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Another short story collection, I really need to stop accidentally picking these up, though it is my fault in the end. But I don't regret it because I will always enjoy an Agatha Christie; even though I don't think any of her books I've read are knock-outs, they're always baseline well-written and fun.
This collection isn't any different.
the Regatta Mystery: The book's namesake and sadly my least favourite story. Sorry but it is not a good start, it had me disappointed before I realised the other stories were better. First of all the mystery itself is kind of trite, uninteresting, and not all that clever. The twist that solved it was just whatever and didn't feel like it meant anything. I was bored and unimpressed. She's written a lot no wonder she has some stinkers. 4/10.
the Mystery of the Baghdad Chest: Thankfully it gets better here on out. I liked the interpersonal drama of this one, very classic men-fighting-over-women premise, and the murder itself also felt a little old-fashioned in a good way. I will say the twist/culprit was a little out of nowhere, but sometimes that's just how mysteries are. 6/10.
How Does Your Garden Grow?: I can't put a finger on why but I really liked this one! Starting from the end, that last part was wow, hit me like a truck. I don't think Christie's writing is very prose-y on impressive on a sentence level but this part was awesome. Moreover I liked the characters and story in this one. I think it really showcased Poirot's kind, paternal side to take the side of the girl and be kind to her when no one else did (even if it was just because he was sure that she was innocent). 8/10.
Problem at Pollensa Bay: A contrast from the last because this one is undoubtedly the most lighthearted story of the set, but I liked it just as much. This endeared me a lot more to Pyne than the first story, I love his attitude and his initial exhaustion from work but still getting himself involved anyway lol. I did suspect what the final twist would be since it was kind of obvious but that didn't make it any less funny and satisfying when it was revealed. Crazy to know that boymoms have existed since the dawn of time. 8/10.
Yellow Iris: I really liked the strong concept of this story, especially with how the main goal of Poirot this time is not to solve a murder but to prevent one. And I did not see the end coming this time, in a good way! Honestly not much to say except that I liked it, very competently told, fun characters. 7/10.
Miss Marple Tells a Story: This one is just okay. Frankly the story and mystery weren't that memorable—I did like how it uses the way most people (myself included) tend to ignore "staff" and "servants", as a story beat... but of course the story is much too short to explore that theme really deeply or even establish it well. So like, whatever. I didn't hate reading it though. 6/10.
the Dream: Wow I really liked the mystery and murder of this one! I know some people found it too convoluted but honestly it was perfect in my taste. The 'dream' element was really fascinating. I was fond of the characters even the ones that turned out to be culprits. 7/10.
In a Glass Darkly: This one is controversial and I uh... really see why. Yeah it's kind of a bad one. Not only is the story itself not great, the telling of it is profoundly uninteresting. The way in which it approaches domestic abuse and violence is also a let-down. It's a product of its time and for that it gets a 4/10.
Problem at Sea: Returning back to a strong one. Similar to Appointment with Death I like that this one has a victim where everybody goes "Man she kind of had it coming". Though she's not even half as bad as AwD's victim... anyway, this one also had fun characters and drama. The mystery itself was okay but I just thoroughly enjoyed the narrative. 8/10.
As a whole, I think this collection really exemplifies how Christie can introduce characters and a mystery, and wrap them up in a satisfying way. Like I said before, none of them blew my mind, but they were all generally enjoyable to read! There were definitely moments when the book's time period shone through in its racist descriptions of POC (Yellow Iris specifically is bad with this) but those are the trials and tribulations of reading classics unfortunately.
Phew, this is long. That's what I get for reviewing every story individually! This book gets a strong 7.5/10.
This collection isn't any different.
the Regatta Mystery: The book's namesake and sadly my least favourite story. Sorry but it is not a good start, it had me disappointed before I realised the other stories were better. First of all the mystery itself is kind of trite, uninteresting, and not all that clever. The twist that solved it was just whatever and didn't feel like it meant anything. I was bored and unimpressed. She's written a lot no wonder she has some stinkers. 4/10.
the Mystery of the Baghdad Chest: Thankfully it gets better here on out. I liked the interpersonal drama of this one, very classic men-fighting-over-women premise, and the murder itself also felt a little old-fashioned in a good way. I will say the twist/culprit was a little out of nowhere, but sometimes that's just how mysteries are. 6/10.
How Does Your Garden Grow?: I can't put a finger on why but I really liked this one! Starting from the end, that last part was wow, hit me like a truck. I don't think Christie's writing is very prose-y on impressive on a sentence level but this part was awesome. Moreover I liked the characters and story in this one. I think it really showcased Poirot's kind, paternal side to take the side of the girl and be kind to her when no one else did (even if it was just because he was sure that she was innocent). 8/10.
...But there it is; they're her only near relations, and her death brings them a tidy sum of money, I've no doubt. We all know what human nature is!
Sometimes inhuman—yes, that is very true.
Problem at Pollensa Bay: A contrast from the last because this one is undoubtedly the most lighthearted story of the set, but I liked it just as much. This endeared me a lot more to Pyne than the first story, I love his attitude and his initial exhaustion from work but still getting himself involved anyway lol. I did suspect what the final twist would be since it was kind of obvious but that didn't make it any less funny and satisfying when it was revealed. Crazy to know that boymoms have existed since the dawn of time. 8/10.
Yellow Iris: I really liked the strong concept of this story, especially with how the main goal of Poirot this time is not to solve a murder but to prevent one. And I did not see the end coming this time, in a good way! Honestly not much to say except that I liked it, very competently told, fun characters. 7/10.
Miss Marple Tells a Story: This one is just okay. Frankly the story and mystery weren't that memorable—I did like how it uses the way most people (myself included) tend to ignore "staff" and "servants", as a story beat... but of course the story is much too short to explore that theme really deeply or even establish it well. So like, whatever. I didn't hate reading it though. 6/10.
the Dream: Wow I really liked the mystery and murder of this one! I know some people found it too convoluted but honestly it was perfect in my taste. The 'dream' element was really fascinating. I was fond of the characters even the ones that turned out to be culprits. 7/10.
In a Glass Darkly: This one is controversial and I uh... really see why. Yeah it's kind of a bad one. Not only is the story itself not great, the telling of it is profoundly uninteresting. The way in which it approaches domestic abuse and violence is also a let-down. It's a product of its time and for that it gets a 4/10.
Problem at Sea: Returning back to a strong one. Similar to Appointment with Death I like that this one has a victim where everybody goes "Man she kind of had it coming". Though she's not even half as bad as AwD's victim... anyway, this one also had fun characters and drama. The mystery itself was okay but I just thoroughly enjoyed the narrative. 8/10.
He saw the tears rise in her eyes. She said: "You've known. You've known all along... That I cared... But he didn't do it for me... It was those girls—youth—it made him feel his slavery. He wanted to be free before it was too late..."
As a whole, I think this collection really exemplifies how Christie can introduce characters and a mystery, and wrap them up in a satisfying way. Like I said before, none of them blew my mind, but they were all generally enjoyable to read! There were definitely moments when the book's time period shone through in its racist descriptions of POC (Yellow Iris specifically is bad with this) but those are the trials and tribulations of reading classics unfortunately.
Phew, this is long. That's what I get for reviewing every story individually! This book gets a strong 7.5/10.
Hercule Poirot said slowly, "I think, madame, that you have cared in your life for two things only. One is your husband."
He saw her lips tremble.
"And the other—is your garden."
He looked round him. His glance seemed to apologize to the flowers for that which he had done and was about to do.
He saw her lips tremble.
"And the other—is your garden."
He looked round him. His glance seemed to apologize to the flowers for that which he had done and was about to do.