Book Club

Short Stories

Agatha Christie wrote nearly 160 short stories. This includes the recently discovered and published The Capture of Cerberus and The Incident of the Dog's Ball.   She used many of the plots in later novels and plays. Here you can discuss each one.

We're pretty sure they're all here but if you notice any ommissions just let us know!

Warning: These discussions may contain spoilers!

The Blue Geranium

Jemma 07 Sep 09 at 9:43 a.m. GMT

The Blue Geranium forms one of The Thirteen Problems. Christie's fascination with things "other worldly" comes to the fore but is it a believeable story?

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Bundle_ 30 Jun 10 at 6:40 p.m. GMT

Hi Lainey.

I saw The Blue Geranium too. I read it about 3 years ago so I didn't remember a lot of it. But now that you mention it - it did seem like a lot more characters were added.

But I tend to enjoy watching some of the new Miss Marple's when I haven't read the adapt they are making...that way I don't get caught up in focusing on what they did wrong in the adapt, so it ends up being a lot less stressful.

But I did enjoy it. On a scale frome 1 - 10 (10 being the best) I'd give it an 8.

What about you? Did you like it?

Lainey 30 Jun 10 at 3:15 p.m. GMT

Reading this blog has encouraged me to read more of the AC short stories..but I was wondering what members thought of the PBS (BBC) production of Blue Gerainum that was shown here in the States last Sunday, June 27th.  It appeared to have a few "extra" characters??

AndreaWilkins 29 Jun 10 at 11:17 a.m. GMT

HeiseiHolmes - you should ask about a trip to the theatre - i went a few times when i was at school (many moons ago lol) the whole experience of the theatre is fantastic and there are a few good theatre companies producing Agatha Christie plays :)

shanty_sleuth 28 Jun 10 at 5:39 a.m. GMT

This was a fantastic adaptation, I'm pleased to say. I enjoyed it tremendously.

HeiseiHolmes 29 Jan 10 at 3:57 p.m. GMT

Ah. I wonder if we could do the script in Drama at school...?  Maybe even for a school show. It would be much more fun than The Sound of Music or other things they do there. But again, I doubt it...

Tommy_A_Jones 29 Jan 10 at 3:54 p.m. GMT

The MouseTrap only appears in Britain in London it doesn't Tour and They won't go into Production of the film until 6 Months after it finishes in London.

HeiseiHolmes 29 Jan 10 at 3:26 p.m. GMT

The Mousetrap sounds SO good! Although I doubt it will come to near me.

AndreaWilkins 28 Jan 10 at 9:06 p.m. GMT

I would LOVE to see The Mousetrap !!! I've just finished reading The Blue Geranium - excellent stuff :)

HeiseiHolmes 28 Jan 10 at 5:01 p.m. GMT

When my mum's ironing, she watches soap operas which I find incredibly dull. So I escape to my room and read my latest Christies...

As for nicknames, I'm clearly Conan!

The Blue Geranium was great, I love Miss Marple, (personally I find her better than Poirot, but only by a bit.)

I think short stories are great, you can read them one at a time quickly with stops between, as when I read a full novel I try to do it all at once. So it's good for at school, reading in maths class.

Puffinjill 04 Nov 09 at 7:18 p.m. GMT

Ironing is sad (but we all have to do it) but radio plays or adaptations will never be that too me! I would dispense with my TV altogether if I could (in fact, when I lived alone I only listened to the radio or my audio books) as I rarely use it.

But, living with someone who has never read a Christie book, I think I would be in trouble. Life is so unfair..

3rdGirl 04 Nov 09 at 9:02 a.m. GMT

That's not sad Jill, I listen to the radio plays and adaptations when I'm ironing. Now THAT is sad! :-)

Puffinjill 02 Nov 09 at 7:18 a.m. GMT

One of the reasons I like short stories so much is that you can fit them into your life where there isn't time for a full novel. For example, and I know everyone will probably think I'm a bit sad, I also by them in audio CD format and then put them on my MP3 so when I go running I can listen to AC and the time flashes by. Brings a smile to my little puffed- out face!

Bundle_ 30 Oct 09 at 3:29 p.m. GMT

As everyone knows I don't generally care for short stories by any author. But I always seem to enjoy the Marple short stories for some reason. One of my favorites of hers is The Tape Measure Murder.

3rdGirl 30 Oct 09 at 8:34 a.m. GMT

I've not read all of them but currently I love The Mystery of the Spanish Chest, The Yellow Iris and The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding. I think I love the last one because of the TV adaptation though.

I can't recall the Marple shorties, so will have to remember those. I also really loved the one about the clever lady and the dogs in The Labours of Hercule as well. I can't remember the title at the moment.

Puffinjill 30 Oct 09 at 8:02 a.m. GMT

I'm with you on Philomel Cottage and I like The Blue Geranium  But this is my problem, I'm really fond of an awful lot of short stories that this list is even harder for me to write. I think The Mystery of the Spanish Chest would feature, along with The Gate of Baghdad and quite a few in The labours of Hercules. Aaaarrrghhhh......too difficult, too difficult. I need help.

go_leafs_nation 29 Oct 09 at 11:55 a.m. GMT

AC wrote so many short stories; writing a list is hard enough for her novels. I would be helpless when it comes to this. But I know that my favourite AC short story of all-time is The Chocolate Box. It's followed closely by (in no particular order) Philomel Cottage, The Dream, and The Blue Geranium, among several others.

Puffinjill 29 Oct 09 at 7:02 a.m. GMT

Perhaps this is even more difficult than trying to produce a top 10 full-length novel list as there are many more short stories than novels! Having a look back over some of the older threads, I see there was one for naming your top 3 short stories. Maybe this is more achievable? It would be for me, anyway! If anyone can produce a top 10, then hats off to you and do post it up as it will be great to see how others rate AC's short stories.

3rdGirl 28 Oct 09 at 7:49 a.m. GMT

Not yet, I'll have to have a review and try and remember some! I'll get back to you on that one.

Puffinjill 28 Oct 09 at 7:22 a.m. GMT

Brilliant idea. I will start thinking. Have you got one already, 3rdGirl?

3rdGirl 27 Oct 09 at 9:30 p.m. GMT

OOh... maybe we can start a Top 10 AC short stories thread?? That would be fun!