Book Club

Poirot Stories

Poirot is Agatha Christie's most famous and popular detective.  No doubt he would agree that he deserves that accolade!

Here is the place to discuss all of his stories in detail with other fans.  The most insightful comments will be added to the Stories pages.  But remember to beware spoilers!

If you can't find your favourite Poirot story here, don't worry - we'll be adding them all soon.

Warning: These discussions may contain spoilers!

Death in the Clouds

Moderator1 05 Nov 09 at 10:07 a.m. GMT

Hercule Poirot is not a lover of air travel and he little expects a dead passenger to be in the seat behind him at the end of the flight from Le Bourget to Croydon.  At first it seems that Madame Giselle has been stung by a wasp but when a poisoned dart, shot from a blowpipe, is discovered beside the dead body Poirot realises he has to a murder to solve - and a limited number of suspects to choose from.

Is this story as relevant today - do people still not pay attention to those around them just doing their jobs?  Was there potential for Jane Grey to appear in future Christie stories?  Or perhaps she did, just in different guises...

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52 replies

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Tommy_A_Jones 12 Feb 13 at 4:27 p.m. GMT

I thought it wasmentioned, either while going back to the Murderer's seat or when everyone was crowding over the body, I think it was the former because the murderer was crowding over the body too.

Prats 12 Feb 13 at 4:01 p.m. GMT

Just finished reading death on clouds,i liked the book alright......very nice plot....only thing I could have asked for more is that,Poirot, during unraveling the mechanics of the murder, should have also explained when did the killer put the blowpipe under the seat...that would be a complete account of the murder plot.Didn't it strike to anyone how did it appear under one of the seats....might as well explain for it too that the killer put it while alighting the plane...or whenever he did. Sum might argue its understandable...but without a precise answer of occasion it seems nonspecific and unaccounted for....THIS IS MY HONEST OPINION.And the fact shouldn't have been missed.

Daryl 15 Dec 12 at 10:19 p.m. GMT

This is a truely original plot. A true Christie touch. The plot, it is well thought up and obviously a lot of planning was done before writing this story. We all know that Poirot is not a fan of flying or sailing but in this case it is most certainly lucky that he happens to be on the aircraft as the case completly baffled the police. This is very unique as Poirot himself turns out to be a suspect, not taht he minds. As poirot alway's say's "One is alway's interested in ones own subject." I would give this book 10/10. A perfect read for any cristie fan.

cwa11ace 12 Dec 12 at 7:42 p.m. GMT

Just finished this one. Pretty quick read, especially at the end. I like how this book wasn't overly complicated (which is probably what made it so quick!). And I also enjoyed the fact that Poirot says that he knows who did it early on, making his every move througout the rest of the book seem deliberate. Wasn't my absolute favorite, but still very good

Tommy_A_Jones 30 Oct 12 at 1:22 p.m. GMT

I doutwether that is the case enesse, I think for some reason Agatha Christie liked using the same surname for Characters, It is one of the few things I find dissapointing about her Books but it is minor and the amount of things that annoy me a few and probably irrational

enessee 29 Oct 12 at 7:54 p.m. GMT

Perhaps Jane Grey is, herself, Katherine Grey (The Mystery of the Blue Train) in a different guise?

I guessed the purpose of the matchbox but, like Poirot, could not see the motive, though of course Norman Gale appearing to be a nice guy means nothing in a Christie story. I was also suspicious of the flute and the ancient pipes but I missed the possible relevance of the cigarette holders and the white jacket completely.

I remember the excellent Tom Adams Fontana paperback cover for this story clearly from my childhood. An aunt of mine was a great fan of Agatha Christie and had that edition. I think she was amused when I saw it and told her I didn't realise Agatha Christie wrote science fiction stories.

Tommy_A_Jones 02 Jun 12 at 12:11 p.m. GMT

I agree, The Object that is tied to the Case has been hidden more subtleley in other Books but saying that I think it is still one of the best Poirot Books Agatha Christie wrote.

alzimi 02 Jun 12 at 3:29 a.m. GMT

One thing I didnt like was the obvious clue she gave us with the list of the passengers objects. It was too obvious!!!

Vogue 03 Aug 11 at 9:44 a.m. GMT

I've just read this novel and it has seemed me a great one! I found wonderful the way Agatha hides the mystery until the end and I also loved the weird - but at the same time smart - methods that the detective Hercule Poirot uses to uncover the real assassin. I just want to encourage anyone who will read this post to read the novel becuase it inculdes some funny Poirot's phrases that make the book more entertaining.

MsBuckley 24 Jul 11 at 2:48 p.m. GMT

Great book, I was entertained the entire plot! All the details that appear in the story appear later,but still, never even crossed my mind that Gale was involved with the crimes, the film with David Suchet is also great, especially the part when Poirot says "You left your fingerprints on the bottle" and then Gale says "But this is absolutely impossible, because ... " and Poirot continues, "You wore gloves ... Indeed .... Thank you"

 5 STARS BOOK and book!

ErkutSoyer 15 Jul 11 at 8:23 a.m. GMT

I love France environment in book.Also I love night adventures in London.I didn't estimate the murderer again but I estimated murder method.Read this book in summer

Hercuel_Poirot_7 29 Jun 11 at 6:15 p.m. GMT

Definetily people are closing to them selves in our days and dont pay attention to anybody around.

poirotfan29 23 Jun 11 at 10:58 p.m. GMT

this story is interesting it is one of my favorite stories

Epsilon14 02 Jun 11 at 4:29 p.m. GMT

I just finished the book and man was I surprised till the very end. A very interesting book. I never would have thought Gale released the wasp. Christie amazed me in this book and will go on amazing me. 

Cicely 03 May 11 at 8:48 p.m. GMT

I thought these comments were supposed to be about the book, not the movie.  Several of you are commenting on the movie version.  I LOVE the movies, because I am a more visual person, but the book is the TRUE Agatha Christie story.  The movies take liberties ad nauseum and sometimes make a huge difference in the story AC created.  We have to remember that.  I wonder how AC would react to all the changes the movie versions make.  Just think of the time she spent working out every aspect of the crime.  I agree with the person who said AC stories are not supposed to be about making a social statement (or something to that effect), they are just entertaining who-done-its.  I believe that is why AC stories have always been so wildly popular over the years.  It is a recent phenomenon to have TV shows, movies and books to take a social position and be PC.  One of the reasons I love AC so much, especially Poirot, is that they are just endearing mysteries to be enjoyed for their own sake!  Death in the Clouds is one of the best, in my view.  I hope Jane Grey eventually found love with the young Frenchman, I forget his name, who was on the plane with his father - the archeologists.  That line was not covered by the movie and seems such a romantic part of the book, eve though AC did not favor romances in her stories.

Dulcie 07 Jan 11 at 8:25 a.m. GMT

About the wasp...

If the wasp was from Mr.Gale, then why does Poirot say at the end that 'our attention was drawn to it by the murderer'? Mr. Dupont was the one who went on about the wasp, he killed it with his cup, and when they saw Mdm. Giselle dead, he wanted desperately to make it seem like a wasp sting killed her.

About the 2 spoons.

This seems like quite an important part in the story. When Norman Gale pretended to be a steward, he carried a spoon to Mdm. Giselle so that it would be more convincing. But did he not notice the other spoon?

Prnbs 11 Nov 10 at 4:57 a.m. GMT

But it is mentioned that the murderer intended to pick up the dart. When he failed, he introduced the blowpipe so as to create the illusion of distance.

And it is also mentioned that the poison used was so rare as to be untraceable had the dart not been discovered.

GKCfan 11 Nov 10 at 4:31 a.m. GMT

Plan A was that the death would be attributed to a wasp sting (hence the released wasp).  Then no murder would have been suspected (and the dart would porobably have been ignored), but it was very likely that an autopsy would have proved murder by poison, so the dart was dropped in order to create the illusion that a blowipe sent the dart into the victim's neck.  If the dart was taken away, investigators would have suspected hand delivery of the dart earlier, and anyone who got up would have been suspected.  Bottom line, with no dart, ther'd have been no way the blowpipe could have been used.

Prnbs 11 Nov 10 at 4:05 a.m. GMT

Possible loophole? (Spoiler ahead)

Hi

I am a great admirer of Christie's style and I want to set my mind at rest about what seems to me a big loophole in this story.

Since the victim was pricked with the dart by hand, why or how did the dart fall to the floor? The entire story rests on the fact that the dart fell to the floor, the murderer was unable to retrieve it and hence the cover up of the wasp failed.

GKCfan 14 Sep 10 at 6:51 a.m. GMT

Cocaine is central to the plot of the original novel in Peril at End House.  There are two reasons for Poirot having Norman wear a disguise.  First, he wants to get Lady Horbury shaken up so she'll confide in him, and possibly become open to a divorce from her husband so he can marry his true love.  Second, he wants to see how well Norman handles a disguise and deception, since Poirot already suspects him.  And it's implied that Monsieur Dupont (the son) and Jane Grey will eventually get married, but it will take some time, since Jane has to get over Gale.