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!

Third Girl

Moderator1 09 Nov 09 at 2:51 p.m. GMT

It isn't often that someone comes to Hercule Poirot to confess they've committed a murder and it's very worrying for him that the girl now seems to have disappeared.  Fortunately for Poirot, Ariadne Oliver is on hand to help.  She knows the missing girl, Norma Restarick and tracks her down.  When more evidence comes to light that incriminates Norma, Poirot really has his work cut out to save her.

Does Ariadne Oliver get the chance to really be a sleuth in this story?  Does Christie convince with her story set in the 1960s?  Has she captured the feel of the time or was she too old at 76 to do so? 

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35 replies

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Angelina_ 13 Dec 11 at 9:25 p.m. GMT

Lone_Wolf

Christie had an annoying manner of pairing characters up in the end. It is cute by the time you've read your first three AC novels, slightly annoying by the fourth one, and makes you sigh heavily by the sixth. Especially when she does the "Pair the Spare" method (especially egregious in case of one endgame pairing in Aрроintmеnt with Dеаth).

Οh, how I agree...in this one, especially, I was holding my breath towards the end, praying that the good doctor would NOT propose, for a change, but alas! I had to gulp it down, along with the au pair girl, getting married to the half blind-half deaf old man. This endings make me nostalgic of "The murder of Roger Acroyd" and "Endless Night".

Other than that, it was very medium AC. For once, I knew one of the accomplishes from the start (the male one) and I also knew that he and his wife were impostors, only I thought that his wife was Claudia and not Frances. I believe the story had a lot of gaps. My favourite character in this one, funnily enough, was Ariadne Oliver and I found the begginig of the book hilarious.

ErkutSoyer 26 Jul 11 at 12:51 p.m. GMT

I've just finished this book.I like it.Book's atmosphere is wonderful.Rainy and cold!Poirot solves crime another solving style.It isn't a manor murder.This crime is thriller and collecting information.Poirot bad at collecting information but Ariadne Oliver appears now.She is good at collecting information.I don't estimate the ''murderers''.I recommend everybody.It is my eleventh book.Its score is 9/10

go_leafs_nation 14 Feb 11 at 1:19 p.m. GMT

Some pairings really do stretch it, and yet, due to her habit, when she toys with them (ATTWN), the exceptions are that much better.

Lone_Wolf 12 Feb 11 at 9:02 a.m. GMT

Christie had an annoying manner of pairing characters up in the end. It is cute by the time you've read your first three AC novels, slightly annoying by the fourth one, and makes you sigh heavily by the sixth. Especially when she does the "Pair the Spare" method (especially egregious in case of one endgame pairing in Aрроintmеnt with Dеаth).

ChristieFanBlogger 09 Feb 11 at 8:14 p.m. GMT

I'm always brought to Austin Powers whenever Christie describes the young men in her novels set in the 60's.  It cracks me up!

This was a good read, and half fooled me.  I thought it was obvious from the start that the father, Andrew Restarick, was an imposter poisoning his (not) daughter to get the family money.  I was stumped by who his accomplice might be though, because there had to be an accomplice drugging Norma in the city too.  Just when I feel so smart.  I never picked the step-mother and roommate as being the same person.  I thought David, clearly the portrait forger, might be his real son and in cahoots.

And this story features the plot line that drives modern me crazy - innocent young damsels in distress swept off their feet and married at the drop of a hat to dashing older men who save them.  I'm learning to just accept that as part of the Christie mystique.

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Sep 10 at 2:35 p.m. GMT

Thanks. I am only on Chapter 7 and am enjoying it, My Mum says she has another she will lend me.

InspectorGrant 21 Sep 10 at 1:46 p.m. GMT

Yes, I like Josephine Tey's novels very much - you are lucky to be reading A Shilling for Candles and Brat Farrah for the first time!!  I am only sorry that Tey died relatively young and didn't write more detective novels.  She was a very good writer indeed.

Happy belated birthday ;)

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Sep 10 at 11:59 a.m. GMT

I agree Inspector, Are You a Josephine Tey Fan? I am reading A Shilling For Candles, I got that and Brat Farrah this weekend for my Birthday.

InspectorGrant 20 Sep 10 at 5:24 p.m. GMT

Tommy_A_Jones

Third Girl made no impression on me whatsoever apart from the Tony Hancock reference which as a Hancock fan I enjoyed.

Same here - I liked the 'Lady Don't Fall Backward' allusion as well.  A very funny episode of Hancock's Half Hour ;)

Tommy_A_Jones 17 Sep 10 at 3:16 p.m. GMT

Third Girl made no impression on me whatsoever apart from the Tony Hancock reference which as a Hancock fan I enjoyed.

antonia1990 16 Sep 10 at 7:23 p.m. GMT

I must be the only one who likes the adaptation. The acting was great in my opinion and it made up for all the diffrences between the book and the film.

MissQuin 02 Jul 10 at 3:25 p.m. GMT

No traveling abroad isn't the same now. Back in Agatha Chrisite's day, the places would be so  exotic. But now, with the TV and interent, things have lost their mystery. If people is ACs time wanted to know about far off palces, the best they could learnn before hand were black and white photos. Places have lost some of their traditions and culture too.

But the England Agatha knew so well, changed so rapidly. It must be very strange and difficult to be born in the Victorian era. Then grow up during Edwardian times and then spend your latter years in the fast paced 1960's. The fashions and morals were so different and back then outragous. Third girl really picked up on that "scary" new times feel.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 02 Jul 10 at 8:59 a.m. GMT

I'd love to get my hands on an original ABC or a Baedeker!  Or even a Who's Who - do they still publish that? I love the way characters walk around ancient monuments with their Baedekers, correcting the local guides - makes me wonder if AC did the same?  I can just see her with her sun hat and walking-stick touring around Syria.  It just wouldn't be the same now would it?

MissQuin 01 Jul 10 at 4:23 p.m. GMT

Oh, have you any plans for those foxglove leaves then?  Only joking!

I learnt they used to soak fly papers for the posion. I shouldn't know that I suppose, but I should hope I'd never murder anyone ever!! AC murderers usually face some form of punishment.

I learnt a bit about The Borgia family, then get a few refrences. Also learnt about other crime works. Also learnt some French phrases. The travel books are fantastic as their so vividly described.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 01 Jul 10 at 4:11 p.m. GMT

All the time.  I love the insight into Bromide powders in 'Mysterious Affair at Styles'.  I might use that someday if I can ever get hold of the stuff .  And I didn't realise that lots of harmless sounding stuff like nicotine could be used as poisons either. 

One thing that did puzzle me for ages was in the short story 'The Herb of Death' (I think) it is suggested that foxglove leaves could be mistaken for sage.  I thought 'no way' as they are huge and sage leaves are small, but then in the garden this spring I noticed small seedling foxgloves, and they really DID look like sage leaves!  I thought I was a pretty hot gardener, but it seems that AC beats me at that too!

MissQuin 01 Jul 10 at 4 p.m. GMT

My spelling is terrible.  I didn't even spell Jonathan Firth correctly, maybe as he makes my mind wander..

Pierrot. I can spell that without looking it up, thanks to reading so many Chrisites! Ive learnt a fair bit aboiut poisons, rather deadly  But also phrase used, laws of the time, all sort of things. Do you find you learn info from AC stories??

Miss_Eylesbarrow 01 Jul 10 at 3:54 p.m. GMT

Of course!  I had forgotten - if I'd remembered then I would have got Puffinjill's question right in the quiz just now :( 

And I had to look up the spelling of Pierrot!

MissQuin 01 Jul 10 at 3:20 p.m. GMT

Mr Quin, not your fave? He's mine, as you might be able to guess.

Third Girl and Mr Quin spoilers: Mr Quin appaears when people are due to die. David Baker died and his body was found with a Harlequin painting, above his head.

Bundle It's true- JJ Feild is the only reason I feel like watching the Pale horse. I didn't know but Jnonthan Firth was in Sparkling Cyanide. I wonder how bad it is? I might watch it for one reason only..

Miss_Eylesbarrow 01 Jul 10 at 2:37 p.m. GMT

MissQuin

I'd love to see Witness the film, it sounds like a fine piece of cinema. I'd also love to read Partners in Crime. I've been recording the epsiodes of ITV3 and think their fabulous! I'd love Tuppence's wardrobe!

Have you read Mr Quin stories Miss e? There's a tiny refrence in Third Girl, that I didn't notice until I read Mr Quin.

You shouldn't miss 'Witness for the Prosecution' if it comes around on TV, it's superb and the changes from the short story are (for once) all good.  It's not been on TV for years but I managed to track it down on DVD (good old Amazon!).

I have read (and re-read!) the Mr Quin stories, but I can't think of the bit you are referring to.  Which story is it, and I'll have another look?  I'm sorry to say that he's not one of my faves, so perhaps I wasn't paying enough attention. 

Bundle_ 30 Jun 10 at 6:33 p.m. GMT

The Pale horse is currently still being made into a Marple. I already know theyve made some changes. In fact the only thing good about it is JJ Feild. 

Very true! You sound like me!

***Hugs***

MissQuin 30 Jun 10 at 3:35 p.m. GMT

I can happily chat about AC all day! But obviously I can't, I have other comitments. I find the recent Suchet adapts and Marples hit and miss.

I love the early Poirot series. I love the warmth, the humour. I do believe that AC gave most of the early Poirot's with an air of  joie de vivre. That fits the series perfectly.

Saying that some of the more serious Poirot's are good -The hollow and Five little pigs. But apart from that, some of the ones after 2002 are too downbeat. Poirot looks so tired and miserable. The other chrarcetrs are often shown in the shadow or blueish light. There are so many gritty, serious crime shows on televison, that why should Poirot be added to the list? That's not why I read them.

I believe Joan Hickson is the closest to Marple. Anyone who says she's too prim or cold, surely hasn't truely seen them? She was so kind and understanding towards Gwenda in Sleeping Murder. But if there's a fault with the JH's is that they tend to start off very slowly.

The recent Marples- some are fun and entertaining (not true to the books though) some are just dire. The Sitaford Mystery should be avoided liek the plague. I wasted my precious time watched that garbage! Only stuck it for about 20 mins.

I'd love to see Witness the film, it sounds like a fine piece of cinema. I'd also love to read Partners in Crime. I've been recording the epsiodes of ITV3 and think their fabulous! I'd love Tuppence's wardrobe!

Have you read Mr Quin stories Miss e? There's a tiny refrence in Third Girl, that I didn't notice until I read Mr Quin.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 30 Jun 10 at 9:28 a.m. GMT

You must read Blue Train - I like it and I didn't guess the murderer.  Puffinjill likes it too - I'd suggest you read the 'Blue Train' threads on this web site but I think there are spoilers and that would be a shame.  It's a great book - don't let anyone say otherwise!

The adapts I love are the really early full-length Suchet Poirots, any Miss Marple with Joan Hickson (she so IS Miss Marple!), 'Witness for the Prosecution', the Albert Finney 'Orient Express' and the Peter Ustinov 'Death on the Nile'.  Anyting with lesbian nuns is right out

The young T&T are great - they give you such a good grounding for understanding them in the later books.  They are real old-style AC hero & heroine.  'The Unbreakable Alibi' is one of my all time favourite short stories.

We seem to have got away from The Third Girl, though!  Where shall we go next?

MissQuin 29 Jun 10 at 3:29 p.m. GMT

I started reading Pricking Of, but the cover was off putting! I hated placing the book next to bed at night, it was so creepy!! I still have it, Ive not yet got another, nice cover copy :) The book started slow, but the books end was good. But Ive not read Partners In Crime yet, so it'l be quite a contrast with young T&T.

I think Ive been reading AC for about 7 years. I'm don't feel I missed out in anyway, not reading  them sooner. I enjoy them now more I think, than when I was younger.

There's still a few AC's Ive not read. One Poirot (Blue train) I know I don't think anyone likes it, but then I can say Ive read all the Poirots. Also I have some non series books left to read. Ive re-read quite a few as well.

Has there been any adapts youve enjoyed Miss E? I like Suchet The ABC murders, it's one of my favourites.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 29 Jun 10 at 9:47 a.m. GMT

We have the same edition of 'Pricking', isn't it awful?  I read my first Christie at age 12, it was 'Sleeping Murder' and scared the bejeesus out of me.  I'd read them all by age 25 or so and then re-read them all (in publication order - which if you haven't yet done so, I thoroughly recommend) over the last 3 years, including a corkingly beautiful leather bound edition of 'Murder on the Orient Express', which I bought while actually ON the Orient Express itself (holiday of a life-time and paid for out of an inheritance - no murders though ).  So all in all, I've been besotted with AC for almost 30 years.  How about you?

MissQuin 24 Jun 10 at 5:23 p.m. GMT

No I didn't like The Third Girl adapt either. I like a 60's based remake too.

It's true that some of the older Chrisite covers are awful! I was put off reading one of a batch of books I bought- Pricking Of My Thumbs. This is because the cover has a very creepy bald doll, with a cracked face, heavy make up and is bald.  Luckily my third girls cover is fine, it had peacock feathers.

The Pale horse is currently still being made into a Marple. I already know theyve made some changes. In fact the only thing good about it is JJ Feild. I thought the 1997 adapt was ok, flawed in parts. At least it was the right time period.

I used to go wild when I discovered some of the plot changes in the recent Marples. Ive now become more laid back, to an extent.. I just think that the books will always be there, no matter what strange things the TV people come up with. I do think that people who havent read ACs books, but watch the adapts, must think she came up with some silly storylines. to call Sitaford Mystery Agatha Christie was too much, they even changed the murderer and whole plot, so how's it AC?!

How long have you been reading AC Miss E?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 23 Jun 10 at 10:35 a.m. GMT

I just couldn't get on with the '30s tv adaption of the book at all and I have only seen it once, some time ago when it was first released.  I agree with you, in my mind David wore his hair long and had those kind of velvet suits in strong colours that the boys in 'Hallowe'en Party' wear.  Handsome, yes, but definately a product of the 60's.  David's death in the book is such a major turning point and so much of the final outcome hinges on it that I don't see how the plot could work without it.  (I am very hazy on the tv production though - can't remember how they got around that...).  I totally agree that 'Third Girl' is overlooked far too much.  When I was buying my Christie's the book cover was a really horrid picture (Pan publishers, I think) of a nasty yellow wig and sort of scary eyes, it put me off buying it for ages.

Haven't seen 'The Pale Horse' recently.  It was a reasonable 60s style adaptation I seem to recall, can't remember who was in it though.  Was there also a Hickson or McKewan (spelling?) version?  I only watch the Hickson Miss Marples, the producers mess about with the plots of the later ones far too much and I get really frustrated.  If they want to invent a completely new story, don't sell it to us as an 'Agatha Christie'!

MissQuin 22 Jun 10 at 3:26 p.m. GMT

Third Girl adapt spoilers

I knew it would be hard for them to switch the very much 60's plot, to the 30's. But I really didn't enjoy the adapt at all. The only scene I like was Mrs Oliver coming round and talking about "The Peacock", making everyone think she's gone mad.

I didn't like the repeated scenes of the mother's suicide, because it made it repetive. Ok, it might be showing Norma's state of mind. But I just found the whole episode too gloomy. Yes third girl deals book deals with sinister themes, but slashed wrist wasn't among them.

I found the denouncement (all gathered in a room scene) really srwan out and overly complicated, with half sisters, fake fathers and such coming forth. It's explaied better in the book.

If they wanted the nany's death to look like murder, why make it look like suicide? Does this make sense at all?!

what did you think about the fact David didn't die? I was shocked when I found out. But I felt that they way they made the adapt, was so miserable for norma, they had to give her a happy ending. I didn't like Poirot crying at the end, because it's not in character.

I though the actor who played David was handsome, but not how I pictured him. But that's because I always see The Peacock with long hair and 60's fashions.  I love The Pale Horse, but thatt being given The Marple teatment.

MissQuin 22 Jun 10 at 3:12 p.m. GMT

Big Third Girl spoiler warning:

I think Third Girl is a overlooked book, it's got interesting characters, a clever murder. A found it stetched the imagination that Frances and the stepmother were the same person. But it wasn't impossible. Norma wasn't very bright and was drugged most of the time.

I think Chrisite captured the 60's feel as being unpredicable and scary times. So often when you see 60's based films/tv shows they make it appear a fun time to live in. But drugs and flick knives were frightening. The girls are intially different to AC's earlier 20's females.

I found The Peacock really interesting. Yes he was bad, but very sexy.  I can't see why he'd be with Norma, unless for her money. Yet he actually seemed quite fond of her. Love is strange. I wonder (perhaps rather sentimentally) if he was planning to use the money he got by blackmail, to go away with Norma.

David was probably putting the forged painting in the house. Or leaving a secret note for the couple?

I was actually  saddened and shocked over his death. Even Mrs Oliver couldn't help but beguin to feel his charm. But Poirot remained completley unmoved!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 22 Jun 10 at 10:16 a.m. GMT

I agree with your earlier post, Miss Quinn, that of the later books (post 1960) Third Girl is one of the best and one I revisit often.  I love the way AC captures the flavour of the 1960's underground arts & drugs scene in a way I find mildly shocking - my teenage years were in the 1980s where the thought of looking like nothing on earth just wouldn't do.  I'd love to see a really great adaptation of it, the recent Suchet version which abandoned the 60's for 1936 was a real let down for me.  I think that The Peacock is by far the most interesting character (Mrs Oliver & M. Poirot excepted, of course!), he has so many levels, a handsome young man, a loyal friend and yet at the same time, that air of menace and destructive power.  What was he doing in the house all alone in the scene before Poirot gives him a lift in the car?

MissQuin 21 Jun 10 at 5:18 p.m. GMT

Miss Eyesbarrow posted a interesting question- what would Chrisite think of teenagers/youths of today? Well some I'm sure she'd think were completely depraved. But I was suprised (in a good way) to find out how many people under the age of 20 who are big Agatha Chrisite fans. I think AC would be very pleased about those teens getting so much pleaseure from her books.

Major Third Girl spoilers:

The interesting thing about Third Girl is the young people that Mrs oliver found alarming were David Baker (The Peacock) a beatnik and Norma. Frances was friendly towards Mrs Oliver, yet it turns out she was the one who hit her over the head! Wheras although David appeared menacing, he was all talk and although not trustworthy not threatening. Norma wasn't a psyhco, she'd been drugged. So it was all about appearances. A simular case is Halloween Party, although I can't say too much. But some lads who appeared surly, actually helped  out towards the end.

Maybe AC was counseling herself, maybe she was shrewd enough to see that some people aren't as bad as they make out.

tudes 10 May 10 at 9:19 p.m. GMT

I think Third Girl is a great book, but I also think that is a little confuse. I don' t know, maybe it's the translation. I didn' t read this one in english.

Mimiumidon 08 May 10 at 2:42 a.m. GMT

Interesting.

Tommy_A_Jones 20 Jan 10 at 4:46 p.m. GMT

I like it too Go_leafs, but I there are better books and Better books with Ariadne.

go_leafs_nation 18 Jan 10 at 5:17 p.m. GMT

Hooray! I'm not the only one who likes Third Girl! But this book riddled with flaws. It's very long and not much happens, resulting in a slow, plodding pace. Mrs. Oliver appears, and she is a delight, basically saving the book from total ruin. The scenes with Mrs. Oliver are the best in the entire book, whether she tries her hand at shadowing (and discovers it's much harder than when she writes of it in her books) or whether she tries comforting Poirot with his wounded vanity (having just been called too old).

But the book really contemplates on the changing times, and if she conveyed her thoughts through her characters, AC evidently did not like the direction society was taking one bit (and frankly, I tend to agree with such a viewpoint).

The plot is weak, as mentioned, and would be probably better as a short story, instead of padded out into a novel, with plenty of coincidences that make me raise my eyebrow (how, pray tell, does one not notice one's stepmother or mother- I forget which she was- is also living with you in London?). The Suchet version tackled this problem and managed to make an entertaining film out of rather weak material, although the layer that came with the 1960s setting was irrevocably lost.

MissQuin 17 Jan 10 at 2:01 p.m. GMT

When I think of Poirot, I think of Art Deco- the 1920's and 30's. But he contiuned solving crimes in the 1960's. Its easy to overlook the later Poirots, which I did at first. I read The Clocks, Elephants can remember,  I dont personally consider these to be really good books. So it took a long time for me to get round to reading this book.   I found Third Girl as thrilling as any of the early Poirot stories.

Unlike alot of the later Chrisites, Third Girl was very much set in the present (at the time) the 1960's. The pace is actually very fast. Alot of 1960's based programmes see the decade as bright, lively and fun. But 3rd girl gives a completely different take on the "swinging sixties".

Mrs Oliver and Poirot feel uncertain and confused and at how fast modern life is changing around them. The feelings are convincing, I think drawn from Agatha Christie's own fears. I feel AC really understood young people at that time. She understood them, but  disaproved and seems to have pitied at the way life was for them. The young people mentioned take drugs, carry knives and have no respect for the elders.

It draws a grim picture, but it not all gloomy. I recommend this one to anyone who loves the exchanges between Poirot and Mrs Oliver. This cases makes the friendship between them stronger, as they are cast together by a young girl as "too old"!