Review: DOUBLE SIN and Other Stories, Agatha Christie

• this edition a Center Point Large Print edition published in 2013
• first published 1961
• ISBN 978-1-61173-775-2
• 250 pages
• source: my local library

Synopsis

A collection of eight short stories, first published 1961.

• Double Sin
  First published as By Road or Rail September 1928, A Hercule Poirot story.
  
• Wasps' Nest
  First published November 1928, A Hercule Poirot story.
  
• The Theft of the Royal Ruby
  First published as The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding December 1923.
  A Hercule Poirot story.
  1960 The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (six short stories - UK only)
  Christmas Adventure (aka The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding) - Hercule Poirot - While the Light Lasts, publ.1997
  
• The Dressmaker's Doll
  First published December 1958.
  Stand alone story.
  1958, The Dressmaker's Doll - stand alone - two Agatha Christie short stories
  
  
• Greenshaw's Folly
  First published 1956, A Miss Marple story.
  1956, Greenshaw's Folly - Miss Marple - Miss Marple: complete short stories publ. 1997
  
• The Double Clue
  First published December 1923, A Hercule Poirot story
  
• The Last Seance
  First published in November 1926 and then as The Stolen Ghost in March 1927
  A stand-alone short story
  1927, The Last Seance - The Hound of Death publ. 1933
  
• Sanctuary
  First published in 1954
  A Miss Marple short story
  1954, Sanctuary - Miss Marple - Miss Marple: complete short stories publ. 1997

My Take

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.

My rating : 4.0

I read these as part of the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge. Check my short story list.