´t even there when she killed miss. Springer!

Mr_west 13 Dec 10 at 9:01 p.m. GMT

pretty good story.

i didn't realy guess who the murderer was but is wasn't shock because every time someone talk about the murder i found myself imagine Ann in the position of the killer, something like a sixth sense for murder.

it's npt my favorite, but it was pretty good

Littlegirl 03 Sep 10 at 7:23 p.m. GMT

I have to admit that I didn't guess the murderer. When I started reading it, I didn't think that it was a Poirot mystery, and it surprised me at the end when he popped up. I would have liked to have Hastings there, maybe just for the comment on the knees.  It isn't one of my favorite novels, but I enjoyed it nontheless.

Tommy_A_Jones 31 Aug 10 at 3:53 p.m. GMT

Poirot has more of a Supporting Role in others too like The Clocks And if you didn't read the Prologue you would think the same with Taken At The Flood until you got to Book 2, Appointment With Death is another where he takes a Minor Role.

Li_Chang_Yen 04 Jul 10 at 6:47 p.m. GMT

As I was reading "Cat Among Pigeons", half way through I was wondering if this was really a "Poirot's mystery".  It almost seems Poirot is the supporting actor in the story. I love the story non the less. I SMILED when they mention Summerhayes' omlettes. 

I Luv Julia. I have always wonder what kind of a woman she would grown up to be.  To be that smart and bold at that age already.  I wish A.C. or other writers would have write a sequel on her. 

MissQuin 29 Mar 10 at 7:44 p.m. GMT

There's been some excellent casting in the Suchet Poirot. Pity I can't say the same for the Marples. But I think Roger Ackroyd and ABC had made some actor judgement errors. But I still love the ABC  murders though.

skart87 29 Mar 10 at 5:10 p.m. GMT

I have and I think they did a surprisingly wonderful job at choosing most of the actors for the movies!

David Suchet--looks EXACTLY like I imagined Poirot (though I think I imagined him having a tad lrger mustache)

ditto for Hugh Fraser and Pauline Moran :)

MissQuin 26 Mar 10 at 4:59 p.m. GMT

Have you seen Hugh Fraser as Hastings? I think he's perfect for the role.

skart87 24 Mar 10 at 7:36 p.m. GMT

Bundle_

It's okay, skart! Don't worry about it . We've all misspelled things on here or said one thing and meant another!

Unfortunately, I do that quite often!

Anyways, as much as I'd love to see the two (Hastings and  Mme Oliver) meet, I think that that would make one very hectic story!

By the way, does anyone here know of a decent Poirot time-line that has all the stories/novels in it?

Lone_Wolf 24 Mar 10 at 6:58 p.m. GMT

I like Ariadne Oliver, she's an amusing satire on Christie herself, though I don't like the books she appears in much, with the exception of "Pale Horse" - incidentally, the only novel in which she is without Poirot and takes less page time then usual.

MissQuin 24 Mar 10 at 6:42 p.m. GMT

Nicely put Bundle. I do like the the fact Mrs O loves apples, it's her trademark. I wonder is Hastings and Mrs Oliver been in the same book, what it would have been like.

Bundle_ 24 Mar 10 at 6:36 p.m. GMT

It's okay, skart! Don't worry about it . We've all misspelled things on here or said one thing and meant another!

skart87 24 Mar 10 at 6:34 p.m. GMT

Lone_Wolf

"but like Lone Wolf I like him (and his comments) in general :)"

Surely, you meant "unlike"?

And Hastings appears only in 8 of 33 Poirot novels, afaik.

ahh I thought I put down "unlike" sorry! :) I blame my astigmatism! haha!

skart87 24 Mar 10 at 6:32 p.m. GMT

Oh I adore Ariadne Oliver...with her endless supply of apples!

Lone_Wolf 24 Mar 10 at 6:30 p.m. GMT

"but like Lone Wolf I like him (and his comments) in general :)"

Surely, you meant "unlike"?

And Hastings appears only in 8 of 33 Poirot novels, afaik.

skart87 24 Mar 10 at 6:23 p.m. GMT

Hmmm...hard to choose...I haven't read Curtain yet (I've been putting it off...for obvious reasons! haha), but out of the rest I guess it would also be the ABC Murders, but like Lone Wolf I like him (and his comments) in general :)

Oh Dear, while thinking about this I just realized how few of the novels actually have Hastings in them!

Bundle_ 24 Mar 10 at 6:09 p.m. GMT

Lord Edgware Dies is my fav Poirot and Hastings book!

Do you like Ms Oliver too, skart?

Lone_Wolf 24 Mar 10 at 5:19 p.m. GMT

ABC Murders, definitely.

Then again, though I liked Hastings in ABC (the humor provided by him was very much needed to slightly contrast the tense athmosphere of the book), I'm not a fan of him in general and consider it a good thing that Dame Agatha quickly shipped him off to Argentina, with only occasional return.

MissQuin 24 Mar 10 at 4:41 p.m. GMT

What's your fave book with Hastings? I love ABC murders, but  also Lord Egware. But I think Murder on the links wouldnt mean much for me without Hastings.

skart87 24 Mar 10 at 2:01 p.m. GMT

Thank you for the kind welcome!

I'm a huge fan of Hastings too (or actually of all his reactions :) ) !!

Bundle_ 24 Mar 10 at 11:36 a.m. GMT

Welcome skart!

MissQuin 23 Mar 10 at 7:44 p.m. GMT

Welcome to the board skart. I would hve loved to have seen Hasting's reaction. I'm a huge fan of Hastings.

skart87 23 Mar 10 at 5:20 p.m. GMT

I've read this novel while I was in my second year of high school...an all girl's school...with...with a dreaded phys ed teacher that would make us run laps when we were late to class...You might probably imagine how drawn into the book I was at the time! haha! ;) Its still one of my favorites...ehem

Anyways, as much as I enjoy having Poitot present throughout most of the stories, I thought that having him here at the end was actually nice. Afterall, this wasn't really a "case" he had, but rather he was more of a consultant :D.

Also, I would indeed love to see Hastings hear the "knees" comment...I think that "seeing" his reaction would be priceless!!

MissQuin 21 Mar 10 at 11:11 a.m. GMT

But Poirot probably wouldnt have had much chance to observe knees during his youth. Full length skirts were worn back then.

go_leafs_nation 12 Mar 10 at 6:38 p.m. GMT

The knees thing is not that strange. As the body grows and changes, parts of it change and so forth. So a young girl's knees look nothing like a woman's twice her age.

MissQuin 12 Mar 10 at 4:47 p.m. GMT

Maybe their werent any bathrooms at were he was staying. Even though it's 1950's it could be an old building? The TV version changed so his lover was present when he put the gems in the racket. He didnt know she was a spy.

stylestocurtain 12 Mar 10 at 4:43 p.m. GMT

Lol that's really funny - an identity parade with knees! If he'd said by eyes or cheeks or hands then fair enough but knees? hehe Hastings would've been startled!!

Yeah it does read more like a thriller at the beginning - you would've thought he would've gone into the bathroom or something where he'd be hidden from view!!

MissQuin 12 Mar 10 at 3:26 p.m. GMT

I did think that knee theory was strange! Poirot made it sound like you could have an identity parade with knees. If Hastings was there he's soon be scandalised, I say!

The beguining is very unpoirotish isnt it? It's more like an International AC book. I cant get over the fact the man went and his the rubies so carefully, but on a balcony where someone can be seen?

stylestocurtain 12 Mar 10 at 1:17 p.m. GMT

Not really a fan of this one. The ideas are great, with the smuggling and the place where the jewels are hidden, but then you get slightly wilder things like being able to tell a girl's age by her knees (???) and we didn't even know about the secret agent thing until the end. It's a shame really because the setting and everything was very original.

I agree with those above who say it would be better as a Marple, especially in terms of setting - the only thing is I think the jewels are more of a Poirot, but it's a shame he isn't in until the end - it's almost as though he was added as an afterthought.

Lone_Wolf 12 Mar 10 at 11:47 a.m. GMT

No deduction involved in revealing the murderer = pretty bad detective story.

I actually enjoyed the film, though, even though it dissapointingly kept the total lack of deduction.

Sahara 28 Jan 10 at 11:14 a.m. GMT

I guess I am the only one who was rather disappointed that Poirot only appeared at the very end of the story. I really do enjoy Poirot's little quirks and the stiff upper lipped Brit's responses to a 'foreigner' and a 'mountebank' (whatever that is). His extraordinary powers of observation always keep me guessing throughout all his stories as I wonder why he is paying so much attention to a seemingly unimportant thing. His more or less 'cameo' appearance in this story truly robs the book of the little 'Poirot touch' which really makes AC's books stand out from the usual whodunit.

Bundle_ 12 Jan 10 at 3:58 p.m. GMT

I can see Miss Marple in Cat Among the Pigeons too! She would fit in much better amongst the teachers! Yes it would have been nice to see her maybe go back to her old school or visit one of her God children. I can't really see her in Mrs. McGinty's Dead but Poirot seems a bit of place in there too...Perhaps Tommy and Tuppence in Mrs. McGinty's Dead would be better....

Tommy_A_Jones 12 Jan 10 at 3:47 p.m. GMT

They could be Friends nsince Childhood couldn't they and perhaps one moved because of their Father's work.

MissQuin 12 Jan 10 at 3:40 p.m. GMT

I like your idea of Miss Marple going back to her old school Tommy. Shame it's too late to change things. If Miss Marple was in Mrs McGinty's dead, would Mrs Oliver not be in it?

Tommy_A_Jones 12 Jan 10 at 2:05 p.m. GMT

I personally can see Miss Marple in both Cat Among The Pigeons  and Mrs McGinty's Death. I am surprised Agatha Christie didn't put her in a School Invironment perhaps going back to her old School handing out Prizes on Prize Giving day.

Puffinjill 12 Jan 10 at 6:54 a.m. GMT

Oh well said, go leafs, I hadn't thought of it that way!

go_leafs_nation 11 Jan 10 at 11:35 p.m. GMT

A Marple? Nah, this doesn't have the Miss Marple feeling. If anything, Mrs. McGinty's Dead takes a humourous look at how Poirot would suffer in a Miss Marple environment.

MissQuin 11 Jan 10 at 8:51 p.m. GMT

I was never keen on Cat among the Pigeons the first time I read it. I felt Poirot was very out of place, I can't help but think this would have been better as a Marple story.

I didn't guess the murder(ers) but I admit my attention had waned towards the end. It was quite upper class, I didn't really like any of the characters in this one. I did wonder, whats the point of hiding gems so well if someone will see you on a balcony? The TV version was even more foolhardy, hide gemstones while your lovers around to see! Not a good a idea, when that lovers a hardened murderer..

Rubyy321 10 Jan 10 at 9:23 p.m. GMT

Wonderful story!! So imaginative! i also think that bringing Poirot in ONLY when he was need flowed with the plot well, bringing him in the begining would have been for no need and ruined the plot. @ "go leafs nation" - Same with mine. Cleaver, wish something like that had happened at my school :)

go_leafs_nation 17 Dec 09 at 1:18 p.m. GMT

Mine simply had an obsession with forcing us to run around. The occasional game of hockey was quite fun, though. (Considering that it's one of the few sports I can barely manage to partake in and all.)

What is really notable about Cat Among the Pigeons is that it brings plot threads together that (individually) sound like great fun, but you wouldn't think of putting them together at first. We have a murderer at a school; grand! We have a rebellion in Ramat; wonderful! Smuggled jewels? Sign me up now! A kidnapping! Hoorah! Wait- you said this was all in the same book? Yet, this all works wonderfully well together, and Poirot is needed only to wrap the whole thing up- the book doesn't rely on his presence and (until he's needed) moves fluidly without him.

Puffinjill 19 Nov 09 at 6:16 p.m. GMT

Ha, ha, ha!!!! I probably wished someone had done that to mine when I was at school!! I remember one terribly hearty one who liked nothing more than dragging us out in all weathers and always though PE would cure that tummy ache your Mother had written about to her to excuse you from the lesson!

Having been practically weened on school stories from authors such as Enid Blyton, Cat Among The Pigeons turned the way I viewed boarding schools inside out! No longer did they seem comfortable, safe places, but somewhere that could be dangerous. And it is a hidden danger as all the characters appear very true to type on the surface. And AC used Poirot well. The plot fizzes along fine without him and his introdution towards the end is almost a suprise as it book never feels it is lacking a more recognisable character.

go_leafs_nation 19 Nov 09 at 1:09 p.m. GMT

Cat Among the Pigeons has always been a particular favourite of mine. A killer prowling around at a girl's school; how many authors have been able to take this concept and 'run with it' to create such a tightly-plotted, intriguing novel? This was quite effective, and it didn't need Poirot until someone had to wrap things up. Introducing Poirot was a much-appreciated touch.

Besides, how many times do you get to read about the phys-ed teacher being murdered?

Read more about this story: Cat Among the Pigeons