[Harlequin 01] • Hercule Poirot Early Cases of Hercule Poirot

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 36. Chapters: Poirot's Early Cases, The Labours of Hercules, Poirot Investigates, The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding, Murder in the Mews, The Regatta Mystery, Three Blind Mice and Other Stories, While the Light Lasts and Other Stories, Double Sin and Other Stories, The Under Dog and Other Stories, The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories, The Harlequin Tea Set. Excerpt: Poirot's Early Cases is a short story collection written by Agatha Christie and first published in the UK by Collins Crime Club in September 1974. The book retailed at 2.25. Although the stories contained within the volume had all appeared in previous US collections, the book also appeared there later in 1974 under the slightly different title of Hercule Poirot's Early Cases in an edition retailing at $6.95. In the collection, Christie charts some of the cases from Hercule Poirot's early career, before he was internationally renowned as a detective. All the stories had first been published in periodicals between 1923 and 1935. Chief Inspector Japp asks Poirot to assist Scotland Yard in the strange events which took place at a recent costumed Victory Ball. A group of six people, headed by the young Viscount Cronshaw, attended dressed in the costume of the Commedia dell'arte. Lord Cronshaw was Harlequin, his uncle, the honourable Eustace Beltane, was Punchinello and Mrs. Mallaby, an American widow, was Punchinella. In the roles of Pierrot and Pierette were Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Davidson (he being a stage actor) and finally, Miss 'Coco' Courtenay, an actress who was rumoured to be engaged to Lord Cronshaw, was Columbine. The night went badly from the start when it was obvious to the party that Cronshaw and Miss Courtenay were not on speaking terms. The latter was crying and asked Chris Davidson to take her home to her flat in Chelsea. When they had g...