The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and Selection of Entrees by
Agatha Christie
This is a chunky collection of three stories approaching novella length and three
shorter pieces. The main dishes on the menu are the title story, 'The Mystery of the
Spanish Chest' and 'The Under Dog'; the accompaniments are 'Four and twenty
Blackbirds', 'The Dream' and 'Greenshaw's Folly'. Jane Marple features in
'Greenshaw's Folly'; otherwise Hercule Poirot undertakes the detective work.
Christie was more accomplished as a novelist than as a short story writer, but this
book offers agreeable light entertainment, even if the two great detectives are not seen
at the top of their form. Perhaps the title story is the most enjoyable, its seasonal
setting - complete with corpse in the snow - evoking a pleasant nostalgia.
 | |
