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    Double Sin: A Hercule Poirot Story
    Double Sin: A Hercule Poirot Story
    Double Sin: A Hercule Poirot Story
    Ebook37 pages23 minutes

    Double Sin: A Hercule Poirot Story

    By Agatha Christie

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot both make appearances in Agatha Christie’s Double Sin and Other Stories, a sterling collection of short mystery fiction that offers double the suspense, surprise, and fun.

    In one of London’s most elegant shops, a decorative doll dressed in green velvet adopts some rather human, and rather sinister, traits.

    A country gentleman is questioned about a murder yet to be committed.

    While summoning spirits, a medium is drawn closer to the world of the dead than she ever dared imagine possible.

    In a small country church, a dying man’s last word becomes both an elegy and a clue to a crime.

    These chilling stories, and more, cleverly wrought by master Agatha Christie and solved by the inimitable Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJul 23, 2013
    ISBN9780062298454
    Double Sin: A Hercule Poirot Story
    Author

    Agatha Christie

    Agatha Christie is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in English with another billion in over 70 foreign languages. She is the most widely published author of all time and in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections, 20 plays, and six novels written under the name of Mary Westmacott.

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    Reviews for Double Sin

    3.5/5

    183 ratings8 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This was a random collection of short stories by Agatha Christie. Some of the stories were great, and some left me wondering "what just happened here?", but not in a good way. Her mysteries starring Poirot and Miss Marple were what I expected. However, I was not expecting her gothic horror short stories. "The Dressmaker's Doll" was a decent supernatural story. I thought the conclusion was a great way to end the story. I found myself smiling when it was over. "The Last Seance" was one of the stories left me scratching my head. I'm still not sure what happened at the ending. But they were all brief, short stories so I don't feel like I wasted too much time on the duds.
    • 4/5
      A short story collection featuring two Miss Marple stories, two supernatural tales, and a healthy dose of Hercule Poirot.As always, Dame Agatha delivers a good read. The mystery stories are well-paced and to the point. In most cases, the clues are cleverly interspersed in such a way that the reader can guess along, but there are a couple of tales herein that deviate from this format. Nothing is particularly deep, but that's hardly the intention. The stories make for a quick, entertaining read that Dame Agatha's fans should enjoy.Take note, though, that most of these stories have been reprinted in at least one other volume. (I believe "Greenshaw's Folly" appears in two others). Depending on which collections you've read, you may already be acquainted with them.
    • 3/5
      8 stories. REFUSED to read the Last Seance. Dressmaker's Doll was creepy!
    • 4/5
      Collection of short mysteries. Some include Miss Marple, and some include Hercule Poirot.Not read her short stories before, but these were mostly entertaining.
    • 4/5
      After last week's disappointment with The Man in the Brown Suit, I was relieved to get back to some solid, quality Christie. It was not unlike having Poirot and Miss Marple standing there waving to me as the train pulled into the station after a long ride on a seat with a broken spring while across from me a man with a nose the size and shape of a kielbasa talked without ceasing about his years of service during the Boer War, only pausing once to eat his lunch of raw onions and sardines. Yes, it was that degree of an unendurable reading experience! So, the sight of Poirot and Marple practically brought tears to my eyes.Until now, I'd only read Agatha's novels, but after barely surviving The Man in the Brown Suit I decided to dip into her short stories, and so I picked Double Sin as my entry into the mini-mystery territory. Double Sin is by no means perfect—there are a couple of stories which go nowhere and which really aren't mysteries at all ("The Dressmaker's Doll" is a ghost story…and not a very spooky one, at that).Still, it was fascinating to see how Agatha was able to condense complex mystery plots into the space of thirty pages or less. While the collection was published in 1961, most of the stories were written in the 1920s, back when Agatha was still sharpening her (poison) pen. None of them bear the mark of a rank amateur. These stories are muscular and demonstrate the author's full control over her plots and characters. Due to their length, they get to the point quickly and waste little time with character development or lengthy lists of suspects.The title story is a waste-no-time brain teaser involving the theft of some valuable miniature collectibles. The pace of the story pushes forward from page to page, leaving us breathless and always in awe of Poirot's keen observation skills. From the first paragraph, we learn that, like Sherlock Holmes before him, as Poirot's fame has grown, so too has the demand on his time:I had called in at my friend Poirot's rooms to find him sadly overworked. So much had he become the rage that every rich woman who had mislaid a bracelet or lost a pet kitten rushed to secure the services of the great Hercule Poirot. My little friend was a strange mixture of Flemish thrift and artistic fervor.The true mystery of "Double Sin" is actually a diversion from the case Poirot originally sets out to solve. While he and Hastings are traveling en route to help an old friend, their attention is caught by the plight of a young girl who thinks her luggage has been lost. Agatha wastes no more words on that original case as Poirot quickly solves the matter of the missing miniatures."The Theft of the Royal Ruby" (also known as "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding") is as enjoyable for the way it envelopes the reader in the sights and smells of Christmas as it is for the way in which Poirot solves the mystery at the fourteenth-century English manor house. Agatha gets a lot of mileage out of building the atmosphere of "an old-fashioned Christmas," mentioning at every turn things like Christmas pudding (the size of a large football), the stockings, the turkeys ("one boiled and one roast"), the mistletoe and "the snowman outside the window." The mystery itself is almost inconsequential in this case.As always, Agatha deploys all available skill at describing her characters in one or two pithy sentences. For instance, here's this unforgettable entrance in "The Double Clue":Without the least warning the door flew open, and a whirlwind in human form invaded our privacy, bringing with her a swirl of sables…and a hat rampant with slaughtered ospreys. Countess Vera Rossakoff was a somewhat disturbing personality.By the way, the key clue in this story also turns up in Murder on the Orient Express. It seems that Agatha, like Hercule Poirot, was big on thrift and artistic fervor.
    • 4/5
      In the long run I had actually already read five of these short stories in other collections, and I also realised that I had actually seen television versions of the other three.Double Sin is the story of a young woman and her aunt who sell antiques and who run an insurance scam, looking for gullible travellers who will back up their claim that their wares have been stolen. In this case though they pick on Poirot and Hastings.Wasps' Nest. Hercule Poirot becomes convinced that someone of his acquaintance is about to commit murder and he sets out to prevent it.The Double Clue is the first of the stories that features the Countess Vera Rossakoff, a Russian lady who becomes involved in the theft some rubies and an emerald necklace. She makes the mistake of leaving two clues.
    • 4/5
      Double Sin: Poirot & Marple, Christie

      ? ? ?

      Double Sin: Waylaid on the way to visit a client, M. Poirot & Hastings come across a niece selling a valuable piece for her aunt and a young man w/ a "feeble" mustache

      Wasp's Nest: A dying man, caught in a love triangle, plots a murder... seemingly his own.... M. Poirot heads him off at the pass

      The Theft of the Royal Ruby (also known as The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding): A missing ruby ends up in the Christmas Pudding, M. Poirot grabs it and proceeds to solve the case

      The Dressmaker's Doll: A doll appears in the shop—a floppy, long-legged doll that sits itself on the best sofa. But where did it come from, and why does it appear to watch them?

      Greenshaw's Folly: An old woman who likes to play games, shot in the back w/ an arrow; a Lady's Companion owed back wages; a disinherited nephew; and Miss Marple as a witness to the will.....

      The Double Clue: M. Poirot is asked to attend a dinner party of a famous collector... After dinner the safe is found to have been rifled and its contents removed. For some reason there are two very obvious clues.... Why would a thief be so careless as to leave two personal belongings behind?

      The Last Seance: "Raoul Daubreuil insists his fiancée give up her activities as a talented and successful medium when they marry. However, he agrees to attend what is to be her last séance—with Madame Exe. But even Raoul can't foresee the tragedy ahead." -- Amazon

      Sanctuary: "Bunch, engrossed in her flower arrangements for the church, is placing the chrysanthemums when she sees a man crumpled over on the chancel steps, dying. The man can only utter one word, “sanctuary.” No one at the vicarage understands what he means, and nothing can be done to stop his death. But, when his relatives promptly arrive to pick up his possessions, Bunch can’t get the word out of her head. She knows just who to turn to, her godmother, Miss Marple. What Bunch and Miss Marple discover is more exciting than anything that could be expected to happen in a sleepy village like Chipping Cleghorn. Who is this man, and what does “sanctuary” mean?" --Amazon
    • 3/5
      Double Sin and Other Stories features four Hercule Poirot stories, two Miss Marple and two miscellaneous stories. My favourite was the Poirot, The Theft of the Royal Ruby. My least favourite was the Poirot, Wasps' Nest. The overall collection rating is 3 stars. Individual ratings and reviews below.POIROT: DOUBLE SIN: ***POIROT: WASPS' NEST: *POIROT: THE THEFT OF THE ROYAL RUBY: *****MISC: THE DRESSMAKER'S DOLL: ***MARPLE: 14.19: GREENSHAW'S FOLLY ***POIROT: THE DOUBLE CLUE: ***MISC: THE LAST SEANCE: **MARPLE: 14.20: SANCTUARY ***POIROT: DOUBLE SIN: ***Poirot and Hastings meet a young girl who is on her way to sell some paintings for her aunt and decide to help when they find the paintings stolen. This was alright. I didn't like it that much. 3 stars.POIROT: WASPS' NEST: *Instead of investigating death, Poirot is out to prevent one. This story was bizarre. The guy is dying so he plans to commit suicide and set his friend up for his death. I didn't love it. 1 star.POIROT: THE THEFT OF THE ROYAL RUBY: *****I loved this one. It was almost as good as The Missing Will. A Prince comes to town and gets conned into handing over a precious royal ruby to his "date". Poirot is reluctant when he finds taking the case would mean a proper English Christmas in the country - a big English manor with snow means cold and Poirot is all nosiree. But he's convinced when he learns that the manor has oil fired central heating, a splendid hot water system and radiators in every bedroom. This is an expanded version of Christmas Adventure.I enjoyed this a lot for being such a short story. Mrs Lacey/Em was awesome. Her granddaughter, Sarah is infatuated with a man named Desmond Lee-Wortley. Her grandfather is appalled and wants to do everything to break them up but Em convinces him to invite Desmond for Christmas and watch everything fall apart on its own. It was fantastic. “That’s my doing,” said Mrs. Lacey. “Horace was all for forbidding her to see him and all that. Of course, in Horace’s day, the father or guardian would have called round at the young man’s lodgings with a horse whip! Horace was all for forbidding the fellow the house, and forbidding the girl to see him. I told him that was quite the wrong attitude to take. ‘No,’ I said. ‘Ask him down here. We’ll have him down for Christmas with the family party.’ Of course, my husband said I was mad! But I said, ‘At any rate, dear, let’s try it. Let her see him in our atmosphere and our house and we’ll be very nice to him and very polite, and perhaps then he’ll seem less interesting to her’!” “I think, as they say, you have something there, Madame,” said Poirot. (p. 303)But it wasn't just that little bit of wisdom. I loved the children deciding to plan a murder to entertain Poirot. And Poirot twisting it to make them think she's really dead to trick Desmond into getting out of dodge with a fake ruby. It was freaking awesome. It was just brilliant. It was very amusing. I didn't get the ending though. Or at least I hope I didn't. A pair of arms slipped round his shoulders unexpectedly. “If you will stand just under the mistletoe—” said Bridget. Hercule Poirot enjoyed it. He enjoyed it very much. He said to himself that he had had a very good Christmas. (p. 330)Did she kiss him? What the hell isn't he like 70ish and she's like what barely 20? Ugh. 5 stars.MISC: THE DRESSMAKER'S DOLL: ***A dressmaking shop finds themselves home to a doll they didn't buy and weren't gifted. This was creepy and perfectly understandable. Some dolls are super creepy. Porcelain dolls for instance with the eyes. Ugh. 3 stars. MARPLE: 14.19: GREENSHAW'S FOLLY ***Raymond gets the family caught up in murder when he takes his friend out to Greenshaw's Folly and witnesses the old lady's will, before recommending his wife's niece for a job. This one was alright. I enjoyed Raymond's thoughts on his Aunt. “If you want to discuss murder,” said Raymond, “you must talk to my Aunt Jane.” “Your Aunt Jane? Do you mean Miss Marple?” He felt a little at a loss. The charming old-world lady to whom he had been introduced the night before seemed the last person to be mentioned in connection with murder. “Oh, yes,” said Raymond. “Murder is a speciality of hers.”Christie, Agatha. Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories (Miss Marple Mysteries) (p. 323). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.The mystery was interesting but convoluted. I liked that it was Miss Marple to the rescue again though. 3 stars.POIROT: THE DOUBLE CLUE: ***Poirot is hired by a man who hosted a dinner party and had his jewels stolen. He doesn't want to think one of his guests (and friends) could have done it but - one of his guests (and friends) did. I liked this one. It wasn't fantastic but it was a fun read. 3 stars.MISC: THE LAST SEANCE: **A medium is looking forward to retiring after her final client; a mother. This was alright. Pretty obvious where it was going. The fiancee was kind of dumb for not seeing it. Grieving mother's aren't exactly logical. 2 stars. MARPLE: 14.20: SANCTUARY ***Bunch Harmon is replacing the flowers in the church when she discovers a dying man whose last request is for sanctuary. The man's relatives come to take care of his affairs but seem to be more interested in his coat than grief. But never fear, Miss Marple is on the case. I enjoyed the subterfuge in this one. Marple suggesting Bunch was followed and using Gladys to divert suspicion and providing decoy suitcases and getting the cops all in on it. It was funny. 3.5 stars.

    Book preview

    Double Sin - Agatha Christie

    Contents

    Double Sin

    About the Author

    The Agatha Christie Collection

    Copyright

    About the Publisher

    DOUBLE SIN

    I had called in at my friend Poirot’s rooms to find him sadly overworked. So much had he become the rage that every rich woman who had mislaid a bracelet or lost a pet kitten rushed to secure the services of the great Hercule Poirot. My little friend was a strange mixture of Flemish thrift and artistic fervour. He accepted many cases in which he had little interest owing to the first instinct being predominant.

    He also undertook cases in which there was a little or no monetary reward sheerly because the problem involved interested him. The result was that, as I say, he was overworking himself. He admitted as much himself, and I found little difficulty in persuading him to accompany me for a week’s holiday to that well-known South Coast resort, Ebermouth.

    We had spent four very agreeable days when Poirot came to me, an open letter in his hand.

    "Mon ami, you remember my friend Joseph Aarons, the theatrical agent?"

    I assented after a moment’s thought. Poirot’s friends are so many and so varied, and range from dustmen to dukes.

    "Eh bien, Hastings, Joseph Aarons finds himself at Charlock Bay. He is far from well, and there is a little affair that it seems is worrying him. He begs me to go over and see him. I think, mon ami, that I must accede to his request. He is a faithful friend, the good Joseph Aarons, and

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