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!

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Moderator1 09 Nov 09 at 9:22 a.m. GMT

When Poirot's dentist, Morley, is found shot dead in a seeming suicide and one of his patients is later found dead from a lethal dose of anaesthetic it seems a straightforward case.  However as Poirot begins to delve deeper into the lives of the possible suspects he finds himself embroiled in one of his most tricky cases.

Does this story have strong echoes of other Christie tales, for instance Lord Edgware Dies and After the Funeral?   Is Christie's use of the nursery rhyme used to good effect here? 

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13 replies

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MissQuin 09 Mar 10 at 4:49 p.m. GMT

I enjoyed this one. i actually saw the TV Suchet vesion, before I read the book. I like the fact the book shows Poirot's very human fear of the dentist.

I dont think One two buckle my shoe was the best title. Murder at the Dentist isnt any better though! I'm sure alot of people are scared enough. This is the second book with a dentist, Death in the Cloud's had one.

I don't really think this book is very simular to Lord Edgware or After the Funeral. The closest I think is the ABC murders, motive wise.

None of the character's stand out for me in this, apart from Ms Sailsbury Seale.

Lone_Wolf 09 Mar 10 at 6:49 p.m. GMT

I like the idea of the essense of British respectability and conservatism turning out to be a murderer. Very progressive message.

However, the story itself wasn't written that well. I guessed the culprit from the very beginning.

sjoerdbol 10 Mar 10 at 8 a.m. GMT

I think it is a good book, and I also saw the Suchet TV adaptation and I really enyojed it. Though it is very obvious in the Tv version that the secretary isn't really a secretary. But Poirots fear is also great to watch, I myself don't like the dentist, so I can understand it very well.

I think Murder at the dentist is a bit to obviousas a title, I would go for something like, Murder in treatment. That sounds more exciting I think.

go_leafs_nation 10 Mar 10 at 11:19 a.m. GMT

This is a pretty unmemorable, formulaic entry into the Poirot series, with misdirection that isn't as good as it usually is.

Lone_Wolf 10 Mar 10 at 2:17 p.m. GMT

"This is a pretty unmemorable, formulaic entry into the Poirot series, with misdirection that isn't as good as it usually is."

Pretty much yes. Like I said, I like the concept of the murderer, but everything else is very meh.

stylestocurtain 12 Mar 10 at 1:22 p.m. GMT

Disagree, I thought it was brilliant and on a par with Death on the Nile. And Miss Sainsbury Seale is such a wonderful character! The only annoying thing is that we were supposed to work out shoe sizes from stocking length. But other than that, a true Christie classic!

MissQuin 12 Mar 10 at 3:28 p.m. GMT

I enjoyed the TV version better than the book, but I like both. Miss Sainsbury Seale is the best character in it.

stylestocurtain 12 Mar 10 at 4:41 p.m. GMT

Yeah I preferred the adaptation as well - Sainsbury Seale is an absolute legend!! Gerda is a bit creepy as Helen Montressor :-s

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Oct 10 at 2:30 p.m. GMT

I have just finished the book and I liked it although I ncan think of afew I would reach for before this one if I wanted to read a Poirot book, I saw similarities with Death In The Clouds rather than ABC Murders both had Dentists and both had Japp without Hastings and both could be retitled in a simple way they could be called Murder at The Dent'st's and Murder In an Aeroplane, I did think the Title suited the book as if I am not mistaken the Poem sort of is a simily (Is that the right word) for the various stages of the book, I haven't seen the Adaptation since it was on the first time, now Next time it is on ITV3 I wont have to avoid it. 

Mr_Graves 01 Jun 11 at 12:31 a.m. GMT

I liked this book because it was both an interesting insight into wartime London (and had a great atmosphere), and it was well-written. The rhyming theme works well here because it is subtle, unlike "Hickory Dickory Dock", which had nothing to do with the rhyme whatever. The plot is excellent if improbable, and the characters are believable. Despite all of this, I can't help feeling a little let down. Why??? Perhaps the crime was not a dynamic as it should have been, since I consider Christie to be in her prime at this stage.

Mr_Graves 29 Jun 11 at 9:47 p.m. GMT

Another interesting aspect of the novel, I found, was the ending. The murderer claims that his role in the War is important, and that hanging him would do no good. For a moment we feel that Poirot might let him off for the sake of the country, which he naturally does not. But that sort of thing was used a couple of times in "Foyle's War", and it was just very interesting to see that Christie did it first!

ErkutSoyer 05 Aug 11 at 4:24 p.m. GMT

9/10 is my fourteenth book's mark.I don't give 10/10 because AC didn't give more clue to us.He show poirot.But I love this book.Dentist atmosphere is fantastic!I advise everyone.

svcodeman 14 Feb 12 at 12:06 a.m. GMT

I have to say this was one of her more complicated stories.