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AC quiz!

Mr_west 18 Jun 10 at 1:16 p.m. GMT

think you know anything about AC?

this is the place to check that, but without spoilers like who is the murderer in .....

i'm start: where did the book appointment with death take place?

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899 replies

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Tommy_A_Jones 23 May 12 at 10:59 a.m. GMT

The Murder At The Vicarage

Pocketfull of Rye

A Christmas Tragedy

GKCfan 23 May 12 at 3:41 a.m. GMT

Name three Christie tales where a watch or a clock is smashed or damaged, or if the time has been altered (or both), in order to mislead investigators about the true time of the crime.

NightRayDuck 22 May 12 at 6:25 p.m. GMT

Would someone like to post a new quiz?

tudes 26 Apr 12 at 5:18 p.m. GMT

NightRayDuck

Well done, tudes! Feel free to post the next quiz if you have one. :)

I love this book. It was the first one (AC's book)! It's really special.

NightRayDuck 26 Apr 12 at 4:24 a.m. GMT

Well done, tudes! Feel free to post the next quiz if you have one. :)

tudes 25 Apr 12 at 11:53 p.m. GMT

I think the real name of Arlena Marshall was Helen Stuart.

NightRayDuck 25 Apr 12 at 8:50 p.m. GMT

May I drop in with a little quiz?

Quiz: The victim in Evil Under the Sun is called Arlena Marshall. She adopted the name "Arlena" when she became an actress, and "Marshall" is the name of her husband. What was her original name before her marriage and before her acting career?

I've been wondering whether our Christie fans would find this too easy..

P_Lombard 11 Apr 12 at 8:33 p.m. GMT

Nice job! Your turn.

avemaria08 11 Apr 12 at 6:40 p.m. GMT

Dr. Sheppard-The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot)

Jerry Burton-The Moving Finger (Miss Marple)

Michale Rogers-Endless Night (non-series)

P_Lombard 11 Apr 12 at 6:08 p.m. GMT

Name three 1st person narrators who narrate the entire story: one from the Poirot books (excluding Hastings), one from the Miss Marple books, and one from a non-series book.

cameronjhw 11 Apr 12 at 12:55 p.m. GMT

Good work P_Lombard

Now it's your turn...

P_Lombard 10 Apr 12 at 2:55 p.m. GMT

Emily Brent - And Then There Were None

Miss Pearcehouse - The Sittaford Mystery

Miss Ramsbottom - A Pocketful of Rye

Caroline Sheppard - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

cameronjhw 10 Apr 12 at 12:51 p.m. GMT

Thank You! Here it is:

Except for the shrewd and intelligent Miss Jane Marple, name four other spinsters from four different Christie books

GKCfan 10 Apr 12 at 3:34 a.m. GMT

Good work!  There are other examples, such as Cards on the Table (the bridge scores).  Your turn!

cameronjhw 09 Apr 12 at 12:45 p.m. GMT

The Man in the Brown Suit

Lord Edgware Dies

The Mysterious Affair at Styles

GKCfan 05 Apr 12 at 7:13 p.m. GMT

Name three Agatha Christie novels that contain copies of her own handwriting that are an integral part of the plot.

cameronjhw 05 Apr 12 at 4:52 p.m. GMT

Well done GKCfan your turn again...

GKCfan 05 Apr 12 at 4:01 a.m. GMT

"The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan," "The Western Star," "The Affair of the Pink Pearl," Hercule Poirot's Christmas.

cameronjhw 04 Apr 12 at 11:25 p.m. GMT

Name four Christie novels or short stories that feature a stolen or disappearing piece of jewelry or gem

GKCfan 04 Apr 12 at 10:24 p.m. GMT

Correct!  Great work- your turn!

cameronjhw 04 Apr 12 at 5:23 p.m. GMT

Emily Brent from And Then There Were None

Mrs. Boynton from Appointment with Death

Aristide Leonides from Crooked House

GKCfan 31 Mar 12 at 4:36 a.m. GMT

Name three murder victims who died from being injected with a hypodermic needle.

LucyE 30 Mar 12 at 3:55 p.m. GMT

Manx Gold it is!

Isle of Man Alderman Arthur B. Crookall chaired a committee to boost tourism in the summer of 1930. He came up with the idea of a treasure hunt for tourists, with clues hidden in a detective story which he wanted to commission Agatha Christie to write. The resulting story, Manx Gold, can be found in two short story collections first published in the 1990’s, While the Light Lasts and The Harlequin Tea Set & Other Stories.

Your turn GKCfan.

GKCfan 29 Mar 12 at 6 p.m. GMT

"Manx Gold!"

LucyE 29 Mar 12 at 1:33 p.m. GMT

No, Duck, the apologies are all mine.  Worried that the question might be too easy, I overcompensated and made it too hard.

This short story, about a hunt somewhere in the UK, was first serialized in the Manchester Daily Dispatch newspaper and was also reprinted in booklets given away at hotels and guest houses.  The story, which includes maps and a snapshot, was not published in a book collection until after AC’s death.

Name the story and claim victory.

NightRayDuck 27 Mar 12 at 2:31 a.m. GMT

I apologize that I am posting a guess while I haven't succeeded in looking up whether this person was an alderman..

Do you refer to:

the archaeologist Stephen Glanville,

suggesting that Christie might set a story in ancient Egypt,

resulting in the novel Death Comes as the End ?

LucyE 23 Mar 12 at 2:37 p.m. GMT

Sorry, GKCfan, not what I had in mind.  The cautionary clue was intended to steer you away from Watts/Mountbatten and Ackroyd.  And, as far as I know, Watts was never an alderman.  If I’m wrong about that, step up and claim your prize.  Otherwise, let’s see if another clue might shed a more lasting light:

Given her fame at the time, £60 wasn’t much of a commission even for just a short story, but then there was the chance for a bit of travel, that is until Rosalind got sick and Christie had to go home to be with her.

GKCfan 23 Mar 12 at 3:14 a.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

1) James Watts of Abney Hall

2) He had a idea that a certain character playing a certain role in the story should be the killer.  (I'm trying to avoid spoilers).  This proved highly controversial

3) The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

LucyE 22 Mar 12 at 4:51 p.m. GMT

My first time posing a question, so apologies in advance if it's too easy or too hard.

Christie was brilliant at plucking story ideas out of the ether, but some stories resulted from an idea that first popped into someone else’ head. Indeed, one of her most unusual stories came about because an alderman had an idea for which he thought Christie would be the perfect writer.  Here’s a three-part question about him:

What was the name of this man?

What was his idea?

What is the name of the Christie story?

Cautionary clue:  A correct answer should be spoiler-free, but a wrong answer might need to be hidden.

Tommy_A_Jones 22 Mar 12 at 1:18 p.m. GMT

GOSH! I didn't think there was that many, Over to you Lucy.

LucyE 21 Mar 12 at 5:31 p.m. GMT

Only considering English-language performances, I believe there have been at least 21 who have acted with two different Poirots.  None, however, that have acted with three.  Here we go:

1. J.H. Roberts: Charles Laughton & Austin Trevor

2. Dino Galvani: Francis L. Sullivan & Austin Trevor

3. Sheila Allen: Tony Randall & David Suchet (DS)

4. Lauren Bacall: Albert Finney (AF) & Peter Ustinov (PU)

5. Sir John Gielgud: AF & PU

6. Vernon Dobcheff: AF & DS

7. David de Keyser: AF & DS

8. Colin Blakely: AF & PU

9. Denis Quilley: AF & PU

10. Celia Imrie: PU & DS

11. Dimitri Andreas: PU & DS

12. John Stride: PU & DS

13. Avril Elgar: PU & DS

14. Tim Pigott-Smith: PU & DS

15. Susan Wooldridge: PU & DS

16. Christopher Guard: PU & DS

17. Caroline Langrishe: PU & DS

18. Simon-Cowell-Parker: PU & DS

19. Joanna Dickens: PU & DS

20. Dorothea Phillips: PU & DS

21. David Soul: PU & DS

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Mar 12 at 2:12 p.m. GMT

I can name 3 People who have Acted with more than one OPoirot (Like my last Quiz) can you name them or maybe you can do better.

GKCfan 20 Mar 12 at 9:10 p.m. GMT

That's a third job!  Who wants to go next?

GKCfan 20 Mar 12 at 9:10 p.m. GMT

That's a third job!  Who wants to go next?

LucyE 20 Mar 12 at 7:16 p.m. GMT

Before the Great War he was in Lloyds, so presumably he had a job dealing with insurance.

GKCfan 20 Mar 12 at 6:10 p.m. GMT

I have no memory of Hastings running a B&B or running an automobile dealership, although if anyone else has evidence of this please tell me.  Here's a hint– there are references to two more jobs Hastings has either held in the past or is currently holding in The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

Tommy_A_Jones 20 Mar 12 at 10:54 a.m. GMT

I admit I was clutching at straws with that Guess, I thought I recalled him saying he used to work as an Owner of a B&B I obviously have it wrong, perhaps it was something more Luxurious, I will guess Car Show Room, If this is wrong I have one more Guess.

GKCfan 20 Mar 12 at 3:25 a.m. GMT

The first two are correct, but can you please tell me in which story Captain Hastings runs a bed and breakfast?

Tommy_A_Jones 19 Mar 12 at 1:21 p.m. GMT

Ranch Manager, Private Secretary and Bed and Breakfast Owner?

GKCfan 18 Mar 12 at 9:14 p.m. GMT

Outside of the military, his unofficial (and unpaid) work detecting with Poirot, and his writing career, name three jobs held by Captain Hastings.

LauraPoirot 18 Mar 12 at 8:30 p.m. GMT

Very good! It's also one of my favourites!  now I'm proud because I knew the three translated titles without Wikipedia ;-) but one doesn't have to know everything as long as they know where to find it out, right? So the next is (again) up to you GKC!

GKCfan 18 Mar 12 at 7:04 p.m. GMT

John Curran's favorite Christie book is the same as mine: Five Little Pigs.  

According to Wikipedia, here are some translated versions of the title:

International titles

• Catalan: Cinc porquets (Five Little Pigs)
• Danish: Fem små grise (Five Little Pigs)
• Dutch: Vijf kleine biggetjes (Five Little Pigs)
• French: Cinq Petits Cochons (Five Little Pigs)
• German: Das unvollendete Bildnis (The Unfinished Portrait)
• Japanese:  五匹の子豚 (Five Little Pigs)
• Hungarian: Öt kismalac (Five Little Pigs)
• Italian: Il ritratto di Elsa Greer (Elsa Greer's Portrait)
• Japanese:  五匹の子ぶた (Five Little Pigs)
• Polish: Pięć małych świnek (Five Little Pigs)
• Portuguese: Poirot Desvenda o Passado (Poirot Unravels the Past)
• Spanish: Cinco Cerditos (Five Little Pigs)

LauraPoirot 18 Mar 12 at 5:26 p.m. GMT

No problem but... Would anyone try to answer my question?

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Mar 12 at 1:34 p.m. GMT

Thankyou, for reminding me, It has some nice Chapters but it isn't a Novel I will be reading again, GKfan.

Sorry for interupting Laura.

GKCfan 15 Mar 12 at 7:22 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

In The Big Four, Numbers Two and Three are definitely dead, and Poirot reveals at the end that Number One has committed suicide after being linked to a failed revolution.  A body is presumed to be that of Number Four, although the events of Partners in Crime have led to heated debate over whether or not Number Four actually survived the explosion.

LauraPoirot 15 Mar 12 at 4:57 p.m. GMT

Thank you GKC! Here is mine:

Name the favourite Christie novel of John Curran and list three translated names of it!

Tommy I think you're right, though I thought no 4 escapes...? however since I've been a little faster than you GKCfan has already let me set the next quiz. But thank you for your answers!

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Mar 12 at 2:23 p.m. GMT

The Big Four? Nos 2, 3 and 4 die but No1 escapes

GKCfan 15 Mar 12 at 3:22 a.m. GMT

LauraPoirot has three!  Tommy_A_Jones, I'm sorry, but in one of your latest answer the killer commits suicide, in another the guilty parties are both arrested, and in the third the main killer dies, possibly by accident or suicide, but more probably by someone else's hand to prevent the killer from suffering the trauma of a trial.  So yes, a probable killer does escape in that book, but that killer is not the book's main murderer.

LauraPoirot, your turn!

Tommy_A_Jones 14 Mar 12 at 12:49 p.m. GMT

The Mirror Crack'd

Murder At The Vicarage

Nemesis

LauraPoirot 14 Mar 12 at 5:18 a.m. GMT

 in bertrams hotel? 

GKCfan 13 Mar 12 at 7:13 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Both of you have two– in The Hollow, the killer is dead by the book's end, and in Curtain the central killers (I wasn't counting the ones who never actually appear in the book) are both dead by the end.

Tommy_A_Jones 13 Mar 12 at 11:06 a.m. GMT

Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

Sad Cypress

Curtain I think at least one of the People who was linked to the Dead people survived

LauraPoirot 13 Mar 12 at 7 a.m. GMT

Five little pigs

Murder on the orient express 

The hollow

GKCfan 13 Mar 12 at 5:55 a.m. GMT

Name three Christie novels where the killer gets away– that is to say, by the end of the novel the killer is still alive and has not been arrested.  If the possibility exists that the killer may be arrested after the novel ends, that is perfectly all right- that novel may be counted as an acceptable answer.  Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT mention the killer's name, just the title of the book.

NightRayDuck 13 Mar 12 at 2:14 a.m. GMT

ok. answer-counting time..

GKC has 5 definitive answers. For the sixth answer, I would dispute Mrs. Oliver as a serial sleuth; I feel it would be similar to having a Miss Marple movie and advertising it as "Inspector Craddock series". The focus is sort of shifted, if you see what I mean..

Tommy also has 5 correct answers. I remember thinking that I would really like to see Tony Randall's portrayal of Poirot. Two of Tommy's answers involve actor / actress already reported by GKCfan, tho, leaving Tommy with 3 unique answers.

GKCfan gets to post the next quiz, unless Tommy sees this and posts one first. Enjoy~

Tommy_A_Jones 12 Mar 12 at 10:50 a.m. GMT

James Warwick also played Jimmy Thesiger in the seven Dials 

Harry Andrews played Battle in the seven Dials and Linnet Ridgeway's Butler in Death On The Nile

 Tony Randall played Poirot in The Alphabet Murders and played The Vicar and The Stewardess and Sir Eustace's Secretary in The Man In The Brown Suit

Helen Hayes played Miss Marple in Carribean Mystery and Murder With Mirrors and Miss Fullerton in Murder is Easy.

Francesca Annis also played Lady Derwent in Why Didn't They Ask Evans? 

GKCfan 11 Mar 12 at 4:25 a.m. GMT

David Suchet:Hercule Poirot ( Poirot series) and Inspector Japp (Thirteen at Dinner)

Joan Hickson: Miss Marple ( Miss Marple series) and Mrs. Rivington ( Why Didn't They Ask Evans?) and Mrs. Kidder (Murder She Said)

Francesca Annis: Tuppence Beresford ( Partners in Crime) and Lady Selina Hazy ( At Bertram's Hotel)

James Warwick: Tommy Beresford ( Partners in Crime) and Bobby Jones ( Why Didn't They Ask Evans?)

Angela Lansbury: Miss Marple ( The Mirror Crack'd) and Salome Otterbourne ( Death on the Nile)

Zoe Wanamaker: Mrs. Oliver ( Poirot series) and Miss Blacklock ( A Murder is Announced)

NightRayDuck 11 Mar 12 at 3:25 a.m. GMT

No new quiz yet? I'll set one.

Name 4 actors / actresses who have played a Christie serial detective (M. Hercule Poirot; Miss Jane Marple; Mr. Satterthwaite; Mr. Harley Quin; Prudence Cowley; Thomas Beresford; Mr. Parker Pyne; Superintendent Battle), and also played some other character in an adaptation of Christie works.

Enjoy~

treplag 18 Feb 12 at 4:33 p.m. GMT

Laura - Thank you for the apology, but it wasn't really necessary. I hope today was an improvement over yesterday, and that future days will be even better. :)

LauraPoirot 18 Feb 12 at 6:11 a.m. GMT

Wow very good answer, LucyE! Should we wait for other suggestions? Because I,too, think it would be really interesting to hear other ideas about the number... :-)

Finally I want to apologise too, to you treplag because I think I've been a little...well... Unfriendly in my last post so... I'm very sorry if I should have upset you or something... :-( I just didn't have such a good day yesterday 

LucyE 17 Feb 12 at 7:04 p.m. GMT

Probably only John Curran could say how many short stories AC wrote, but I think 166 different short stories have been published in book form.

In getting to 166, I include the six stories from Star Over Bethlehem, published as ACM.  I count stories that were published in substantively revised/expanded versions, e.g. "The Submarine Plans" and "The Incredible Theft" count as two different stories, but I don't double count mere title differences, e.g., "Mr. Eastwood's Adventure" and "The Mystery of the Spanish Shawl" count as just one.  I also included all the longer short stories, e.g. "Murder in the Mews, though some might reasonably classify them as novellas rather than short stories.  Lastly, though they are closely related to other stories or a novel, I think each of the 4 stories Curran has recently found and published deserves to stand on its own, so I've included them in my count.  (If you don't, then just drop the number to 162.)

I'd be very interested to know if anyone comes up with a different number.

treplag 17 Feb 12 at 5:47 p.m. GMT

My apologies, Laura, for confusing the issue. I focused on the word "pseudonyms" and disregarded "names". There was really nothing wrong with the way you asked the question. And your English is certainly a lot better than my German. :)

Now that we have settled that, the answer to your question is 150, give or take a few. Someone else might know the exact number.

LauraPoirot 17 Feb 12 at 4:57 p.m. GMT

But i included "names" too and I'd say "Agatha Christie" is a name, isn't it? But maybe the word "each" leaves space for interpretation... I'm very sorry if I didn't explain my question clearly but I beg you to understand my little mistakes because I'm not a native English speaker. (and btw Ray seems to understand my question;-)) So if you don't have any problem with it I will clarify it: 

How many short Stories did Agatha Christie write in her live time,both as Mary Westmacott and Agatha Christie?

I included Mary westmacott because I wasn't quiet sure if she did write any short stories under that pseudonym. But it really seems she didn't so the question could also be:

How many short stories did Agatha Christie write?

Short and simple. I hope now that we can carry on with our little game, also if like Ray said (and what's probably right) it will end up in a little discussion ;-)  

treplag 17 Feb 12 at 2:03 p.m. GMT

Laura - Your question was: How many short stories did Christie write under another name? My answer was "None", to the best of my knowledge. The only pseudonym she used was "Mary Westmacott", and she wrote only six romance novels as that person.

LauraPoirot 17 Feb 12 at 11:50 a.m. GMT

sorry friends-- I'm slightly confused too... Treplag could you repeat your answer? because my question was how many Short stories christie ever wrote, as Ray said. I didn't read any concrete answer... but maybe it's been because I was stuck the last few days in such a rotten youth hostel without any internet connection.... =)

treplag 16 Feb 12 at 11:56 p.m. GMT

I answered Laura's question. I don't have a follow-up of my own, so I suppose anyone who wants to can take up the thread at this point. 

NightRayDuck 15 Feb 12 at 10:27 p.m. GMT

I think technically we're still on Laura's question, which was more of a discussion question than a quiz with definitive answer. She asked the total number of short stories that Christie had written under her different names.

john_c_hamilton 15 Feb 12 at 10:54 a.m. GMT

I am slightly confused. Whose turn is it?

treplag 14 Feb 12 at 8:57 p.m. GMT

Tommy - It couldn't be sillier, but it is milk-out-the-nose hilarious. They did make one mistake that I recall. When Cuba is at the bar, he addresses the bartender by saying "Miss". When the bartender turns around, we see that it is a woman with very short hair. Cuba says "I'm sorry, I thought you were a woman", and she says "I am a woman". The whole thing doesn't make sense. He should have addressed the bartender as "Sir", since she looked like a man from behind. Then he would have been embarrassed to find out she was a woman.  

Tommy_A_Jones 14 Feb 12 at 11:05 a.m. GMT

Yes That is the one treplag, I think it is very funny, and well worth watching.

treplag 13 Feb 12 at 7:44 p.m. GMT

Tommy - When you said "remake", I assumed you meant another movie with the same title. But it just occurred to me that you must be referring to "Rat Race", which has Cleese and Goldberg, and which I have seen. Very funny, indeed. I loved Cuba Gooding, Jr. and the busload of Lucy clones, Wayne Knight with the incorrigible heart, and the jealous dive-bombing helicopter pilot.

treplag 13 Feb 12 at 7:02 p.m. GMT

Laura - I see that you are still "uncontactable". I suggest that you re-register your profile, if you are not able to resolve your problem any other way. If you can't delete the old one, you would have to change your user ID. You could just add a "1" or something like that.

treplag 13 Feb 12 at 6:53 p.m. GMT

To the best of my knowledge, she did not write any short stories under that name.  But I am not an expert.

LauraPoirot 13 Feb 12 at 6:31 p.m. GMT

I know treplag thank you. I just wasn't sure if she wrote any short stories as Mary westmacott that's why I wrote this.  So are you able to answer my question?

treplag 13 Feb 12 at 6:08 p.m. GMT

Christie wrote six romance novels under the pseudonym "Mary Westmacott". To my knowledge, none of the detective novels or stories was written under a pen name.

treplag 13 Feb 12 at 6:04 p.m. GMT

Tommy - Just saw your post. No, I have not seen the remake. I didn't even know there was one, so thanks for the heads up!

LauraPoirot 13 Feb 12 at 12:42 p.m. GMT

Thanks Ray.

Well Im not sure if I can ask this question because my part in it is a little like the one of Jane Helier in The affair at the bungalow pretends to be- I don't know the solution. It's also a little difficult question so if anyone thinks that I break some rules I'm going to ask another one:

How many Short Stories did Christie write under either of her pseudonyms/names?

NightRayDuck 13 Feb 12 at 12:05 a.m. GMT

Yes Laura, it's certainly ok to post the next quiz when you're ready. No rush. No worries. :-)

LauraPoirot 12 Feb 12 at 7:25 p.m. GMT

You know who i mean ;-) McGinty it was a little technical problem because at first I wrote Mcguinty and I wanted to correct it and somehow after that I seem to have deleted the marked name again... However are you all alright when I write a question tomorrow?

NightRayDuck 12 Feb 12 at 7:18 p.m. GMT

LauraPoirot

Mrs 's dead 

The murder of roger Ackroyed 

The Lemesurier Inheritence

I'll continue later. Just a little in a hurry :-)

Pardon me, Laura - but Mrs, um, who, 's dead? o.O

Your turn to post next quiz when you come back with the correct name in that book title. Well done, Laura! :D

LauraPoirot 12 Feb 12 at 10:57 a.m. GMT

Ok just thought of two more:

Lord edgeware dies   And

Why didn't they ask Evans?

LauraPoirot 12 Feb 12 at 10:55 a.m. GMT

Mrs 's dead 

The murder of roger Ackroyed 

The Lemesurier Inheritence

I'll continue later. Just a little in a hurry :-)

NightRayDuck 12 Feb 12 at 12:44 a.m. GMT

thank you.

next quiz:

List 5 mystery/sleuthing stories by Agatha Christie where the TITLE OF THE STORY FEATURES THE NAME OF A CHARACTER IN THE STORY.

an example from a non-Christie work would be Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Hound of the Baskervilles", where the first victim and the second intended target both have the surname Baskerville.

enjoy~

Tommy_A_Jones 09 Feb 12 at 1:34 p.m. GMT

Well Done Ray, I think that makes you trhe winner, You could also have had Sylvia Syms and Samantha Bond, boith in JH version of A Murder is Announced, Sylvia Syms played Miss Fullertton in Murder is Easy and Samantha Bond was in a Marple version, the man who played Colonel Easterbrook in tthat Adaptation of AMIA was also in the MR version of Murder Most Fowl and Peter Davidson plyed Lance in the JH version of Pocketful of Rye and I think played the Manager of |Bertrams in the GM version of Bertrams Hotel.

Treplag have you seen the Remake with bJohn Cleese and Whoopie Goldberg, I like it.

treplag 09 Feb 12 at 1:18 a.m. GMT

Tommy,  That is one of my favorite movies. But you have one too many "Mad"s. :)

NightRayDuck 07 Feb 12 at 6:55 p.m. GMT

found one! unless a foul one doesn't count. :p

Andrew Cruickshank:

played Judge Crosby in the 1964 Murder Most Foul, a movie adapted from Mrs. McGinty's Dead, with Poirot removed from the movie and Miss Marple added, played by Margaret Rutherford.

played Conway Jefferson in the 1984 The Body in the Library, where Joan Hickson played Miss Marple.

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Feb 12 at 11 a.m. GMT

I wondered when you would say Margaret Courtney Ray, when you said Edward Fox   I thought of that Film It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World when they are all rushing around looking for a Big W and it is right behind them she was the 5th I thought of after I said Name 4.

I suppose mstj Joan Hickson does count very Clever of you. but Ray is still in the lead with 3.

mstj 07 Feb 12 at 6:48 a.m. GMT

Does Joan Hickson count as she appeared in Murder She Said as she played Mrs Kidder in it before playing Miss Marple herself?  I know she didn't appear with Miss Marple, but?

NightRayDuck 06 Feb 12 at 5:23 p.m. GMT

found one.

Margaret Courtnay:

played Mrs. Bantry in the 1980 The Mirror Crack'd, where Angela Lansbury played Miss Marple.

played Miss Knight in the 1992 The Mirror Crack'd, where Joan Hickson played Miss Marple.

going back to research! :-)

Tommy_A_Jones 04 Feb 12 at 10:59 a.m. GMT

Well Done Ray, I hadn't thought of Joanna Lumley so there are at least 6 but you only have to come up with 2 more and then you get to pose the next Question.

NightRayDuck 03 Feb 12 at 8:21 p.m. GMT

found another one.

Joanna Lumley:

played Dolly Bantry in the 2004 The Body in the Library, where Geraldine McEwan played Miss Marple.

played Dolly Bantry in the 2010 The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, where Julia McKenzie played Miss Marple.

I am off to research again! :-)

Tommy_A_Jones 03 Feb 12 at 2:19 p.m. GMT

I have thought of a 5th person but as I said 4 I shall stay fair and say four.

Tommy_A_Jones 29 Jan 12 at 1:39 p.m. GMT

Yes it sure does count as I didn't say the Adaptations are based on Miss Marple books did I? and he is one of the 4 I was thinking about

NightRayDuck 29 Jan 12 at 12:18 a.m. GMT

I think I found one.

Edward Fox:

played Inspector Craddock in the 1980 "The Mirror Crack'd", where Angela Lansbury played Miss Marple.

played Caterham (I assume that means Lord the Marquis of Caterham) in the 2010 "Marple: The Secret of Chimneys", where Julia McKenzie played Miss Marple.

..although, Miss Marple wasn't in the original novel, so I don't know if that counts.

Researches are ongoing! :-)

Tommy_A_Jones 24 Jan 12 at 1:19 p.m. GMT

Good, I was going to ask for 5 but realised one person I was thinking of didn't count and couldn't think of another so thought it best to ask for 4

NightRayDuck 23 Jan 12 at 11:39 p.m. GMT

It is clear! I am in the process of researching. :)

Tommy_A_Jones 19 Jan 12 at 2:17 p.m. GMT

O.K. Then, Name 4 Actors/Actresses who have appeared with 2 Miss Marples both times in Productions featuring Miss Marple, Name the Adaptations they appeared in each time, I hope that is clear.

NightRayDuck 17 Jan 12 at 8:27 p.m. GMT

treplag - no worries. besides this particular quiz is often taken over by whoever that has come up with a good quiz question. :-)

Second place is Laura. Third place is Tommy. Winner of the previous quiz when I popped in and took over was GKCfan. The next turn goes to whoever that has a quiz question. Enjoy. :-)

treplag 16 Jan 12 at 9:34 p.m. GMT

Ray (if I may call you that) - I am relatively new to these games, and at this point I am not comfortable with being the quizzer (if there is such a word). I don't know if I am allowed to do this, but I would like to surrender my position to the second-place finisher, if you have a way to determine who that is. Thanks!

NightRayDuck 16 Jan 12 at 9:21 p.m. GMT

Laura - that would be knowledge about the local rocks rather than knowledge about garden? sorry I wanted to go and re-read it and also your other guess about Halloween Party, but I haven't got around to looking into them. You do have two obviously qualifying answers, tho. Well done.

I think treplag has come up with three good answers. Congratulations, treplag. Would you like to set the next quiz?

treplag 15 Jan 12 at 11:18 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Here are two more: 1) In SAD CYPRESS Nurse Hopkins explains the pinprick on her wrist by claiming that she was stuck by a thorn from a rose bush at the caretaker's cottage. But a botanist is called to testify that that particular species of rose bush doesn't have thorns. 2) In POSTERN OF FATE a murder is committed by mixing foxglove leaves in a salad. This would require knowledge of what foxglove leaves look like.

treplag 15 Jan 12 at 11:07 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

One would have to be "The House of Lurking Death". Tuppence recognizes the Castor Oil plant in the conservatory, and knows that it produces ricin, which was identified as the toxin in the fig paste.

LauraPoirot 15 Jan 12 at 7:53 p.m. GMT

Ok youre right ray. But just now I had an idea: how about the murder at the vicarage when miss Marple is about to plant a rock garden And finds out about the Made up bang in the forrest because Lawrence gives her the stone which didn't fit in the garden.

NightRayDuck 13 Jan 12 at 6:47 p.m. GMT

Laura - I think the situation in "Sleeping Murder" fits more with landscaping (the designing process) than gardening. The disfigured garden had simply blocked a nice view in front of the house. Please, a more specific one about a plant, or a gardening process that the homeowner or their gardener could do without hiring landscape construction workers? Thank you. :-)

NightRayDuck 13 Jan 12 at 6:37 p.m. GMT

Tommy - wallpaper is free to include all flowers if the designer wishes. But I found in "The Blue Geranium" that a member of the Tuesday Night club realized the relevance of the visual appearance of a gardening pesticide. So that is one point to you. :-)

Tommy_A_Jones 13 Jan 12 at 1:45 p.m. GMT

Dolly Bantry says all the Fowers on the Wallpaper would n't be together.

LauraPoirot 13 Jan 12 at 10:52 a.m. GMT

Ok another try ;-) ray you're not confusing us I think but this question isn't easy to answer. Maybe in sleeping murder because the body was  Buried deeply in the garden.... Probably that's also not what you're looking for but it doesnt hurt to ask ;-)

NightRayDuck 13 Jan 12 at 2:47 a.m. GMT

I am sorry my previous response to "The Blue Geranium" was inaccurate. But I will be much obliged, Tommy, if you will give a short explanation of which part of "The Blue Geranium" qualifies in this quiz. I had forgotten all about it while I posted the previous response.

Scores so far:

Laura: 2/3

Tommy: 1/4 (until a non-Marple answer is supplied)

Thank you both for playing! I hope I am not being too confusing.

NightRayDuck 12 Jan 12 at 6:33 p.m. GMT

"Herb of Death" counts, since the Tuesday Night sleuthing committee figures that Foxglove does not look like Sage at all, and so wouldn't have been picked by accident even if they grew at the same place by accident.

"The Blue Geranium", in all the different editions I have read in the U.S., does not concern an actual flower (live one or recently cut one) or any gardening activity, but rather wallpaper patterns of various flowers including a pattern of geranium. Tommy, if the one you're reading has real flowers, please let me know.

LauraPoirot 12 Jan 12 at 4:28 p.m. GMT

Ah yeah tommy maybe you mean the herb of death where Foxglove has been picked together with Sage... That would be just like in Postern of fate.... 

Tommy_A_Jones 12 Jan 12 at 1:38 p.m. GMT

The Blue Gerranium I am reading The Thirteen Problems so I know there is another in the Volume but I haven't got to the story yet

NightRayDuck 11 Jan 12 at 9:45 p.m. GMT

Laura - "How Does Your Garden Grow" is a good answer. I'll have to look up the part in Halloween Party and see if it fits. Since your first answer is from Poirot, you only need 2 more correct answers which you may pick from Miss Marple stories if you find some. ;-)

LauraPoirot 11 Jan 12 at 6:35 p.m. GMT

Ray thank you for Posting a new quiz!! I slowly got tired of that discussion... Soo I have to answers by now: in how does your garden grow its important to know about the decoration with shells in gardens and in  Halloween party the gardening itself has a big role but I don't know if that will count cause it's not exactly the knowledge... Those were two I knew by hard if I keep on thinking I'll find more ;-)

Tommy_A_Jones 10 Jan 12 at 11:29 a.m. GMT

Sorry John your opening part of your post gave me the impression you didn't think I had a right to my view, my mistake, with regard to Geraldine McKewan we must agree to disagree of the Adaptations she is in that I like isd downm to the way they are done not her portrayal of Miss Marple which I personally don't like but that is a personal Opinion.

I have never read any Virginia Woolf so have no Idea if she is a Writer or a Book.

john_c_hamilton 10 Jan 12 at 9:51 a.m. GMT

Tommy, I did not at any point claim that you are not entitled to have an opinion of your own, I have simply been reading your responses regarding 'Marple' and they seemed quite absolute. I am glad that you have clarified what you mean to me, since I agree that some 'Marple' episodes - like 'Nemesis' - are slightly far fetched, although I also think that Geraldine McEwan impersonates ms. Marple in a more interesting way than any other actress. P.S. Virginia Woolf???

john_c_hamilton 10 Jan 12 at 9:38 a.m. GMT

You are right GKCfan, your turn.

NightRayDuck 10 Jan 12 at 6:33 a.m. GMT

By the way, this is the quiz thread where anyone may pop in a question, it doesn't always fall to the person with the correct answers. I am going to pop a quiz question in here..

Name four mystery / crime stories by Agatha Christie in which KNOWLEDGE OF PLANTS, BOTANY, OR GARDENING has a significant effect on the crime / solution of the crime. BONUS: If one of your answers is not from the famously gardening Miss Marple stories, then you may pass with three correct answers.

NightRayDuck 10 Jan 12 at 6:27 a.m. GMT

I am in the US where adapts are delayed anything between three months and couple years, so I am just gathering information here. So "A Scandal in Belgravia" is a new episode of the recent "Sherlock" series? Tommy calls it slow, and I think my sense of pacing is similar to Tommy's, so I guess I won't look forward to seeing the new episode as eagerly as I did with the "Study in Pink" last season.

Tommy_A_Jones 09 Jan 12 at 2:34 p.m. GMT

John you are expressing your views and I am expressing mine both are valid, I think some of the Adaptations with Geraldine McKewan were good like Murder At The Vicarage, A Murder is Announced and 4.50 FDrom Paddington but some were not, that is my view and I am entitled to it.

With Regard to Sherlock I did say I hadn't read much Holmes but It did appear that The First Episode of the New Series was slow and The Writers tried to be too clever That is also a view I am entitled to just as you are entitled to youre view.

By The Way Who is Woolf

GKCfan 08 Jan 12 at 4:54 a.m. GMT

Also, Mrs. Lancaster appears in Sleeping Murder.

john_c_hamilton 07 Jan 12 at 11:15 p.m. GMT

Why so grumpy regarding Marple starring Geraldine McEwan and Sherlock Tommy? It is neither Woolf nor Shakespeare, but crime fiction!!! The whole point is to be an enjoyable escape from seriousness, even if it has to be tampered with. Agatha Christie herself knew that and has tampered with many of her books whilst adapting them into plays (eg And then there where none, The Hollow). As for Sherlock, unlike Agatha Christie, A C Doyle's crime fiction was written not as period novels, but as contemporary ones, hence modernising allows us to see the stories as the original public did. I think that the itv adaptations with Geraldine McEwan were really pleasant -  since she introduced ms. Marple in a new way - as is Sherlock. I also think that 'Murder on the Orient Express' starring David Suchet, is a really nice film, and I explain the reasons under 'Discuss Poirot'>'Murder on the Orient Express'.

I comprehend that you are all not supposed to answer to me here, but you may contact me through my profile.

john_c_hamilton 07 Jan 12 at 10:55 p.m. GMT

I thought that 'By the pricking of my Thumbs' was obvious since it was included in the question?! You are right about 'The Pale Horse', but I am afraid there is more.

mstj 07 Jan 12 at 10:43 p.m. GMT

Twice.  The Pale Horse and By the Pricking of My thumbs.

john_c_hamilton 07 Jan 12 at 10:16 p.m. GMT

How many times has Agatha Christie mentioned in her books 'Mrs. Lancaster' ('By the pricking of my Thumbs') not by name, but by description and reference to her lines? Titles of the books shall be required for the answer. Enjoy, John

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Jan 12 at 2:53 p.m. GMT

I apologise Ray

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Jan 12 at 1:59 p.m. GMT

Strictly speaking The discussions on Non Christie stuff should be in OIff0Topic but the odd question is O.K. Anywhere isn't it aand then Particpants can move the Discussion somewhere to Off-Topic

GKCfan 06 Jan 12 at 10:32 p.m. GMT

Number3, I cannot recall Poirot ever speaking Flemish.  But, in "Double Sin," Captain Hastings describes Poirot as "a strange mixture of Flemish thrift and artistic fervour."

NightRayDuck 06 Jan 12 at 8:32 p.m. GMT

john_c - we usually post stuff about other detective shows in Miscellaneous > Off topic discussions. It's not a problem that you posted it here, but if it shows up there, I think there will be more interest. Just a thought. Take a look there. :-)

I am copying your comment and Tommy's reply over there.

Number3 06 Jan 12 at 7:52 p.m. GMT

I've got a question for the quiz.  I will say that I don't know the answer, so whomever  finds it thank you.  

We all know that Poirot is Belgian and speaks French.  But does he speak the other national language, which is Flemish, at all?

Tommy_A_Jones 06 Jan 12 at 1:55 p.m. GMT

I have and I am afraid I didn't like it at all, It was much to slow, I admit I have not read much Holmes so I only noticed the Reference with Mary Adler who they made a Lesbian and the Pipe and Violin stuff, Watson had anew Girlfriend from the last series which is a shame.

I can't really talk though because it seemed the Episode was just for Holmes Fans and I am always thinking why are ITV pandering to Non-Christie Fans which what it seems to me with Marple because to me Non-Christie Fans shouldn't be pandered to and it seems to me Non Holms Fans are ignored with 'Scandle To Belgravia' but perhaps I am beig too harsh.

john_c_hamilton 05 Jan 12 at 3:54 p.m. GMT

OK, I will find a question for tomorrow morning or later tonight. In the meantime has anyone watched a 'Scandal in Belgravia' on BBC1?

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Jan 12 at 1:23 p.m. GMT

Sorry Laura but I must give it to John, It did not occur to me to say the Dr could be a Retired Medical Doctor when I set it and because I don't like Murder in Mespotamia I didn't think if Dr Leidner or antone in Egyption stories but I have ideas for other Games, anyway your Turn John

LauraPoirot 05 Jan 12 at 7:21 a.m. GMT

And there is dr leidner who is archeologist.

john_c_hamilton 04 Jan 12 at 8:09 p.m. GMT

Post Scriptum. I include Dr Kennedy - who I believe was retired - since your requirements are that he 'does not dispense medicine', but that does not mean that he could not or that he did not.

john_c_hamilton 04 Jan 12 at 8:03 p.m. GMT

Colonel Arthur Bantry

Colonel Race

Colonel Archie Easterbrook

and

Dr Kennedy

LauraPoirot 04 Jan 12 at 7:27 p.m. GMT

I think Colonel Race, Colonel easterbrook, and Colonel Hayewood are Not Chief constables are they?  Give me a little more time for the doctor ;-)

Tommy_A_Jones 04 Jan 12 at 1:03 p.m. GMT

There is also Reverend Harmon and Reverend Calthorper.

Here it goes then;

Name 3 Colonel's who are NOT Chief Constables and Name a Man who is called Doctor but doesn't dispense medicine. 

Tommy_A_Jones 03 Jan 12 at 2:51 p.m. GMT

Silly me, I read stephen Lane and put Stephen Lee, O will think of one Tomorrow

cameronjhw 03 Jan 12 at 2:06 p.m. GMT

Bravo Tommy I will accept those but I must correct you on one thing it is Stephen Lane not Stephen Lee. Again good work and over to you for the next one...

Tommy_A_Jones 03 Jan 12 at 1:28 p.m. GMT

Archdeacon Cowley The Secret Adversary

Rev Leonard Clement Murder At The Vicarage

Reverend Stephen Lee Evil Under The Sun

cameronjhw 03 Jan 12 at 12:49 p.m. GMT

I'm sorry what I meant was to find the Christie novel that had the shortest number of chapters and also to include the number of chapters for example the novel I had in mind was the Moving Finger and it has eight chapters. I am so sorry for the confusion I made in this question. So if it's all right with all of you I would like to do a new question that perhaps is less confusing. Here it is:

"Name three Christie novels that feature a clergyman and their names

LauraPoirot 03 Jan 12 at 8:59 a.m. GMT

Exactly John! I thought about that too but chapters can also vary because they are differently long. The best would be word count but one can't expect that from us! Christies favourites are:

Ordeal by innocence (256 pages)

Crooked house (211 pages)

The moving finger (229 pages)

And then there were none (256 pages)

Endless night (224 pages)

The thirteen problems (256 pages)

Murder on the orient express (256 pages)

Towards zero (242 pages)

I compared the number of pages of the first editions.

So you'll probably see that peril at end house what tommy said with 190 pages and they do it with mirrors with 187 pages are way shorter. This question is complicated to be answered because if you only look at the chapters some of them might be shorter. But they can't be exactly compared because of the reasons John_c_hamilton has already named.

john_c_hamilton 02 Jan 12 at 4:21 p.m. GMT

Dear cameronjhw,

Short in what way? As publishers will be able to confirm, the number of pages might vary from edition to edition, depending on the size of the page and the script used. Do you refer to chapters or word count (I hope not!)? If you do refer to the number of pages, I think that it is only fair to release the publication date and the name of the publisher of the book you have in mind.

Best Regards

cameronjhw 02 Jan 12 at 1:17 p.m. GMT

I'm sorry but Peril at End House, They Do it With Mirrors and Sparkling Cyanide are not exactly the shortest Christie novels. The one I am talking about is one of Christie's personal favorites...

LauraPoirot 31 Dec 11 at 10:23 p.m. GMT

The First edition of they do it with mirrors has  187 pages, tommy ;-)

Tommy_A_Jones 31 Dec 11 at 4:04 p.m. GMT

Peril AT End House Has 190 Pages (22 Chapters)

LauraPoirot 31 Dec 11 at 7:36 a.m. GMT

Star over Bethlehem and other stories is the shortest book but it's not a novel soo the shortest novel of all should be sparkling cyanide and I think it has 26 chapters but I might be wrong...

cameronjhw 31 Dec 11 at 2:50 a.m. GMT

Thank You here's one-Name the shortest Christie novel and include the number of chapters it has.

GKCfan 30 Dec 11 at 5:45 p.m. GMT

Well, cameronjhw, your last response is an example of a character who died in the book but survived in the film, but your other two are correct, so combined with your correct guess from your previous post that's three!  Your turn!

cameronjhw 30 Dec 11 at 1:09 p.m. GMT

Major Knighton who was killed by a train in the Suchet version of Poirot's the Mystery of the Blue Train

Rhoda Dawes who was drowned while trying to kill Anne Meredith in the Suchet version of Poirot's Cards on the Table

The simple Catholic farmgirl who passed herself off as Rosaleen Cloade and tried to commit suicide by an overdose of morphine and was saved in Taken at the Flood (again Suchet version from Poirot series

GKCfan 29 Dec 11 at 9:35 p.m. GMT

Those two are correct!  Can you think of a third?

LauraPoirot 29 Dec 11 at 8:40 p.m. GMT

Parker the Butler in the murder of roger Ackroyed in the Suchet adaption... 

Also dr greinger in dumb witness...  

GKCfan 29 Dec 11 at 8 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

I'm sorry.  Ratchett/Cassetti was killed in the original novel, as was Alfred Crackenthorpe.  I would count Leonard Vole, even though Christie changed his fate herself in her stage play.  So... that would be one.

cameronjhw 29 Dec 11 at 7:20 p.m. GMT

Leonard Vole-Witness for the Prosecution

Ratchett/Cassetti-Murder on the Orient Express

Alfred Crackenthorpe-4:50 from Paddington

GKCfan 29 Dec 11 at 5:38 p.m. GMT

Name three characters who were killed in adaptations of Christie works who survived in the original story.  These characters must have appeared in the original work and cannot be original to the teleplay, although the name may have been changed if the role remains essentially the same.

LauraPoirot 29 Dec 11 at 7:51 a.m. GMT

Quiet good GKC they seem to be Complete. I was surprised because you said that the Market Basing Mystery was the earlier version of Murder in the Mews well the endings are similar and so I googled and you are (of course ;-) right that makes you get an extra point xD

GKCfan 29 Dec 11 at 4:52 a.m. GMT

Also "The Underdog."

GKCfan 29 Dec 11 at 4:51 a.m. GMT

Hastings has been inserted into Murder in Mesopotamia,  "Murder in the Mews," (though he was in the earlier version of the story, "The Market Basing Mystery") "Four and Twenty Blackbirds," "The Third Floor Flat," "Problem at Sea," "The Incredible Theft" (though he was in the earlier version of the story, "The Submarine Plans"), "The Dream," "How Does your Garden Grow?," "Wasps' Nest," "The Mystery of the Spanish Chest," (though he was in the earlier version of the story, "The Baghdad Chest"), "Yellow Iris," "Dead Man's Mirror," He only had a one line flash-forward cameo in the novel Evil Under the Sun, though his role was expanded considerably in the film.  He was not in the film of One, Two, Buckle my Shoe.

NightRayDuck 29 Dec 11 at 12:16 a.m. GMT

I think there was... in the David Suchet series of "Poirot", Hastings appears in episode for "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe" and steals several lines from Inspector Japp. Hastings didn't appear in the book, but a line that he stole was used for the Guess Quote puzzle, so there were those of us who were misguided to look for the quote in books featuring Hastings~

LauraPoirot 28 Dec 11 at 7:55 p.m. GMT

Thanks! Well my mum got me two series of agatha Christies Poirot and right now Im watching the 8th collection and that made me think of this question: name every episode in which Hastings appears although he doesn't in the proper book!

GKCfan 28 Dec 11 at 6:17 p.m. GMT

Those work!  Good work- your turn!

LauraPoirot 28 Dec 11 at 8:02 a.m. GMT

Ok the easiest of all is of course The mysterious affair at styles when Hastings says he'd liked to be a detective such as Sherlock Holmes. Then in The Crackler Tuppence says to Tommy something like if he thinks he is like Sherlock Holmes... And maybe in the clocks Poirot is reading Crime novels and he is mentioning Watson but Im not sure if he also names Holmes himself. Got to check that once ;-)

GKCfan 27 Dec 11 at 8:20 p.m. GMT

Name three instances when Sherlock Holmes is mentioned in a Christie story.

LauraPoirot 27 Dec 11 at 6:53 p.m. GMT

Wow quiet good both of you but surely the next question has to come from GKCfan. So go ahead ;-)

GKCfan 27 Dec 11 at 5:41 p.m. GMT

A reference to Miranda (from The Tempest) is made between Poirot and Miranda in Hallowe'en Party.

That's ten!

GKCfan 27 Dec 11 at 5:37 p.m. GMT

In Murder on the Orient Express, the Princess mentions that Linda Arden was an unparalleled Lady Macbeth.

GKCfan 27 Dec 11 at 5:34 p.m. GMT

Sad Cypress comes from a line in Twelfth Night.

Taken at the Flood is from Julius Caesar.

GKCfan 27 Dec 11 at 5:31 p.m. GMT

At the end of The Pale Horse, Mark finds a letter from Hermia saying she wants to see Love's Labour Lost.

GKCfan 27 Dec 11 at 5:29 p.m. GMT

In The ABC Murders, Poirot misquotes Shakespeare and says "You cannot see the trees for the wood?"

At the end of Destination Unknown, there is a reference to the Shakespeare line "Journeys end in lovers meeting" from Twelfth Night.

GKCfan 27 Dec 11 at 5:26 p.m. GMT

By the Pricking of My Thumbs  is from Macbeth.  References to the three witches in Macbeth and how to portray them on stage are in The Pale Horse and Nemesis

Tommy_A_Jones 27 Dec 11 at 3:37 p.m. GMT

Iago is mentioned in Curtain

The Mousetrap is a Title that comes from a Shakespeare play, when someone in the Shakespeare play mentions The Mousetrap they are disconcerted by Sniggers from Christie Fans in the Audience

By The Way, Roger Moore plays Patrick Simmons

LauraPoirot 27 Dec 11 at 8:52 a.m. GMT

Ah ok thank you tommy :-) so mhm here's mine:

I was looking for references Christie made to Shakespeare. I looked slightly and found nine so Id say it's your job to find ten ;-) it could be anything. Either the naming of a play or an obvious appearance of a plot or .... I'm sure you find many xD

Tommy_A_Jones 26 Dec 11 at 3:34 p.m. GMT

Roger Moore, he was in the Gracie Fields version of A Murder is Announced in the 50s so anyone alive then and is still alive now might have seen it. 

LauraPoirot 25 Dec 11 at 8:45 p.m. GMT

Thank you tommy well... I didn't figure the last one and at the moment I can't think of a question because I'm in a hurry but tomorrow I'll come up with one, ok? In the meantime you can tell us your fourth Bond actor ;-) 

Tommy_A_Jones 23 Dec 11 at 11:24 a.m. GMT

Think Bullseye

Tommy_A_Jones 22 Dec 11 at 3:03 p.m. GMT

Laura I mean

Tommy_A_Jones 22 Dec 11 at 1:09 p.m. GMT

Correct,a should have a go as sahe  Unless anyone can guess the other one I was thinking of perhaps Laura should have the next go. 

NightRayDuck 21 Dec 11 at 9:04 p.m. GMT

seems Timothy Dalton played "Clive Trevelyan" in the 2006 "The Sittaford Mystery"..

I'll go and research Carry On now. It did sound like a very interesting series, I just hadn't found the time to look it up. :)

LauraPoirot 21 Dec 11 at 6:30 p.m. GMT

It's a good question I didn't mean to dispute that ;-) I just meant that I'm not expecting myself to know so much more about James Bond. But I keep thinking.... 

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Dec 11 at 1:44 p.m. GMT

I am not a Fan of Bond either but other people asked questions about Comedy Strip and Dr Who Actors and no-one was interested in my Carry On Question so I thought this would hit the spot more.

LauraPoirot 21 Dec 11 at 12:01 p.m. GMT

Ohh yeah sorry I've made a mistake with Andrew Bicknell. And if you don't include David Niven mmh.... I'll see if I can think of more. But I'm actually not such a big Bond fan ;-)

Tommy_A_Jones 20 Dec 11 at 2:59 p.m. GMT

Just looked up Andrew Bicknell, Unless his Face is on the Video Game he doesn't apply, I meant Seen on Screen, Didn't the Actors who played James Bond in Casino Royale play Jimmy Bond not James Bond? Anyway If I am wrong I suppose David Niven would count as 1 but that film is a spoof which I didn't mean to include.

Tommy_A_Jones 20 Dec 11 at 11:05 a.m. GMT

I hadn't thought about David Niven but you got two of them, I can't remmember who  Andrew Bicknell is.

LauraPoirot 19 Dec 11 at 7:32 p.m. GMT

Well Sean Connery played in the Orien Express adaption with Albert Finney

And Pierce Brosnan in the mirror crack'd

In death on the Nile with sir Peter Ustinov played david Niven I think 

And in Marples played Andrew Bicknell... But I'm not quiet sure in which. 

Tommy_A_Jones 19 Dec 11 at 11:11 a.m. GMT

What about Jason Raphiel Nemesis.

If I am to set the next question Which Actors who have played James Bond have been Seen Adaptations of Agatha Christie Books?, I can name 4

GKCfan 19 Dec 11 at 6:24 a.m. GMT

Very good!

Sittaford 19 Dec 11 at 4:42 a.m. GMT

Let Tommy_A_Jones set the next question but a fifth one would be Caroline Crale in Five Little Pigs

GKCfan 18 Dec 11 at 10:58 p.m. GMT

Oh... you're right!  Thanks for catching that!

LauraPoirot 18 Dec 11 at 8:05 p.m. GMT

He named only four since he named James Bentley twice... Not that I had anymore... I just noticed it.

GKCfan 18 Dec 11 at 6:17 p.m. GMT

Correct!  Great job!

Tommy_A_Jones 18 Dec 11 at 10:51 a.m. GMT

John The Mysterious Affair At Styles

James Bemtly Mrs McGinty's Dead

Elinor Carlisle Sad Cypress

James Bentley Mrs McGinty's Dead

Alexander Bonaparte Cust ABC Murders

GKCfan 17 Dec 11 at 6:09 p.m. GMT

Name five Christie characters who were jailed for crimes they did not commit.

cameronjhw 17 Dec 11 at 5:04 p.m. GMT

Correct GKCfan

GKCfan 16 Dec 11 at 10:43 p.m. GMT

Ordeal by Innocence- Rachel Argyle

Mrs. McGinty's Dead- Mrs. McGinty

The Sittaford Mystery- Captain Trevelyan

The ABC Murders- Alice Ascher & Sir Carmichael Clarke

cameronjhw 16 Dec 11 at 2:32 p.m. GMT

Thank You GKCfan, Here's my question:

Christie has come up with a number of murder methods in her books and short stories. So for this question name four novels that feature a blow in the head as the primary murder method and to give the names of the victims who died that way

GKCfan 16 Dec 11 at 3:27 a.m. GMT

Yes!  Excellent!

cameronjhw 16 Dec 11 at 12:49 a.m. GMT

The H hankerchief belonging to Princess Dragomiroff from Murder on the Orient Express, the blowpipe or wasp in Death in the Clouds, the shoeprints in the Murder of Roger Ackroyd, the railway guide in the ABC Murders, and the cereal planted in Rex Fortescue's pocket in A Pocket Full of Rye

GKCfan 15 Dec 11 at 7:39 p.m. GMT

No problem!

Name five pieces of evidence planted at a crime scene in five different Christie stories that were deliberately placed as red herrings.

Mr_west 15 Dec 11 at 12:18 p.m. GMT

Sorry you had to wait GKC

And yes, you are right 

GKCfan 15 Dec 11 at 3:38 a.m. GMT

Am I right?

GKCfan 03 Dec 11 at 6:59 p.m. GMT

OK... first, for NightRayDuck, the chapter of Lord Caterham's memoirs is called "Murderers I have Met."  I'm still not sure about the Chimneys reference.

Second, Mr_West, Rhoda's aunt lived in Devonshire.

Mr_west 03 Dec 11 at 11:59 a.m. GMT

Oh my quiz need a little stimulation? no problem:

Where did Rhoda Daws' aunt (from Cards on the Table) lived?

NightRayDuck 02 Dec 11 at 10:16 p.m. GMT

aah.. no responses? would anybody like to post a new quiz?

NightRayDuck 19 Nov 11 at 2:09 a.m. GMT

Yikes, I forgot about Sir Oswald Coote and whether he had a memoir in the works..

I'll put the two memoirs that I was thinking about in terms of fill-in-the-blanks, if that's ok with you..

1. At the end of Seven Dials, Lord Caterham wishes he had got enough material for a chapter entitled ______________ in his planned memoir.

2. At the beginning of Chimneys, a character suggests that his friend _____________ ought to write a chronicle titled ______________.

GKCfan 13 Nov 11 at 7:26 p.m. GMT

I can't think of them, although to my mind the most likely candidates for writing memoirs are Lord Caterham and Sir Oswald Coote.  Superintendent Battle doesn't start writing his memoirs for another three decades, if we believe that Colin Lamb really is Battle's son.

NightRayDuck 13 Nov 11 at 4:38 p.m. GMT

Quite so, GKCfan. Two more memoirs? They were only suggested or planned, not written yet within the narrative timeframe of the two stories.

GKCfan 13 Nov 11 at 7:07 a.m. GMT

Well, Count Stylptitch's memoirs are central to the plot of The Secret of Chimneys.

NightRayDuck 12 Nov 11 at 5:21 p.m. GMT

Thank you, Tommy.

In The Secret of Chimneys and The Seven Dials Mystery, one memoir has been written, and two memoir topics have been suggested. Can you list the writer (or proposed writer) and the topic (or suggested topic) for each of the three memoirs?

Tommy_A_Jones 12 Nov 11 at 11:33 a.m. GMT

Correct Ray, I haven't read it for a while either so I am only going by Wikipedfia, your turn.

NightRayDuck 11 Nov 11 at 9:56 p.m. GMT

I haven't read the novel in a long time, so I am not sure what I see in my unreliable reference book is correct..

And Then There Were None, Inspector Maine is the police officer investigating the multiple murder case on Indian Island?

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Nov 11 at 2:01 p.m. GMT

I am afraid my brain doesn't work as well as others, can you name the book that has a Character whose Surname is an American State and can you name the Character

cameronjhw 07 Nov 11 at 1:10 p.m. GMT

OK Tommy you got them all correct. Now it's your turn...

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Nov 11 at 10:48 a.m. GMT

In The Crackler Tuppence says to Tommy "Of Course if you really think you are Sherlock Holmes, Thorndyke, McCarty and The Brothers Oakewood There is no more to be said".

LauraPoirot 05 Nov 11 at 5:56 a.m. GMT

Well I have another one in the clocks Poirot reads crime novels and refers to Watson.

Tommy_A_Jones 04 Nov 11 at 2:37 p.m. GMT

In The Big Four I measnt that Hercule had a Brother just like Watson so I mean figuretively I suppose with the other examples Tuppence mentions Holmes I think with The Case of The Missing Lady In Finnessing The King Tommy says 'Positively Scintilating My Dear Watson' so he is doing an impersonation of Holmes which I would think is good enough with The Mysterious Affair At Styles I meant that that is when Hastings starts putting pen to paper about Poirot's cases like Watson did, I can not think of another but there might be another in a T&T short story and as I am reading Partners in Crime If I come to one I shall tell you.

cameronjhw 03 Nov 11 at 8:54 p.m. GMT

Tommy-the Missing Lady, Mysterious Affair at Styles, and Finnessing the King I will accept because they have Holmes' name mentioned in the story/novel but as for a Fairy in the Flat not that one because it only has Conan Doyle's name and I can't seem to find Holmes mentioned in the Big 4 if you would be kind enough to tell me the chapter it is from then I will accept that one other wise you still have one more story/novel to find that mentions Holmes.

P.S. you forget to mention who mentions his name in the other three examples

Tommy_A_Jones 03 Nov 11 at 11:38 a.m. GMT

And The Case of The Missing Lady

Tommy_A_Jones 02 Nov 11 at 2:53 p.m. GMT

The Big Four, A Fairy in The Flat, Finnessing The King, The Mysterious Affair At Styles

cameronjhw 02 Nov 11 at 11:59 a.m. GMT

Thank You.

One of Agatha Christie's influences in crime fiction was the famous Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.

See if you can find four Christie novels/short stories that mention Sherlock Holmes and who refers to the famous Victorian super-sleuth

Miss_Eylesbarrow 01 Nov 11 at 6:44 p.m. GMT

Correct!  Your turn....

cameronjhw 01 Nov 11 at 12:18 p.m. GMT

Are they the tiny red tulips noticed by the observant and tired-looking Mrs. Lorrimer

Miss_Eylesbarrow 31 Oct 11 at 7:12 p.m. GMT

Sorry Cameronjhw - neither is correct. These are real flowers, because they are remarked upon as being 'very early'.

cameronjhw 30 Oct 11 at 6:58 p.m. GMT

Are they the 3 cornucopias in black straw and they were noticed by the almost Satanic Mr. Shaitana

Miss_Eylesbarrow 27 Oct 11 at 5:57 p.m. GMT

Thanks NightRayDuck. Tommy - you are thinking of the Nemesis adaptation for TV rather than the book, I think!!

Okay - how about this: what were the flowers which were 'very early' in Cards on the Table, and who noticed them?

Tommy_A_Jones 27 Oct 11 at 1:52 p.m. GMT

What about the Boarded up Door in A Murder is Announced I know this is flimsy perhaps the Room itself? or perhaps the Bust or whatever it is which kills Miss Temple in Nemesis

NightRayDuck 26 Oct 11 at 5:59 p.m. GMT

The rock slide (or was it a large falling rock?) in Nemesis counts. Your turn, Miss Eylesbarrow!

Tommy - I think the Why Didn't They Ask Evans instance counts. I need to get around to acquiring a copy and reading it.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 26 Oct 11 at 3:42 p.m. GMT

Would a near-miss count?  How about the grassy knoll where the murderer takes Miranda Butler?  It is described to Miranda as a place of sacrafice.  Ooo, actually just had a brainwave - How about the rock slide which kills Elizabeth Temple in Nemesis?

Tommy_A_Jones 26 Oct 11 at 2:25 p.m. GMT

Where Bobby finds the Body in Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

NightRayDuck 25 Oct 11 at 9:17 p.m. GMT

Yes, Miss Eylesbarrow, you are on the right track. Another one? :-)

Miss_Eylesbarrow 24 Oct 11 at 7:28 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

If, I'm on the right track, there's also the stretch of water between the house and the hotel in Towards Zero which is swum by the murderer.  Thinking of a third....

Miss_Eylesbarrow 24 Oct 11 at 7:27 p.m. GMT

Do you mean something like the shady bay where Arlena Marshall was murdered in Evil Under the Sun?  The bay was on the shady side of theisland so no one went there in the mornings....

NightRayDuck 24 Oct 11 at 6:35 p.m. GMT

I knew I couldn't make it very clear..

I meant geographical feature in near vicinity of the crime scene, that is not man-made, and not part of the house/building/garden/grounds.

For example, the filled-up garden and shrubs that block the view from house to the sea, in Sleeping Murder, does not count.

Thus, the garden and the rooms in murder scene do not count. There was no mention of any particular mountain ranges or such that would cause a lot of snow to fall on Sittaford, so the snow also does not count.

A random example from non-Christie works would be: in Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles, the murderer has a little hide-out in the moor / bog / marsh (sorry I forget the term) that nobody else knows how to navigate so to search for suspects.

Tommy_A_Jones 24 Oct 11 at 11:59 a.m. GMT

How about The Sittaford Mystery (Snow cutting off Sittaford)

Halloween Party (The Garden)

They Do It With Mirrors (The Murder Scene Room)

Tommy_A_Jones 24 Oct 11 at 11:54 a.m. GMT

I don't know about others but I am confused, can you give an example? If everyone else understands their right answers will tell me what you mean.

NightRayDuck 24 Oct 11 at 1:18 a.m. GMT

me? I'll have to try to make my quiz question clear... been thinking about it the last few days, not sure if I can word it properly.

Name three detective / crime stories by Christie in which the LOCAL GEOGRAPHY has an impact on the crime / crime scene. Explain briefly.

By "local geography", I mean land features near the crime scene. Features in gardens, on the grounds of the estate, inside the house / building etc. are not counted in this quiz.

GKCfan 23 Oct 11 at 5:25 a.m. GMT

And that's four!  You win!   There are many other answers, but it's your turn now.

NightRayDuck 22 Oct 11 at 8:24 p.m. GMT

I got an impression that the late King Nicholas IV of Herzoslovakia, although killed by the rioting mob, the timing of the riot was set up, or known to, the thief King Victor and his associates.. The Secret of Chimneys.

GKCfan 22 Oct 11 at 5:24 p.m. GMT

I'll count both of those!  Actually, there are at least two girls in Caribbean who fit that, so that's three!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 22 Oct 11 at 7:47 a.m. GMT

There's the girl who is killed in A Caribbean Mystery, what's her name???  And on a similar theme wasn't there another death in Evil Under the Sun?  Bother, I shall have to go and look those up for the names, unless you know them off the top of your particularly splendid head, GKC??

GKCfan 21 Oct 11 at 7:33 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Yes, Adrian Royde is one that I was thinking of, because at the end no one knows for sure whether it was accident or murder (it was probably murder) aside from his killer.

I'm not sure about the Hickory Dickory Dock mother-poisoning case, because there IS evidence of that in the form of a signed confession, but since the death was only proved murder through a confession, I think it might fit my terms.

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Oct 11 at 1:40 p.m. GMT

What about the Murderer's Mother in Hickory Dickory Dock he was never charged with the Murder at the time of her Death so it could be argued it was never proven.

NightRayDuck 21 Oct 11 at 6:40 a.m. GMT

ooh... Adrian whathisname who died of single-car accident before the start of Towards Zero.

GKCfan 21 Oct 11 at 6 a.m. GMT

I would probably count both of those, although there is another case in Towards Zero that would count for more, because in this case no one can prove that the death was murder except if the killer confessed.

NightRayDuck 21 Oct 11 at 5:52 a.m. GMT

hmm.. "main murderer". hmm. tough one.

there's the little boy shot to death while playing bow and arrow with another little kid who is now probably an adult, hinted at by Justice Mr. Treves, in Towards Zero. the incident as a murder case was almost quite proven, except the judges decided to consider that there was no murderous intention. does this count?

how about the schoolkid drowned in icy water years before the events in Endless Night? the main murderer of the novel finally mentions this as a past case, but I think it's not been brought to court or investigated by the police. and the main murderer's sanity at the time of this particular confession may be in doubt. very tricky.

hmm.

GKCfan 21 Oct 11 at 4:04 a.m. GMT

Can you name four instances where a person who never actually appears in the book is suspected of having been killed by the novel's main murderer, but this is never proven?  

Miss_Eylesbarrow 20 Oct 11 at 6:26 p.m. GMT

Too easy for you GKCFan!  Your turn...

GKCfan 19 Oct 11 at 10:46 p.m. GMT

Cards on the Table, 1936.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 19 Oct 11 at 6:52 p.m. GMT

Thanks GKCFan

In the ABC murders, Piorot and Hastings discuss their ideal crimes.  Hastings predictably wants a juicy murder with a glamorous brunette and a high profile male murder victim, however, Poirot describes a crime which was subsequently a novel all of it's own.  What is the name of the novel and in which year was it published?

GKCfan 19 Oct 11 at 3:11 a.m. GMT

And you win!  Nice work!  Your turn...

Miss_Eylesbarrow 18 Oct 11 at 7:24 p.m. GMT

Ok, add to mine the lapis-lazuli earring in Murder at the Vicarage and the four clocks showing 4.13 in The Clocks...

GKCfan 15 Oct 11 at 5:47 p.m. GMT

Most of these work except for the noonday gun, which is only in the movie, and the watch, which turns out to be an actual clue.

Tommy_A_Jones has 1

Miss_Eylesbarrow has 3

NightRayDuck has 4

LauraPoirot has 3

First one to 5 goes next!

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Oct 11 at 2:01 p.m. GMT

What about the Curry in 4.50 From Paddington

Or the Gunshot of the Noon day Gun in Evil Under The Sun or the time on the Watch in Evil Under The Sun

Miss_Eylesbarrow 15 Oct 11 at 12:29 p.m. GMT

Don't forget the silk kimono, the pipe cleaner and the button from a Waggon Lit uniform in MOTOE!  Who is going next GKCFan?

GKCfan 12 Oct 11 at 8:15 p.m. GMT

I'll count all of these as correct answers, as long as the peg and rubber mentioned are the fake clues and not the real ones.

NightRayDuck 12 Oct 11 at 6:19 p.m. GMT

Altered crime scene and suspicious behavior by one character to cast suspicion on another character, in "Murder in the Mews".

Altered crime scene by one character to frame some other characters in, I think, "The Market Basing Mystery"? I may have got the story name wrong. if so, I am sorry.

LauraPoirot 12 Oct 11 at 1:06 p.m. GMT

And how about a small piece of wood and a piece of rubber in Hercule Poirots Christmas?! 

LauraPoirot 12 Oct 11 at 12:34 p.m. GMT

Letters which point to A.B.Cust in The abc murders

GKCfan 12 Oct 11 at 2:51 a.m. GMT

That's two for you!

NightRayDuck 12 Oct 11 at 2:28 a.m. GMT

One lot of planted evidence pointing to Neville Strange, in Towards Zero.

Several lots of planted evidence to confuse people about the disappearance of Helen, in Sleeping Murder.

GKCfan 11 Oct 11 at 10:05 p.m. GMT

That counts as one!  Good!

LauraPoirot 11 Oct 11 at 9:07 a.m. GMT

Do you mean such things like the false footsteps of Ralf Patton on the windowsill in The murder of Roger Ackroyed? 

GKCfan 11 Oct 11 at 2:41 a.m. GMT

They count as two if you list both false clues!

NightRayDuck 10 Oct 11 at 8:02 p.m. GMT

um, would two lots of planted clues during one murder investigation count as only one instance, or two instances?

GKCfan 08 Oct 11 at 8:12 p.m. GMT

Name five instances of "clues" that had nothing whatsoever to do with the crime, but instead were deliberately planted by a party– either guilty or innocent of the murder– to either direct suspicion towards an innocent person or to trick the police through a double bluff.

LauraPoirot 08 Oct 11 at 7:41 p.m. GMT

Wow GKCFan! Great job! I'd say we can count the alias. I found also Narracott, the inspector in the sittaford mystery Gladys in evil under the sun and Fred in and then there were none. 

However it's over to you to ask a question!

GKCfan 08 Oct 11 at 7:04 p.m. GMT

Robinson– The mysterious figure in international affairs who appears in Cat Among the Pigeons and Postern of Fate and At Bertram's Hotel, the titular character in "The Manhood of Edward Robinson," and the alias used by Norman Gale when he posed as a blackmailer at Poirot's request (John Robinson).

Does the alias count?  If so, that's five!

GKCfan 08 Oct 11 at 6:59 p.m. GMT

Johnson– Victoria in A Caribbean Mystery, Miss Johnson in Murder in Mesopotamia, and Elspeth in Cat Among the Pigeons.

That's four!

GKCfan 08 Oct 11 at 6:57 p.m. GMT

Blake– Elvira in At Bertram's Hotel, Basil in The Body in the Library, and Phillip and Meredith in Five Little Pigs.

That's three!

Tommy_A_Jones 08 Oct 11 at 3:02 p.m. GMT

Just read it and the fault is all mine, Everyone else got it but not me, typical

LauraPoirot 08 Oct 11 at 2:26 p.m. GMT

Sorry, that was probably my fault. I should have said it clearer =(

Tommy_A_Jones 08 Oct 11 at 2:11 p.m. GMT

Oh right, I thought you were asking for 3 instances not 3 People per instance

LauraPoirot 08 Oct 11 at 1:56 p.m. GMT

I'm sorry Tommy but I think you didn't really understand. I'm looking for 3 different people with one name.

for example when we have the name Grey one person is called Kathrine Grey the second is called Thyrza Grey and the third Thora Grey.

You're already on the right way but you need to every of them one more person who's also called their name, either Easterbrook  or Eversleigh or Spence.

I first thought of taking two persons with one name but as you can see there are so many that it's alittle too easy. Hope you aren't upset.. But I'm sure you will find someone (or better said three...)

Tommy_A_Jones 08 Oct 11 at 1:08 p.m. GMT

And in one book Spence is called Harold and in another Bert so if they ar 2 different people would that count?

LauraPoirot 08 Oct 11 at 12:17 p.m. GMT

Yeah Tommy but those are also only two different persons, right? if you find to one of them or both a third one then it will count. 

Don't give up I know at least two more Names that fit my expression! And yesterday I had a third in mind but forgot it... Maybe u will guess it ;)

Ah and it's enough if this person is just mentioned or hasn't got such a big role in the story.

Tommy_A_Jones 08 Oct 11 at 11:54 a.m. GMT

There is a Colonel Eaterbrook in A Murder Is Announced and a Mark Easterbrook in Pale Horse There is an Eversleigh in a non-series short Story (Sorry can't remember which one but I think his name is also Bill) and a Bill Eversleigh in the Bundle Books and Jones, Victoria Jones in They Came To Baghdad and Bobby Jones in Why Didn't They Ask Evans

LauraPoirot 08 Oct 11 at 6:56 a.m. GMT

Omg! Grey is also used in Death in the clouds for our lovely friseur Jane Grey! Four people one name!! But this is fortunately not what we are  looking for ;-)

LauraPoirot 08 Oct 11 at 6:36 a.m. GMT

Yup I said three... 

But now we have Rogers and I think I could add that Grey is also the surname of Thora in the ABC murders cause you already said it. But we need three more! Have fun!

GKCfan 08 Oct 11 at 5:21 a.m. GMT

Brent– Emily in And Then There Were None and Eileen "Bundle" in The Secret of Chimneys and The Seven Dials Mystery.

Armstrong– The Doctor in And Then There Were None and the family Armstrong (including Daisy, Sonia, and others) in Murder on the Orient Express.

Rogers– Thomas and Ethel in And Then There Were None and Michael, his mother, and Ellie after her marriage in Endless Night.

Grey– Thyrza in The Pale Horse and Katherine in The Mystery of the Blue Train.

Gorman– The priest Father Gorman in The Pale Horse and Micky the hotel worker in At Bertram's Hotel.

Oh, balderdash... did you say THREE people... well, Rogers is the name of the valet in "The Girl on the Train."   I don't have time for much more now, sorry.

LauraPoirot 07 Oct 11 at 7:53 p.m. GMT

Thank you GKCFan (and you're right! I read dumb witness a long time ago and just watched the film and remembered "oh right there was something like that..." but didn't check if it's really made up in the book like it is in the film) xD 

 Ok I'm looking for 5 surnames Christie used at least for three different persons (of course not relatives ;) )

GKCfan 07 Oct 11 at 7:17 p.m. GMT

All answers are correct, although the Tanios medicine is really more of a red herring in the Suchet film than the book.  

LauraPoirot, you have three- your turn!

LauraPoirot 07 Oct 11 at 7:13 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

If it's up to something like that then I have one more: in dumb witness everybody thinks the poison (phosphor) is in Mr Tanios' medicine but it's in one of the liver pills! 

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Oct 11 at 1:51 p.m. GMT

This might not count; in 4.50 From Paddington the Poison was thought to be in the Curry but wasn't.

LauraPoirot 07 Oct 11 at 12:05 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

In death in the clouds was thought that either the flute or the blow pipe is the used object but the murderer did it by hand

In the hollow is just the used gun an other than they think

And in The mysterious affair at styles  the murderers didn't use the bought poison, they just manipulated the medicine of the victim with a different substance. 

I hope that counts :)

GKCfan 07 Oct 11 at 3:50 a.m. GMT

Name three instances in Christie novels where the object that was originally thought to be the murder weapon turns out to be a decoy, and a totally different object was used in the crime.

NightRayDuck 07 Oct 11 at 2:56 a.m. GMT

Good answers, GKCfan! Over to you..

GKCfan 06 Oct 11 at 8:51 p.m. GMT

And Then There Were None- A major storm makes it impossible to leave or come to the island.

The Mousetrap- A blizzard isolates the hotel.

The Sittaford Mystery– A snowstorm slows down travel and sets up an interesting alibi.

NightRayDuck 06 Oct 11 at 7:44 p.m. GMT

Try this one, although I am not sure it's spoiler-free..

Name three detective / crime stories by Christie in which the WEATHER is a significant factor in the crime / crime scene. Explain briefly.

NightRayDuck 06 Oct 11 at 7:03 p.m. GMT

oh and both of the murderers in "Dead Man's Folly".

new question? I might be able to come back with one in an hour or so..

Tommy_A_Jones 06 Oct 11 at 2:40 p.m. GMT

I can't think of any questions for the moment so someone else can have a go.

Tommy_A_Jones 06 Oct 11 at 2:40 p.m. GMT

I can't think of any questions for the moment so someone else can have a go.

Tommy_A_Jones 06 Oct 11 at 2:28 p.m. GMT

I can't think of any questions for the moment so someone else can have a go.

GKCfan 05 Oct 11 at 5:43 p.m. GMT

 Between the two of you, you got it!  There are other answers, but these will do.  Who wants to go next?

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Oct 11 at 1:35 p.m. GMT

I miss-read your Question.

1) A Murder is Announced

2) Caribbean Mystery 

NightRayDuck 05 Oct 11 at 2:47 a.m. GMT

I think I can put in a few possibly correct answers..

The Secret of Chimneys, the mastermind as it were of the conspiracy definitely is using an assumed identity, and the killer who is accomplice to the mastermind is also on-the-scene using the identity of somebody else.

Three Act Tragedy a.k.a. Murder in Three Acts, the murderer has been using an assumed name throughout the story because the original surname simply sounded quite silly (or at least, that is so in the U.S. edition of the novel).

NightRayDuck 05 Oct 11 at 2:41 a.m. GMT

Most of the Poirot novels mentioned here, I have not read. I can answer as to #5 and #6 being incorrect because the name used by the killer (or one of the conspiring murderers in the particular story, for the cases with an accomplice) throughout the story is their real name, or a commonly shortened form of their real name.

#5 Jimmy Thesiger is the real name, or, persumably his name is properly written as James [middlename] Thesiger, but the name has not been written out in the formal manner in the story (The Seven Dials Mystery).

#6 Michael Rogers is the real name, and sometimes he is called Mike, a commonly used short form of his given name (Endless Night).

I don't know about Dr. Shephard's usage of his name; I had presumed that it's his correct name as he seemed to have a genuine sister with the same surname.

The book in #7 might be said to have a killer with a different name, since stage names are often used by stars in the acting industry. I do not remember the real name / birth name of the killer in Lord Edgware Dies.

GKCfan 04 Oct 11 at 11:11 p.m. GMT

Well, the Evil Under the Sun answer is right, but I'm afraid that most of your other answers are wrong (at least some of them are, if someone else could double check there might be at least one or two that are right, but I'm pretty sure that #1, #5, #6, and #7 are wrong), and #7 lists a killer from the wrong book. 

Tommy_A_Jones 04 Oct 11 at 11:40 a.m. GMT

Alfred Inglethorp The Mysterious Affair At Styles

Lawrence Redding Murder At Thye Vicarage

Patrick Redfern Evil Under The Sun

Eustace Pedlar The Man In The Brown Suit

Jimmy Thesiger The Seven Dials Mystery

Michael Rodgers Endless Night

Dr Shephard      Lord Edgware Dies

GKCfan 04 Oct 11 at 5:44 a.m. GMT

Name at least three instances where the name that a murderer has used throughout the entire book turns out at the end to not be the killer's real name.

NightRayDuck 03 Oct 11 at 5:37 p.m. GMT

Well done, GKCfan! :D

GKCfan 03 Oct 11 at 5:06 a.m. GMT

"Sing a Song of Sixpence," A Pocket Full of Rye, "Four and Twenty Blackbirds."

NightRayDuck 03 Oct 11 at 3:51 a.m. GMT

allow me to pop in an easy quiz, while the matter of Carry On and Christie adapts are researched?

Name a nursery rhyme that has been used for the titles of three or more stories by Agatha Christie.

Tommy_A_Jones 20 Aug 11 at 12:17 p.m. GMT

One Actor played a Policeman in one B&W Film and a Victim in a Radio Priduction with a nother Carry On Star as MM who appeared in another Adaptation married to another Carry On although none of these were in many at all.

Number3 18 Aug 11 at 12:57 p.m. GMT

Unfortunately I haven't seen any of the Carry On films so I can't answer.  I have heard that they are rather good.

Tommy_A_Jones 18 Aug 11 at 11:59 a.m. GMT

How many people have been in more than 2 Carry On Films and in Adaptations featuring Miss Marple?

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Aug 11 at 1:27 p.m. GMT

Jon Pertwee was the 3rd Doctor, his Son Sean was in the Poirot Episode King of Clubs and in the GM version of The Moving Finger Sean hasn't I don't think been in Dr Who or Torchwood but when David Tennant announced he was leaving Sean Penn expressed a interest in being the next Doctor.

Number3 16 Aug 11 at 12:29 p.m. GMT

So far Tommy is in the lead.  There is also another actor that is the answer to the wild card question.  Who will be the one to find it?

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Aug 11 at 11:51 a.m. GMT

Derek Jacobi played The Master and the Victim in th GM version of Murder At The Vicarage, Catherine Tate played the Doctors Assistant and was in the GM version of A Murder Is Announced, Mark McGann was the Doctor in a Film and played Dr Lord in Sad Cypress and I think Eve Myles has been in an AC Adaptation and she is in Torchwood

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Aug 11 at 3:28 p.m. GMT

Georgia Moffett was in Why Didn't They Ask Evans her Father Peter Davidson was in the GM version of Body In The Library and was the 5th Doctor, Tom Baker was in Towards Zero. he was the 4th Doctor

Number3 14 Aug 11 at 1:19 p.m. GMT

Wonderful, Dark Ray got the last one correct.

The next question I have is, hoy many Doctor Who/Torchwood alumnus have starred in the TV adapts? Along with this comes wild card question. This actor appeared in a adapt and the actor's father played The Doctor.

NightRayDuck 14 Aug 11 at 12:39 a.m. GMT

This is only by looking up on-line, I have never seen "The Comic Strip" and I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this bit..

..says Alexei Sayle was Dr. Maverick in the 2009 "Marple: They Do It with Mirrors".

Tommy_A_Jones 13 Aug 11 at 2:14 p.m. GMT

Nigel Planer is another but I can't think of the third, everytime I think of someone I look him up and find he has been in one or the other but not both or maybe I am missing something, John Sessions and Harry Enfield have both been in Marple and Lily Allen's Father has been in Comic Strip but neither in both.

Number3 12 Aug 11 at 4:08 p.m. GMT

Tommy got two of them correct.  There are two more.

Tommy_A_Jones 11 Aug 11 at 5:06 p.m. GMT

2, Dawn French was in that APPALLING version of Sleeping Murder and Rik Mayall was in the Adaptation of Why Didn't They Ask Evans I don't know who else was in The Comic Strip

Number3 11 Aug 11 at 12:18 p.m. GMT

I have a new quiz.  How many members of "The Comic Strip" have been in the T.V. adapts?

Number3 11 Aug 11 at 12:17 p.m. GMT

I have a new quiz.  How many members of "The Comic Strip" have been in the T.V. adapts?

NightRayDuck 08 Aug 11 at 4:42 a.m. GMT

Yes, GKCfan! Skill 1 is the ability to come up with an elaborate story in order to get information out of people who aren't aware of the ongoing investigation.

Misc. info on Skill 2: in Chapter 2 of "A Study in Scarlet" (and so, very early on in Conan Doyle's Holmes series) Dr. Watson has compiled a list of Holmes's skills and knowledge. Item 11 of the list goes "expert singlestick player, boxer, and swordsman".

GKCfan 07 Aug 11 at 11:17 p.m. GMT

Is Skill 1 lying, or at least the ability to come up with a fake story to compel someone to talk or reveal information?  In "Blue Carbuncle," Holmes comes up with the "town or country-bred goose" ploy, in Poirot is always mentioning fake relatives (actually, they could be real, we don't know) or false relationships with people, or citing imaginary evidence.

NightRayDuck 07 Aug 11 at 10:40 p.m. GMT

Thanks for Mr. Goby, Tommy! :D

Regarding Skill 3, yes, it is the art of disguise. From what I've read, I think the best disguises among Christie recurring sleuths are perpetrated by Mr. Parker Pyne and his employees (excepting the secretary Miss Lemon and the playact script writer Mrs. Oliver). Congratulations, Number 3! :D

Regarding Skill 2, perhaps boxing is also a correct answer, I haven't read enough Tom'n'Tup stories to know about his unarmed fighting skills. I was thinking about fencing, especially the time that Tommy carried a swordstick while playing a blind sleuth.

Skill 1 is not conceit of any amount, but it does have a lot to do with talking. You are getting close, InspectorGrant. ;-)

Hint on Skill 1: Holmes gave a fine example during "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle". Poirot's fine example got a particularly stern reproach from Hastings in a full-length novel.

InspectorGrant 07 Aug 11 at 2:19 p.m. GMT

Thanks for Mr. Goby, Tommy.

Is Skill 1 their massive conceit?  Both know their own worth and are not shy about it - Poirot even brags about how modest he is becoming!

Skill 2 sounds like boxing - Holmes is good at this sport (I think  he shows it off in 'The Naval Treaty').  Tommy is also quite good at fighting I think - I suppose it is his WW1 experience.

InspectorGrant 07 Aug 11 at 2:18 p.m. GMT

Thanks for Mr. Goby, Tommy.

Is Skill 1 their massive conceit?  Both know their own worth and are not shy about it - Poirot even brags about how modest he is becoming!

Skill 2 sounds like boxing - Holmes is good at this sport (I think  he shows it off in 'The Naval Treaty').  Tommy is also quite good at fighting I think - I suppose it is his WW1 experience.

Number3 07 Aug 11 at 12:50 p.m. GMT

Is skill number 3 the art of disguise?  I know Holmes did it many times.  The one instance that stands out for Poirot is when he disguised himself as his "Brother."

Tommy, thank you for refreshing my memory.

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Aug 11 at 11:36 a.m. GMT

The person you are looking for is Mr Goby Number 3

NightRayDuck 07 Aug 11 at 1:37 a.m. GMT

Umm, still no idea on skills that are so irregular that they may be considered infamous?

Skill 1: When Holmes does this, Dr. Watson simply waits patiently. When Poirot does this, as soon as the conversation ends, Hastings starts reproaching Poirot for it. The practice of this skill is considered a serious offense of morality, but it is practiced by people of all walks of life, including young children.

Skill 2: This one-on-one combat skill is well-versed by Holmes (I don't recall his actually using it in any narrated case, though), and this skill also helps a young and brave recurring Christie sleuth get himself out of a dangerous situation.

Skill 3: This skill allows Holmes to go on stake-out, surveillance, tailing, etc, without the mark noticing him. This skill also allows a recurring Christie sleuth and associates to perform a wide variety of duties without hiring many more crew members.

These skills are indeed shared between Conan Doyle's character and Christie's characters, but who cares, really? I would have started a separate "Guess the Skill" game but I couldn't think of that many shared skills to keep the game going. Anyone with a good quiz please do go ahead. :-)

..quack.. and ::flips wings::

InspectorGrant 06 Aug 11 at 5:16 p.m. GMT

We are posting at the same time, Number 3 - I know the one you mean - he addressed all his remarks to the furniture in the room, never directly to Poirot.  I can't think of his name either.

InspectorGrant 06 Aug 11 at 5:14 p.m. GMT

That's true, Tommy, but I can't think of the infamous skill that Poirot and Holmes have in common though, Duck!  Unless it was that instead of doing a lot of running around they preferred to sit and think, and work out the evidence.

However, both had ONE special woman in their lives -  Sherlock Holmes had Irene Adler (of dubious and questionable memory) yet he did wear that coin on his watch-chain which she had given him.  And Poirot had the Countess Vera Rossakoff, the flamboyant and large Russian 'a whirlwind in human form' who may or may not have been a Russian Countess.  Both Irene and Vere were adventurous and emancipated ladies who appealed to our two bachelors.

Number3 06 Aug 11 at 5:13 p.m. GMT

I can't remember the name off the top of my head but. Poirot has a private detective on his payroll that could be seen as similar to what the Baker Street Irregulars did for Holmes.

Tommy_A_Jones 06 Aug 11 at 11:42 a.m. GMT

Hastings and Watson both have Guns which Poirot and Holmes ask them to bring when needed.

NightRayDuck 05 Aug 11 at 7:28 p.m. GMT

Well well, no new quiz has been posted yet, so I'll go on taunting our friends for parallels between "Sherlock Holmes and associates" and "[insert Christie sleuth name here] and associates"? :p

The Holmes character was well known for having skills that would be embarrassing for a police detective to use in solving a case. Several recurring Christie sleuths, or their recurring associates, have similar skills. Hmm, even Poirot has one infamous skill that Holmes has.

NightRayDuck 05 Aug 11 at 6:58 p.m. GMT

Umm, quite honestly, I've never seen any parallel between "Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson" and "Hercule Poirot and Capt. Hastings". That's maybe only my irrational fear of a narrator like Hastings who loves tagging on to his famous friend and then writes out the exploits with the most sour criticisms. (Like an envious friend who doesn't know how to stay away from the brilliant yet annoying friend. Very much the situation in "The Sittaford Mystery", you understand.) Also, Watson is still a doctor in practice, whereas Hastings is retired from his captain position. I only admit this as a parallel because so many critics propound it and so many readers believe it. o.O

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Aug 11 at 2:33 p.m. GMT

Both oirot and Holmes had Assistants who had titles that told you their Profession, Hercule begins with H which is in the First Half of the Alphabet and Poirot begins with P which is in the 2nd half, Sherlock begins with S which is in the "nd half of the Alphabet and Holmnes begins with H which is in the 1st Half so both writers used both halves of the Alphabet for their Sleuth, Tenuous I know but true, both at one point had housekeepers and both had Sidekick's who later married,

Mycroft was used well where as Ichilles seemed to be an idea that AC thought better of. 

InspectorGrant 05 Aug 11 at 2:01 p.m. GMT

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I can only think of the differences between Poirot and Holmes - one living in a state of perfect order with everything in its place, the other living in a state of total chaos with his papers strewn over the floor and shooting up a nice old 7 percent solution when things became dull.

Both were hated in the end by their creators, there is that, of course.  Doyle killed off Holmes, and Dame Agatha did the same!  But Dame Agatha, being a woman, was much more successful than Doyle who had to resurrect his detective due to a public which actually went into mourning.  Black arm bands were worn..

NightRayDuck 04 Aug 11 at 5:30 p.m. GMT

This quiz is more of an interesting discussion question. If you feel you have a good quiz to post, please do go ahead. :-)

I think Number 3's "Inspector Japp and Inspector Lestrade" and InspectorGrant's "Achille Poirot for Mycroft Holmes" are both good answers. Has anyone noticed any odd skill possessed by Sherlock Holmes and a recurring Christie sleuth? (I found two already.) :p

InspectorGrant 04 Aug 11 at 1:37 p.m. GMT

The introduction of Hercule Poirot's older brother Achilles (who didn't really exist) may have been Dame Agatha parodying Doyle's Mycroft Holmes.  Trouble is I haven't read The Big Four for years, so I can't remember what was said about 'Achille' Poirot.

The Hound of Death and the Hound of the Baskervilles? 

Number3 04 Aug 11 at 12:32 p.m. GMT

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Dark Ray I'm guessing it's Inspector Japp and Inspector Lestrade.

As these two gentlemen are always asking the private detectives for help when they get stuck on things.  

But the big similarity is jumping to an answer before all the facts are known.

NightRayDuck 04 Aug 11 at 1:47 a.m. GMT

Next quiz up!

"Sherlock Holmes" series by Arthur Conan Doyle is frequently mentioned as a major influence on Agatha Christie. Critics and biographers like pointing out the parallel between "Poirot: sleuth; Hastings: sidekick" and "Holmes: sleuth; Watson: sidekick". BUT,

Can you think of another recurring Christie sleuth / police detective who shares another feature of a sleuth or police detective in Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes" stories?

"Feature" may be temperament, hobby, specific skill; but I beg you not to give an answer going "Christie's [sleuth name] and Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes are both very skillful sleuths".

NightRayDuck 03 Aug 11 at 7:29 p.m. GMT

oooh Hannibal the barking dog of Dame Agatha...! :D

Yep, I found the Carthagian general, but didn't get to his surname.

Nofret 03 Aug 11 at 1:06 p.m. GMT

I'm off on hols tomorrow so I'll put you out of your misery! The Carthaginian general Hannibal had the surname Barca! (barker, geddit?!)

rkbh 30 Jul 11 at 10:52 p.m. GMT

Most of the action was on a dig somewhere in the middle east. I can't remember where. They were also in Jerusalem part of the time. I have the book, so I could go check right quick, but that would be cheating.

NightRayDuck 28 Jul 11 at 4:52 p.m. GMT

During miscellaneous search of various not-completely-reliable sources, turned up that "Hannibal" was name of a famous military commander back in ancient days. Don't know if it explains Christie's dog's name, as I have no idea about the breeds or personality of the lady's dogs.

christie_greece 28 Jul 11 at 8:39 a.m. GMT

This mornig I was reading Postern of Fate and I read that T+T's dog was named Hannibal. I remembered that the question at the AC quiz was something about that but couldn't remember exactly. I am disappointed to know that the question is not really related to what I read.

Never mind, I can't think of anything so I'll just wait

Nofret 22 Jul 11 at 8:54 a.m. GMT

Just thought of a good one! Christie called one of her dogs Hannibal. Why is this an appropriate name?

Number3 21 Jul 11 at 7:19 p.m. GMT

Each one is correct and what I was looking for .  The Maggie Smith/Toby Stephens was one of the most recent pairings. It's amazing how family members show up in the adaptations.

InspectorGrant 19 Jul 11 at 6:20 p.m. GMT

Or there is Maggie Smith (Daphne in 'Evil Under the Sun') and Toby Stephens ('Marple:  The Blue Geranium').  Maggie Smith also appeared in the film version of 'Death on the Nile'.

And for a mother and daughter teaming Diana Rigg appeared in 'Evil Under the Sun' and her daughter Rachael Stirling appeared in 'Five Little Pigs'.

a_b_cust 19 Jul 11 at 4:26 p.m. GMT

Prunella Scales ( a pocket full of Rye)  and Sam West (murder on the orient express tv). was this who you had in mind or are there more?

Number3 17 Jul 11 at 4:11 p.m. GMT

I just thought of a good question.  This relates to the films and T.V.  adapts.  Which mother and son starred in separate films and T.V.. adapts?

SilverTyne 17 Jul 11 at 7:48 a.m. GMT

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Huzzah!

Yes Norfret, that's correct.

Incidentally, Mr Banting's book is apparently still in print to this day.

Nofret 17 Jul 11 at 6:45 a.m. GMT

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Aha! Is the undertaker in question William Banting? He was a pioneer of dieting, and his method of weight control is mentioned in the Miss Marple short story The Tuesday Night Club.

Briefly, a man is suspected of poisoning his wife, but as both of them, plus wife's chubby companion all ate the same meal, how did he do it? Miss M deduces that the poison was on the trifle topping, the guilty husband didn't eat the topping, and the companion would have refused the trifle, as she was "banting"!

SilverTyne 15 Jul 11 at 5:48 a.m. GMT

I think I can safely put the gentleman's interest in the category of scientific research. 

Some might dispute his conclusions.  Many people today do what he did [he practised what he preached] but will have never heard of him.

NightRayDuck 15 Jul 11 at 1:23 a.m. GMT

May I ask, is the "correct sort of line" about scientific research (Mendel looked at the sweet peas and tried to figure out the reason, if any, that individual sweet pea plants looked different)? Or is the "correct sort of line" about applied science or engineering (using the Mendel idea to explain other genetic phenomena)?

SilverTyne 14 Jul 11 at 7:57 p.m. GMT

No Nofret but you're thinking along the correct sort of lines.

The gentlemen I'm talking about was also something of a pioneer in his area of interest.

Another clue for everyone?

This gentleman gave his own name to the 'thing' he pioneered.

Nofret 14 Jul 11 at 7:41 p.m. GMT

I'm probably wrong, but is the person in question Gregor Mendel, the pioneer of genetics?

SilverTyne 12 Jul 11 at 10:22 p.m. GMT

You must cease to cogitate in this manner, dear NRD. It is unfruitful to say the least.

NightRayDuck 12 Jul 11 at 8:54 p.m. GMT

For some reason not yet clear to myself, I am thinking the gentleman, whose regular job was undertaker, was the playwright William Shakespeare. o.O

SilverTyne 12 Jul 11 at 6:17 p.m. GMT

Well, I seem to have stumped you. I'll make it a little easier.

This gentlemen, an undertaker in daily life, had an interest, a passion, a way of life if you like. It was something he did a lot of work on and it is still spoken of to this day.

This 'thing' was crucial in the detection of a murderer in an AC story.

christie_greece 12 Jul 11 at 9:08 a.m. GMT

I didn't know what udertaker is so looked it up in the dictionary. In there it said that undertaker is someone who organizes funerals. Do I have the right definition?

I still can't understand what we are searching for

SilverTyne 11 Jul 11 at 11:27 p.m. GMT

A wee clue-ette?

Said real life undertaker's work, relevant to this AC tale, had nothing to do with his day job.

SilverTyne 10 Jul 11 at 11:20 a.m. GMT

Sorry for any confusion. I mean a fictional murderer in a Christie story.

Clue this evening if no progress.

NightRayDuck 10 Jul 11 at 2:03 a.m. GMT

May I ask, by "a Christie murderer", did you mean a fictional murderer in a Christie story? Or did you mean a real life murder case that was considered to base its methods on techniques used in Christie stories?

GKCfan 09 Jul 11 at 9:40 p.m. GMT

Could we please get some sort of hint about the work in question?

SilverTyne 08 Jul 11 at 10:51 p.m. GMT

Honoured, my dear Duck.

The work of which real life undertaker proved crucial in the detection of a Christie murderer?

NightRayDuck 08 Jul 11 at 10:24 p.m. GMT

Quite so, SilverTyne! Would you honor us by setting the next quiz? :-)

SilverTyne 08 Jul 11 at 6:02 p.m. GMT

'Murderers I have met'

NightRayDuck 08 Jul 11 at 5:40 p.m. GMT

Hello - the quiz is patiently awaiting a correct answer from any player with the opportunity and patience to flip through a particular part of the novels mentioned, to find the quite simple answer. ;-)

NightRayDuck 28 Jun 11 at 7:05 p.m. GMT

fill in the blank.

The character Clement Edward Alistair Brent, Ninth Marquis of Caterham, is an aggrieved home-owner in "The Secret of Chimneys" and "The Seven Dials Mystery". At the end of "Seven Dials", Lord Caterham decides to write a memoir, with a special chapter on __________________________.

GKCfan 27 Jun 11 at 6:17 a.m. GMT

Great job!  There are many other possibilities, but you're correct!

NightRayDuck 27 Jun 11 at 2:03 a.m. GMT

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Audrey Strange (Towards Zero)

Brenda Leonides (Crooked House)

Laurence Brown (Crooked House)

Aimee Griffith (The Moving Finger)

Basil Blake (The Body in the Library)

James Pearson (The Sittaford Mystery)

Michael Rafiel (Nemesis)

Caroline Crale (Five Little Pigs)

Eleanor Carlisle (Sad Cypress)

Alexander Bonaparte Cust (The A.B.C. Murders)

NightRayDuck 27 Jun 11 at 2:01 a.m. GMT

Um, answers to this quiz question would be a whole lot of spoilers, yes?

I looked through most of the books I have on hand, I've got a whole lot from the short stories, but since they're not widely read, I'll start with the answers from the novels first. Let me know if some of them disqualify and then I'll fill it up with short stories and play scripts.

GKCfan 26 Jun 11 at 5:52 a.m. GMT

Name ten characters (and the books in which they appeared) who were wrongfully arrested for murder.

GKCfan 26 Jun 11 at 5:52 a.m. GMT

Name ten characters (and the books in which they appeared) who were wrongfully arrested for murder.

LauraPoirot 25 Jun 11 at 9:16 p.m. GMT

Okay GKCfan I think it's again your turn!

GKCfan 25 Jun 11 at 7:45 p.m. GMT

In Mrs. McGinty's Dead, Poirot wishes that Hastings wasn't "on the other side of the world."

In Five Little Pigs, Meredith Blake thought a cat was in the lab because he smelled valerian.

LauraPoirot 25 Jun 11 at 9:20 a.m. GMT

Ok,  when somebody should see that passage in a book please tell me which one it was! I'm courios.Now that's a rather easy question to answer:

What thought Meredith Blake in Five Little Pigs was in the laboratory the morning he found out that the coniin is missing and why did he think so?

GKCfan 24 Jun 11 at 10:29 p.m. GMT

I'll accept that!  Your turn!

LauraPoirot 21 Jun 11 at 11:24 a.m. GMT

oh I'm confused. I'm sure there must be one where Poirot talks with Ariadne Oliver on phone and she say something (Can't remember what it is) and Poirot answers something like she sometimes makes him bump to the right answer just like his friend Hastings. I'm sitting beneath stapled books and I'm confused! I think it is Mrs McGinty's Dead or Dead Mans Folly or maybe third girl?? No not third girl I'm almoust sure it's one of the two first.

GKCfan 15 Jun 11 at 4:19 a.m. GMT

Great so far!  One more to go!

LauraPoirot 14 Jun 11 at 6:38 p.m. GMT

well I've got two:one is in The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd. Poirot tells about his friend in south america.

Another one is in The Clocks. Poirot reads detective stories and there's mentioned Watson from Sherlock Holmes. Of course Poirot thinks of Hastings, then...

But I'm sorry I can't think of a third one...

GKCfan 03 Jun 11 at 8:26 p.m. GMT

Name three instances where Hastings is mentioned in a Poirot story but does not actually appear anywhere in the book or short story.  The reference to Hastings must be specific.

NightRayDuck 03 Jun 11 at 6:39 p.m. GMT

ooh.. romping dogs and hen-eating dog. I am happy to have heard of them. Your turn to set next quiz, GKC! :)

The dogs I had in mind were only the aged terrier in "Next to a Dog" who wouldn't listen when its owner called it to stay away from a dangerous spot, and various dogs who would drag their owner about rather than walk along with the owner.

GKCfan 03 Jun 11 at 6:17 a.m. GMT

Also, in The Pale Horse, Rhoda Dawes Despard has some "delightful but undisciplined dogs" who are supposed to be incarcerated in the house, but who break free to romp around the fête.

NightRayDuck 03 Jun 11 at 2:44 a.m. GMT

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ok... I haven't read Elephants Can Remember or Mrs. McGinty's Dead.

I'll accept the big mangy dog in Mrs. McGinty's Dead, if it can be confirmed by any of our regular quiz / puzzle players.

As to the dog in Elephants Can Remember, at the time of biting said person, did any of the dog's real owners try to call off the dog? Thank you.

GKCfan 02 Jun 11 at 9:09 p.m. GMT

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The dog who bit "Lady Ravenscroft" in Elephants Can Remember?  Actually, that dog was jus proving itself to be more observant than most of the humans!

Definitely the big dog in Mrs. McGinty's Dead, who looks mangy, climbs on the furniture and won't budge, and ate the hens.

NightRayDuck 02 Jun 11 at 4:42 p.m. GMT

Hint: Bob the terrier in Dumb Witness does not count, because Bob never disobeyed a direct order except possibly those given by ineffectual companions.

NightRayDuck 26 May 11 at 10:32 p.m. GMT

me! :p

Some reviewers and Christie-compendium writers over-emphasize Christie's love for dogs, and neglect to mention the more disobedient dogs in Christie stories. Can you name 2 Christie stories with disobedient or downright foolish dog(s), and give a brief description of how the dog demonstrated itself as disobedient?

Number3 26 May 11 at 2:52 p.m. GMT

GKC got it correct.

Who wants to pick up the gauntlet next?

AndreaWilkins 24 May 11 at 10:38 p.m. GMT

wow i think i definately need to o some more reading :) some of these questions are tricky ! :)

GKCfan 24 May 11 at 10 p.m. GMT

"Tell," or "tel" is an Arabic-based word for cities that have been covered in soil and need to be excavated.

http://archaeology.about.com/od/archaeology101/qt/buried_city.htmhttp://archaeology.about.com/od/archaeology101/qt/buried_city.htm

Number3 24 May 11 at 4:10 p.m. GMT

Ok, Duck got both of the questions correct.

Here is one more.  What is the pun in the tittle "Come Tell Me How You Live?"

NightRayDuck 24 May 11 at 3:58 a.m. GMT

inside the cupboard was wallpaper of the pattern she thought she'd like to put in that room. cornflower blue with yellow poppies, I think?

"Cover Her Face" was from the opera "The Duchess of Malfi". the line sent Gwenda screaming.

Number3 23 May 11 at 7:17 p.m. GMT

GCK got this one correct as well.

Duck, with Harlequin it's a grey area because he was already a character made by some one else.

Ok I actually have two,

What does Gwenda find when she opens the cupboard doors in the proposed nursey in "Sleeping Murder?"

Also from "Sleeping" where does the line "Cover Her Face" come from?

NightRayDuck 20 May 11 at 5:31 a.m. GMT

wow...

does "Harlequin the Invisible" count as A.C.'s imaginary friend?

GKCfan 19 May 11 at 10:02 p.m. GMT

Well, there were five kittens, Clover, Blackie and three more.  Mrs. Green had 100 kids, with names like Poodle, Squirrel, and Tree.  She also made up a school with classmates, like Annie Gray and Isabella Sullivan.  Though not a friend, The Gunman was also a prominent imaginary figure.

Number3 19 May 11 at 1:08 p.m. GMT

GKC got it correct. 

I do have another question but, this pertains mostly to A.C.  

Who were some of A.C.'s imaginary friends?

GKCfan 17 May 11 at 8:41 p.m. GMT

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The ammonia fumes from the smelling salts, held against the flower wallpaper by the killer.

Number3 17 May 11 at 1:58 p.m. GMT

Ok,  I'll pick up the gauntlet.

For this answer I will accept it from the story or the T.V. adaptation.

In "The Blue Geranium" what made the geranium turn blue?

NightRayDuck 16 May 11 at 4:48 a.m. GMT

I think Number3 should take the next turn. He submitted two positive answers, after all. :)

and wouldn't it be nice to take a one-day break after contemplating Poirot's omelettes for nearly a month? ;)

GKCfan 15 May 11 at 9:48 p.m. GMT

I will happily accept your answer!  We've spent too long in this question– you've defintely earned the right to put the next one forward.

NightRayDuck 15 May 11 at 8:41 p.m. GMT

oh, and I am afraid I've forgotten all details from the adaptations by now. it appears you'll have to wait for someone to turn in one more correct answer.

NightRayDuck 15 May 11 at 8:39 p.m. GMT

that's the difficulty in my edition. in the last few lines: Japp praises Poirot as old dog who takes the cake, and invites him to go out for a lunch. Poirot accepts invitation with pleasure but declines the cake, recommending instead omelettes, braquettes, and some other items. Japp accepts the recommendations and says "Lead me to it". and, so, overall, in my edition, we do not know that Poirot has actually cooked the full lunch.

GKCfan 15 May 11 at 8:16 p.m. GMT

What edition of the story do you have?  Did you check the last few lines?  Anyway, I would also accept any meal that Poirot makes in the David Suchet television series...

NightRayDuck 15 May 11 at 5:27 a.m. GMT

I checked out the "Murder in the Mews" short story, but it's all talk, no actual cooking or even presence of food or drink during the narration.

foodless researches make me so hungry. o.O

GKCfan 03 May 11 at 10:16 p.m. GMT

Yes he does, and that breakfast includes another omelet!

That's two!  One more...

Number3 03 May 11 at 1:19 p.m. GMT

If I remember right, doesn't HP make an early breakfast for the shocked people in "The Third Floor Flat"?

GKCfan 01 May 11 at 7:31 p.m. GMT

Yes!  Two more to go!

Number3 01 May 11 at 1:27 p.m. GMT

I know of one. In "Mrs. McGinty Dead" he teaches Mrs. Summerhayes how to make an omelet.

GKCfan 26 Apr 11 at 5:08 a.m. GMT

As a hint, check out "The Third Floor Flat" and "Murder in the Mews."

NightRayDuck 26 Apr 11 at 4:41 a.m. GMT

my brain is overflowing with various attempts and rip-offs of Sherlock Holmes.. sorry..

I wonder if Poirot made anything for his picnic in Evil Under the Sun?

ivi21 25 Apr 11 at 4:25 p.m. GMT

Uf, it´s hard! I just remember the film where Poirot cooked something which didn´t looked very tasty for Hasting and Miss Lemon. But I don´t remember which story it was. And I haven´t read any book for a long time, but I think it could be a short story.

GKCfan 23 Apr 11 at 7:42 p.m. GMT

Anyone need a hint?

GKCfan 19 Apr 11 at 6:14 a.m. GMT

Name three meals that Poirot has cooked himself (if he made a multiple course meal, name every dish he prepared), and name the stories in which they appeared.

NightRayDuck 18 Apr 11 at 6:57 a.m. GMT

Well done, GKCfan! And nice job for thinking of Jane Helier. Your turn. :)

GKCfan 17 Apr 11 at 11:22 p.m. GMT

Raymond West- novelist

Joyce/Joan Lempriere-artist

Jane Helier- actress

NightRayDuck 17 Apr 11 at 8:50 p.m. GMT

hi LovesMysteries.. please do continue posting answers when you think of more. The first person to post three unique and correct answers wins the quiz. 

LovesMysteries 17 Apr 11 at 8:34 p.m. GMT

Well I can name one:

Ariadne Oliver--mystery writer

NightRayDuck 17 Apr 11 at 8:21 p.m. GMT

Name three recurring characters who are creative artists with the creative work earning well enough to be their full-time career. Name also the type of creative work each character does.

GKCfan 16 Apr 11 at 1:06 a.m. GMT

Yes!  Exactly!

NightRayDuck 15 Apr 11 at 5:59 p.m. GMT

Death on the Nile. Part 1 Chapter 1 scene vi. Poirot goes to the restaurant (I didn't write down the name) and the proprietor, M. Blondin, greets Poirot as a VIP, as he had sometimes done with a certain duchess or a certain peer who enjoyed racing. This is scene in which Poirot overhears Jackie and Simon planning their future should Simon manage to hold his new job for more than 3 months.

GKCfan 12 Apr 11 at 7:04 p.m. GMT

No, sorry.  This is a famous book and an important early scene, even if it has been cut from at least one adaptation...

Tommy_A_Jones 12 Apr 11 at 5:30 p.m. GMT

The Big Four

GKCfan 12 Apr 11 at 6:32 a.m. GMT

No to both, but how many other Poirot books mostly take place outside of England?

NightRayDuck 11 Apr 11 at 8:24 p.m. GMT

I looked in Appointment with Death, couldn't find such references. I am only looking in the famous Poirot novels that I do have on my bookshelf, tho, as usual.

stylestocurtain 11 Apr 11 at 2:33 p.m. GMT

Hmm ... Murder on the Links?

Tommy_A_Jones 11 Apr 11 at 1:35 p.m. GMT

I don't know which book it is and I don't know who the Duchess or the Peer who likes Horse Racing but do all three wear Pince nes? 

GKCfan 10 Apr 11 at 11:58 p.m. GMT

No... It's from a novel.

stylestocurtain 10 Apr 11 at 9:43 p.m. GMT

The Chocolate Box?

GKCfan 10 Apr 11 at 5:57 a.m. GMT

No, not MOTOE.  It is a book where Poirot travels outside England, though.

NightRayDuck 10 Apr 11 at 12:21 a.m. GMT

I saw something called "the Kassner case" which had new development and required Poirot to get back to England asap and that's why Poirot didn't stay in Stamboul for a few days of sight-seeing, but instead squeezed onto the passenger list of the fully-booked Calais Coach.. in Murder on the Orient Express. I haven't had the time to read through and see if some duchess and some horse-racing peer get mentioned in connection with the Kassner case, though. 

GKCfan 09 Apr 11 at 11:01 p.m. GMT

This is a reference to a throwaway line towards the start of a novel that leads up to a reference to an unrecorded Poirot case.  The purpose of this scene is that Poirot witnesses something that will be pivotal to solving the case.  No murders have happened at this time.  The location is a public place, and one thing connecting the three characters in question is that they are all VIP's.

GKCfan 09 Apr 11 at 11:01 p.m. GMT

This is a reference to a throwaway line towards the start of a novel that leads up to a reference to an unrecorded Poirot case.  The purpose of this scene is that Poirot witnesses something that will be pivotal to solving the case.  No murders have happened at this time.  The location is as public place, and one thing coonecting the three characters in question is that they are all VIP's.

stylestocurtain 09 Apr 11 at 1:01 p.m. GMT

I think you might need to give us another clue ... I'm stumped!

GKCfan 09 Apr 11 at 4:48 a.m. GMT

Sorry, none of these guesses are correct.  The duchess and the tracing peer are essentially non-characters in this novel.  I'm thimking of a throwaway line that refers to an unrecorded Poirot case.  And this is one of the most famous Poirot novels...

NightRayDuck 09 Apr 11 at 4:42 a.m. GMT

I think some members of the British nobility had been sponsors for the charity fete hosted by the Stubbs in Dead Man's Folly. So, possibly all three have been involved in that fete?

stylestocurtain 08 Apr 11 at 10:32 a.m. GMT

They are all in "Murder in the Mews"?

GKCfan 08 Apr 11 at 8:13 a.m. GMT

I don't know if the duchess has a moustache or not... all I know about the duchess and the racing peer is that they are a duchess and a racing peer.  Don't worry about who they are, more about their very small role in a famous story.  If you need a hint, let me know.  Remember, you need only focus on the Poirot stories– the most famous ones.

NightRayDuck 08 Apr 11 at 6:20 a.m. GMT

I haven't found the specific duchess or the specific peer yet, but I think... there's a description of a duchess with a faint moustache? so maybe, all three characters have a moustache? 

GKCfan 08 Apr 11 at 5:17 a.m. GMT

No, Poirot's Belgian.  But there's a reason why I didn't give the other two characters' names– they're not provided.

stylestocurtain 07 Apr 11 at 10:59 p.m. GMT

H'mm ... they are all not British?

GKCfan 06 Apr 11 at 1:19 a.m. GMT

No, sorry.  That's not it.

cameronjhw 05 Apr 11 at 10:35 p.m. GMT

They are all in Lord Edgware Dies?

GKCfan 05 Apr 11 at 6:31 p.m. GMT

It was not too easy- I just had to look up a few...

What do Hercule Poirot, a duchess, and a peer who enjoys racing have in common?

MissQuin 05 Apr 11 at 3:27 p.m. GMT

That was fast, was it too easy GKC? you turn.

other newspapers Daily Blare, Daily Megaphone. I think there was a Daily Comet- a parody of the Daily Star!

GKCfan 05 Apr 11 at 4:40 a.m. GMT

1.  The X-Ray News ("The Augean Stables")

2. The Daily Flicker (The ABC Murders)

3. The Daily Blague (The ABC Murders)

4. The Sunday Companion (Mrs. McGinty's Dead)

5. St. Loo Weekly Herald and Directory (Peril at End House)

MissQuin 04 Apr 11 at 8:47 p.m. GMT

Can you name 5 fictitious newspapers mentioned in Poirot stories?

NightRayDuck 03 Apr 11 at 9:09 p.m. GMT

that's what I figured, only there were so many Shakespeare references in Christie's work, that I failed to identify the particular Shakespeare reference in They Came to Baghdad.

cameronjhw 03 Apr 11 at 7:57 p.m. GMT

MissQuin you are right it is They Came to Baghdad.

your turn...

cameronjhw 03 Apr 11 at 7:57 p.m. GMT

MissQuin you are right it is They Came to Baghdad.

your turn...

MissQuin 03 Apr 11 at 11:33 a.m. GMT

I think the book might be They Came To Baghdad as Dickens "Defarge"is part of the plot.

The book deals with political themes and Marx may have been mentioned. I thought there might be a Paradise Lost reference.

GKCfan 02 Apr 11 at 6:26 a.m. GMT

I don't know... There's a flip-flopped quote from Milton's Paradise Lost in They Came to Baghdad "It's better to serve in Heaven than to reign in Hell," Dickens is referenced in Murder on the Orient Express and Peril at End House in the form of a mention of the character Mr. Harris from Bleak House, Marx is mentioned by Ferguson in Death on the Nile, and Shakespeare in mentioned countless times.  There are references to Macbeth in By the Pricking of My Thumbs, Hercule Poirot's Christmas, The Pale Horse, and Nemesis.

cameronjhw 22 Mar 11 at 3:02 p.m. GMT

Sure,

(Blake's Auguries of Innocence), (Tennyson's the Lady of Shalott), & (The Bible-Book of Revealation)

My turn: "In which Christie novel does she uses references to Milton, Dickens, Shakespeare & Marx and how does she uses these references?"

NightRayDuck 22 Mar 11 at 3:42 a.m. GMT

Well done, cameron.  Would you please also furnish the title of Blake's work and the title of Tennyson's work from which these quotes came? Your turn for setting the next quiz.

cameronjhw 22 Mar 11 at 2:34 a.m. GMT

The Pale Horse-the Bible

Endless Night-William Blake

The Mirror Crack'd-Tennyson

NightRayDuck 22 Mar 11 at 12:52 a.m. GMT

Name 3 Agatha Christie novels which are titled with quotes from any well-known piece of English literature with known author(s). Name also the piece that was source of the quote, and the author of that piece. Novels titled with nursery rhyme phrases do not count, as there are many versions of a nursery rhyme and it's difficult to establish which particular version had been used for a particular Christie title.

NightRayDuck 22 Mar 11 at 12:47 a.m. GMT

I couldn't find something called coiine in my dictionaries, and I haven't nerved myself to re-read Five Little Pigs in English, but the stage play script says conine was used.. I think it's the same one in the novel? active ingredient in hemlock poison extract?

yikes I totally forgot about the aconite, tho. truth is, if I read of a name of poison without finding out its origin or its toxic mechanism, then it is as vague to me as "arrow poison used in antiquity" (which, incidentally, I've just read that aconite was one of those arrow poisons). I totally lost track of the deaths and the murder weapons / murder poisons in Cards on the Table. well well...

GKCfan 21 Mar 11 at 6:01 a.m. GMT

Perfect!  You've gotten five!  Other answers would include coiine in Five Little Pigs, aconite in 4:50 from Paddington, and anthrax or Evipan in Cards on the Table.  And yes, for the purposes of this question, morphine and morphia are essentially the same.  Your turn!

NightRayDuck 21 Mar 11 at 5:35 a.m. GMT

I could rattle off 5 answers, but I wouldn't swear that I were quite correct to say that any of the poisons hadn't been used in another Christie novel. s matter o fact, this morning I thought I got 6 answers, and then after checking a novel that I didn't enjoy, I found that that particular poison had been used in 2 novels. I mean, I take it that morphia and morphine are practically the same thing?

well, here's my 5 answers.. SPOILERS for some of the books, of course.

A Pocket Full of Rye - taxine on the first victim.

Death in the Clouds - venom from boomslang snake (is that the correct name for that snake? I haven't read that book in English yet..)

Three-Act Tragedy - nicotine.

Dumb Witness - phosphorus (most likely the compound called "yellow phosphorus").

The Pale Horse - thallium.

GKCfan 20 Mar 11 at 4:46 a.m. GMT

Name five Christie novels where a poison is used in a murder, but the poison is not used in any other Christie novels.   Please name the poisons, too.

NightRayDuck 20 Mar 11 at 2:25 a.m. GMT

Yes, GKCfan! over to you for the next puzzling quiz.

Other short stories that I could include without any stretch of qualification are The Lamp (real ghost!), The Lemesurier Inheritance, and The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb. I am not so sure about The Idol House of Astarte; that one feels more like the homeowner goes and gathers all the archaeology information, but the local people don't talk about it like a local tale.

GKCfan 19 Mar 11 at 8:11 a.m. GMT

"The Dead Harlequin," with the myth of the Weeping Lady with the Silver Ewer!

NightRayDuck 19 Mar 11 at 5:28 a.m. GMT

The Shadow on the Glass counts, certainly.  ..tallying scores.. righty, the winner and setter of next quiz will be: Miss E if submitting 2 more answers, GKCfan if submitting 1 more answer, or anyone else if submitting 3 new answers. Admittable answers, of course.

Off the top of my head I can think of three other short stories, one of them involves a real ghost, though, so that might not be a story you've taken into consideration.

GKCfan 18 Mar 11 at 4:29 a.m. GMT

"The Shadow on the Glass," where the tale of a regrowing stain on a pane of glass is connected to a double homicide!

NightRayDuck 17 Mar 11 at 6:32 p.m. GMT

Yes, GKCfan, the legend of Gipsy's Acre counts (I happened to have read the novel..) since it gave the murderer and accomplices and intended victims some very funny ideas.  So... would anyone like to come up with 3 answers in total?

GKCfan 17 Mar 11 at 6:39 a.m. GMT

The legend of Gipsy's Acre in Endless Night? 

NightRayDuck 17 Mar 11 at 6:09 a.m. GMT

Yes, Miss E. The legend in The Bloodstained Pavement certainly is a tale with an impact on the mystery. Can you think of two other involved legends in Christie stories? 

Miss_Eylesbarrow 15 Mar 11 at 4 p.m. GMT

There's the one from The Bloodstained Pavement, where if someone sees the bloodstain then a death will shortly follow....

NightRayDuck 14 Mar 11 at 9:30 p.m. GMT

I really should get started on my re-reading of Sleeping Murder.. but I take it that it's now my turn to set the next squeaky quiz? 

Can you name at least three Agatha Christie short stories where a local tale of the supernatural, or a family legend of the supernatural, had a direct impact on the case / mystery in the story? An example from outside of Christie's works is the hell hound legend in The Hound of the Baskervilles (novel-length, original Sherlock Holmes mystery, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), where the killer managed to frighten the Baskervilles with the illusion of a luminous hound of hideous proportions. A direct impact may be that the criminal deliberately used the legend in a scheme, or a piece of evidence is mistaken by witnesses as a spook from the legend and therefore dismissed, or that a ghost from the legend actually manifests and causes the mystery. "Tales" that are actually recent inventions by the criminals or investigators or gossips do not count (ex. Luke Fitzwilliam's various "researching witchcraft" excuses in Murder Is Easy, getting passed around into the form "Mr. Fitzwilliam had just raised the ghost of Tommy Pierce..").

I would count instances from novels, only I haven't been keeping track of the contents of the novels, and might not be able to admit a good answer from a Christie novel. 

GKCfan 14 Mar 11 at 12:34 a.m. GMT

I'll count it!  That's three.  Other possibilities include Gwenda's father and the Swiss maid in Sleeping Murder, because the presumed suicide and accident are possibly deliberate poisonings, as well as Iris from "Yellow Iris," and a handful of others.

NightRayDuck 14 Mar 11 at 12:10 a.m. GMT

almost forgot... Mr. Treves in the same story. misled by a placard on elevator, walked up several flights of stairs in his hotel, the exertion induced a heart attack and killed him. placard wasn't placed on elevator by the hotel management on that particular evening. may have been done as a prank, may have been done for murder. again suspect is too unstable to confess (possibly the suspect didn't even care much about this particular killing...)

I do not know the hotel etiquette and expectations in that part of the world in Mr. Treves's time. I thought he could at least ring the bell until he roused some of the hotel employees. Even if the lift was genuinely out of order, and all the rooms downstairs were occupied, they could, perhaps, settle him down in the lounge with some nice blankets?

GKCfan 13 Mar 11 at 1:33 a.m. GMT

YES!  That was one of the ones I was thinking of at first– Adrian Royde in Towards Zero.  Battle and Audrey suspect that the car was tampered with, but they can't prove it, and the killer is too unstable mentally to confess further.  Can you think of another one?

NightRayDuck 13 Mar 11 at 12:25 a.m. GMT

OK!  Just checking because I honestly couldn't remember exact sentences from that book.

How about umm sorry I forgot that guy's name... in Towards Zero, the childhood friend that Audrey Strange was going to run off with, but the man died of some car accident on the way to meeting her, and the car accident might have been caused by brake sabotage, but the suspect is too insane to detail whether any sabotage had been done? (at least that's what I remember... don't have the book at hand.)

GKCfan 12 Mar 11 at 7:25 p.m. GMT

I wouldn't count Aunt Ada, because it's implied in the killer's confession that she was poisoned for suspecting the truth.

NightRayDuck 12 Mar 11 at 7:39 a.m. GMT

I don't know if Tommy's Aunt Ada in By the Pricking of My Thumbs counts? The doctor did autopsy on another old lady, Mrs. Moody, and found toxic level of narcotics. When the doctor talked to Tommy, he didn't ask for permission to autopsy Aunt Ada. I don't remember any explicit statement or thoughts of the characters saying that Aunt Ada's death was definitely too unexpected, or was definitely explained by a natural cause. Personally I think she might have been murdered, but the thing is, I don't remember the sleuth or the doctor stating such a suspicion. 

GKCfan 12 Mar 11 at 4:46 a.m. GMT

I would be willing to count that!  Also, think of presumed accidents and suicides that were suspected to be murder but never definitively proven...

NightRayDuck 12 Mar 11 at 4:27 a.m. GMT

I see.. how about cases where the suspect dies or disappears long before they could be questioned by the sleuth, for example "The Voice in the Dark" case when Lady Stranleigh was drowned in her bathtub?

GKCfan 12 Mar 11 at 12:46 a.m. GMT

I really wasn't counting any of those, since we have proof of murder or suicide in all of those instances.  The phosphoresent haze for example, is evidence of a crime, and an autopsy could prove it.  I'm thinking of cases where there's no way to prove the crime one way or another.

NightRayDuck 11 Mar 11 at 10:21 p.m. GMT

but MOTOE and Ordeal by Innocence, the victims obviously were murdered? it's only the suspect could be thought of as the murderer but might not be proven as the murderer?

I am thinking about Emily Arundell and Arabella Tanios in Dumb Witness... that is, if we take a skeptical point of view, such as Charles Arundell might take, and think that M. Poirot is speaking absolute nonsense. After all, there's no doctor's report or signed confession.

mysteryfan18 11 Mar 11 at 10 p.m. GMT

Murder on the Orient Express, and would Ordeal by Innocence count?

GKCfan 11 Mar 11 at 7:51 p.m. GMT

Can you name three or more characters who have died in Agatha Christie books who the detectives believe were murdered, but no one ever proves definitively that they were murdered?  To clarify, proof of murder can come from a doctor's report that a death wasn't natural, or a confession.  I am referring to murder cases where if they were ever taken to court without a confession, would be thrown out because there is no solid evidence that the death wasn't natural, suicide, or an accident.  The "deaths in the past" from And Then There Were None and Cards on the Table and A Caribbean Mystery, for example, don't count because we see the killers cofess or we get proof of a homicidal pattern.  I refer to deaths where no one will ever be charged for the crimes, but the killers are either arrested and charged for other murders or get away with it completely, and Christie only has the detective say something along the lines of "I think this person was murdered, but I can't prove it."

Miss_Eylesbarrow 11 Mar 11 at 10:12 a.m. GMT

Well done GKC!  I didn't expect that one to go so quickly.  Your turn

GKCfan 10 Mar 11 at 7:03 p.m. GMT

Her lover, Stephen, bought a spotted dressing gown that Rosemary liked, leading to a recurring joke about "the leopard changing his spots."

Miss_Eylesbarrow 10 Mar 11 at 4:02 p.m. GMT

In Sparkling Cyannide, why does Rosemary give her lover the nickname 'Leopard'?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 10 Mar 11 at 3:52 p.m. GMT

Thanks Miss Quin, I'll have to get my thinking cap on....

MissQuin 10 Mar 11 at 3:33 p.m. GMT

yes it's Third Girl. Also not to be confused with the Shamrock tearooms in 4.50 from Paddington!

Your turn once more Miss E

Miss_Eylesbarrow 10 Mar 11 at 12:56 p.m. GMT

I think it's from Third Girl, the tea room where Norma and The Peacock are discovered by a very excited Ariande Oliver.

MissQuin 09 Mar 11 at 3:56 p.m. GMT

Thnak you Miss E.

Okay, which story was The Merry Shamrock tearoom mentioned?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 09 Mar 11 at 11:30 a.m. GMT

Good to have you back Miss Quin, and spot on as usual   Over to you...

MissQuin 03 Mar 11 at 2:45 p.m. GMT

Ok, sorry I've not been guessing for months. I've been pretty busy, plus I did pop in briefly but I coludn't see through al lthe spam messages!!

ok tchaikovsky 1812 and The messiah were played in The Mirror crack'd

Cherry and her husband get so fed up with their neigbours, they moved into the rooms over the kitchen to look after Miss marple.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 03 Mar 11 at 11:38 a.m. GMT

Guesses anyone?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 01 Mar 11 at 10:17 a.m. GMT

It's one of my fave stories, and it would be sad to think that you've missed out on any of it Darknight!

Okay, my question:  Which two classical pieces does the lovely Cherry and her husband play, which causes them to annoy their neighbours?  And, what is the eventual consequence of this?

NightRayDuck 01 Mar 11 at 6:05 a.m. GMT

...should I go and hunt down a UK edition of The Moving Finger, then? I didn't detect much difference between my US edition now and the Asian edition that I had read as a kid. 

GKCfan 01 Mar 11 at 4:23 a.m. GMT

Yes!  It's The Moving Finger!

NightRayDuck 28 Feb 11 at 11:26 p.m. GMT

not Poirot novel? I was going to say perhaps the Poirot "Regatta Mystery" qualified as a novel but only the Parker Pyne "Regatta Mystery" short story is available on the US market...

Miss_Eylesbarrow 22 Feb 11 at 11:20 a.m. GMT

Is it then, The Moving Finger?

GKCfan 22 Feb 11 at 6:08 a.m. GMT

None of the above, sorry.  It's not a Porot novel.

go_leafs_nation 22 Feb 11 at 2:18 a.m. GMT

I'll jump in and say Three Act Tragedy.

NightRayDuck 21 Feb 11 at 5:02 p.m. GMT

Passenger to Frankfurt? At the time that it was published, which was also the time setting for the story content, there was a lot of fears and doubts floating around among civilians, soldiers, newspapermen, and politicians in different parts of the world. The US publisher might have felt it possibly inadvisable to include all stuff about some wealthy American being a central schemer and top participant in those unrests and upheavals. if this one, then the heavy editing may have been only found in the first few editions in that decade, and reconstituted by now? or maybe the version that I've read recently, in which I still plainly perceived the problem of the Mysterious American, had been the same abridged version?

similar things... heavy editing, or publishing the same type of work under a pseudonym by an author already established and well-liked in the genre, or a few decades later re-printing with most of the original content or under the author's well-known name, had occurred to quite a few novels written by American authors of the "spy thriller" genre.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 21 Feb 11 at 10:23 a.m. GMT

Dumb Witness?

mysteryfan18 18 Feb 11 at 12:13 a.m. GMT

Maybe And Then There Were None, because of its original title?

If not, could we please have a hint?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 17 Feb 11 at 9:46 a.m. GMT

I've only ever read the English versions, I'm afraid

NightRayDuck 17 Feb 11 at 12:57 a.m. GMT

I only have access to reviews by Americans (I could go look up, but at the moment I have too many stories on my mind), so I'll simply guess, is it either "Taken at the Flood"? or is it "After the Funeral"? If either one is the one you're thinking of, then I'll enumerate the reasons from the point of view of a reader that had actually been annoyed by the extra differences. If it's not either of these, then never mind. 

GKCfan 15 Feb 11 at 5:32 a.m. GMT

It's not any of the ones mentioned so far- although many Christie novels have been edited or changed slightly for US editions, the one I'm thinking of has been heavily abridged and the changes are often referenced in reviews..

NightRayDuck 15 Feb 11 at 2:07 a.m. GMT

That makes me wonder... just sort of randomly wonder, you know I do that quite often... is there any Christie work that's published as novel in its original UK edition, but cut down so drastically that it became a novella or a short story when published in the US?

Mr_west 12 Feb 11 at 9:53 a.m. GMT

There is a lot of AC's novels where they cut pages, it change from edition to edition.

I know the U.S. edition of the man in the brown suit abridged pages but I don't know if that is what you mean. 

also i found that there is an abridged edition of murder on the orient express by the publisher Lawrence E. Spivak.

GKCfan 11 Feb 11 at 11:23 p.m. GMT

One of Christie's mystery novels was heavily abridged from its original British edition when it was published in the U.S.  Which one?

mysteryfan18 11 Feb 11 at 5:39 p.m. GMT

Excellent! Your turn, GKCfan.

GKCfan 11 Feb 11 at 4:19 a.m. GMT

Miss Felicity Lemon has worked for both Hercule Poirot and Parker Pyne, and her sister is Mrs. Hubbard.

mysteryfan18 11 Feb 11 at 2:10 a.m. GMT

Thanks, InspectorGrant! Alright, here's an easy one: Who has appeared in multiple stories working for different detectives? (For bonus points, what is the name of this character's sister?)

InspectorGrant 09 Feb 11 at 12:08 p.m. GMT

Nice work, mysterfan18!!  You are quite correct - it is The Man Who Was No. 16 (The Big Four - Squared!), one of her fab Tommy and Tuppence short stories. 

mysteryfan18 08 Feb 11 at 6:03 p.m. GMT

I LOVED this!! The fact that she can satirise her own creation is amazing! Anyway, it's The Man Who was No. 16 from Partners in Crime.

InspectorGrant 07 Feb 11 at 6:17 p.m. GMT

No, it is not in The Labours of Hercules and Poirot himself does not appear in this story - it is a parody in which Dame Agatha pokes a bit of gentle fun at her own creation.

Bunch_Marple 07 Feb 11 at 1:06 p.m. GMT

The Erymanthian Boar - rather an unconventional Poirot story?

InspectorGrant 07 Feb 11 at 9:39 a.m. GMT

No, none of these.  It is a short story, and you are quite close, Bunch.

Bunch_Marple 06 Feb 11 at 8:43 p.m. GMT

or The Big Four which is a sort of pastiche of spy/action novels?

GKCfan 06 Feb 11 at 8 p.m. GMT

Mrs. McGinty's Dead, where Mrs. Oliver talks about the creation of Sven Hjerson?

InspectorGrant 06 Feb 11 at 2:44 p.m. GMT

That's all right, Bunch!  But I will set another one, which probably will be answered just as quickly:

In which story does Dame Agatha satirise her own creation of the Great Detective, Hercule Poirot?

Bunch_Marple 05 Feb 11 at 6:22 p.m. GMT

Sorry to end your fun too soon InspectorGrant! Set another one for us!

InspectorGrant 05 Feb 11 at 4:44 p.m. GMT

Nice one, Bunch Marple!  It is one of my favourite stories, but I didn't expect it to be answered as quickly as this..    I always picture Maria Callas in the role of the diva and would love to see this particular story filmed! 

Bunch_Marple 05 Feb 11 at 1:44 p.m. GMT

Swan song from Listerdale mystery based on Tosca by Puccina

InspectorGrant 05 Feb 11 at 12:35 p.m. GMT

Thank you, MissQuin.  OK, which story by Dame Agatha is based on the plot of a famous opera?  I also want the name of the opera and the composer, please.

(..hoping that there is only one story based on an opera, otherwise I'm stuffed.)

MissQuin 05 Feb 11 at 10:12 a.m. GMT

Correct! Little Dog Laughed was mentioned in The Dream.

InspectorGrant 04 Feb 11 at 4:03 p.m. GMT

I know what it is - it's The Dream..

MissQuin 04 Feb 11 at 2:34 p.m. GMT

No it's a story about an eccentric.

Mr_west 03 Feb 11 at 5:21 p.m. GMT

the mystery of the spanish chest?

MissQuin 03 Feb 11 at 4:33 p.m. GMT

Yes it is Little Dog Laughed! Clue: It's mentioned in a Poirot short story in the The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding collection.

InspectorGrant 01 Feb 11 at 4:43 p.m. GMT

Is it the other play mentioned in Three Act Tragedy, the one called Little Dog Laughed?  Oh, and of course her name was Muriel Wills, not Willis..

Have no idea what the short story might be, though.

Quite a good title - I wonder whether Mrs. Christie ever considered this one for one of her nursery rhyme titles!

MissQuin 01 Feb 11 at 3:31 p.m. GMT

Good to see you Inspector Grant, you are so very close, a excellent guess. The pseudonym is indeed Anthony Astor, although her real name is not quite correct.

The play is a different one though and appears in Three Act tragedy. It's nice to see a reference in another Poirot short story concerning an imposter. So anyone like to guess at the play and what's the other Poirot story?

InspectorGrant 31 Jan 11 at 4:22 p.m. GMT

Is it One Way Traffic by Miss Willis @ Anthony Astor mentioned in Three Act Tragedy?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 31 Jan 11 at 1:03 p.m. GMT

I couldn't think of an answer Miss Quin, so a clue if you please?  The only play could think of is the one in Mrs McGinty - actually, come to think of it, there are two plays in that book....

MissQuin 29 Jan 11 at 11:21 a.m. GMT

sorry about my spelling there . No guesses, is it to hard?

MissQuin 26 Jan 11 at 11:41 a.m. GMT

Thank you Miss E.

A fictious play is mentioned in a Poirot full length story and later in a short story. What was the name of the play and what was the pseudonym it was written under?

If nayone would like a clue just ask.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 25 Jan 11 at 10:27 a.m. GMT

Hi Miss Quin   Yes, you are quite correct.  Your turn.

MissQuin 24 Jan 11 at 4:57 p.m. GMT

Omelette making? It's mentioned in Cat Among The Pigeons.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 24 Jan 11 at 2:40 p.m. GMT

OK, I've got one.  What does Poirot teach to Maureen Summerhayes in Mrs McGinty's Dead and in which other book is this new skill mentioned?

Bunch_Marple 24 Jan 11 at 11:10 a.m. GMT

If someone has a question, please feel free to go...

mysteryfan18 20 Jan 11 at 11:46 p.m. GMT

Correct! She said in her autobiography that it got worse each time she read it. Your turn to ask a question.

Bunch_Marple 20 Jan 11 at 3:20 a.m. GMT

The mystery of the blue train?

mysteryfan18 20 Jan 11 at 2:26 a.m. GMT

True, but not correct. Later than that...

She said that it was "commonplace" and "full of cliches"

Bunch_Marple 19 Jan 11 at 8:05 a.m. GMT

The Big Four? She referred to it as dreadful in a letter to her publisher and asked that one good book be help back in case she has another block and is again forced to publish something she isnt happy with...

mysteryfan18 19 Jan 11 at 1:37 a.m. GMT

May I?

What story, according to Christie, was the closest she had come to publishing a book that was "really bad" ?

GKCfan 18 Jan 11 at 4:43 a.m. GMT

It's not based on the murder hunt, but The Death in the Drain Pipe is another title.  That's seven! 

This was a group effort, so who wants to go next?

Bunch_Marple 18 Jan 11 at 1:48 a.m. GMT

This is vague in my mind as its been some time, but is the Dead man's folly tribute something like Death in a drain pipe? I know I found it an odd title at the time. And it must have been mentioned in either Third Girl or Elephants!

Ignore me if Im way off...

GKCfan 17 Jan 11 at 10:48 p.m. GMT

That's six!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 17 Jan 11 at 11:01 a.m. GMT

Sorry to be pedantic guys, but 'The Affair of the Second Goldfish' and 'Death of a Debutante' are both (also) mentioned in Mrs McGinty's Dead, as is 'The Cat it was who Died'.  Just re-read it over the weekend.

GKCfan 16 Jan 11 at 12:38 a.m. GMT

I will accept that... "The Affair of the Second Goldfish" is mentioned in Cards on the Table.  It's almost certainly a sequel to "The Dying Goldfish."  That's five!  Two more to go...

And you're right that Mrs. Oliver turned her mystery hunt in Dead Man's Folly into a book...  What's the title?  Remember, another one is mentioned in Cards on the Table when Poirot says "The Clue of the Candle Wax" and one other book have exactly the same plot...  Name those two and you'll take the count to seven, although there are at least one or two more that haven't been mentioned yet...

Thanks for your kind words, by the way!

Bunch_Marple 15 Jan 11 at 11:23 p.m. GMT

GTC you're amazing at this! The sequel was called something like The mystery of the second goldfish or The affair of the goldfish. My old memory isnt that exact!

Maybe mentioned in The Clocks during Poirot's literary critique?

I know she wrote a novel based on her expereinces in Dead man's folly...or maybe that's my imagination. Being a Poirot sidekick surely furnished her with plenty of great story ideas!

GKCfan 15 Jan 11 at 10:48 p.m. GMT

That's three and four!  Can you remember what book "The Dying Goldfish" comes from!  Actually, there's a second "Goldfish" novel...  it must be a sequel.  Can you recall it and the book in which it appears!  Three more to go...

Bunch_Marple 15 Jan 11 at 9:32 p.m. GMT

I just remembered Death of a Debutante, I think it was mentioned in Hallow'een party.

Ah and wasn't it The dying Goldfish? hehe

GKCfan 14 Jan 11 at 8:16 p.m. GMT

Yes, there is one about goldfish... what's the full title and in what book is it mentioned?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 14 Jan 11 at 11:48 a.m. GMT

There's one about Goldfish somewhere, or am I getting mixed up with Mr Clancy from Death in the Clouds?

mysteryfan18 13 Jan 11 at 2:47 p.m. GMT

I know, but I can't remember! Poirot was commenting on the identical plots of Candle Wax and another, but I can't remember the other!!! Oh well...

GKCfan 13 Jan 11 at 6:19 a.m. GMT

That's two!  There should be at least five more.  One is very close in the text to the one you just mentioned...

mysteryfan18 12 Jan 11 at 10:49 p.m. GMT

Hmm... I remember something about "The Clue of the Candle Wax" from Cards on the Table, but are you sure that many of her books were mentioned?

And I thought I remembered obscure details from books...

Carolyn1959 12 Jan 11 at 10:46 p.m. GMT

GKCfan

Mrs. Burton-Cox is a character in Elephants Can Remember and she is the adoptive mother of Desmond Burton-Cox.

Miss_Eylesbarrow

Getting back to your question Carolyn,  Mrs Burton Cox is in Elephants can Remember and she is the mother of Desmond.

Adoptive was the word I was looking for!

Bunch_Marple 12 Jan 11 at 8:56 p.m. GMT

I know some are mentioned in The Clocks and Halow'een party but I don't have them with me right now!

GKCfan 12 Jan 11 at 5:20 a.m. GMT

That's one!

Bunch_Marple 11 Jan 11 at 10:26 p.m. GMT

The body in the library from cards on the table?

GKCfan 11 Jan 11 at 8:03 p.m. GMT

Can you name at least seven mystery novels written by Ariadne Oliver?  Additionally, can you list the Christie books in which we learn about them?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 11 Jan 11 at 9:14 a.m. GMT

I think that it's your turn GKCfan!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 10 Jan 11 at 3:20 p.m. GMT

Getting back to your question Carolyn,  Mrs Burton Cox is in Elephants can Remember and she is the mother of Desmond.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 30 Dec 10 at 3:11 p.m. GMT

thanks for catching up with my question re Bobby Jones, yes, it was 6.05pm

GKCfan 29 Dec 10 at 9:28 p.m. GMT

Mrs. Burton-Cox is a character in Elephants Can Remember and she is the adoptive mother of Desmond Burton-Cox.

Carolyn1959 29 Dec 10 at 6:33 p.m. GMT

In which book does the odious Mrs Burton Cox appear and what is her relationship to Desmond Burton Cox?

Sorry if it's too easy - done on the hop!

Carolyn1959 29 Dec 10 at 6:10 p.m. GMT

Isn't it funny what unimportant facts stick in your mind - it IS years since I last read that book. Am off to hunt my books out and will pose a question!

GKCfan 28 Dec 10 at 9:52 p.m. GMT

After consulting the book, you're pretty close, Carolyn1959.  Five minutes after six in the evening– the bell was still tolling.

Carolyn1959 28 Dec 10 at 4:38 p.m. GMT

Wild stab as I haven't re-read this for years! Shortly after 6pm?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 28 Dec 10 at 4:27 p.m. GMT

Anyone playing?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 22 Dec 10 at 11:43 a.m. GMT

Oh, thinking cap on then, hmmm.  What time does Bobby arrive back at the vicarage for the Evening Service after the discovery of the body in Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

MissQuin 22 Dec 10 at 11:38 a.m. GMT

I think that's all the train murders now! over to you.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 22 Dec 10 at 11:36 a.m. GMT

Oh, yes, The Plymouth Express.  I don't know the short sotries as well as the novels

MissQuin 22 Dec 10 at 11:31 a.m. GMT

well let's just say The Blue Train has quite a simular story, only shorter!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 22 Dec 10 at 11:25 a.m. GMT

So, it's five then? Is the last one from a novel or short story?

MissQuin 22 Dec 10 at 11:16 a.m. GMT

Nope I'm afraid that's the wrong answer! Guess again. You nearly had it, plus the tricky Death In the clouds one. Just one more...

Miss_Eylesbarrow 22 Dec 10 at 11 a.m. GMT

If we are going for novels, my guess is four.  The obvious Blue Train & MOTOE, plus 4.50 from Paddington and the less obvious Death in the Clouds.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 22 Dec 10 at 10:49 a.m. GMT

That's a poser Miss Quin.  Are you restricting your clue to full length novels or including short stories?  Sorry to hear you are snowed in, ours is melting - just in time for Christmas!

MissQuin 22 Dec 10 at 10:36 a.m. GMT

well Im snowed in so I have lots of time indoors!

how many murders overall took place on trains in Christie books?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 22 Dec 10 at 10:34 a.m. GMT

Hurrah!  Correct Miss Quin.  Your turn

MissQuin 22 Dec 10 at 10:32 a.m. GMT

Sweet Peas in the Daily Mail  

Miss_Eylesbarrow 22 Dec 10 at 9:32 a.m. GMT

Clue anyone?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 17 Dec 10 at 11:31 a.m. GMT

Continuing the horticultural theme, in the Murderof Roger Ackroyd a new type of flower is discussed in the press.  What type of flower and what's the name of the newspaper?

MissQuin 17 Dec 10 at 11:17 a.m. GMT

well done! Over to you.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 17 Dec 10 at 11:09 a.m. GMT

'Treachery and Misrepresentation' from the short story The Four Suspects   I love those cosy short stories of Miss Marple's!

MissQuin 17 Dec 10 at 10:38 a.m. GMT

ah so my turn. What meaning does Miss Marple give to Dahilas?

GKCfan 16 Dec 10 at 7:58 p.m. GMT

You're right, it's Sad Cypress!  It's implied that the killer did escape the court and possibly tried to flee te country, but the police are after her.  However, since her arrest is never confirmed, it counts for the purposes of this question.

MissQuin 16 Dec 10 at 1:51 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

I know in Sad Cypress kling Cyandide the killer flees the court, but I don't beleive they escaped. As Poirot chats to another character and their escape wasn't mentioned, implying they were easily caught. After all the court is surrounded by Police officers!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 16 Dec 10 at 11:12 a.m. GMT

Doh!  I've just re-read your post GKC, of course my guess is neither MM nor M. P.  Think again, Miss E!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 16 Dec 10 at 11:10 a.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Is the last one from Why Didn't They Ask Evans?  Mr Roger Bassington-Ffrench is never apprehended.

GKCfan 16 Dec 10 at 2:38 a.m. GMT

Luckily, it's not Blue Train!

MissQuin 15 Dec 10 at 9:04 a.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

I wondered about Pocket, I did think that the killer would have been caught because of the photo. But it wasn't read about.

I'm not sure about the other book, I'll have a think. Hope it's not blue Train which is the only Poirot/Marple Ive not read.

GKCfan 14 Dec 10 at 8:29 p.m. GMT

MissQuin, you have three of four correct.  In Pocket, Miss Marple receives proof of the killer's guilt at the end, so the murderer's arrest is practically guaranteed.  There is one more book, however, where the killer flees and criminal prosecution is not certain.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 14 Dec 10 at 11:19 a.m. GMT

Oh, got you!  Yes, I agree with your answers Miss Quin.  I thought I was missing something important!

MissQuin 14 Dec 10 at 9:56 a.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Major SPOILERS for many of Chrisite's Miss Marple and Poirot stories.

I'm not sure that's correct but I feel that in these stories fit what you say.

GKC I think means all together- Orient Express, Five Little Pigs, Pocket Full Of Rye, At Bertam's hotel.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 14 Dec 10 at 9:29 a.m. GMT

Er, am I missing something - what combined Miss M & Poirot novels?  Do you mean books where there are collections of short stories featuring either Miss Marple or Poirot?  Confused

GKCfan 14 Dec 10 at 6:01 a.m. GMT

In the combined Poirot and Miss Marple novels, there are only four cases where the killer(s) may conceivably get away with their crimes.  Although Poirot and Miss Marple identify the guilty parties in every case, in these four books there is some doubt as to whether or not the guilty party will be brought to justice, once because the police are not told the truth, once because the killer fled and may never be caught, and twice because there is probably insufficient evidence to get a conviction.  To clarify, a killer did not get away with murder if he or she 1)was arrested, 2)died, either by suicide or by other means, or 3)even if the arrest was not actually depicted in the book, sufficient evidence is unearthed by the end of the novel to imply that the killer was indeed arrested, since there is no reference to flight on the part of the killer.

Can you name the four books where the killer(s) get away?

MissQuin 13 Dec 10 at 2 p.m. GMT

Correct GKC your turn.

GKCfan 12 Dec 10 at 8:06 p.m. GMT

Those are Major Horton's bulldogs in Murder is Easy: Nero, Nellie, and Augustus.

MissQuin 11 Dec 10 at 5:40 p.m. GMT

Ok which book did three bulldogs appear? Plus what were their names? Clue: two males and one female.

Mr_west 11 Dec 10 at 4:23 p.m. GMT

yes.

i thought it was hard, i guess it's not 

you're turn MissQuin

MissQuin 11 Dec 10 at 2:22 p.m. GMT

I'm reading this one at the moment so I can answer. Elizabeth Canning was a real life case that Japp mentioned. He compared it to lady Edware being seen at two places at once.

Mr_west 10 Dec 10 at 11:50 a.m. GMT

OK.

in Lord Edgware Dies 

Japp mentions a real case, who was the victim there?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 10 Dec 10 at 9:38 a.m. GMT

That's correct Mr West.  Bobby it is.  Your turn!

Mr_west 09 Dec 10 at 4:52 p.m. GMT

Bobby Jones from "why didn't they ask Evens?"

Mr_west 09 Dec 10 at 4:44 p.m. GMT

i search in every gold story, maybe someone else can help us? 

Miss_Eylesbarrow 09 Dec 10 at 4:28 p.m. GMT

No one from Murder on the Links either, I'm afraid Mr West

Mr_west 09 Dec 10 at 4:11 p.m. GMT

maybe someone from "the murder on the links"?

 P.T. Renauld?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 09 Dec 10 at 4:07 p.m. GMT

you are right with golf Miss Quin, but it's neither Tommy nor Tuppence.

Mr_west 09 Dec 10 at 3:57 p.m. GMT

realy? LOL

MissQuin 09 Dec 10 at 3:45 p.m. GMT

Birdie is golf and so it must be a golf story. Maybe it's Tommy and Tuppence?

Mr_west 09 Dec 10 at 3:04 p.m. GMT

at the what? LOL

are we still talking about crooked house?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 09 Dec 10 at 11:32 a.m. GMT

Very generous of you Mr West.  Hope this one is better for you...

Who gets a birdie 4 at the 15th?

Mr_west 08 Dec 10 at 6:21 p.m. GMT

it's not in English, i hate that.

give another question it's not your fault it's the book

Miss_Eylesbarrow 08 Dec 10 at 9:25 a.m. GMT

Wow!  That's really different.  Okay, the fish in question is a Shebunkin.  I didn't realize that editions could be so different!  What's your edition?

So, what happens now?  shall I pose another question or would you like a go?

Mr_west 07 Dec 10 at 4:49 p.m. GMT

in mine:

Charles: "who is ferdinand?"

jesephine: "with four fins. that type is realy entertaining. i like very much the light golden fish. i don't like the other sex." 

and then jesephine look at charles and says: " they cost a lot- far more than goldfish"

*i didn't copy it accurately from the book, except from the last line but that is what wrote in the book

Miss_Eylesbarrow 07 Dec 10 at 4:21 p.m. GMT

Charles says "I don't much care for that moth-eaten white one"

Jesephine replies "That's a XXXXXXXX.  They cost a lot - far more than goldfish."

You really don't have those sentences in your edition?  Have you got an English version or one that has been translated?  Mine is Fontana, twenty third impression, 1983.

Mr_west 07 Dec 10 at 3:59 p.m. GMT

i check, still nothing

Miss_Eylesbarrow 07 Dec 10 at 2:04 p.m. GMT

I've just double-checked my edition and it is in there (phew, I was begining to have doubts that I'd made it up!).  Chapter 22....

Miss_Eylesbarrow 06 Dec 10 at 4:25 p.m. GMT

Oh how bizzare?!  Does anyone else want a guess, or shall I reveal the answer?

Mr_west 06 Dec 10 at 3:44 p.m. GMT

sorry, not i my edition

i always thought it's too short

Miss_Eylesbarrow 06 Dec 10 at 12:40 p.m. GMT

later on, Josephine has a discussion with Charles about the fish, Charles likes the gold ones, but Josephine says they are common.  She says the name of the type of fish....

Mr_west 02 Dec 10 at 1:16 p.m. GMT

oh sory about that' i think it didn't write my post so i write it twice

Mr_west 02 Dec 10 at 1:15 p.m. GMT

i check, in my edition she said "i want to see my gold fishes"

ad the name of one of them is ferdinand

Mr_west 02 Dec 10 at 1:10 p.m. GMT

Josephine said '' i want to see my gold fishes''

and the name of one of them is Ferdinand

that's all I got' maybe it's just not in my edition

Miss_Eylesbarrow 01 Dec 10 at 9:48 a.m. GMT

Not Koi, Nofret.  You know the bit I'm referring to Mr West, when Josephine is talking to Charles by the pond, she names the type of fish.

Nofret 01 Dec 10 at 9:15 a.m. GMT

If they're expensive then they must be Koi Carp.

Mr_west 29 Nov 10 at 4:58 p.m. GMT

wow this game is still on?

miss eyles, i realy don't know' they said the fish has four fins and it's light golden and much mor expensive then gold fishes 

Miss_Eylesbarrow 29 Nov 10 at 4:21 p.m. GMT

It just so happens that I'm reading Black Coffee at the moment (got it for my birthday), so it was the right clue at the right time!  It's a good name for a butler, though.  If I ever get a butler, I want him to be called Treadwell.

Okay, what is the expensive type of fish in the fishpond at the Crooked House?

MissQuin 29 Nov 10 at 4 p.m. GMT

Yes! Plus a Tredwell also appears in The Adventure Of Johnnie Waverly story. This Tredwell had worked for the Waverly family most of his life. So is he another Tredwell to the Chimney's butler? Do they clone butlers do you reckon?!

But anyway your correct. I'm sorry it was either too easy, or your too clever!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 29 Nov 10 at 3:43 p.m. GMT

Is it Treadwell?  He's a butler in Chimneys and in the play Black Coffee.

MissQuin 29 Nov 10 at 2:41 p.m. GMT

Ok, what's the name of the butler whose name appears in Poirot and also a non series book? It might not be the same butler, but they have the same surname! Rather curious.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 29 Nov 10 at 2:34 p.m. GMT

It was the eggs I was looking for Miss Quin, well done, your turn!

MissQuin 29 Nov 10 at 2:24 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

The hollow: I think it was eggs. But she said she had a pistol and eggs.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 29 Nov 10 at 2:10 p.m. GMT

What is in the basket which Lady Angkatell is carrying when the body is discovered?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 24 Nov 10 at 2:13 p.m. GMT

Oh, so is it my turn now?  I got a bit lost with who got the the answers to the last question.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 24 Nov 10 at 2:13 p.m. GMT

Oh, so is it my turn now?  I got a bit lost with who got the the answers to the last question.

GKCfan 23 Nov 10 at 6:31 p.m. GMT

That is correct!  Excellent!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 23 Nov 10 at 9:02 a.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Oh, blood coagulation is used in Third Girl for David Baker's murder

GKCfan 23 Nov 10 at 5:37 a.m. GMT

Great!  That just leaves blood coagulation.

I should've said, "name a Christie story where each of these kinds of forensic evidence are used."

GKCfan 23 Nov 10 at 5:37 a.m. GMT

Great!  That just leaves blood coagulation.

I should've said, "name a Christie story where each of these kinds of forensic evidence are used."

Miss_Eylesbarrow 22 Nov 10 at 10:38 a.m. GMT

Rigor Mortis is used on Appointment with Death - the heat from the rocks coupled with the various alibies, etc.  And gunshot residue was used in Death on the Nile, there is residue around the wound on Linnet Doyle.

GKCfan 21 Nov 10 at 5:33 a.m. GMT

Wow- good work so far!  Actually, the answer I was thinking of was "D- rigor mortis," because I was talking with a fellow crime fiction fan, and we observed that Dorothy L. Sayers uses rigor mortis all the time and Christie never even mentions it- I don't remember any mention of rigor mortis in Body in the Library, and it wasn't a major plot point (I should have qualified that the forensic science had to be central to solving the mystery), but all your answers are correct, though most have multiple answers.  There is at least one example of gunshot revenue and two for blood coagulation, can you think of them?

Mr_Graves 21 Nov 10 at 3:10 a.m. GMT

This is a rather interesting puzzle! Now, I think I have managed to rule out Fingerprints, Ballistics, rigor mortis, Trace evidence, Toxicology, and maybe Gunshot residue. Which means that Blood coagulation must be the one. Here are my examples:

Fingerprints- "The Mysterious Affair at Styles", in which Poirot produces enlargements of various prints found on glass objects at Styles Court,

Ballistics- "The Hollow". This was used to determine if the gun found at the crime scene was the one used to kill John Christow,

Rigor Mortis- "The Body in the Library"? to determine Ruby Keene's TOD,

Trace evidence- The long black hair found on the murder weapon in "The Murder on the Links" was subject to debate. Whose hair was it?

Toxicology- "A Pocket Full of Rye", in which Doctor  identifies the poison used to kill Rex Fortescue,

Gunshot Residue- Bother! I haven't got an example for this after all. Which means that it's either that or blood coagulation. But I think it is likely that gunshot residue was featured somewhere... I must find it! 

GKCfan 19 Nov 10 at 11:26 p.m. GMT

Which of the following pieces of forensic evidence or criminal investigative testing is NEVER used as a clue (or a red herring) in any Agatha Christie mystery?  Note: to answer fully, one must provide at least one example of when each of the other options was used.

A) Fingerprints

B) Firearms ballistics

C) Blood coagulation

D) Rigor mortis

E) Hair/fiber/trace evidence

F) Forensic toxicology

G) Gunshot residue

Miss_Eylesbarrow 19 Nov 10 at 9:37 a.m. GMT

Too easy!!  Interesting, though, don't you think?  I wonder if she ever met Miss Marple!

Over to you...

GKCfan 18 Nov 10 at 11:32 p.m. GMT

St. Mary Mead?  Katherine Grey from Blue Train?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 18 Nov 10 at 9:27 a.m. GMT

Thanks   So, a nice easy one:

What is the name of the village that the heroine of a 1928 murder mystery, comes from? 

GKCfan 17 Nov 10 at 11:26 p.m. GMT

Yes!  You are correct!  Excellent!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 17 Nov 10 at 9:48 a.m. GMT

Got it!!  It's from ATTWN.  General John Gordon MacArthur is killed by being hit on the head as he sits looking out to sea.  Good one!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 16 Nov 10 at 9:36 a.m. GMT

adapted for film/TV do you mean? 

GKCfan 15 Nov 10 at 7:48 p.m. GMT

First of all, the book in question has been adapted more than five times.

Second, the victim knew he'd be murdered and was resigned to it.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 15 Nov 10 at 12:24 p.m. GMT

Can we please have another hint on your question GKC Fan?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 10 Nov 10 at 9:41 a.m. GMT

Is it from Seven Dials?  Is one of the original team is murdered before the story begins?

ivi21 09 Nov 10 at 7:11 p.m. GMT

What about a new hint?

MissQuin 26 Oct 10 at 3:04 p.m. GMT

I'm pretty sure it must be a Poirot or Marple as there's been 3 adaptations.

In Lord Edgware some is stuck in the head with an instrument but I don't remember what with, so maybe it's that? plus there have been the Suchet version, the Usitov version and perhaps another version?

The poor man killed was Donald.

ivi21 20 Oct 10 at 3:54 p.m. GMT

Is it from Tommy and Tuppence? I can´t remember any Poirot or Marple book which would fit.

GKCfan 14 Oct 10 at 2:31 a.m. GMT

Actually, the bludgeoning weapon from The ABC Murders was mentioned at the end- Poirot found an ordinary stick with a thick knobbed handle with molten lead poured into it.

Here's a hint: the means of death was changed in at three film adaptations, once to a fall and twice to stabbing.

christie_greece 13 Oct 10 at 3:06 p.m. GMT

ok, that's really difficult. How about giving us a hint?

ivi21 10 Oct 10 at 1:15 p.m. GMT

It could be even Mrs Ascher or lord Clark from The ABC Murders. Both were murdered by hit to the head. The weapons weren't mentioned.

GKCfan 06 Oct 10 at 10:02 p.m. GMT

That's not it, I'm afraid.  The Mesopotamia weapon is identified in the book.

ivi21 06 Oct 10 at 7:15 p.m. GMT

Mrs. Leidner is murdered with a blunt object in Murder in Mesopotamia. I didn't read the book, so I don't know if they didn't find the thing, but in the film Poirot reveals what is it.

GKCfan 03 Oct 10 at 5:51 p.m. GMT

In a Christie book written prior to WWII, there is a death by blunt instrument where the murder weapon is never revealed.  Which book is this and who is the victim?

Puffinjill 03 Oct 10 at 6:40 a.m. GMT

Yes, you're right, GKC! Poirot did take the flat about Patricia Garnett in The Third Floor Flat in the surprising name of Mr O'Connor. I wonder why?! I was beginning to think no one was playing anymore so I'm glad you've guessed it. Over to you, my friend!

GKCfan 03 Oct 10 at 4:18 a.m. GMT

The short story in question is "The Third-Floor Flat" and the alias is Mr. O'Connor.

christie_greece 02 Oct 10 at 2:23 p.m. GMT

It seems that it's a tough one... Well, could you give us a hint?

Puffinjill 28 Sep 10 at 6:59 a.m. GMT

Thank you, GKC! I always wondered if any one else linked those two books together. Everyone have a go at this one -

In which story does Poirot takes the lease of a fifth floor flat and under which name does he take it?

GKCfan 27 Sep 10 at 8:08 p.m. GMT

Puffinjill, you are correct!

Puffinjill 27 Sep 10 at 1:12 p.m. GMT

SPOILERS!!!!

I believe the Agatha Christie book you are thinking of is Appointment With Death, as Raymond Boynton says he had read of his idea for a murder method in an English detective story. The book he is referring to is Unnatural Death by Dorothy. L. Sayers and the method used was an empty hypodermic syringe. By injecting air into a vein of the victim (not an artery a D.L.S said in her book!), their heart would cease to beat.

christie_greece 26 Sep 10 at 12:04 p.m. GMT

I have something in mind but I'm not sure. This method was successful in D.L. Sayers' book, or the murderer was arrested???

GKCfan 25 Sep 10 at 6:50 a.m. GMT

Here's one that is not explicitly stated in any book, but if you know a little more about the Golden Age of detective novels, you might be able to solve it.

In one of Christie's novels, one character declares that he intended to commit a murder by following the nearly undetectable murder method he learned about by reading an English detective story.  Although it is never clearly stated in Christie's book, the detective story in question is by Dorothy L. Sayers.  Which Sayers book provided the murder method, and which Christie novel references it?  And by the way, what is this mysterious murder method?

Puffinjill 25 Sep 10 at 5:51 a.m. GMT

He did indeed, GKC!!! Well done to you! I'd always heard of sixpences being hidden in Christmas puddings but I'd never heard of the array of items mentioned in this story ending up in a pudding! Obviously my festive fare comes from a much lower social class than the one Poirot ate!!! Look forward to your next one, GKC!

GKCfan 24 Sep 10 at 8:30 p.m. GMT

Poirot found the bachelor's button.

ivi21 24 Sep 10 at 8:53 a.m. GMT

Ok, so it was something small , but I really can´t remember. Maybe someone else know.

Puffinjill 23 Sep 10 at 5:03 a.m. GMT

He did, ivi21. But you are right to say that it wasn't Poirot who found the thimble, any of the coins or the all-important ruby.

ivi21 22 Sep 10 at 12:14 p.m. GMT

I don´t remeber if that he find anything. Others found thimble, coin and the ruby, but I think Poirot found nothing.

Puffinjill 22 Sep 10 at 6:56 a.m. GMT

OK, try this - In The Adventure Of The Christmas Pudding, what does Poirot find in his own portion of this festive fare?

christie_greece 21 Sep 10 at 9:42 a.m. GMT

Yeah, it's Belgrade. Puffinjill goes next!!!!

(I thought it would be more difficult but you are all AC experts so...)

Puffinjill 21 Sep 10 at 5:40 a.m. GMT

Belgrade, I think.

ivi21 20 Sep 10 at 4:43 p.m. GMT

Paris?

Tommy_A_Jones 20 Sep 10 at 2:26 p.m. GMT

It went down. :(

christie_greece 20 Sep 10 at 1:47 p.m. GMT

sorry for delaying so much, but I couldn't access the site...:(

well..hmm..something rather difficult...

 Which city did Hector McQueen thought was Poirot's destination on "Murder on the Express Orient"?

ivi21 17 Sep 10 at 1:55 p.m. GMT

That's right! The original name is daiquiri, but it doesn't matter. 

Time for you to set a new question!

christie_greece 17 Sep 10 at 11:59 a.m. GMT

ok, I know the answer. But my book is in Greek and I don't know the English name. I suppose it is american daekiry or something like it...

ivi21 16 Sep 10 at 6:38 p.m. GMT

What did Heather Badcock and Marina Gregg drink in The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side? In one glass there was a poison.

christie_greece 16 Sep 10 at 3:30 p.m. GMT

Well, congratulations ivi! I remembered the brand of the car without looking at he book...I just checked it.

It's your turn ivi!!!!

Puffinjill 16 Sep 10 at 6:51 a.m. GMT

Sorry, christie greece, it wasn't that I wasn't playing - I just couldn't remember the right answer! I knew it was a Minoan but couldn't remember the number. I had it in my head that it was a Minoan 10 but that didn't seem quite right!

ivi21 15 Sep 10 at 4:56 p.m. GMT

Minoan 14.

I found it. But I would like to know if someone know this without looking in the book?

christie_greece 15 Sep 10 at 3:42 p.m. GMT

is it hard to find or just nobody is interested in answering?

Hint: It starts with "M"

christie_greece 12 Sep 10 at 1:18 p.m. GMT

A fish is neither human nor lifeless so I suppose it's considered animal...

An easy one:  Name the make of the car where the second body was found in The Body in The Library.

HeiseiHolmes it must have hurted...Even thinking of it hurts!

MissQuin 12 Sep 10 at 9:45 a.m. GMT

The Cat Who Died is correct! I don't think fish are really animals, but I'm not a naturalist so I'm not sure. Your turn CG.

Heisei, what's to be done with you?! it would have been worst if the bottle top hadn't been on, you'd have had a face full of fanta.

christie_greece 12 Sep 10 at 9:33 a.m. GMT

I've found the titles from all her books. The only that has got an animal is The Affair Of The Second Goldfish, The Dying Goldfish and The Cat it Was Who Died. Puffinjill suggested the first so I suggest the other two.

I found a site called poirot.us and it says really interesting things. There I found the complete list of Ariadne's books.

Puffinjill 12 Sep 10 at 7:24 a.m. GMT

Isn't it something like The Affair Of The Second Goldfish? I know Mrs Oliver mentions a book of her's called that at some point. What a title!!! I'd love to read a book called that!!!

HeiseiHolmes 11 Sep 10 at 11:58 p.m. GMT

I hadn't noticed that the lid was still on. So when no Fanta was coming out of the bottle, I thought "Am I tilting it far enough?" and moved it further up. I ended up hitting myself on the cheek...

Although, everyone seemed to enjoy watching it. Sometimes I feel like a clown... It's not fun.

MissQuin 11 Sep 10 at 8:35 p.m. GMT

Not Body In The Libary, but I think if you'll find it. It's got an animal in the title..

Heisei it's ok. I now have this image of a lad lying unconcious with a black eye and a Fanta bottle lying limply in one of his hands. How did you manage that?!

christie_greece 11 Sep 10 at 3:43 p.m. GMT

I can't find the name of the book, but I've heard that Ariadne has written a book called The Body in The Library. So hope I'm lucky...

HeiseiHolmes 11 Sep 10 at 3:36 p.m. GMT

Oh, gah! So sorry!!

I just thought perhaps that you'd overlooked it... I do that all the time. Like when I once hit myself in the face with a bottle of Fanta, having not taken off the lid and trying to drink it, then moving it too far.

MissQuin 10 Sep 10 at 4:48 p.m. GMT

Yes, I did mean the name of Mrs oliver's book

(casts pointed glance at HeiseiHolmes!)

christie_greece 10 Sep 10 at 9:57 a.m. GMT

you mean the Ariadne's book? I thought you wanted the book where Ariadne mentions she's made a mistake. Ok. I'll search and I'll come back...

HeiseiHolmes 09 Sep 10 at 6:37 p.m. GMT

MissQuin

Yes your correct, it's the blowpipe, but what was the books name?

Um... I think it's there...

MissQuin 09 Sep 10 at 6:18 p.m. GMT

Yes your correct, it's the blowpipe, but what was the books name?

christie_greece 09 Sep 10 at 4:02 p.m. GMT

 In Mrs McGinty's Dead, Mrs. Oliver talks of having made the blowpipe a foot long in one of her novels, whereas the actual length is something like four and half feet.

 I learned that AC made the same mistake  in Death in the clouds.

MissQuin 09 Sep 10 at 3:04 p.m. GMT

Thank you Jill.

Mrs Oliver mentions a book she wrote which has a error in it. Which one was that?

Puffinjill 09 Sep 10 at 6:44 a.m. GMT

Got it in one, MissQuin!!!! Well done, my friend! The next one's on you!!

Puffinjill 09 Sep 10 at 6:44 a.m. GMT

Got it in one, MissQuin!!!! Well done, my friend! The next one's on you!!

MissQuin 08 Sep 10 at 8:56 p.m. GMT

The Love Quest. Described as a tale of passion! I didn't recall the name so I checked, but I did remember it was a romance.

Puffinjill 08 Sep 10 at 8:20 p.m. GMT

Thanks Pongo!! Right, let me see..... Can anyone name the book little Miss Amabel Pierce was reading in Appointment With Death?

Pongo 08 Sep 10 at 8:42 a.m. GMT

Well done, Puffinjill!!!!  The answer is Medchester!  Your turn.

Puffinjill 08 Sep 10 at 8:23 a.m. GMT

I think they were located in a town called Medchester. Is this the answer you were looking for Pongo?

Pongo 08 Sep 10 at 4:01 a.m. GMT

Perhaps this was too hard??

Anyway, a hint: The name of the law firm in question is Fullerton, Harrison and Leadbetter. 

Pongo 02 Sep 10 at 1:17 a.m. GMT

Great!  Thanks so much!

This is a Hallowe'en Party question. 

The law firm of the lawyers of Mrs. Llewellyn-Smythe is described as being located where? 

MissQuin 01 Sep 10 at 4:07 p.m. GMT

Yes indeed! Now your turn once more my friend.

Pongo 01 Sep 10 at 2:24 p.m. GMT

MissQuin

Would that be A Tale of Two Cities?

MissQuin 01 Sep 10 at 10:39 a.m. GMT

WOW! That was a random guess and I can't beleive I'm right!!

What book does Victoria Jones read in They Came to Baghdad, that has a bearing on the events?

Pongo 01 Sep 10 at 10:16 a.m. GMT

MissQuin,

Well done!!  Yes, it is Parker Pyne Investigates. 

For example, see the very first page of the first story in that book.  In the newspaper cutout of the personal section, where it says "ARE YOU HAPPY?"  Just below that, it says "Flora...." 

Also, this newspaper cutout appears three times in total throughout the book. 

So, well done, considering that you haven't read it!  I am even more impressed.  So, your turn

MissQuin 01 Sep 10 at 10:11 a.m. GMT

I'm mysterfied, yet I might have read it. It's not Parker Pyne? Ive not read that you see.

Pongo 01 Sep 10 at 2:21 a.m. GMT

Three hints:

The phrase itself is neither dialogue spoken by a character nor a line by a narrator.  So, in that sense, it is not really a quotation. 

The phrase itself appears three times in this book. 

The book itself is a collection of short stories. 

Pongo 31 Aug 10 at 2:38 p.m. GMT

Miss Eyelsbarrow, thank you for the welcome!  

I will take a look at the Quotations Thread too!  Sounds fun....

The answer is not The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.  

Miss_Eylesbarrow 31 Aug 10 at 11:41 a.m. GMT

Could that be The Murder of Roger Akroyd, there's a Flora in that. 

Hi Pongo - welcome to the forum.  If you are interested there's a great 'guess the quotation' thread you could use...

Pongo 31 Aug 10 at 5:41 a.m. GMT

Thank you very much!!  Oh, let's see.... what to ask!!

Oh, OK.  I have a feeling that this might be too easy for you Christie experts, so forgive me!!   How about this? 

In what Christie book does the following phrase appear:

"Flora. -- It is a long time for me to have to wait -- J."?

MissQuin 30 Aug 10 at 4:16 p.m. GMT

Your right, I'm sorry it was Elinor who said Eleanor of Aquitaine. It's nice to have a new player, so over to you Pongo!

Pongo 30 Aug 10 at 12:36 p.m. GMT

MissQuin,

This is my first time posting in this Quiz thread, but, if you don't mind, I'll have a go at your question.

I wonder if you are referring to the scene where Poirot talks to Elinor for the first time.  You say that POIROT makes reference, and not Elinor.  So, I think that Elinor herself makes reference to her namesake Eleanor of Aquitaine, but that in response, Poirot makes reference to the Fair Rosamund.  Is that correct?

MissQuin 26 Aug 10 at 10:03 a.m. GMT

Ok, it's pretty quiet on here, but I'll try.

In Sad cypress, Poirot makes a refrence to a historical figure, who was that?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 23 Aug 10 at 1:41 p.m. GMT

Yes, of course!  How do you retain all this useless information Puffinjill?  Does someone want to come up with another question as I think Puffinjill is away on hols now? - Sorry if I'm wrong Puffin......

Puffinjill 20 Aug 10 at 3:15 p.m. GMT

The poor woman was really called Flossie Gapp and she used to drink in the Peacock Arms. I think.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 19 Aug 10 at 11:05 a.m. GMT

Hooray!  Finally got one!  I've been really stumped by the character & quote questions recently and was begining to think that I wasn't such a superfan after all

Okay, here's a two part-er: What is Merlina Rival's real name, and which pub does she drink in? (The Clocks).

MissQuin 18 Aug 10 at 4:29 p.m. GMT

Miss E is right! I was going to say "it's also a song by Motorhead", but surely a dead giveaway!

Mr_west 18 Aug 10 at 2:14 p.m. GMT

oh,i didn't understand the question, sorry

Miss_Eylesbarrow 18 Aug 10 at 1:45 p.m. GMT

it was the card that meant death, is it the Ace of Spades?

Mr_west 18 Aug 10 at 9:57 a.m. GMT

oh, so maybe the old queen?

MissQuin 18 Aug 10 at 9:56 a.m. GMT

Nope.

Mr_west 18 Aug 10 at 9:46 a.m. GMT

was it the black queen?

MissQuin 17 Aug 10 at 4:34 p.m. GMT

My turn? Ok. Ok what card did John's daughter se as an ill omen in The Hollow?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 17 Aug 10 at 4:29 p.m. GMT

Quite correct Miss Quin,  I shall have to try harder next time!

MissQuin 17 Aug 10 at 4:03 p.m. GMT

Is it The body In The Library?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 17 Aug 10 at 9:54 a.m. GMT

In Cards on the Table, Ariadne Oliver is talking about some of the books she has written.  One of them has the same title as one AC wrote herself.  What's the title of the book?

GKCfan 13 Aug 10 at 10:26 p.m. GMT

Correct!  Miss Marple had a cousin named Fanny with a bad stutter.  Your turn!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 13 Aug 10 at 11:47 a.m. GMT

because her cousin stuttered and it was FAN2266

GKCfan 11 Aug 10 at 9:03 p.m. GMT

How did Miss Marple remember the number of a pertinent license plate in At Bertram's Hotel, and what was the license plate number?

HeiseiHolmes 11 Aug 10 at 8:33 p.m. GMT

The one I was thinking of was the beans... Your turn again!

GKCfan 11 Aug 10 at 8:23 p.m. GMT

Well, I remember that Mrs. Summerhayes cut her finger while preparing the green beans, plus she mentioned how one item had mold on it, but she thought that mold didn't matter because it's practically penicillin, and at one point they'd have pancakes if she could only get them out of the pan...

HeiseiHolmes 11 Aug 10 at 8:03 p.m. GMT

I'd like to do it, but I can't think of anything good... Oh, wait! Here's one!

Ahem: In Mrs McGinty's Dead, why does Poirot decline to have dinner where he is staying?

You'll probably get it in one. (The worst thing about my booze list up there is that I'm not even old enough to drink. Hmmm.)

GKCfan 11 Aug 10 at 7:57 p.m. GMT

Well... you got it!  It is kirsch, the clear brandy made from cherries.  Who will give the next question?

HeiseiHolmes 11 Aug 10 at 6:54 p.m. GMT

I know of a few slightly obscure boozes, so I'll just rattle off a list of them: Pisco! Korn! Grappa! Amazake! That stuff with the gold leaf in it! Slivovice! Baigar! Mead! Schnapps! That stuff they drink in Belarus made from tree sap! Vermouth! Irish Cream! Creme de anything! Mirin! Kirsch! Cointreau! Limoncello! Midori! Maraschino! Chambord! Absinthe! Miss Marple's famous damson gin! Ouzo! Calvados! (Actually, Calvados seems quite likely...)

Wow, can't believe I know so much booze. Not a healthy sign. Have I hit the spot with any of the above?

GKCfan 10 Aug 10 at 8:47 p.m. GMT

Sorry, no.  It's a little more obscure than champagne...

Miss_Eylesbarrow 10 Aug 10 at 9:28 a.m. GMT

Champagne?

GKCfan 07 Aug 10 at 7:47 p.m. GMT

Both of you are right!  Mrs. Oliver says that she only likes lemonade in Dead Man's Folly, implying that she doesn't drink alcohol, but later Poirot notes that she has been known to drink creme de menthe.  Now, what is the alcoholic beverage that Mrs. Oliver prefers?  (Sorry, it's not cider.)

HarleyBarley 07 Aug 10 at 2:14 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

One of the drinks Poirot and George notes is Creme de Menthe, I believe. It's mentioned in Elephants Can Remember. However since I am not an elephant, I forgot the other beverage.

HeiseiHolmes 07 Aug 10 at 1:50 p.m. GMT

I think the non-alcoholic thing she likes is lemonade? (I really want some lemonade now!) I don't think I've read the other book you mentioned, though. I'd make a wild guess that one of them might be cider, purely because it's made of apples?

GKCfan 06 Aug 10 at 8:19 p.m. GMT

In   Dead Man's Folly, Mrs. Oliver responds angrily to a young man's assertion that she is an alcoholic by insisting that she only likes one kind of beverage, and it's non-alcoholic.  What is that beverage?  However, in a later book Poirot and George note that they have seen her drink two kinds of alcoholic beverages.  What are they and which of the two does she prefer?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 06 Aug 10 at 11:32 a.m. GMT

Quite correct!  Your turn :)

GKCfan 04 Aug 10 at 7:32 p.m. GMT

Snuffboxes.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 04 Aug 10 at 10:21 a.m. GMT

Thanks Puffinjill.   So, how about one from Cards on the Table?  What objects are being exhibited when Poirot and Mr Shaitana (spelling?) first meet?

Puffinjill 03 Aug 10 at 3:32 p.m. GMT

Yes, I agree with both of your comments, Miss Eylesbarrow! It was a warm currant loaf that Jerry lost his grip on when the lovely Elsie came into view and The Moving Finger has long been one of my favourite Miss Marple books.

Over to you, my clever friend!!

MissQuin 03 Aug 10 at 3:29 p.m. GMT

Forgot to answer. Yes Ive read all the Miss Marple books and short stories. Moving Finger is the the top list.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 03 Aug 10 at 9:42 a.m. GMT

eek - hit 'send' accidentally.....

to continue: I ADORE The Moving Finger, one of my absolute favourites

Miss_Eylesbarrow 03 Aug 10 at 9:40 a.m. GMT

it was a currant loaf which he had just been given (still warm) from the bakers after a complaint about the previous one.  I ADORE

Puffinjill 01 Aug 10 at 7:54 a.m. GMT

As I said, you were half right with his jaw! Trust me to pick a book you don't have a copy of - sorry!!!! Have you read it, though? You could still keep guessing as your guesses - right or wrong - are always such fun!

MissQuin 31 Jul 10 at 4:57 p.m. GMT

I didn't think it was his jaw, but it amused me, so I wrote in anyway. I can't remember what it was, plus I don't own a copy.

Puffinjill 31 Jul 10 at 3:40 p.m. GMT

That gets the prize for the best answer EVER on this thread but, sadly, it's not the right answer!!!!! In a way, I suppose you ARE right as his jaw did most definately drop but I was thinking more of the object he had clutched in his hands. But a great answer nonetheless, MissQuin. Try again, my friend!

MissQuin 31 Jul 10 at 1:48 p.m. GMT

His jaw?!

Puffinjill 31 Jul 10 at 7:43 a.m. GMT

No, not a letter, Nofret.

Nofret 30 Jul 10 at 4:30 p.m. GMT

Was it some letters he was going to post?

Puffinjill 30 Jul 10 at 3:42 p.m. GMT

OK! Have a go at this -

Apart from his sticks, what did Jerry Burton drop when he first saw Elsie Holland in "The Moving Finger"?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 30 Jul 10 at 8:55 a.m. GMT

Quite correct Puffinjill.  Your turn now

Puffinjill 29 Jul 10 at 7:12 p.m. GMT

It's the Liberal Party, I think, as he considers them (something like)small, select and no hope of getting in power. I doubt Nick Clegg is a fan!!!

And thank you, GKCfan, for pointing out my stupid mistake! yes, definately FRANKLIN Clarke and not CARMICHAEL Clarke as this stupid Puffin said!!!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 29 Jul 10 at 2:11 p.m. GMT

Thanks Miss Quin, nice to know that the 'little grey cells' still function after all this time :) 

Oh and in my question above the typo should read 'party' not 'pary'.  Doh! (or should I say 'Gee whizz, I seem to have laid a bit of an egg - dash it!')

MissQuin 29 Jul 10 at 10:49 a.m. GMT

yes it was the magestic.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 29 Jul 10 at 10:19 a.m. GMT

I also adore Towards Zero, it's one of my all time Christie favourites.  Okay next question: Which political pary does Robin Upwood favour in Mrs Mc Ginty?

BTW was the Majestic right too?

MissQuin 29 Jul 10 at 10:15 a.m. GMT

Yes it was The Balmoral. I love that book. Over to you Miss E.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 29 Jul 10 at 10:10 a.m. GMT

Rubbish, I can remember the name of the other one(I think)  - The Majestic, I shouldn't have asked, should I?  Is it The Balmoral, or is that the one he was going to stay at on the holiday that got cancelled? (altogether too many hotels in one book!)

MissQuin 29 Jul 10 at 10:03 a.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Opps! There's two?! Ok the one where Mr Treeves stayed.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 29 Jul 10 at 9:56 a.m. GMT

which one?  Mr Treeves one or the modern one with the dancing?

MissQuin 29 Jul 10 at 9:46 a.m. GMT

Wow, I remembered the book from memory! But failed to notice it was Franklin Clarke.

What's the name of the hotel in Towards Zero?

Not fiendishly difficult I'm afraid.

GKCfan 29 Jul 10 at 8:33 a.m. GMT

Sorry to nitpick, but FRANKLIN Clarke read The Railway Children in The ABC Murders.

Puffinjill 29 Jul 10 at 7 a.m. GMT

It was The Railway Children that Sir Carmichael Clarke read, MissQuin! Over to you for the next fiendishly difficult little question!!!!

MissQuin 28 Jul 10 at 11:09 a.m. GMT

I'm the same. I remember the most interesting facts, but sadly of no use in real life! 

Was the book the Railway children?

Puffinjill 28 Jul 10 at 8:27 a.m. GMT

No, I don't! I have a terrible memory when it comes to everyday things but somehow anything Christie seems to logde in my brain.

Try this - What's the name of the book Sir Carmichael Clarke reads on the day of his brothers' death in 'The ABC Murders'? 

MissQuin 27 Jul 10 at 10:20 a.m. GMT

You must have a very good memery, as your correct!

Your turn

Puffinjill 26 Jul 10 at 2:40 p.m. GMT

I believe - and I'm dredging the further-most corners of my memory here as I'm stuck at work and can't get to my copy of Come, Tell Me How You Live - the poor little thing was called Swiss Miss.

MissQuin 25 Jul 10 at 12:33 p.m. GMT

I think were all enjoying this bantering!

Anyway I will set a harder question to keep all your minds off other topics...

When AC was at a achaeological dig abroad, what was the name of the dog that broke it's leg?

HarleyBarley 25 Jul 10 at 11:36 a.m. GMT

Now, now, ladies! Order, please, lest someone exclaim that a funny thing happened in the forum today! No more nightmare-inducing imagery, please. That would be too much information for our younger members!

Nofret 25 Jul 10 at 11:06 a.m. GMT

You think you're tarnished, MissQ! I'm the one that's now labelled as having a fancy for elderly, chubby Belgians in the......well, we won't go there again!

Puffinjill 25 Jul 10 at 8:34 a.m. GMT

Right again, MissQuin! It was Not A Sparrow that Mr Cust and others went to see in The ABC Murders. Nice to hear you are going to behave yourself now like a good girl....I'm sure Nofret and I will try to do the same...

MissQuin 24 Jul 10 at 8:50 p.m. GMT

Yes, I know, I know. I jokily blamed it all on Nofret. I accept equal blame and I'll behave now. Although this whole conversation has been hysterically funny  You know in the last story, The countesses nightclub Hell, had unclad figures on the wall. Sorry. No more nude remarks. ;)

Not a Sparrow was the film in ABC?

Puffinjill 24 Jul 10 at 8:21 p.m. GMT

No, not The Sheik. And don't go blaming it all on Nofret, MissQuin!!! She may have set the question but you answered it! You're as bad as each other!! And now I'm continuing it so I guess I'm just as bad as the rest of you.... 

MissQuin 24 Jul 10 at 3:49 p.m. GMT

Yes, let's end this topic before my reputation is tarnished! It was Nofret really. That concubine led my mind and conversation astray.

The film. Was it The sheik?

Puffinjill 24 Jul 10 at 2:50 p.m. GMT

Now, now girls!!!! I can't believe you are still talking (or imagining!) about a naked Poirot! Shame on you! And I thought you such nice, modest young ladies.....

Let's change the subject before you need psychiatric help (look who talking!!!). Which film did Mr Cust go to see in The ABC Murders?

MissQuin 24 Jul 10 at 11:33 a.m. GMT

LOL Norfet you are naugthy. A very wicked sense of humour!

I read what AC said and it said Poirot was going for his bath. So it was poirot's body. I reckon AC must have burnt this prototype. Unless it's still out there... I'm glad Christie put her foot down about it. We'd never see Poirot in the same light ever again!

Nofret 24 Jul 10 at 10:38 a.m. GMT

Of course they could have used the body of a dishy nude hunk (probably, in those more prudish time, with a strategically-placed piece of drapery) and superimposed Poirot's head on top!

MissQuin 24 Jul 10 at 9:15 a.m. GMT

Yes your correct it is The Mill on The Floss. Your turn.

I think Poirot could be having a bath, before going to meet the Countess. I can't see much classical as you say, about short, over weight men. Plus where would Poirot find a perfectly symetrical fig leaf?

It's bizarre. It's as bizarre as some of the recent adapts. At least none of those have had a naked Poirot.

Puffinjill 24 Jul 10 at 7:12 a.m. GMT

Do you think the cover with Poirot about to take a bath was supposed to be symbolic of him washing away the problems that faced him in The Labours Of Hercules? Or just to attract that segment of society that find images of short, overweight, naked Belgians attractive? Thank heavens modesty preveilled!!!

ANYWAY - back to the quiz. Flora mentions The Mill On The Floss by George Elliot in The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd.

GKCfan 23 Jul 10 at 8:23 p.m. GMT

SOMEONE HELP ME GET THAT MENTAL PICTURE OUT OF MY HEAD! 

MissQuin 23 Jul 10 at 3:11 p.m. GMT

 POIROT NAKED!!! There. Anytime you want someone to read your  post, just put that. People will click on it out of morbid curiosity !

Now remember, this was the.. what decade was it again? I think they had to be more careful. I assume it was a "back view" of Poirot. It's not something I want to think off. My own little grey cells were stretched beyond belief. Poirot dirty indeed!  Poirot, when not solving cases, probably bathed more times a day than Beau Brummel. Get's Georges to fill up the tub.  It leads to all sorts of new titles:

Murder In The Bath, The Mysterious Affair Of The Disappearing Soap, The Case of The Missing Sponge and so forth.

You'd think hunks like Ted Williamson or Hugh Chandler would be more appealing, classically....

Anyway, moving swifty on before I can't concentrate on thinking of a question!!

What books does Flora mention in Acktoyd? It's an author that I myself like.

Nofret 23 Jul 10 at 2:53 p.m. GMT

You're quite right, MissQ! Personally I thought that perhaps the illustrator was trying to depict Poirot in the style of a classical Greek statue of Hercules - with or without fig-leaf, I wonder! What a giggle!

Your turn!

HarleyBarley 23 Jul 10 at 2:08 p.m. GMT

Miss Quin, you surprised me with the all-caps (especially with the word it represented)! Quite hilarious, in retrospect. But oh, Poirot in a bath? What does it have to do with The Labours of Hercules? Is Hercules that dirty?

MissQuin 23 Jul 10 at 10:17 a.m. GMT

 Because Poirot was NAKED!!!!! Honestly, he was supposed to be going for a bath on the cover. But AC said her family made rude jokes about him streaking round London etc.

What an earth were those book designers thinking of?! We never actually read about him in the bath in book.

Nofret 23 Jul 10 at 10:05 a.m. GMT

Thank you - here's a question about one of my favourite books -

Whan AC saw the prospective cover design for The Labours of Hercules she immediately vetoed it. Why?

Puffinjill 22 Jul 10 at 7:17 p.m. GMT

Evening, Nofret, and well done!! It most definately is a recipe for Coffee Cake that allowed Emily Trefusis to get through the door of Sittaford House and see the Willetts. What a shame you don't like the book - any particular reason why?

Anyway, your turn, my friend!

Nofret 22 Jul 10 at 10:09 a.m. GMT

Morning all - only just found this quiz, and guess what? It's a question on my least favourite book! I think the answer is Coffee cake!

Puffinjill 22 Jul 10 at 6:49 a.m. GMT

Yes, it most certainly can be for some. Anyway, on to the next one. Here I go, back onto the foodie theme once more! Try this -

What recipe did Miss Percehouse send Emily to request from the Willet's in The Sittaford Mystery?

MissQuin 21 Jul 10 at 4:25 p.m. GMT

Yes it's the gunman! Agatha had nightmares about this strange man turning up amognst people she knew. I think because she had a vivid imagination, it was a blessing and a downside.

Over to you Jill.

Puffinjill 21 Jul 10 at 2:06 p.m. GMT

She used to be frightened of a character she called the Gunman, who used to appear in her day dreams.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 21 Jul 10 at 11:47 a.m. GMT

not, The Watcher, or something like that?  I'm really stumped.  I'll have to look this one up I think.  :(

MissQuin 21 Jul 10 at 10 a.m. GMT

I think that in a dramatisation of AC life, they had this person come up the stairs. So your not far wrong.

But she had a name for him, so who'd like to guess?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 21 Jul 10 at 9:57 a.m. GMT

I seem to have a hazy memory from the Autobiography that it was a strange man on the landing?  Or am I mixing that up with Sleeping Murder?

MissQuin 20 Jul 10 at 9:10 p.m. GMT

 I never eat chocolates mysteriously given to me now. Ive been put off for some reason! I don't know if I'd even trust the man from milk tray! (remember that advert?)  

Anyway- this is a question about Agatha Christie. Who or what appeared in a recurring childhood dream?

Puffinjill 20 Jul 10 at 7:26 p.m. GMT

Yes, MissQuin, got it in one!!!! It was a box of Fuller's chocolates! But be careful giving people on the forum hints about how to poison you! You never know who might be out there......

Thankfully, I am allergic to chocolate so I am safe from any psychopaths with a mania for stuffing chocolates full of poison! Over to you, my friend!!

MissQuin 20 Jul 10 at 3:08 p.m. GMT

Fullers? soft centres, whcih I like too, so if someone was going to posion me, then that's how they'd do it!!

Puffinjill 20 Jul 10 at 2:56 p.m. GMT

Oh blast!!!!!!!!!! Now I have to think of another one! OK...I'll try to continue the foodie theme (although, if you knew me, perhaps that wouldn't be considered wise..)......

Try this easy-peasy one:-

What chocolates does Freddie buy Nick in 'Peril At End House'?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 20 Jul 10 at 9:26 a.m. GMT

Quite correct, Puffinjill, yes a duck.  Your turn

Puffinjill 20 Jul 10 at 7:12 a.m. GMT

I believe it's Duck.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 19 Jul 10 at 12:04 p.m. GMT

Thanks Miss Quin :)  I'd never have got the opera question!  Following on from the earlier foodie theme, my next question is:

In the short story 'The Herb of Death' what is stuffed with the sage/foxgloves leaves that makes everyone so ill?

MissQuin 19 Jul 10 at 10:03 a.m. GMT

I'm not opera buff, but know a fair bit about Mr Quin. I confess if someone said Pagliacci to me in conversation, well I'd think they were talking about Itailian cheeses.

Anyone over to you Miss E!

Puffinjill 19 Jul 10 at 7 a.m. GMT

Not being an opera buff, I had to look this one up! Mr Satterthwaite went to Covent Garden to hear Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana in The Face Of Helen.

I think you will certainly enjoy The Seven Dials Mystery more, MissQuin, as both Bill and Bundle take centre stage. It's a great book and one I am very fond of as it was (probably) the first full length AC novel I read.

By the way, if my answer is right perhaps Miss Eylesbarrow should set the next one as she guessed right half of the last one I set. And because I am USELESS as setting ANY puzzles!!

MissQuin 18 Jul 10 at 9:39 a.m. GMT

Oh, now I don't know whose turn it is, mine or Miss E's.

I actually didn't warm towards Anthony Cade. Suprising since my weakness for charming men. But This Charming Man wasn't for me! I actually prefered Bill as he was so naive. There something I liked about him.

But I'm not going to bother with the so called Marple adapt. Jonas Armstrong as Anthony?  bah!

I did like feisty Bundle as a strong female chraacter. I didn't like Virgina for some reason. I would like to read The Seven Dials, as Ive heard it's better.

Anyway back to the questions! What opera did Mr Satterthwaite attend in the short stories?

Puffinjill 18 Jul 10 at 7:17 a.m. GMT

YES!!!!!!!!!!! It IS a banana that strange little Professor Wynwood says he thinks, along with a Water Biscuit, is all any sane and healthy person needs to eat in the middle of the day. So it's honours even between MissQuin and Miss Eylesbarrow - well done to both of you!!!

What a shame you didn't like The Secret Of Chimneys, MissQuin. Any particular reason why you didn't warm to this one? I would have thought any book featuring a character as charming as Anthony Cade would have appealled to you.......

MissQuin 17 Jul 10 at 4:46 p.m. GMT

Banana? That's what I like with yogurt. ;) This is becoming the Chrisite food quiz isn't it?! Cake now fruit and biscuits.

I no longer own a copy of Chimneys after I didn't like the book, I gave it away.

Puffinjill 17 Jul 10 at 2:47 p.m. GMT

It is indeed some kind of fruit. One that I eat everyday with MY yoghurt, MissQuin!! But can you remember which?

MissQuin 17 Jul 10 at 10:34 a.m. GMT

Yogurt was called "the food for cranks" once. I eat it everyday...

Simular to Mr Curle in Herb of death with the faddy eating. Was it fruit?

Puffinjill 17 Jul 10 at 6:45 a.m. GMT

No, not bread - with or without butter - and I guess you COULD call him a crank. Or possibly eccentric. Or both. Like me...

MissQuin 16 Jul 10 at 4:02 p.m. GMT

I don't remember! I expect he was called a crank. Was it bread without butter?

Puffinjill 16 Jul 10 at 3:48 p.m. GMT

Not a vegetable, Miss Eylesbarrow.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 16 Jul 10 at 9:24 a.m. GMT

Celery?  Was it a raw vegetable at all?

Puffinjill 16 Jul 10 at 7 a.m. GMT

No, not carrot. Keep thinking!!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 15 Jul 10 at 2:28 p.m. GMT

is it a raw carrot?

Puffinjill 15 Jul 10 at 2:22 p.m. GMT

You're halfway there, Miss Eylesbarrow! Professor Wynwood DID say a water biscuit but there was another item too. Can you remember that one as well?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 15 Jul 10 at 11:23 a.m. GMT

is it a water biscuit?

Puffinjill 15 Jul 10 at 8:25 a.m. GMT

No, I did cheat and look that one up!!!

Try this one - In The Secret Of Chimneys, what does Professor Wynwood (the cypher expert) consider to be all any 'sane and healthy' person needs to eat for lunch?

MissQuin 14 Jul 10 at 3:21 p.m. GMT

Well done! Did you remember that fro memory? You lot are good.

Puffinjill 14 Jul 10 at 7:01 a.m. GMT

I think it was called Down Under and he played an American called Harry.

MissQuin 13 Jul 10 at 4:05 p.m. GMT

I do think the brilliant JH Bertam's adapt, should come with a warning though..

(serious voice over) This programme contains scenes which may make dieters hungry and long for cake.

Ok in Death In The Clouds what play does Lady Horbury's lover Raymond, star in?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 13 Jul 10 at 3:53 p.m. GMT

yes, seed cake!  And REAL seed cake at that.  I quite agree, not the nicest.  Give me a fat jam doughnut any day!  your turn.....

MissQuin 13 Jul 10 at 3:26 p.m. GMT

I loathe seed cake. or maybe it was just the one I had- it tasted like budgie food!

Am I correct?

Puffinjill 13 Jul 10 at 3:22 p.m. GMT

Oh, you've pipped me to it, MisQuin!! I was about to say seed cake too!!

MissQuin 13 Jul 10 at 3:21 p.m. GMT

Well this is making me feel rather hungry. Surely not seed cake? (shudders)

The Hickson version had all these cream cakes on display...

Yes I'd love tea parties with a charming little tea cp and doilies and everything so quaint and charming.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 13 Jul 10 at 3:14 p.m. GMT

there were muffins & doughnuts involved, but that's not what I'm thinking of.  This is a proper type of cake.  I love the descriptions of high tea in the books, if only we all did 'Le 5 O'clock' now, wouldn't it be great?

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

Is it a muffin? I'd be tempted by muffins too!  But I remeber there was a discussion about doughnuts too.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 13 Jul 10 at 9:19 a.m. GMT

Yippee, that's the first one I've truely known the answer to straight away.  I feel like a proper fan at last :)

my question: Which type of cake is Lady Selina Hazy tempted by in 'At Bertrams Hotel'?

Puffinjill 13 Jul 10 at 6:49 a.m. GMT

It was 19, Miss Eylesbarrow. And, in a cunning trap set by Poirot himself, he allowed himself to be robbed of 2 pairs.

Well done and over to you!!!!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 12 Jul 10 at 4:20 p.m. GMT

he bought 19 and 2 were stolen.

MissQuin 12 Jul 10 at 3:42 p.m. GMT

Was it 12? I love that scene! It's so funny, the shopgirls thinking that Poirot's buying them for a young mistress!

Puffinjill 12 Jul 10 at 2:59 p.m. GMT

Oh, go on then, I'll jump in and fill the hole! Try this:-

How many pairs of stockings did Poirot originally purchase in Cards On The Table?

I think I can remember but I'll make sure I look it up as soon as I get home!!

Mr_west 11 Jul 10 at 9:03 a.m. GMT

correct!

who ask now?

anonymoose_au 11 Jul 10 at 2:02 a.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

I just finished reading this one! Let's see:

I'm pretty sure its six...

Mr_west 10 Jul 10 at 9:44 p.m. GMT

ok, how many people die in "murder is easy"?

GKCfan 10 Jul 10 at 7:21 p.m. GMT

A statue of a foxhound.

Puffinjill 10 Jul 10 at 6:56 a.m. GMT

OK, try this one next -

What does Poirot buy with the money won from M. Giraud in Murder On The Links?

cameronjhw 08 Jul 10 at 2:17 p.m. GMT

You are correct vanity and talking are the ones I was referring to. And also GKCfan you were right when he also said murderers were thoroughly nice chaps.

GKCfan 08 Jul 10 at 7:05 a.m. GMT

He also says that some murderers have been "thoroughly nice chaps."

Puffinjill 08 Jul 10 at 6:58 a.m. GMT

I know he says that he has never met a crininal who wasn't vain and also that they want to talk. Are those the signs you are refering to, cameronjhw?

cameronjhw 06 Jul 10 at 9:55 p.m. GMT

Wasn't it Jezebel

My question: In Crooked House Charles' father Sir Arthur Hayward talks about criminals. He tells his son about two certain signs of a criminal. What were they?

Mr_west 06 Jul 10 at 3:34 p.m. GMT

yes you were right about the blue tatto and now i'm looking in "crooked house" and it was charles now tell me what did magda play

Miss_Eylesbarrow 06 Jul 10 at 2:28 p.m. GMT

Oh yes, I'm with you now.  You mean the play that was a flop and had the terrible reviews so that Magda had hysterics and the maid gave notice.  Ah, bother, can't remember, I'll have to look that one up!  I think it was  the narrator, Charles, she told.  Was I right about the blue tatoo in 'Baghdad' though?

Mr_west 06 Jul 10 at 10:51 a.m. GMT

ok sorry if you don't undrestand the question

in the book Josphine tell to someone (i can't remember right now to who) about a story which her mother play in the play they do to this story, now you understand? 

Miss_Eylesbarrow 06 Jul 10 at 10:09 a.m. GMT

I need more info, Mr West, afraid I don't understand the question.

Mr_west 06 Jul 10 at 9:23 a.m. GMT

i'm not talking about what she want to play, who she plays?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 06 Jul 10 at 8:53 a.m. GMT

Correct Puffinjill!  It was an Old English Sheepdog.  I'm sure you are correct on the Magda question too - but why didn't the dogs eat the palms of her hands?!

Your turn

Puffinjill 06 Jul 10 at 7:02 a.m. GMT

I do believe it was an Old English Sheepdog that featured at the end if The Moving Finger. 

Magda West, I think, wanted to play (but hadn't actually done so) the part of Edith Thompson.

MissQuin 05 Jul 10 at 4:35 p.m. GMT

Ive checked and I think I got it muddled. Bedlington is a dog breed, I think. I don't now my dog breeds too well, I know a great dane from a poodle and not much more thatn that. I don't own a copy of the moving finger either. Someone else will have to guess.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 05 Jul 10 at 4:31 p.m. GMT

no, and I've never heard of that breed (not that I'm a dog expert by any means).  Think big.

MissQuin 05 Jul 10 at 4:08 p.m. GMT

It's ok Mr West, in towards zero Sylvia confesses at the very beguinning.

Ok, sorry to be a rule bore, but things are a little confused. Whoever guess the question correctly, then takes their turn ok?

Dogs, is it a bellingham? Is there any such breed?! I think I made that one up.

Mr_west 05 Jul 10 at 4:08 p.m. GMT

you know you can ask question too

OK, what character did magda (crooked house) play?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 05 Jul 10 at 3:46 p.m. GMT

next question please Mr West,

and BTW no one answered which breed of dog in Moving Finger...not a Jack Russel

Puffinjill 05 Jul 10 at 2:56 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Sylvia Battle confessed to theft in Towards Zero.

Mr_west 05 Jul 10 at 12:48 a.m. GMT

plese no spoilers!

victoria_jones_1 04 Jul 10 at 8:23 p.m. GMT

Mr_west

what is the name of number 3 from the book "The Big Four"?

Madame Olivier

In what book was Superintendant Battle's daughter Sylvia confess to theft?

Mr_west 03 Jul 10 at 5:01 p.m. GMT

very funny

what is the name of number 3 from the book "The Big Four"?

HarleyBarley 03 Jul 10 at 3:17 p.m. GMT

Because he needed a high-class train to cater to his picky whims.

Just joking. I suppose a certain government wanted his presence, sent a letter, and off our dear Belgian detective goes.

Mr_west 03 Jul 10 at 10:59 a.m. GMT

correct MissQuin

why did Poirot traveled on the orient express?

MissQuin 03 Jul 10 at 10:49 a.m. GMT

I don't know the moving finger puppy, colud be a jack russel?

Ok, is the book dedicated to Margatet Rutherford??

Mr_west 03 Jul 10 at 9:39 a.m. GMT

plese no spoilers

to who AC dedicated the book "the mirror crack'd from side to side"?

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

Thanks Miss Quin, sorry about the spoiler - I'm new to this game.  Logging off now - time to go home.  Catch you tomorrow :)

MissQuin 01 Jul 10 at 4:16 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Moving Finger spiolers!!!:

Miss_Eylesbarrow

Next one: what animal (type & breed please) is Mr Burton & Megan given as a wedding present in The Moving Finger?

I think that's a good question. So whoever answers correctly can have their turn, seems fair to me.

HarleyBarley 01 Jul 10 at 4:12 p.m. GMT

Excellent answer, Miss Quin. You got me in one swipe! Yes, it was Michael Garfield from Hallowe'en Party. One of my favourites, as you might know by now.

Oh, I can imagine the scene quite well. As soon as Mr Satterthwaite finished his queer remark, a stunned silence formed, which was interrupted only by Sir Charles' low "ahem". Egg will then slowly usher Mr Satterthwaite to his room, while the latter protested vehemently that he has not drunk too much. The two of them will leave Sir Charles wagging his head.

Question please, Miss Quin?

MissQuin 01 Jul 10 at 4:06 p.m. GMT

Ok folks, we have two questions so I'll have to suggest some rules. Whoever guesses a question coreectly then gets the next go..

I think Harley's answer to beautiful man is Micheal in Halloween Party??

MissQuin 01 Jul 10 at 4:04 p.m. GMT

Yes it's Harlequin in Third Girl, what I consider a good book.

I think it's best Mr S keeps his  meetings with Mr Quin a secret. I can imagine Poirot's face if he heard about "this gentleman who appears, seemingly out of knowhere. His clothes are often shown to have a motley pattern on them. oh and he's not human." I think they might think Mr S has been indulging in far too many cocktails..

It's strange to think Poirot and Mr Quin both exisist in the same world. If it wasn't for Three act tragedy, we wouldn't know that.

HarleyBarley 01 Jul 10 at 3:58 p.m. GMT

A guess, actually. At first I thought someone was meddling with Poirot's name, but when I realised the poster truly meant Pierrot and that the poster was you, the solution shines through like a beacon. I was almost tempted to ask "Was it Harlequin, Miss Quin?", but then it would sound rather odd.

And also in Three Act Tragedy, Mr Satterthwaite attempts to tell the story as told in At the Bells and Motley to his companions, but was sadly cut off.

Next question, if I may: In a certain book, AC describes a male character as "beautiful", even admitting that it was unusual to term a man so, but that the man described suited that title. Who was the beautiful man?

MissQuin 01 Jul 10 at 3:46 p.m. GMT

Have you read the book or is that a guess harley? But your correct Harlequin is indeed in the painting, a smart little refrence to Mr Quin.

Also in Three Act tragedy, where Mr Satterthwaite appaars, a Pierrot doll is lying around. I like to think AC put that in as an "in joke/refrence".

HarleyBarley 01 Jul 10 at 3:39 p.m. GMT

If it is not a Pierrot, then is it a Harlequin?

MissQuin 01 Jul 10 at 2:58 p.m. GMT

Sorry Miss E. It's not a Pierrot, but your close!!!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 01 Jul 10 at 2:47 p.m. GMT

Oh, is it a Pierrot, Miss Q?

Next one: what animal (type & breed please) is Mr Burton & Megan given as a wedding present in The Moving Finger?

MissQuin 30 Jun 10 at 3:45 p.m. GMT

St Judes Hosptial. I confess I looked it in my copy of PFOR! I wasn't going to remember that one was I?

This ones in Third Girl and I remember quite clearly- What is the painting of in the 3 girls flat??

Miss_Eylesbarrow 30 Jun 10 at 9:09 a.m. GMT

This is a toughie Mr West, I had to look it up in the book - all I could find was a 'tatoo in blue' - no other details.  Is that answer good enough to pose my next question?

In 'A Pocket Full of Rye' which hospital is Rex Fortescue taken to?  :)

Mr_west 26 Jun 10 at 9:40 p.m. GMT

ok, here is another one:

in the book "they came to baghdad" Victoria saw  a little girl with a tattoo, tattoo of what?

Puffinjill 26 Jun 10 at 6:43 a.m. GMT

I think it was number 9. it's a while since I have read it but I must get round to doing so again very soon.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 25 Jun 10 at 12:19 p.m. GMT

Hi Mr West, answer Broadhinny :)

How about what seat number did Poirot actually sit in for the flight in Death in the Clouds?

Mr_west 25 Jun 10 at 9:39 a.m. GMT

correct!

here is another one:

in which village did Mrs. McGinty live?

realy easy

Puffinjill 25 Jun 10 at 7:38 a.m. GMT

I know! You mean the actor Deryck Guyler, who is the voice delivering the news bulletin during the play.

Mr_west 24 Jun 10 at 9:53 p.m. GMT

no...

a hint: the movie "Plese Sir!"

MissQuin 24 Jun 10 at 9:28 p.m. GMT

Richard Attenbough??

Mr_west 22 Jun 10 at 5:37 p.m. GMT

ok, this actor still "playing" their today.

think about voice 

MissQuin 22 Jun 10 at 5:14 p.m. GMT

I don't know, can i have a clue?

Mr_west 18 Jun 10 at 9:29 p.m. GMT

correct! but you need to ask qustion too.

ok now something hard:

who played in the mousetrap from her first day and still play there today? 

cameronjhw 18 Jun 10 at 8:30 p.m. GMT

Was it Mary, Queen of Scots?

Mr_west 18 Jun 10 at 5:02 p.m. GMT

ok here is one:

in the book "the mirror crack'd from side to side" dolly bantry tell to miss marple that she saw marina greg in an amazing movie, whice movie?

that is not so hard but you need to look for it 

MissQuin 18 Jun 10 at 4:56 p.m. GMT

There you go, I'll try to think of something not too hard, but one that people can't look up easily!

Mr_west 18 Jun 10 at 3:53 p.m. GMT

i hav'nt read that book so it was alittle hard but i think i know:  Imperial Hotel

and, i do know alot of things about christie that one was just hard but i don't want you to think i don't know anything about her! 

MissQuin 18 Jun 10 at 3:15 p.m. GMT

Sorry, thought you'd like a challenge. You did say you knew all about AC. I think it's too hard. Heres another clue, you have MQ's permisson to look up-

"Steeped in history, the hotel has entertained a host of notable guests including Emperor Napoleon III, the Queen of Holland and King Edward VII."

Then you'll find it mr West. Then I'll try to think of a not so difficult clue

Mr_west 18 Jun 10 at 3:04 p.m. GMT

oh i have not read that one, but this is hard!

MissQuin 18 Jun 10 at 2:55 p.m. GMT

Jane was an actress, Ive read the book.

It would be nice if the website hosted a big interactive quiz, maybe on AC's birthdate?

If anyone does cheat, then their a disgrace! I'd have to send Miss Marple round to tell them off.

Right question, a bit tricker-In Peril At End House there was a hotel in St Loo called The Majestic Hotel. What was the name of the real hotel that it was based on?

Mr_west 18 Jun 10 at 2:54 p.m. GMT

correct! but you need to ask a qustion too!

here is another one: in whice book did marina greg appears?

cameronjhw 18 Jun 10 at 2:49 p.m. GMT

She is an American stage actress and also Lord Edgware's wife

Mr_west 18 Jun 10 at 2:35 p.m. GMT

i know that but if someone look for the answer that is his problem, he is lose not me, this quiz is just for fun.

and you forgot to ask a qustion so i'll do it: what is Jane Wilkinson job?

TheButlerDidIT 18 Jun 10 at 2:24 p.m. GMT

It's a nice idea but people could look up the answers on this website...

And by that way the answer to your question (and I didn't have to look this up!) is Petra. Although the start is set in Jerusalem.