Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories

For my last review on MapYourMystery, I thought I would go back to where my mania with mysteries began - Dame Agatha Christie. In Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories, I was reminded again of her genius. Short stories are difficult to write and to incorporate a mystery, then solve it takes a certain type of diabolical brain. 

This collection of short stories takes the reader around the world to England, to Egypt to parts unknown. Among the shorts stories are the Labors of Hercules. M. Poirot has been thinking about retiring, but he is not sure what to do in his leisure time. He has thought about cultivating some flavor into vegetable marrow, but his Dr. Burton scoffs at the idea.  The good doctor also doesn't believe Poirot will retire because his cases are a labor of love, not the Labors of Hercules.

When the doctor departs, Poirot decides to learn more

about The Labors of Hercules. The last twelve stories in this book detail his attempt to solve cases such as The Nemean Lion, The Lernean Hydra and The Girdle of Hyppolita. All the cases have parallels to the mythical labors of Hercules. 

As always M. Poirot loves to solve his cases in a grand style and solve them he does. If you have never read any Agatha Christie books (and shame on you), do yourself a favor and start with the short stories. They are bite sized and will increase your appetite for more.