This is a collection of stories, some of which I have encountered before, written by Agatha Christie. I am not sure if it will work well for someone who has not read anything by the author before, but it was a pretty fun read for me.

The Market Basing Mystery (3 stars)
This is a standard mystery of the format and of Poirot’s. I liked it even as I faintly remembered reading it before. I could catch the clues as they came, and as any repeat reader might concur, it is a whole different experience to be in on the trick. The story is of a man found killed at his home in an almost locked room situation.

The Case of the Missing Lady (3 stars)
Tommy and Tuppence were a fun diversion for me when I was originally making my way through all of Christie’s works. Although I do not remember reading this before (I may or may not have), I caught the one word that flagged the end for me. The rapport between the lead pair helped me enjoy the story. A missing lady needs to be tracked down and the duo are one the job.

The Herb of Death (3 stars)
Once again, I think it is the familiarity with the style that made me latch onto the point that Miss Marple did, and I figured out where things were going. I did like the banter between the assembled party as they tried to figure out about the death of someone else at another such party.

How Does Your Garden Grow? (3 stars)
A strange missive brings Poirot to a house in mourning. He has to figure out the crime before he leaves the town. I read a very similar story in the Miss Marple collection I reviewed earlier this year.

Swan Song (3 stars)
This was a new story for me, more of a drama than a Who-dunit.

Miss Marple Tells a Story (3 stars)
Miss Marple was consulted about an issue in a hotel. For once, she decides to tell her own tale and provide the finale as well.

Have You Got Everything You Want? (4 stars)
I liked this story a little better because Parker Pyne is a relatively unique character for the worlds created by Christie and it was a pretty random change in the midst of the more familiar.

The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan ( 4 stars)
Poirot is lured into taking a holiday but he sniffs out some random behaviour there as well.

Ingots of Gold (4 stars)
The story begins in a completely different direction from the one it takes in the end. A story of treasure is the starting lure.

The Soul of the Croupier (3 stars)
This is not sinister in the least, this story almost borders on a happily-ever-after.

The Girl in the Train (4 stars)
Another non-sinister, almost love story with hidden identities and agendas.

Greenshaw’s Folly (4 stars)
Another Miss Marple where she ends up figuring out things using similar reasoning to something that already appears in this book.

My overall review has more to do with the branding of the book than the stories themselves. There is hardly anything sinister in more than half the works. Not that many of Christie’s books lend themselves to the dark and dreary, but I am sure there were more than the ones shown here.

I began this review by wondering if this would work better for the seasoned reader or not and am leaving the review thinking that it would work best for the newcomer who might not see some of the things coming.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

A beautiful selection of spring short stories by the one and only Agatha Christie. As with all short story collections, there are some stronger than others but these are a nice selection especially if you don't have much time to read.

I have been a fan of Agatha Christie since I was a teenager. I loved this book which was beautifully written which confirmed my view that Agatha Christie was a brilliant writer - if I needed reminding. Some of the stories I had read before and others were new to me however I still enjoyed them. I have been watching Agatha Christie's films staring the wonderful Joan Hickson and equally good Julia McKenzie and Geraldine McEwan - same stories but they were very different. I never tire of Ms Christie stories.

An entertaining collection of short stories from the mistress of crime. They are loosely connected by a spring theme. Some feature her best known detectives, Marple and Poirot, and the less well-known husband and wife detective duo Tommy and Tuppence also appear. The perfect read for springtime.

Once again I'm reminded that I really don't get on very well with short stories. There is never enough meat on the bones of the story and it always feels as though the story finishes before it ever got started. As a collection, there were a good variety of Agatha Christie's most well known characters, but I missed how they were particularly spring-themed, I think.

Plot
The days are growing warmer and the nights are growing shorter… It's the perfect time to relax in the garden with this spring-themed collection from legendary mystery writer Agatha Christie. Blossoming flowers and countryside strolls may sound innocent enough, but not when there’s murder in the air. Beware of secluded cottages, stolen treasure and fatal revenge schemes. This compendium of short stories, some featuring beloved detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, is an essential omnibus for Christie fans and the perfect gift for mystery lovers.

Review
You should know by now that I am a bit biased when it comes to the Empress of Crime but I do love a short story collection of hers.

This one contains all the usual suspects - pardon the pun - purveyor of matters of the heart Mr Parker-Pyne, the enigma that is Harley Quinn (the OG not the Batman version), the hilarious Tommy and Tuppence and of course the two most beloved nosy parker Miss Marple and the not so humble master of the little grey cells, Hercule Poriot.

There are of course some stories that I prefered over others but still this is a masterclass in crime fiction. Christie manages, even within the shortest story, to confuse and befuddle the reader and have them gasping and trying to work out how our heroes came to that conculsion.

All in all, this is a perfect collection for any Christie fan and a great starting point for those wanting to begin their journey with crime fiction.

Rating
5/5

Recommend
Why of course mon ami :)

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've finished Sinister Spring by Agatha Christie 💞📚

With spring comes April showers and blossoming fields – but wickedness is never far from the surface. A collection of short stories, it's not hard to forget why Christies writing and stories were so ahead of the curve, she's straight to it, direct, and doesn't take her time building up the suspense, everything unfolds pretty much straight away.
I enjoyed these stories, some more so than others. For me short stories are a bit of a tease, especially when you want to read more and wished the story was a bit more fleshed out.
I really enjoyed the The Case of the Missing Lady (made me chuckle), How Does Your Garden Grow, the The Soul of the Croupier and The Girl in the Train.
A great collection to dip in and out of. Thank you to @netgalley for the advanced copy, I was delighted to receive this book from such an iconic author ❤️

Have you read this and what do you think of short stories?📚💞

An enticing collection and I was amazed to find one or two I hadn’t read - very rare. Probably own all these stories but always a sucker for a themed anthology. I never tire of Agatha Christie but if you need converting may be better to go with a full-length novel. Pretty cover too. These seasonal collections definitely make lovely gifts. Thanks to Netgalley.

Exactly what you'd expect from a Christie collection. Well written, gripping and interesting stories. At the moment I have no clients who are interested in this genre but will definitely consider it as an option of it arises again in future. Only thing I find a bit strange is the cover choice as it seems far more light hearted than its content but that's just a personal preference.

It’s a good but complicated read.
It is not my usual genre and it took me out of my comfort zone. Enjoyable but not really for me.

Reading Agatha Christie is like meeting an old friend and discovering some new aspects. She was a taelnted storyteller and her story are always entertaining and intriguing regardless of the number of pages.
This book, featuring stories about spring, was very entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Agatha Christie is known as one of the greatest mystery writers of all time, and her books have sold over two billion copies worldwide. Her works have been adapted into countless movies, TV shows, and plays. The collection in Sinister Spring includes Swan Song, The Herb of Death, and Miss Marple Tells a Story. Each novel features a unique mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

One of the things I love about Christie's writing is her ability to create complex, multi-dimensional characters. Each character in her stories is unique and has their own motivations and secrets. As the reader, you're constantly trying to piece together the clues and figure out who the killer might be. Christie is a master at misdirection and keeping the reader guessing until the very end.

Another aspect of Christie's writing that I appreciate is her attention to detail. Her books are set in different time periods and locations, and she always takes care to accurately depict the social norms and customs of the time. This adds an extra layer of realism to her stories and makes them feel more authentic.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This is a series of short stories containing Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple and other detectives that Agatha Christie wrote. The theme of this book is spring so the stories are geared to that.

Its a great selection of stories and typical Agatha Christie.. i loved it.

My thanks to Harper Collins UK for a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

Sinister Spring: Murder and Mystery from the Queen of Crime (2023) is another season themed collection of (reprinted) short stories from Christie’s pen. Like a previous volume of these I read Midsummer Mysteries (2021), we have in this collection 12 stories covering various types of crimes from murder to theft, and featuring both recurring detectives (Poirot and Marple, as also Tommy and Tuppence, Harley Quin, and Parker Pyne) as well as standalone stories. The seasonal elements are brought out by mostly by gardens and gardening, which feature in many of the stories

Opening as the previous volume did, with a short extract from Christie’s autobio, this time an episode called the Gunman, based on her childhood nightmare, we move to the first story featuring Poirot where he and Hastings, accompany Japp to Market Basing, in ‘The Market Basing Mystery’ with plans to enjoy a quiet weekend since ‘no one knows who they are’. So naturally, they are soon to be involved in a mystery, as the local constable seeks their help in investigating the death of a Mr Protheroe who was found shot but couldn’t have done so himself. Poirot reaches the answer of course, in this mystery the broad frame of which is the basis of another Christie short story as well.

‘The Case of the Missing Lady’ featuring Tommy and Tuppence was one new to me, and a rather fun story, with an adventurer who returns to England earlier than planned to find his fiancée has gone on a visit but isn’t to be found at the place she supposedly went to, nor do any friends know her whereabouts. Tommy and Tuppence get on the case to find a very unexpected answer, which leaves the reader with a smile on their face (though in the current context, perhaps not the most PC).

From The Thirteen Problems (a Marple collection in which dinner guests describe murders and mysteries they are aware of leaving it to the others to ‘solve’), we have ‘The Herb of Death’ where a young girl staying with her guardian, and on the verge of being married and starting a new life dies of poisoning when foxglove leaves are picked with the sage that is to be used for dinner. Mrs Bantry poses the problem rather simply, and it is from the other dinner guests’ questions that one gets to the nuances; but only Miss Marple sees things in the right light.

Featuring Hercule Poirot is ‘How Does Your Garden Grow’, again one I was familiar with. An old lady writes to Poirot seeking his help over a mysterious problem the details of which are not revealed in her letter, but before he can reach her, she is dead. Poirot decides to visit her home all the same and finds the police convinced it’s murder.

‘Swan Song’ is a more tragic standalone, where an opera star agrees to perform at a country house where she is invited, on condition that Tosca is what’s performed. Why, you have to read the story to find out!

‘Miss Marple Tells a Story’ sees Miss Marple tell of a case she’s personally proud of, where a lawyer Mr Pretherick approaches her to help a client who’s going to be accused of murder. The client is sceptical, but as he explains the circumstances of his wife’s death in a hotel where they were staying, Miss Marple is on to the answer.

A recently married young woman, travelling on the Simplon express in ‘Have You Got Everything You Want’ confides her troubles to Parker Pyne, suspicious her husband is attempting to harm her in some way while she is on the train. Pyne mayn’t be a ‘detective’ in the traditional sense, but that doesn’t stop him from reaching the rather unexpected solution to this mystery.

We’re back with Poirot in ‘The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan’ where Hastings treats Poirot to a stay at the Grand Metropolitan. There they run into the Opalsens and Mrs Opalsen who is very fond of jewellery, wishes to show them her priceless pearls, but the necklace vanishes before she can.

Also from The Thirteen Problems is ‘Ingots of Gold’ where Miss Marple’s nephew Raymond West narrates an incident that occurred with him when he visited an acquaintance in Cornwall who was looking for a ship lost in the Spanish Armada. But unfriendly locals and more recent events make the trip a more dangerous one than he bargained for.

‘The Soul of the Croupier’ takes us to Monte Carlo where Mr Satherthwaite (usually seen in the Harley Quin stories) is on his annual visit. Here he runs into an old acquaintance, the Countess Czarnova whom he’s seen there for years, each time in the company of a new admirer. On this trip, it’s a young American. A girl travelling with the young man truly cares for him, and Mr Satherthwaite realises they belong. Harley Quin is also on the scene, and the two can only look on as a drama with a thread of pathos unfolds.

Agatha Christie writes a very Wodehousian tale in ‘The Girl on the Train’ which rather reminded me of A Damsel in Distress by Wodehouse (even our ‘hero’ is called George, like George Bevan in Damsel). In this George Rowland, after a night on town and arriving late for work, is turned out by his uncle. He decides to head to Rowland Castle simply because it bears his name, and on the way in the train helps a beautiful young woman who seems to be running away from some one and dives into his compartment. This turns into the adventure of a lifetime as she entrusts him with a sealed package and asks him to trail a bearded stranger.

To wrap up the collection, we return to Miss Marple as her nephew Raymond West takes a friend to visit a property in the neighbourhood with an interesting story behind it, Greenshaw’s Folly, now lived in by an old Miss Greenshaw, the last of her family. Later, Raymond’s wife’s niece takes up a job there, only to become involved in a murder. Luckily, Miss Marple is there to ensure the puzzle is pieced together.

This was an entertaining collection which covered many moods from the tragic to the humorous, and gives the reader mysteries and puzzles, as also fun, adventure and and romance. One can get a taste of the various genres Christie writes in, though of course not the depth of her full-length mysteries. I liked all the stories in the collection (many of which were revisits for me) but my particular favourites this time were two of the humorous ones, ‘The Case of the Missing Lady’ and ‘The Girl on the Train’ both new to me, and both loads of fun.

I really enjoyed this set of short mystery stories by Agatha Christie. They were fun to read, each story giving a different flavour to enjoy.

Featuring our loved ones Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, we have the following treats to brighten up spring time:

The Market Basing Mystery
The Case of the Missing Lady
The Herb of Death
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Swan Song
Miss Marple Tells a Story
Have You Got Everything You Want?
The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
Ingots of Gold
The Soul of the Croupier
The Girl in the Train
Greenshaw’s Folly

This is a great book, which I highly recommend!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

This is a great book of short stories featuring Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple and I must admit I do love them both. There are 12 short stories in this book and they all have a bit of a springtime theme to them. Agatha Christie can write both long and short stories with such strength and poise and I just love her writing.

All the stories are enjoyable, entertaining and very Agatha Christie and that is what I love. Her stories and books are so easy to read and they are always such fun. Can I pick a favourite... No I think not as I love them all. The best thing about short stories is that you can read one, put the book down and later read another and you don't feel as if you have forgotten anything.

A great selection of Agatha Christie stories fro any fan of her writings. Loved it.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this fabulous book of short stories by agatha christie

the queen of mystery wrote these short stories decades ago but they are still relevant in todays world, they show that the world hasnt changed very much, greed and deception abound in these stories but its the appearance of poirot and miss marple that lead the way

christies writing was simple but effective and lovers of this author will not be disappointed in this collection

As a lifelong Christie fan, I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of this new collection of short stories. The Spring theme is tenuous, but who cares when you’re gifted a lovely selection of bitesize mystery. The whole gamut of Christie detectives make an appearance which just adds to the joy. A great little book.

This collection of twelve spring-themed short stories by Agatha Christie is introduced by her own account of her first real experience of fear, aged six, while out primrosing with Nursie, and her description of a different figure, the image in her nightmares she calls The Gunman.
The Market Basing Mystery has Hercule Poirot on vacation with Japp and Hastings when they are called to an apparent suicide inside a locked room, except that it looks staged. Are the victim’s unsavoury visitors responsible?
The Case of the missing Lady has Tommy and Tuppence Blunt tracking down the missing fiancée of a polar explorer, to the grand house of a dubious doctor in a little village. Might she be suffering at his hands?
The Herb of Death has a gathering telling mysteries. One lady gives only the bare bones and questions from the rest reveal the detail, but only Jane Marple guesses the truth.

How Does Your Garden Grow? Hercule Poirot asks for Miss Lemon’s opinion about a request for help, but before he can decide, the woman suddenly dies. That intrigues him sufficiently to investigate, and a clue in the woman’s garden leads him to the murderer.
Swan Song: many years after the precipitating event, a demanding Italian prima donna with a Russian name gets her revenge.
Miss Marple Tells a Story: asked to consult on what is apparently a locked-room murder mystery, Jane Marple solves the crime at a far remove.
Have You Got Everything You Want? A young wife confesses her worries to a proclaimed fixit man on the Orient Express. And then her jewels are stolen…

The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan: on vacation in Brighton, Hercule Poirot solves the impossible theft of a pearl necklace from a hotel room where the French maid maintains watch.
Ingots of Gold: Jane Marple’s nephew Raymond West recalls, some two years later, an unsolved incident on Cornwall’s wrecking coast in which he encounters a policeman looking into smuggled gold off a recent wreck. Inexplicably, Raymond’s host was kidnapped but later found unharmed. Miss Marple easily deduces the truth of the matter.
The Soul of the Croupier: an English gentleman on vacation in Monte Carlo watches the interplay between energetic young things and an ageing Countess. The action of the croupier at the roulette table reveals a tragic tale, but does it have a happy ending?

The Girl in the Train: a somewhat dissolute and (temporarily?) disinherited young man takes the train to a promising destination but is distracted by a young woman wanting to hide in his first-class carriage. He obliges, and intrigue in the form of a secret parcel, a surveillance mission, and false names culminates in an encounter with a police detective. Are things quite what they seem?
Greenshaw’s Folly: A will in favour of the housekeeper is witnessed by incidental visitors; a woman is killed by arrow; potential suspects have strong alibis. Miss Marple figures it out.
Both of her most well-known detectives, Jane Marple and Hercule Poirot star in several of the stories. Tommy and Tuppence Blunt make an appearance, and there are several stand-alones, some of which feature Christie characters from other tales. There’s lots of variety, but the standard is high. Very entertaining.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK

A compilation of outstanding short stories from the worlds best author. Yes you may have read them all before but here is a great little book for the spring months. I loved this book