#4 – Poirot Investigates

Across eleven stories, Poirot and Hastings investigate murder, suicide, kidnap, robbery, and even a missing will. There are distinctly Sherlockian elements such as making deductions about a client from observations from the window, Hastings commenting on a newspaper story that then leads into a case, a historic case where sufficient time has passed for the events to now be made public, and insufficient evidence to prosecute with an accident then overtaking the guilty parties so that justice is not denied. To my mind there are also distinct echoes of the second, sixth, and seventh stories from “ The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” which given what Christie later does in “Partners in Crime” may be deliberate.

The cases presented are:

The Adventure of “The Western Star” (WS) – in which Hastings surprises a client with his deductions.

The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor (MM) – in which Inspector Japp plays a ghost.

The Adventure of the Cheap Flat (CF) – in which it is shown that if something is too good to be true, it probably is.

The Mystery of Hunter’s Lodge (HL) – in which Poirot solves a case from his sickbed.

The Million Dollar Bond Robbery (MDBR) – in which Poirot deduces the existence and appearance of a ship’s passenger.

The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb (ET) – in which Poirot protects himself with magic.

The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan (JRGM) – in which chalk and dust hold the solution.

The Kidnapped Prime Minister (KPM) – in which Poirot facilitates the Second World War.

The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim (DMD) – in which Japp makes his easiest ever arrest.

The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman (IN) – in which the advisability of a full post-mortem is shown.

The Case of the Missing Will (MW) – in which it is shown that paying a professional is better than doing-it-yourself.

With HL and DMD being the strongest.

Recurring character development

Hercule Poirot

Has worked on the case of the dancer, Valerie Saintclair, and matters relating to the death of Lord Cronshaw’s nephew (WS).

Has knowledge of precious stones as he is able to pronounce the “Western Star” to be flawless (WS).

Mrs Murchinson is his landlady (WS).

Orders his books by size, with the largest on the top shelf (WS). Ludicrous, as in the main alphabetically by author’s surname is preferable, and heavy reference books should be stored on lower shelves for ease of access and to avoid the danger of them falling and cracking one’s egg-shaped head!

Again shows a more physical side than expected when he romps with the Yardly’s children (WS).

Is “as good as a woman” when dealing with the collapsed Lady Yardly (WS).

Is practical as demonstrated when he fixes the bolt of the coal lift so that it can be opened from the inside (CF).

Takes a “noxious” tisane (herbal tea) to combat the flu and wears a “garish” silk dressing-gown (HL).

Suffers from seasickness and would therefore not enjoy an ocean cruise (MDBR). This is then evidenced in the journey from Marseille to Alexandria (ET). Laverguier’s method which he uses for the much shorter Channel crossing (KPM) appears to be a fiction as my internet search just returns quotes from this book itself.

Whilst in Egypt he dresses the same as he would in London and carries a small clothes-brush in his pocket to wage war on the dust. He is unsuccessful in his attempts to ride a camel (ET).

Uses benzene to dry clean his own clothes (KPM).

Was recommended to the British Cabinet by the exiled King of Belgium, Albert I (KPM).

Prefers thick, sweet hot chocolate to tea, which he refers to as “your English poison” (DMD)

Captain Hastings

Speculates on the stock exchange (JRGM).

Worked in recruiting towards the end of the First World War (KPM).

Signs of the Times

£50,000 would be worth approximately £2m today based solely on inflation (WS and MM).

Both Hastings and Poirot are (shamefaced) readers of “Society Gossip” (WS and HL). This could be short-hand for “Broadway Brevities and Society Gossip”, first published in New York in 1916, shutting down in 1925, before enjoying two further short incarnations. Heat Magazine and its ilk are not a new phenomenon.

Poirot consults “Peerage” (WS) This is almost certainly “Burke’s Peerage”, first published in 1826 and now in its 107^th edition. It claims to be “the definitive guide to the genealogies of the titled families of the British Isles”.

Mr Maltravers had not consulted with Dr Bernard as he was a Christian Scientist (MM). The main principles of Christian Science were developed by Mary Baker Eddy in her 1875 work “Science and Health”. This teaches that sickness is an illusion that can be corrected by prayer alone. At its height in the 1930s there were 270,000 adherents in the US alone; this has declined to 100,000 in the 1990s.

German reparations were discussed at dinner (MM). The Treaty of Versailles (1919) and the London Schedule of Payments (1921) required Germany to pay 132bn gold marks (approximately £8bn) to cover civilian damage during the First World War. At most a quarter of this was paid before a final payment was accepted in 1932.

“Who’s Who” is referred to for information on a client (HL). This has been published annually since 1849 and is now in its 168^th edition. Subjects are selected based on their public prominence and are asked by the editors to complete a questionnaire. Some checks are made on their responses, but subjects are free to say or omit what they wish. Once in, they remain in for life.

The tomb of Tutankhamun was opened in November 1922 (ET). Lord Carnarvon, who had funded the work, contracted blood poisoning and died in March 1923, thus beginning the supposed curse.

David MacAdam (in reality David Lloyd George) is Prime Minister towards the end of the First World War (KPM). He has an audience at Windsor, which would have been with King George V.

Japp sees Kellett at Bow Street (DMD). A court was established here in 1740 and in 1749 a group of constables was stationed there, becoming known as the Bow Street Runners, effectively London’s first police force. When the Metropolitan Police Service was establised in 1829, a station house was built there. The court closed in 2006.

Poirot refers to “Almanach de Gotha” for information on Count Foscatini (IN). A European equivalent of “Burke’s Peerage”. Originally published in 1763, with annual editions from 1785. The final edition was published in 1944 as Soviet troops systematically destroyed the archives in 1945.

References to previous works

Poirot was recommended to Lady Yardly by characters from “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” (WS).

Vintage Reading Challenge

Fulfils “Why – Book made into TV programme/film/play” as all the stories were made into separate episodes of “Agatha Christie’s Poirot” starring David Suchet.

Vintage Reading Challenge – February 2018

The first three books below all appear in “The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books” by Martin Edwards.

Tragedy at Law by Cyril Hare

Fulfils “Where – Features a court room scene”

A witty look at the British justice system during the first year of the Second World War as we follow the Honourable Sir William Hereward Barber, His Majesty’s Judge of the Assize, around the Southern Circuit.

He receives a death threat at the first stop on his tour, and that same evening is involved in a road traffic accident, with serious personal consequences, which ultimately reminds us how fragile some of the apparent certainties of our lives actually are. Further death threats and attempts on his life follow as he moves from town to town, and I don’t want to say any more than that for fear of spoiling it.

I haven’t read many legal based mysteries, but the legal process can be frustrating for mystery readers, or at least it is for me. I don’t want to know whether on the balance of probabilities someone is found guilty or not, I want to know whether they did it or not (at least to the satisfaction of the Great Detective), although of course as The Poisoned Chocolates Case shows us, is there actually definite truth within mystery fiction? Although reviews are mixed, I would like to read Pierre Bayard’s “Sherlock Holmes was Wrong” and “Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?” which deal further with that subject.

This isn’t actually a problem with this book and it was an enjoyable read, but while the clues are there, possibly only a legal mind would be able to decipher them. I preferred “An English Murder” by the same author, which is a Christmas country house mystery, again with legal sprinklings, but overall was more satisfactory.

The Beast Must Die by Nicholas Blake

Fulfils “Why – It made a ‘best of’ list” as it appears in Bounty Books “501 Must-Read Books”

Frank Cairnes is a widower, grieving for the death of his young son in a hit-and-run accident. Felix Lane is his pseudonymous alter ego who seeks to find the driver and have his revenge. But as the poet says “the best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft a-gley”.

I read this because of its reputation, and all I will say is that it definitely lives up to it, and I don’t feel I can say more for many reasons. A Must Read for any fan of the Golden Age (I hope JJ doesn’t disagree this time!), although for various reasons, if you think you may read more of the Nigel Strangeways series, I would recommend reading “Thou Shell of Death” first, which is worth reading in its own right.

Green for Danger by Christianna Brand

Fulfils “Where – In a hospital/nursing home”

A Harley Street doctor, the local surgeon and anaesthetist, a Sister, and three VADs are brought together by the Second World War. The end of the first chapter reveals that by the end of the year, one of these seven will die, a self-confessed murderer.

A man dies on the operating table, and as it is unclear why, Inspector Cockrill is sent to investigate. He is about to leave when a combination of a potential significant piece of evidence and an air-raid compel him to stay. Subsequent events prove that a murderer is on the loose, and whilst “Cockie” is sure whodunnit, how can he prove it?

As was noted in the recent discussions on reading an author’s works chronologically, or even the whole Golden Age canon over at The Invisible Eventwe may have often read the imitation before the original, and that is the case with one element of this story, but it is not crucial and certainly didn’t affect my overall enjoyment. The denouement is fantastic, and whilst at one point I had my head metaphorically in my hands at something that seemed so obvious, I was then completely confounded by what came next.

As with “The Beast Must Die” this book definitely deserves its reputation, and I can heartily recommend it – two exceptional books out of three from “The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books” is good going (and I know not all of them are necessarily meant to be the best of their kind), and I will be going back to the list for more at some point.

Maigret is Afraid by Georges Simenon

Fulfils “How – Death by blunt instrument”

Returning from a conference in Bordeaux, Maigret visits an old friend, who is the local magistrate. It is assumed that he has come to investigate two recent murders, and on the night that he arrives, a third killing occurs.

Despite his reluctance to get involved, his regard for his friend, and his concern for what the frightened townspeople may do, Maigret clears up the case after his own fashion.

Once again it is Simenon’s descriptions that brings his characters and locations to life – we feel the stuffiness of the train, the drenching of the rain, and the intolerable atmosphere of the bridge party. There is an overall melancholy arising from the fact that people we once knew have changed and are now very different to us and that you can’t always get back what you once had.

#3 – The Murder on the Links

Poirot’s help is requested by Paul Renauld, who fears his life is in danger, but by the time the detective arrives in Northern France, the millionaire has been found stabbed to death in an open grave. Who were the mysterious men who tied up his wife before taking him out to find “the secret”? Which of the many women in his life could be involved? And is there a connection between a similar crime that happened twenty years ago?

Having read it before, I knew roughly what was going on, but I couldn’t remember who the murderer was, in common with a contemporary review which said “the solution is one of those ‘once revealed, instantly’ forgotten.” That said, what comes before is quite entertaining, as Poirot focuses on elements that the man from the Sûreté thinks of little importance, but which ultimately lead to his triumph.

Recurring character development

Hercule Poirot

Is now sharing rooms with Hastings in London and has set himself up as a private detective.

He mentioned the “little grey cells” once in “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” and mentions them again in this story, thus creating his much impersonated catchphrase.

Has been working on the “Aberystwyth Case” with Inspector Japp.

Worked with Lucien Bex, the Commissary of Police, in Ostend in 1909.

He is unfamiliar with the phrase “to have a bee in one’s bonnet”.

He carries what is described as “a turnip of a (pocket) watch”.

He can detect a genuine faint from turning up the eyelids and checking the pulse.

He assisted Joseph Aarons, a theatrical agent, in the little matter of a Japanese Wrestler.

He uses the winnings from his wager with Giraud to buy a model foxhound.

Hastings

We learn that his rank is Captain and his first name is Arthur.

Is working as a private secretary for a Member of Parliament.

Presumably speaks fluent French.

He sometimes smokes a pipe.

At the end of the case he is considering relocating to South America.

References to previous works

Hastings recounts the “Styles Case” to the girl on the train.

Signs of the Times

The story is set in the summer of 1921.

The girl in the train says: “It’s not everyone who can distinguish between a demi and a duchess. There now, I believe I’ve shocked you again!” A demi in this context is probably either a demi-mondaine (French) or a demirep (English) – both have similar connotations of a woman of dubious morals.

Poirot refers to the “Bertillon System” in relation to fingerprints. Alphonse Bertillon (1853 – 1914) was a French police officer and biometrics researcher who applied anthropometry to law enforcement by creating an identification system based on physical measurements. The nearly 100-year-old standard of comparing 16 ridge characteristics to identify latent prints at crime scenes against criminal records was based on claims he made in a paper he published in 1912.

The approximate exchange rate is 50 Francs to the Pound. When France moved to the Euro in 2002, the exchange rate was 10 Francs to the Pound.

Giraud works for the Sûreté (literally “surety” but usually translated as “safety” or “security”). It was founded in 1812 and inspired the formation of both Scotland Yard and the FBI. In 1966 it formally changed its name to Police Nationale.

Gabriel Stonor has travelled in Korea, which at this time was ruled by Imperial Japan, before becoming divided into North and South following the Second World War, and in the South Sea Islands, now more commonly referred to as Polynesia.

Jack Renauld served in the English Flying Corps. This was actually the Royal Flying Corps, the air wing of the British Army, formed in 1912, merged in 1918 with the Royal Naval Air Service to become the Royal Air Force.

It is rumoured that Madame Beroldy’s mother had a morganatic marriage with an Austrian archduke. This was a legal marriage, normally between a high-ranking male and a socially inferior female, but where neither she nor any offspring had any claim on his succession rights, titles, or entailed property.

Poirot proposes that Giraud would explain that the tramp was an apache. Les Apaches, taking their name from their supposed similarity in savagery to the Native American tribe, were gangs of criminals in France in the early 20^th century.

Poirot refers to the “English Baths Murderer”. This was George Joseph Smith, who was found guilty in 1915 of murdering a bigamous wife by drowning her in the bath; evidence of two other similar crimes was admitted at his trial in order to establish a pattern of behaviour.

Poirot suggests that Hastings should write for the Kinema. The “k” is in line with the Greek origins of “kinematography” but I can’t find when that was fully replaced by the French “c” and it became standardised in English as “cinema”.

Whilst watching a show, Hastings notes that “a comic comedian endeavoured to be Mr George Robey and failed signally”. George Robey (real name Sir George Edward Wade) was one of the greatest music hall performers of his day. He was only modestly successful on the big screen, but did play Falstaff in Laurence Olivier’s 1944 “Henry V”.

Another act wears enormous “Buster Brown” bows. Buster Brown was a comic strip character created in 1902 who wore a distinctive type of suit with a big bow at the front. The suit was beloved by mothers and loathed by sons.

Vintage Reading Challenge

Captain Hastings fulfils the category “Who – Retired from or in the Armed Forces”.

 

#3 – The Murder on the Links – WITH SPOILERS

Poirot’s help is requested by Paul Renauld, who fears his life is in danger, but by the time the detective arrives in Northern France, the millionaire has been found stabbed to death in an open grave. Who were the mysterious men who tied up his wife before taking him out to find “the secret”? Which of the many women in his life could be involved? And is there a connection between a similar crime that happened twenty years ago?

Having read it before, I knew roughly what was going on, but I couldn’t remember who the murderer was, in common with a contemporary review which said “the solution is one of those ‘once revealed, instantly’ forgotten.” That said, what comes before is quite entertaining, as Poirot focuses on elements that the man from the Sûreté thinks of little importance, but which ultimately lead to his triumph.

Recurring character development

Hercule Poirot

Is now sharing rooms with Hastings in London and has set himself up as a private detective.

He mentioned the “little grey cells” once in “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” and mentions them again in this story, thus creating his much impersonated catchphrase.

Has been working on the “Aberystwyth Case” with Inspector Japp.

Worked with Lucien Bex, the Commissary of Police, in Ostend in 1909.

He is unfamiliar with the phrase “to have a bee in one’s bonnet”.

He carries what is described as “a turnip of a (pocket) watch”.

He can detect a genuine faint from turning up the eyelids and checking the pulse.

He assisted Joseph Aarons, a theatrical agent, in the little matter of a Japanese Wrestler.

He uses the winnings from his wager with Giraud to buy a model foxhound.

Hastings

We learn that his rank is Captain and his first name is Arthur.

Is working as a private secretary for a Member of Parliament.

Presumably speaks fluent French.

He sometimes smokes a pipe.

At the end of the case he is considering relocating to South America.

References to previous works

Hastings recounts the “Styles Case” to the girl on the train.

Signs of the Times

The story is set in the summer of 1921.

The girl in the train says: “It’s not everyone who can distinguish between a demi and a duchess. There now, I believe I’ve shocked you again!” A demi in this context is probably either a demi-mondaine (French) or a demirep (English) – both have similar connotations of a woman of dubious morals.

Poirot refers to the “Bertillon System” in relation to fingerprints. Alphonse Bertillon (1853 – 1914) was a French police officer and biometrics researcher who applied anthropometry to law enforcement by creating an identification system based on physical measurements. The nearly 100-year-old standard of comparing 16 ridge characteristics to identify latent prints at crime scenes against criminal records was based on claims he made in a paper he published in 1912.

The approximate exchange rate is 50 Francs to the Pound. When France moved to the Euro in 2002, the exchange rate was 10 Francs to the Pound.

Giraud works for the Sûreté (literally “surety” but usually translated as “safety” or “security”). It was founded in 1812 and inspired the formation of both Scotland Yard and the FBI. In 1966 it formally changed its name to Police Nationale.

Gabriel Stonor has travelled in Korea, which at this time was ruled by Imperial Japan, before becoming divided into North and South following the Second World War, and in the South Sea Islands, now more commonly referred to as Polynesia.

Jack Renauld served in the English Flying Corps. This was actually the Royal Flying Corps, the air wing of the British Army, formed in 1912, merged in 1918 with the Royal Naval Air Service to become the Royal Air Force.

It is rumoured that Madame Beroldy’s mother had a morganatic marriage with an Austrian archduke. This was a legal marriage, normally between a high-ranking male and a socially inferior female, but where neither she nor any offspring had any claim on his succession rights, titles, or entailed property.

Poirot proposes that Giraud would explain that the tramp was an apache. Les Apaches, taking their name from their supposed similarity in savagery to the Native American tribe, were gangs of criminals in France in the early 20^th century.

Poirot refers to the “English Baths Murderer”. This was George Joseph Smith, who was found guilty in 1915 of murdering a bigamous wife by drowning her in the bath; evidence of two other similar crimes was admitted at his trial in order to establish a pattern of behaviour.

Poirot suggests that Hastings should write for the Kinema. The “k” is in line with the Greek origins of “kinematography” but I can’t find when that was fully replaced by the French “c” and it became standardised in English as “cinema”.

Whilst watching a show, Hastings notes that “a comic comedian endeavoured to be Mr George Robey and failed signally”. George Robey (real name Sir George Edward Wade) was one of the greatest music hall performers of his day. He was only modestly successful on the big screen, but did play Falstaff in Laurence Olivier’s 1944 “Henry V”.

Another act wears enormous “Buster Brown” bows. Buster Brown was a comic strip character created in 1902 who wore a distinctive type of suit with a big bow at the front. The suit was beloved by mothers and loathed by sons.

Vintage Reading Challenge

Captain Hastings fulfils the category “Who – Retired from or in the Armed Forces”.

SPOILERS

Renauld/Conneau is quick-witted and ruthless in taking advantage of the tramp’s unfortunate demise, but extremely careless in discussing his plans in the open air. That aside it was a good plan – providing a corpse that would be discovered in due course in a state of decomposition, thus allowing his wife to inherit all his assets, and for them both to escape his blackmailers.

There is a poetic justice that a murderer ultimately meets his end from preparing to falsify his own death, particularly at the hands of the daughter of his one time lover.

Hastings’ romance is believable from his side, he has an eye for any pretty young thing, especially one in trouble, but for the girl to reciprocate seems unlikely. Perhaps she is a little more practical: if the other half of her act marries her rich young man, what will become of her?