There is a baffling array of Agatha Chrisite short story collections, with different volumes of different stories published at different times in both Britain and America. This 1991 collection includes eight stories, four of which had not previously been published in Britain. We are treated to two stories featuring Hercule Poirot, a couple of Parker Pyne stories (both of which can be found in
Parker Pyne Investigates) and two featuring Mr Satterthwaite and his mysterious friend Mr Quin (which do NOT feature in their main outing
The Mysterious Mr Quin). The final two are not mysteries, one a poignant tale about the loss of a pet, the other about lost love. They make a bit of a downbeat ending to a very enjoyable book.
On balance the Poirot stories are perhaps the most successful here, though one of them, "The Second Gong", was rewritten as "Dead Man's Mirror" (found in the collection
Murder in the Mews). This earlier version however has different characters, murderer and motive so it can still be enjoyed in its own right even by those familiar with "Dead Man's Mirror".
The inclusion of the Parker Pyne stories seems a little strange considering both are available already, and especially as they were originally Poirot stories. It would have been much more interesting if these earlier Poirot editions had been included instead (the Poirot version of "The Regatta Mystery" was finally published in the heavy tome
Hercule Poirot: the Complete Short Stories).
The Satterthwaite/Quin stories also seem to be in the wrong order, with the later story coming first. But no matter these are very enjoyable, particularly "The Harlequin Tea Set", a country house murder mystery that never was. The other story featuring the pair, "The Love Detectives" has glimmers of the Miss Marple story "Murder at the Vicarage", Christie clearly recycling the idea. The Satterthwaite/Quin stories are interesting, with the slightly supernatural theme and their inclusion here adds a little more mystery to the book.
All in all an enjoyable collection, some little known nuggets and with the short story format an easy and interesting read for waiting rooms and rail journeys.
