I do love this collection. I have never posted a review on it before (no idea why) but it always is something that I try to read every year or so when the mood hits. Usually I will just read my favorite stories, but decided to just do a full re-read right now. I do love that Christie played around with different mystery tropes in this collection. Some of if though touches upon thriller/supernatural genre which she didn’t really include when writing her Poirot and Miss Marple books. Per usual, I am going to show you a rating breakdown by story.
The Dressmaker’s Doll-(5 stars)-A strong story to start off the tale. A doll keeps being moved about which is scaring two women. They try to decide what to do with the doll but the choice may be taken out of their hands. FYI, dolls are creepy.
The Last Séance-(5 stars)-A tragic ending involving a séance. Once again Christie plays with the supernatural in this story.
Witness for the Prosecution-(5 stars)-I think most Christie readers know this story. I really do love this one and I have enjoyed watching the television adaptions of a lawyer named Mr. Mayherne who is doing what he can to save the neck of his client, Leonard Vole who has been accused of murdering an old woman who was very rich. Love the twists in this one.
The Red Signal-(4.5 stars)-This story centers around do people or women get a sixth sense about things/events. The male character we follow in this story, Dermot West has a bad feeling that something is going to befall his best friend’s wife, Claire Trent.
The Fourth Man-(4 stars)-A group of men get together and end up discussing a “scientific case.” It leaves you wondering was the case real or just an act.
S.O.S.-(4.5 stars)-A man named Moritmer Cleveland gets stuck and ends up at a small cottage and comes across a family. Something though seems off with the family and Moritmer thinks someone needs help.
Where There’s a Will-(5 stars)-Someone is focused on getting money. The twist in this one was very good I thought.
The Mystery of the Blue Jar-(4.5 stars)-Is it a haunting or something more? We follow a man named Jack that is trying to find out if an object can be haunted.
Sing a Song of Sixpence-(5 stars)-A man named Sir Edward Palliser is asked for help by a former lover. I don’t know why but the ending on this one had me laughing really loud. It sounded like something that Poirot would have said.
The Mystery of the Spanish Shawl-(4 stars)-A writer named Mr. Anthony Eastwood is trying to write a story and gets inspiration from things around him when he is interrupted by a sudden anonymous phone call.
Philomel Cottage-(5 stars)-Alix Martin is married (happily) but something has come over her and she realizes that something is amiss. An old friend/lover comes back into her life and she wonders if that is where her fear is coming from.
Accident-(5 stars)-A former CID investigator, Inspector Evans thinks that he knows someone who is a murderer. I loved the twist in this one.
The Listerdale Mystery-(3 stars)-Not a bad story, just not that thrilling really.
The Girl in the Train-(3.5 stars)-A story of switching places. Once again not bad, just not that interesting to me compared to the other stories.
The Manhood of Edward Robinson-(3 stars)-A story of a man (Edward Robinson) and how he found the nerve to be manly. The story was a bit much. The ending made me shake my head.
Jane in Search of a Job-(3.5)This story follows Jane Robinson who is looking for a job and involves another story of people not being who they seem. Not bad, just kind of boring.
A Fruitful Sunday-(4 stars)-A pretty funny story that follows a couple who find some rubies.
The Golden Ball-(4 stars)-The story of an accidental proposal was pretty funny. Some of the middle parts of Christie’s stories in this collection seem to be a little madcap.
The Rajah’s Emerald-(4 stars)-This stars a man named James Bond. No, not that one. It does read more like an adventure short story back in the day a la Indiana Jones.
Swan Song-(4.5 stars)-Sometimes revenge takes a long time. I liked how this played out though the story goes on a bit.
The Hound of Death-(3 stars)-My lowest rating for a story. I think the supernatural aspects of this story were just too hard to take. I found myself bored while reading this one.
The Gipsy-(3.5 stars)-Another supernatural story following a sailor and a gypsy woman. I don’t know why the title is spelled incorrectly. Or maybe that was another way to write this word back in the day?
The Lamp-(5 stars)-I think this was the shortest story in the collection. I loved it. A ghost story which includes a haunted house. And I was surprised at the sad/happy ending.
The Strange Case of Sir Arthur Carmichael-(5 stars)-We get to read case notes from Dr. Edward Carstairs that goes into the case of Sir Arthur Carmichael that once again gets into the supernatural.
The Call of Wings-(3.5)-This one was weird. Millionaire Silas Hamer is focused on material things until he comes upon a man playing music that takes him into a different place (?) I don’t know this story was weird.
Magnolia Blossom-(5 stars)-The tale of a marriage. Theo seems to be the put upon wife and Richard apparently needs someone to clean up his messes all the time. I liked how this one ended.
Next to a Dog-(3.5 stars)-A widow named Joyce Lambert is poor and out of work. She will do anything though to keep her dog Terry.
Three Blind Mice-(5 stars)-Giles and Molly Davis are trying to run a guest house when a sudden snowstorm has guests trapped with them. One of them may be a murderer though.
