This collection of Christie's short stories features many of her fictional characters. What would an anthology of her work be without Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple? But it was much more fun to get another visit with Bunch Harmon in "Sanctuary" and with Tommy and Tuppence in "The Clergyman's Daughter". I haven't yet made a proper acquaintance with Harley Quinn or Mr. Parker Pyne, but I have at least glimpsed them at work now. And how could I forget Mr. Satterthwaite, who shows up in a few of the stories? Delightful to run across old literary friends!
The staying power of Christie's fiction is remarkable, but I think she was expert at zeroing in on issues that will trouble all of history: the aftermath of war, PTSD, economic uncertainty, social change, and, that particular landmine, unsteady personal relationships. Plus the omnipresent issue of crime. Where you find people together in groups, you will also find politics and criminality.
A nice little selection of short stories which reveal to me how much I have learned about Christie's fiction over the past couple of years.
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