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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!

Sad Cypress

Moderator1 05 Nov 09 at 9:22 a.m. GMT

Elinor Carlisle is happily engaged to Roddy Welman. Until, that is, Mary Gerrard enters their lives and Roddy is at once smitten with the girl.  Elinor appears to give in graciously to their union but what is really simmering under the surface?  When Mary is found dead after eating food prepared by Elinor it seems she must be guilty of murder - but Hercule Poirot isn't so sure....

Is this as much a love story as a murder mystery - a woman scorned perhaps?  Should someone feel bad enough to plead guilty to a crime if all they've done is think about commiting a murder? 

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26 replies

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carlotta_adams 24 Oct 11 at 1:47 a.m. GMT

At first I was completely convinced that Elinor was the murderer, but the ending really surprised me. It was cool.

Epsilon14 18 Aug 11 at 6:47 a.m. GMT

It was a fantastic book with a polished ending. As they say, 'All's Well That Ends Well'. Its amazing how Poirot solves the case. The court proceedings were also good. And it was a big surprise when I read that Nurse Hopkins was the murderer all along.

GKCfan 02 Aug 11 at 6:34 p.m. GMT

I believe that Sad Cypress is one of Christie's best-written books.  It is structured differently from most of her other mysteries, and unlike all but a couple of her other books the solution requires a little outside knowledge, but the characterization and plotting is exceptionally well-done.

Epsilon14 02 Aug 11 at 6:41 a.m. GMT

The reviews look negative. Lets hope I dont feel the same way when I start reading it.

Rahat 18 Jun 11 at 11:20 a.m. GMT

I just finished reading all the reviews and I must say I thought there would be more negative ones because honestly this was one of those rare Poirot books which left me wanting more. I thought the ending was unsatisfactory and as you know with detective/crime stories, the ending is vital for the whole story to work. AC fell short on this occasion. The principle reason being that the story needed more characters. But nevertheless, the characters were memorable as usual, in particular Mary and Elienor. I definitely wouldn't recommend this as anyone's first AC read. 

knottyceltic 30 Oct 10 at 12:44 a.m. GMT

I love both the novel AND the adaptation even with the differences in Mary's character.  I didn't mind to dislike or even "hate" Mary in the adaptation.  She had a CHOICE and she could have chosen not to accept attention and advances from Roddy.  Likewise with Roddy.  I thought AC was saying exactly THAT, that both of those people had choices. 

Her love for Roddy always reminds me of the love Jacqueline De Bellfort has for Simon Doyle. As Poirot says 'she loves too much', and he recognises that happiness does not come from such feelings.

I agree Jilly, that the depth of love is the same in Eleanor and Jacqueline.  The "advice" is the same in both too.  In both cases and older and wiser person tells these women the same message.  Poirot of Jacqueline "she loves too much" and Mrs. Welman to Eleanor "Love, but not too much". 

In adaptation, I ***LOVE*** the kitchen scene with the nurse!!!!  My heart was in my throat.

In canon, I loved the use of the "roses" in literary and literal terms.

MissQuin 28 Oct 10 at 9:58 a.m. GMT

spoilers!!! There's a huge difference between statements of facts and personal opinions.

Tommy A Jones: "I meant that the Nurse wasn't arrested because she escaped, also when Poirot and Doctor LIoyd is at the window Poirot proves Mary Wasn't The intended victim" Is a personal opinion being given as though it's an indisputable fact. But clearly Jones here thinks His Words Are LaW!!

The suggestion that Mary wasn't the intended victim is a red herring. If you don't know what that means, then look it up.

The entire dynamics of the  plot revolve around Nurse's schemes, her victim Mary and nurse's scapegoat Elinor.

Tommy_A_Jones 27 Oct 10 at 4:39 p.m. GMT

I meant that the Nurse wasn't arrested because she escaped, also when Poirot and Doctor LIoyd is at the window Poirot proves Mary Wasn't The intended victim

fnfrossard 25 Oct 10 at 9:08 p.m. GMT

I love this history! It is the best! Maybe becouse I'm brazilian and I love "love histories"!

ave27 15 Aug 10 at 5:48 p.m. GMT

Puffinjill

But is Elinor Carlisle really happily engaged to Roddy Welman?

I agree with what some other people have said. It is perfectly possible to love someone passionately and still be unhappy. In fact, it can be argued that love can cause as much unhappiness as it does happiness. The last line of the book says it all: Poirot tells Peter Lord: "She loved Mr. Welman...but with you, she can be happy." Elinor can relax some of the heavy, painful passion she has felt for Roddy and instead turn to the stable, comforting companionship of Dr. Lord.

MissQuin 14 Aug 10 at 4:45 p.m. GMT

Sad Cypress spoilers. It might help to re-read the end Tommy, as Nurse was caught. Because Poirot had her photo was wired over from OZ? I think it was. Police worked out she was murderer and she was a wanted woman. So the evidence was there as well as the drug packet  and the needle mark on the arm.

Also Mary was always the intended victim.

Tommy_A_Jones 13 Aug 10 at 4:33 p.m. GMT

I didn't like the way Nurse Holmes wasn't caught and I still don't understand why people think Mary was the intended victim when Poirot worked out when looking through the Kitchen Window with Dr Lord that is Elinor was.

Yunakitty 06 Aug 10 at 8:49 a.m. GMT

My problem with this story was just how did Nurse Hopkins think she was going to claim the giant inheritance?  Yeah, she could quietly disappear, change her appearance, and then pop up as the long lost aunt, but I hate those kinds of solutions.  And what a lot of planning and conniving that may or may not pan out...

MissQuin 13 Jul 10 at 3:03 p.m. GMT

Mary was always intended as the victim.

Which scene by the kicthen window?

Tommy_A_Jones 13 Jul 10 at 1:09 p.m. GMT

I preferred that ending to the one in the book, I like Murderers to be Arrested apart from in MOTOE

I have a question, was Mary the INtended victim?, the scerne by the Kitchen window suggests not.

Attica76 27 Jan 10 at 6:35 p.m. GMT

MissQuin

The part that bored me the most was the kitchen scene between Poirot and the nurse.. it wasnt in the book, but I was getting impatient, waiting for her to get arrested!

Interestingly, I found it one of the most exciting scenes. When it began I thought, "What, she's going to try and poison him too??" and became nervous as he started displaying poisoning symptoms.

MissQuin 27 Jan 10 at 4:47 p.m. GMT

I suspect Elinor couldn't help loving Roddy, as there may be no real reason. sigh. very romantic.

Suchet adaptation- I was waiting for things to pick up, only when Mary was killed did thinks start moving along. There were long pauses, which are fine in the book, but on TV  it just felt drawn it out. The part that bored me the most was the kitchen scene between Poirot and the nurse.. it wasnt in the book, but I was getting impatient, waiting for her to get arrested!

Bundle- I love the Sad Cypress book. I'm probably being too picky over the TV version.  I think that my standards after reading the book are so high, it would take a faultless episode of Poirot to match it.

Bundle_ 26 Jan 10 at 5:31 p.m. GMT

I suspected Roddy in the book too, MissQuin! I was convinced it was him!

But I agree w/ Attica: I love the adaptation of SC! As it was one of my favorite books I feel as if the adapt did it justice. And in mho it's one of the best. I could watch it over and over again and not get tired of it. I think it was romantic, and suspensful, and not in the least slow paced. What made you think so, MQ?

And it is kind of hard to see why Elinor loved Roddy. I think that must be why they got an attractive actor like Rupert Penry Jones to play Roddy instead of the guy who played Dr Lord. I bet orignally they each were cast for the others part.

Attica76 26 Jan 10 at 5:11 p.m. GMT

MissQuin

Puffinjill, I have heard that in Sad Cypress, Elinor may have been based on Agatha, Roddy was Archie and Dr Lord Max. I think this is believable and would explain why it's such a touching story.

Go leafs, I felt sorry for Mary too.  I didn't feel sorry for the TV version of her who was a scheming gold digger.

[...]

The actress who played Elinor was very good.

I actually liked the TV version a lot, even better than the book. And it didn't feel slow or dragged at all.

Especially the last part, where they made it more "dramatic" with Poirot racing against the time, the verdict of guilty having been brought in already, and his pretending to be poisoned!

MissQuin, It's very interesting about the (possible) real-life basis of the story.So Mary could be based on the woman that Archie left AC for? AC had her (written) revenge on her then, hehe.

But I can understand why Roddy became infatuated with Mary in the TV episode, she was beautiful (while Elinor was a bit staid), although there was something a bit "off" about her eyes. (And the thing they did to her face in the middle of the episode made me jump!) She didn't feel like a scheming gold-digger to me though, I don't think she planned on stealing Roddy in advance, she just took her chance when she saw it.

I liked the acting of "Elinor" too.

MissQuin 26 Jan 10 at 4:51 p.m. GMT

I sat down to relax and watch sad Cypress, I would have loved a faultless episode... but many things I found annoying or dull. I would like to have nothing to moan about, but sadly I have! I have to come here and get it off my chest!

What does Elinor really see in Roddy in the book? He has a weak characater, he cant make his mind up about Mary, so Elinor has to advise him what to do. We know he's not handsome (unlike Rupert Penry Jones!) not rich, he isnt devoted and faithful to Elinor, as he's heads turned by Mary. He soon forgets about Mary after she's died. Is it that Elinor has a false hero worship for him, after knowing him since she was a child?

 I did think Roddy was the murderer when I first read it!