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!

Peril at End House

Jemma 25 Sep 09 at 11:36 a.m. GMT

Someone is out to kill Nick Buckley and it's just as well Hercule Poirot is around to protect her. Her friends don't seem to be the sort to look out for her - but they're very good at looking out for themselves and their illegal needs. When murder is finally committed it's Nick's cousin Maggie who is the victim, but surely it's a case of mistaken identity? When isolating Nick doesn't seem to stop these attempts on her life, Poirot realises he must take a fresh look at everything. 

Although this is now considered one of Christie's most intriguing mysteries it wasn't one that made an impact on her at all - but was she right in thinking it was insubstantial and forgettable? Did Poirot fall too easily for the charms of Nick? Did he blind himself to what was really going on? Does Poirot, again, let his soft side dictate the fate of the 'bad guys'?

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25 replies

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IanChad 25 Apr 13 at 2:15 a.m. GMT

The answer to this question is that Nick had got my best frirnd to shoot her.To cover up the fact that she is infact the murderer.

I read this book twice and viewed the Suchet movie a few times and I still cannot figure out who shot at Nick and put the hole in her hat.  This happens early in the story.  Can someone enlighten me of the culprit?  And in what chapter, if you happen to know, that Poirot names the culprit. 

glalonzo0408 13 Mar 13 at 6:09 p.m. GMT

I must say this wasn't one of my favs. However the costumes were beautiful...

Tommy_A_Jones 13 Mar 13 at 12:55 p.m. GMT

Alas I hve a different view, I didn't like this book as much as others so I chose not to re-read it wen I was on my 2nd Lap, I agree alot of the Hastings books are excellent but I didn't like the Characters in this one apart from Poirot, Hastings and Japp,SPOILER!!! SPOILER!!! SPOILER!!! 

I thought the bullet bit silly aswell as The Bit wih the Chocolates, Hastings does make a Book Good but even Japp and him couldn't make me want to read this book again.

count_andreny 13 Mar 13 at 7:16 a.m. GMT

I've just finished reading this book. I have to say this is one of the most ingenious and creative Agatha Christie's books, where Poirot falls in a trap and after that he realises he's been stupid. So the murderer was for a moment more intelligent than him. But when there's the comedy with the ghost, there is also the most ingenious part of the entire book. Who could have guessed the ghost was the murderer too?

Ps However I came to the conclusion there has to be something strange with Maggie Buckley when Hastings said there where different abbreviations for the name Maggie. A.C. SHOULD suggest something in Hasting's words, certainly! All the books with Hastings are the best Poirot novels.

GKCfan 19 Sep 12 at 9:17 p.m. GMT

This is a placeholder comment to prevent spoilers from appearing in the "Hot Topics" list.  

BrigidM 19 Sep 12 at 7:43 p.m. GMT

notguilty, she did it all herself! I suspected it all along - no, really - but couldn't guess a motive, though means and opportunity were easy. I think this is one of Christie's best!

notguilty 27 Oct 11 at 7:42 p.m. GMT

I read this book twice and viewed the Suchet movie a few times and I still cannot figure out who shot at Nick and put the hole in her hat.  This happens early in the story.  Can someone enlighten me of the culprit?  And in what chapter, if you happen to know, that Poirot names the culprit. 

NightRayDuck 20 Apr 11 at 5:32 a.m. GMT

I was sort of glad that Hastings was ill for a few days during this story, so that he did not happen to be putting forth many more muddled theories. Poirot in this story was imbecile enough. If Hastings managed to be even more of an imbecile here, how, then, could he ever have become interested in Poirot's cases? 

Tommy_A_Jones 01 Mar 11 at 1:38 p.m. GMT

I have just finished this book, I liked it, I wondered if the reason I was shouting at Poirot at the beginning was because I knew who the Murderer was but as others thought the solution was easy perhaps not, I only remembered the solution not other bits, I like the way it referred to other stories without giving the game away, If I have seen the Adaptation and I probably have I havew forgotten it apart from one quote which I see was made up by the writer, I can't even remember totally what it is, something about Nick saying she didn't have Pudding, I agree with Miss Quin the Characters didn't blow me away but it was nice that Hastings and Japp was in the book, better than The Big Four and Lord Edgware Dies but not as good as ABC Murders. IMHO

NightRayDuck 12 Oct 10 at 4:26 a.m. GMT

Um, I have to say I love this book, and yet Poirot seems such an absolute imbecile in it (until at last when he figures out the murderer). I admire Poirot's attitude in Dumb Witness... not to take any statement for granted until it has been corroborated. At End House, however, Poirot is completely taken in by Nick. He believes Nick on every count, and when everybody else says things are not so, he suspects all of the others of the murder attempts. Sometimes it may indeed be that a whole crowd of friends and neighbors (or, say, most other passengers on a particular train) conspire against one person, but with Nick's friends, servants, and neighbors, there's simply no motive for them to all get together and tell lies about Nick's personality...

Mr_Graves 17 Sep 10 at 1:57 a.m. GMT

I know! Such an unassuming girl... This was actually the first Agatha Christie I read, so I suppose it was all so new and exciting. This theme has been explored in many other novels, but I think this one was very unique.

antonia1990 16 Sep 10 at 7:30 p.m. GMT

Mr_Graves

I have to love this book. Yes it was short, and yes it was written quite simply, but at the end of the day, it was a neat little mystery and completely original. I felt so unbelievably stupid when I read the solution, it seemed so obvious once I heard it, and yet so very well wriiten as that i didn't suspect a thing.

Yes, I had the same reaction. I was upset that Nick's cousin died, though.

Mr_Graves 16 Jun 10 at 9:28 a.m. GMT

I have to love this book. Yes it was short, and yes it was written quite simply, but at the end of the day, it was a neat little mystery and completely original. I felt so unbelievably stupid when I read the solution, it seemed so obvious once I heard it, and yet so very well wriiten as that i didn't suspect a thing.

The whole chocolate box scenario confused me, so I just skimmed that and went to the next bit. The thing is, I am a very brisk reader, and this mystery can annoy you if you don't read it slowly and steadily. Altogether, a good book, and yet I can understand why AC couldn't really remember writing it...

MissQuin 12 Mar 10 at 5:26 p.m. GMT

Hasting's wife only appears in one book and on TV progamme. They made some jokes about it in Murder in Mesoptomia. She got fed up with Hastings and was pleased he'd give her a break for a few weeks. It's more confusing as Hastings marries Dulcie in th book, but Bella on TV!

I'd invite all those people and I remember having a list somewhere on here of people I'd invte..

stylestocurtain 12 Mar 10 at 5:19 p.m. GMT

Haha yeah she says in the film something like "They keep the best time the world!!" Shame they were a load of coke-heads!

If I had a party I'd invite Poirot, Hastings, lemon Japp. I love the little dinner party they had in Lord Edgware Dies (although we never see Mrs Japp do we!) Or Mrs Hastings come to think of that.

MissQuin 12 Mar 10 at 4:44 p.m. GMT

Frankie was really such a cat (as they say in AC books) in this version. Nick was more gentle, yet I prefered it this way. Frankie said "this watch always gives a good time" has a double meaning.

I don't think that her cousin was in love with her at all. The neighbour said so, but it's a plot decoy i reckon. He was quite a nice person, shame he didnt get paired up with someone.

If I had a entirely fictious party, I'd invite hastings!

stylestocurtain 12 Mar 10 at 4:40 p.m. GMT

Yes, poor Nick :( I always find it sad she felt she had to resort to murder to try and get what she wanted ... I know she loved the house but she could've sold up and moved onto somewhere a bit smaller! So pretty as well ...

I know, I don't like her friends either - unfriendly as well when poor Hastings tries to join in with them and they completely sideline him!

MissQuin 12 Mar 10 at 4:25 p.m. GMT

Introducing Miss Le'mone, the meduim!

I don't envy Nick's friends though. Ones a cocaine dealer, another a cocaine addict, another an art dealer who tired to con Nick. Then theres the "caring" neighbours who forged her will. Not a very friendly bunch. I don't mind having the outfits though, but I need the figure to go with it!

Nick's really a troubled character isnt she? She turns out to be obsessed with her Grandfather's memory and End House. She cant get over her cousin winning over the man she wanted for herself. Then she's madly jealous of Frankie, though why is a mystery to me.

stylestocurtain 11 Mar 10 at 12:59 p.m. GMT

Ooh I love that scene too!! "Is there anybody thereeee"???

I absolutely LOVE the house it's set in - it makes me want to live Nick's life! Beautiful big house in an idyllic location, carefree lifestyle, endless parties and socialising, a sleek red car, all on a summer's day ... aaah! (lol I'm such a romantic!)

Poor Maggie doesn't get much screen time does she! I also love this one because it has the Dream Team of Japp Lemon & Hastings in! :D

MissQuin 10 Mar 10 at 4:41 p.m. GMT

I would love to have Nick's wardrobe! Beautiful outfits.

I loved the seance' scene, with Miss Lemon as meduim. If I hadnt read the book, I'd find that creepy. The viewer's told Nick's died of poisoning. She floats, all in white into the senace room. Excelent suspense.