Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie was first published in 1955. It’s a Poirot book.
When Poirot’s normally perfect secretary Miss Lemon makes three mistakes in one letter that she has typed for him he realises that there is something seriously wrong with her. It turns out that Miss Lemon’s sister is having problems at her work. She is a matron at a hostel for students, and things have been disappearing. It seems that there’s a kleptomaniac living within the hostel, a strange conglomeration of items have gone missing. Miss Lemon’s widowed sister is worried, as is Miss Lemon. Obvioulsy Poirot has to investigate, and things take a much more serious turn when one of the students is found dead.
This is a book that I’ve had in the house for years, unread. That is probably because I much prefer the Miss Marple books to Poirot, of course this book is still a good read.
I might be strange but it’s the Art Deco style of the Poirot episodes that I appreciate most about them, although there’s not quite enough of it, in my opinion. What is your preference, Marple or Poirot? If Marple which one? There are quite a few to choose from, all good but Joan Hickson is my favourite.
I’ve just checked and it’s over ten years since I read an Agatha Christie book. How did that happen?
Is Marple or Poirot my preference?
Neither. For some reason I find Christie’s books unreadable. I’ve tried, but never got past the first few pages. The same goes for Dorothy L. Sayers. I have no idea what triggers the negative reaction. Perhaps it’s the style, perhaps it’s the characters.
I’ve enjoyed reading P. D. James, Colin Dexter, and a host of other crime writers, which makes my aversion to Christie even more odd.
Janusz,
I think there can be quite a lot of snobbery involved in older crime fiction, so that might put you off a bit, I just find it quite funny. I really like Elizabeth Ferrars but even she is vintage. In more modern authors I’ve enjoyed Louise Penny.
I’ve long been a fan of both Marple and Poirot, having watched the tv series of both many times. However, I have never been drawn to reading mysteries until very recently. Now, I am slowly making my way through the Lord Peter Wimsey series, and then I want to move on to Agatha Christie. Since I recently found a used copy of a volume that contains of her best known stories, some featuring Poirot and the others Miss Marple, I will start with the first one.
Joan Hickson is definitely my favorite Miss Marple:)
Paula,
I prefer Dorothy Sayers to Christie in vintage crime and intend to re-read them all soonish. I think it will be a while before I read any more by Christie though.