Publication Date: 2nd March 2023
Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery, Short Stories
4 Stars
One Liner: It’s Christie, guys!
The book is a collection of twelve short stories with mysteries and adventures that occur during springtime or in the gardens. Since it is a Christie collection, I’m not too bothered about the theme. I only want to read and reread her works.
The book brings together the cases solved by Miss Marple, Poirot, Mr. Quin, Tommy & Tuppence, and a few regular stories with no special detectives. I list them all below (without ratings). Some of them aren’t that good (which is fine too).
However, I’m glad to see that the stories seem to be mostly from earlier publications and are without modern-day rewrites to suit certain sensibilities. Some of the terms can make people uncomfortable, but it is important to realize that the words had different meanings back then, and people used terms that are now deemed offensive. Not their fault if the authors can’t time travel.
Since I don’t believe in editing older writings in the name of whatever, I applaud the publisher’s decision to use the original (or older) text in the book. If you can’t discuss different periods when reading books, you aren’t likely to discuss the dark web, which is more harmful, IMO.
Anyway, back to the decidedly sinister spring. ;)
The Market Basing Mystery
Captain Hastings, Poirot, and Inspector Japp visit Market Basing village for a small holiday. However, the case of the not-a-suicide of Walter Protheroe interrupts their plans. It’s up to Poirot to determine if it is suicide or murder and the reason behind the death. A short and simple case solved by Poirot without his usual dramatics. Easy to guess if you pay attention to the subtle clues.
The Case of the Missing Lady
When an explorer returns home to London and finds his fiancée missing, he goes to a detective agency by Tommy & Tuppence. Now, it’s up to the couple to find out what happened to the missing lady. It’s a quirky case with a twist at the end. As with most T&T stories, this one offers a few chuckles and smirks.
The Herb of Death
It’s Mrs. Bantry’s turn to tell a story for others to guess the crime/ criminal. Miss Marple is right there, listening to how a group of people fell ill after eating foxglove leaves (being mistaken for sage). Was it accidental or intentional? When you have little Miss Marple, you know the case will be solved in her style by comparing human nature and oddities and deducing the reasons.
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Hercule Poirot gets a vague and mysterious letter from an old lady asking for help. He responds only to find out that she has passed away. Intrigued, he sets out to find the truth. Like many other cases, Poirot gets to the root of the matter using his love for order and logic. This one has Miss Lemon in an active role, something I enjoy much.
Swan Song
This is the story of a famous soprano singer with a bit of mystery thrown in. It is one of the weaker stories in the collection with a straightforward plot. The hints are easy enough to guess. It doesn’t have any of the famous detectives, so pretty much something you can read and forget.
Miss Marple Tells a Story
As the title goes, Miss Marple shares how her lawyer brought his client to her for advice about the case of his murdered wife. Miss Marple listens to their story, asks a couple of questions, and presents the solution. This is a neat little story in the dear ol’ bird’s voice. ;)
Have You Got Everything You Want?
How does Mr. Parker Pyne help a young woman on a train journey from England to Istanbul? Mr. Pyne is no doubt successful after a small hiccup. However, being a man who solves the issues of the heart, he goes the extra mile to tie up the loose ends. Some readers may find his opinions stereotypical and offensive. So remember that the books weren’t written for contemporary readers.
The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings visit Grand Metropolitan for a weekend trip. They meet Mr. and Mrs. Opalsen after dinner, and soon, there’s news of the theft and an appeal from Mrs. Opalsen to find her pearls. How does Poirot solve the case? It’s a fun story with loads of dramatic characters. A satisfactory solution, which isn’t that apparent until towards the end.
Ingots of Gold
Raymond shares his experience about a mini adventure in Cornwall, which is, of course, solved easily by Miss Marple. How is the criminal? Where is the gold? What had happened? Raymond, being a writer, adds some dramatic flair to the story, and Miss Marple sweetly bursts his bubble.
The Soul of the Croupier
And finally, we have a story with the mysterious Mr. Quin and dear old Mr. Satterthwaite. Mr. Satterthwaite is on a holiday in Monte Carlo, thinking about the changing society. He notices Countess Czarnova has taken up a new pet, a young American, already impressed by her charm. But Mr. Satterthwaite sees something isn’t right and wonders how to set it right when Mr. Quin enters to help him. The story is more of a study of characters than a mystery. I love stories with Mr. Quin, and this is no exception.
The Girl in the Train
George Rowland is on the streets after his uncle kicks him out one morning. He decides on a whim to travel to a remote place called Rowland castle. The train journey proves to be more eventful than George could have ever guessed. After all, it’s not every day that a beautiful young girl runs into a stranger's first-class cabin. This is a humorous cozy mystery with a touch of romance. A lighthearted story with some laughs, drama, and a few social observations woven into the plot.
Greenshaw’s Folly
The last story in the collection has Miss Marple helping her nephew Raymond solve yet another case. Miss Greenshaw of Greenshaw Folly is an eccentric character but someone in grave danger. Though the danger isn’t Miss Marple leads the police to criminals. An interesting story with a good deal of dramatics.
To summarize, Sinister Spring is a delightful collection of different types of mysteries written by the Queen of Crime over the years. Pick it up if you want something light and entertaining.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, for the eARC.
#NetGalley
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