Category Archives: Agatha Christie

VOK 767 – Agatha Christie Reread 28 – Sad Cypress

Posted on September 10, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina, Pat and Hannah discuss the 1940 Hercule Poirot mystery that is told mostly from the perspective of proud heiress Elinor Carlisle, accused of poisoning her love rival and on trial for her life.

Historic context; plot set up, structure and the publisher pressure (9m); characters (17m); regressive content (37m); adaptations (39m); spoiler-filled discussion of the plot (42m).

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VOK 766 – Agatha Christie Reread 27 – And Then There Were None Part 2

Posted on August 28, 2023 by | Leave a comment

This is the second of a two part discussion of Agatha Christie’s frighteningly bleak standalone mystery, And Then There Were None. In this second spoiler-filled episode, Bina, Pat, Hannah and Bing discuss the characters, the plot construction (22m30s) and the adaptations of the novel (37m30s).

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VOK 765 – Agatha Christie Reread 27 – And Then There Were None Part 1

Posted on August 28, 2023 by | Leave a comment

This is the first of a two part discussion of Agatha Christie’s frighteningly bleak standalone mystery, And Then There Were None. In this first spoiler-free episode, Bina, Pat, Hannah and Bing discuss the original title of the novel and how it has changed, as well as the historic context in which this book was first published. Trigger warnings for discussions around racism and racial epithets.

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VOK 763 – Agatha Christie Reread 26 – Murder Is Easy

Posted on August 19, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007 discusses the 1939 standalone murder-mystery Murder Is Easy in this minipod. The novel features retired police officer Luke Fitzwilliam investigating a spate of murders in a picturesque English village after a chance encounter with an old suspicious woman on a train.

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VOK 762 – Agatha Christie Reread 25 – Hercule Poirot’s Christmas

Posted on August 15, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007 and TwoPointOh aka Pat discuss the 1938 Hercule Poirot locked room mystery set in an English country house. Mean father Simeon Lee is found brutally murdered in his room. Was it one of his children or one of the new visitors to the house?

1m Initial impressions and historic context; 14m – the Christiverse, plot outline and characters; 35m – regressive/ progressive attitudes; 40m – Adaptations; 45m – Spoiler filled discussion of the solution.

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VOK 761 – Agatha Christie Reread 24 – Appointment With Death

Posted on July 16, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007 and TwoPointOh aka Pat discuss the 1938 Hercules Poirot murder-mystery set in Jerusalem and Petra. Christie paints an acute psychological portrait of a sadistic mother who controls her children and strikes a battle of wills against young Dr Sarah King.

1m – Plot outline and setting; 14m – the build-up to the murder and characters; 34m – the Christieverse and regressive/ progressive attitudes; 40m – Adaptations; 48m – Spoiler filled discussion of the solution.

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VOK 758 – Agatha Christie Reread 23 – Death On The Nile

Posted on June 10, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007 and new VOK host TwoPointOh aka Pat discuss the iconic 1937 Hercules Poirot murder-mystery.

1m – Intro to the new podcast host, Pat, and ASOIAF chat; 11m – Death on the Nile intro; 22m – Character discussion; 1h14m – Regressive/ progressive attitudes; 1hr18m – Adaptations; 1hr30m – Spoiler filled discussion of Death On The Nile and Murder In Mesopotamia.

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VOK 757 – Agatha Christie Reread 22 – Dumb Witness

Posted on June 2, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007 hosts a minipod to discuss the 1937 Hercules Poirot murder-mystery featuring the terrier Bob. This is a slightly awkward book, both in terms of an implausible solution and the choice of Hastings to narrate an extensive first third which is really told from the perspective of the victim. Nonetheless, this novel contains some razor-sharp characterisation and interesting commentary on the bigotry of the Victorian generation.

Spoiler free to the end music and spoiler full thereafter.

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VOK 756 – Agatha Christie Reread 21 – Cards On The Table

Posted on May 17, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007 and Hannah discuss arguably one of the most under-rated Hercule Poirot novels, and the THIRD that Agatha Christie published in the prolific year of 1946. The set up is simple: four detectives, four suspects, one victim, no tricks. Who dunnnit?

Spoiler free to the end music and spoiler full thereafter.

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VOK 753 – Agatha Christie Reread 20 – Murder In Mesopotamia

Posted on May 3, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007 discusses the deeply unsuccessful Poirot novel Murder In Mesopotamia set on an archeological dig in Iraq. The glamorous Mrs Leidner is receiving threatening letters. Is her German spy first husband still alive? Are they from his vengeful younger brother? Or is she just writing them to herself?

Spoiler free to the end music and spoiler full thereafter.

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VOK 752 – Agatha Christie Reread 19 – The ABC Murders

Posted on April 29, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007, Hannah and Zander discuss one of Christie’s most iconic novels – featuring the three musketeers of Poirot, Hastings and Japp investigating a serial killer seemingly picking victims off at random. But Poirot unites the victims’ families and asks whether the murders are really as random as they appear.

Spoiler free to the end music and spoiler full thereafter.

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VOK 749 – Agatha Christie Reread 18 – Death In The Clouds

Posted on March 2, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007, Hannah and Zander go on a 1935 commercial flight from Paris to London where Hercule Poirot is embroiled in a locked-plane murder mystery. Madame Giselle, a famous French moneylender is apparently killed by a poisoned dart shot out of a blowpipe and the killer has the audacity to stuff it down Hercule Poirot’s seat! Naturally, our offended Belgian detective has to investigate to clear his name….

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VOK 748 – Agatha Christie Reread 17 – Three Act Tragedy aka Murder In Three Acts

Posted on February 17, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007, Hannah and Zander discuss a new murder-mystery that mixes the vermouth of Hercule Poirot with Mr Sattherthwaite’s gin. Retired actor Sir Charles Cartwright offers his friends cocktails and the harmless Reverend Babbington immediately dies. When another guest dies in similar circumstances at another dinner party, murder is suspected. But why would anyone want to kill the Reverend? And what does asylum inmate Mrs Rushbridger have to reveal? A spoiler-filled discussion of the solution is after the closing music.

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VOK 746 – Agatha Christie Reread 16 – Why Didn’t They Ask Evans

Posted on February 7, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007 discusses the Agatha Christie crime caper Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?, published in one of the most prolific years, 1934. Despite containing a Wodehousian-named character called Bassington-Ffrench, the novel is pleasingly free of Woosterish-pastiche. Rather, it’s a well-plotted murder mystery and a wry, progressive commentary on the British class system. It also contains yet another wonderful female protagonist, Lady Frankie Derwent. A spoiler-filled discussion of the solution is after the closing music.

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VOK 745 – Agatha Christie Reread 15 – Murder On The Orient Express

Posted on February 2, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007, Hannah/Shadowbaby and Zander/The Lord Baron discuss arguably Agatha Christie’s most famous and most audaciously plotted novel, Murder On The Orient Express, originally published in 1934. A nasty criminal is found stabbed to death in the Calais coach of the luxurious train. With a snowstorm trapping the other guests in the carriage we have a classic locked house mystery. Poirot investigates! A spoiler-filled discussion of the solution is after the closing music.

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VOK 744 – Agatha Christie Minipod 14 – Lord Edgeware Dies

Posted on January 26, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007 reviews Agatha Christie’s Lord Edgware Dies aka Thirteen To Dinner, originally published in 1933. A famous actress turned aristocrat is the prime suspect when her hated husband is stabbed, allowing her to marry yet higher in society. However, she has a perfect alibi having been at a dinner party at the time. Poirot investigates! A spoiler-filled discussion of the solution is after the closing music.

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VOK 743 – Agatha Christie ReRead 13 – Peril At End House

Posted on January 22, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007 and Hannah / Shadowbaby discuss Agatha Christie’s Peril At End House, originally published in 1932. A beautiful heiress in peril – a dashing around-the-world aviator – a lot of cocaine – and Hercule Poirot! A spoiler-filled discussion of the solution is after the closing music.

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VOK 740 – Agatha Christie Minipod 12 – The Sittaford Mystery

Posted on January 1, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Bina007 reviews Agatha Christie’s homage to The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Sittaford Mystery, originally published as The Murder At Hazelmoor in 1931. Snowbound moors, a seance, and a tolling prison bell signal murder, and Agatha Christie conjures up another courageous smart young woman to investigate. There’s no Marple or Poirot but plenty of gothic atmosphere. A spoiler-filled discussion of the solution is after the closing music.

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VOK 732 – Agatha Christie Minipod 11 – The Murder At The Vicarage

Posted on November 5, 2022 by | Leave a comment

In this spoiler-free episode Bina007 reviews the first Mrs Marple novel, Murder At The Vicarage, originally published in 1930. This is the novel people think Christie always writes! A pretty English village and the narrator is a clergyman and the victim is a retired military man. But the novel is actually spikier, nastier and more subversive than the chocolate-box cosy image. A spoiler-filled discussion of the solution is after the closing music.

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VOK 702 – Agatha Christie Minipod 10 – The Seven Dials Mystery

Posted on August 19, 2022 by | Leave a comment

In this spoiler-free episode Bina007 reviews the hilarious thriller, The Seven Dials Mystery, originally published in 1929. Slated by critics, the novel is a superb pastiche of po-faced boys-own spy novels of the time and stars Bundle Brent as a Bright Young Thing out to unmask a secret society. A spoiler-filled discussion of the solution is after the closing music.

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