The Man Who was No. 16

Having received a warning from Mr Carter, the Beresfords prepare for another encounter with their rival, Russian agent and master of disguise, No. 16.

In the face of danger, the Beresfords decide to tackle this case using their “little grey cells” to arrange facts “neatly, and with order.” Agatha Christie enjoyed poking fun at the great Hercule Poirot, almost as much as the Beresfords enjoyed aping him. At the end of the case, however, Tommy is presented with some news from Tuppence that the real Poirot would not have found amusing.

This story was published by Collins in the collection Partners in Crime, 1929. It was adapted for radio in 1953, starring Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim. It also featured in the 1983 TV series Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime, with Francesca Annis and James Warwick.