The Early Cases of Hercule Poirot

By: Agatha Christie

Narrated by: Charles Armstrong

Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

This collection of 25 Hercule Poirot adventures is compiled from short stories written by Agatha Christie for The Sketch magazine in 1923 from March to December. In these stories, including "The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim", "The Veiled Lady", and "The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb", the eccentric private detective slowly and surely solves mysteries involving jealousy, revenge, and greed. These stories were well-received at the time and cemented Christie's reputation as the worthy successor to Arthur Conan Doyle.

©1974 Agatha Christie Limited, a Chorion Company. All rights reserved. (P)2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC

1923 Was a Very Good Year

I’ve never studied Golden Age crime fiction; I just enjoy it. So I have no idea if the number, range and quality of these stories are out of the ordinary or if, almost a hundred years ago, everyone was doing this sort of thing. I suspect not. All 25 appeared in different magazines, all in a single year, 1923.

Most deliver what we go to the Golden Age for: that “a-ha” moment; that tingle in the back hair when you suddenly “get” it. And that moment of humility as you realize you overlooked “the” clue. And even those few stories that don’t provide that level of enjoyment are still worth the listen.

Our reader, Charles Armstrong, is a man of pretty near Hugh Fraser-like gifts. At times I thought I was listening to Fraser, and that’s about as fine a compliment as any Christie listener can bestow.

Great short stories

Great short stories, quick to fill in short waits. Fun to listen to. Will look for more.

Great book, Awful narrator

As always, Agatha Christie makes for fantastic reading. Alas alack, the same cannot be said of the narrator. Charles Armstrong’s anaemic delivery, lackluster portrayal of Christie’s characters and repeatedly proven inability to do decent accents, tendency to turn some characters into caricatures, and distinguish male from female characters almost ruined this audiobook for me. The narrator, to use English parlance was “bloody awful!” If this book is ever reissued, get different narrator - I’ve heard the some of the same stories superbly read by David Suchet and Hugh Fraser. I gave the book 2 stars because the stories themselves were excellent and Mr. Armstrong’s reading was flawless even though boring.

Good but not great

These are bite size Poirot stories. Each published a week apart. 25 in all. Some are very good. Others boring. The narrator has to play many parts in each story so not an easy task. If you want quick who done its in half an hour or less this is a good buy.

Very Good...1923 writings?

Loved it! Hated to stop listening for my life. How did she write so many good stories and not be boring?

This type of book is my cup of tea.

I love mysteries, short stories, and this genre. I had been looking for a collection of stories of Hercule and then came this came along.

I enjoyed the narrator’s interpretation of the characters.

I thought it was well worth the credit.

Very enjoyable

I thought the reader did a very good job with the many voices and accents. I would not hesitate to listen to more from him.

The stories were fun and it was interesting to consider life in 1923. I also was bewildered by the reference to jeans, television and central heating in the Christmas story, figuring it had to have been written later, but it was still entertaining.

Can't go wrong with Poirot :)

Lovely bite sized mysteries that are perfect for the drive home! Great reader that brought the characters to life.

What an awesome listen!

My partner told me about this author. so I listen to her first book and been hooked ever since. I would highly recommend all her work.

Great stories

This is not the best Poirot performance. The stories are fun.

Very disappointing. I'll be sure to avoid this narrator.

All round good listen.

Great stories well told. Definitely worth listening too. When is there ever a bad time for Poirot!!