This was so much fun to read and I got more and more excited as I scrolled because Cat Among the Pigeons is among my favorite of the adaptations. Harriet Walter could film a trip to the grocery store and imbue it with meaning, purpose and beauty. I almosts cheered when you had it at #2!
It's so good! I think Five Little Pigs is her best novel, but Cat among the Pigeons is my favorite. I love boarding school stories, and this book especially seems to have launched the careers of so many mystery authors.
I'm also a Five Little Pigs fan. The thing I love about Cat Among the Pigeons is that it really hits that balance between thriller and puzzle mystery. I also think that Julie Upjohn is a wonderful character, and could anchor a YA mystery series all by herself.
I love her character (and Josephine from Crooked House) and have often wished she had done more books with plucky teen sleuths. The Flavia de Luce books feel like an homage to those gals.
I immediatly knew which one was going to be tops - a brilliant adaptation.
Loved reading your thoughts on the episodes. I've only had a chance to watch the series once, but I think I largely agree with your rankings.
I was a little amused on your thoughts about Murder on The Orient Express - because I found the ending so <i>jarringly</i> out of character for Poirot. When I saw that episode, I'd probably only read 2 Poirot novels. But I knew Christie could never have written that ending.
Certainly, Poirot does not approve of murder, but in other respects his sense of justice is... <i>uncomfortable</i>. I'm never sure if I'm taking issue with Poirot, Christie, or 1930s-60s British cuture at-large, but it's present through out the books and even in some of the tv episodes.
It's also obvious that the later show runners decided to really play up Poirot's Catholic faith. I think it works well in the show, but it was always kind of funny to me, since it barely matters at all in Christie's books.
This piece is so clearly a labour of love and just wonderful as a result: bravo! I grew up reading Agatha Christie and watching David Suchet as Poirot (as I recall, I also had a dreadful crush on Hastings, too) and so reading this was such a joy. Thank you for a bright spot in my day and for the prompt to go and rewatch Poirot!
I'm a huge fan of Agatha Christie and this show is such a treat. I'm currently enjoying it on brit box. It's how my husband and I wind down at the end of a busy day
Yes a great resource. You name-checked a couple of scriptwriters (Gatiss, Horowitz) but not, sadly, the great Kevin Elyot who deserves high praise for the work he did on Poirot.
Boze, this is an incredible Resource, not just for Agatha Christie fans, but for mystery writers everywhere!
This was so much fun to read and I got more and more excited as I scrolled because Cat Among the Pigeons is among my favorite of the adaptations. Harriet Walter could film a trip to the grocery store and imbue it with meaning, purpose and beauty. I almosts cheered when you had it at #2!
It's so good! I think Five Little Pigs is her best novel, but Cat among the Pigeons is my favorite. I love boarding school stories, and this book especially seems to have launched the careers of so many mystery authors.
I'm also a Five Little Pigs fan. The thing I love about Cat Among the Pigeons is that it really hits that balance between thriller and puzzle mystery. I also think that Julie Upjohn is a wonderful character, and could anchor a YA mystery series all by herself.
I love her character (and Josephine from Crooked House) and have often wished she had done more books with plucky teen sleuths. The Flavia de Luce books feel like an homage to those gals.
Boze, gosh. Thank you!
Lovely post, and very interesting choices.
I immediatly knew which one was going to be tops - a brilliant adaptation.
Loved reading your thoughts on the episodes. I've only had a chance to watch the series once, but I think I largely agree with your rankings.
I was a little amused on your thoughts about Murder on The Orient Express - because I found the ending so <i>jarringly</i> out of character for Poirot. When I saw that episode, I'd probably only read 2 Poirot novels. But I knew Christie could never have written that ending.
Certainly, Poirot does not approve of murder, but in other respects his sense of justice is... <i>uncomfortable</i>. I'm never sure if I'm taking issue with Poirot, Christie, or 1930s-60s British cuture at-large, but it's present through out the books and even in some of the tv episodes.
It's also obvious that the later show runners decided to really play up Poirot's Catholic faith. I think it works well in the show, but it was always kind of funny to me, since it barely matters at all in Christie's books.
This piece is so clearly a labour of love and just wonderful as a result: bravo! I grew up reading Agatha Christie and watching David Suchet as Poirot (as I recall, I also had a dreadful crush on Hastings, too) and so reading this was such a joy. Thank you for a bright spot in my day and for the prompt to go and rewatch Poirot!
I'm a huge fan of Agatha Christie and this show is such a treat. I'm currently enjoying it on brit box. It's how my husband and I wind down at the end of a busy day
I knew number one would be FLP. It’s absolutely sublime. 👏👏👏👏👏
This is fun!! I just sat down to read the Miss Marple short stories!📚
Yes a great resource. You name-checked a couple of scriptwriters (Gatiss, Horowitz) but not, sadly, the great Kevin Elyot who deserves high praise for the work he did on Poirot.
You're correct of course, he wrote three of my favorite episodes!
Now do Miss Marple...
If it's not too much to ask.
Loved this post so much thanks for sharing on this Monday