What do you think?
Rate this book
Hercule Poirot #34
??????, ??????, ???
"???????????? ??? ????????? ????????, ????? ????????? ?????? ?????????????, ??????? ?????? ????? _ ??????????? ??????? ????? ???????. ???????? ???????, ??????, ??????????, ????????? ???????? ??????, ????? ?????, ??????, ???? ?????????? _ ??? ????????? ???????, ?????? ??? ????????, ????? ????????? ????? ???? _ ??????? ??????? ???? ?? ?????????, ?????????, ????????? ?????, ??????????... ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ????????. ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????????????? ?? ?????? ????????????? ????????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ???????????, ?? ???? ????, ???? ?? ???? ?????????????? ??????????, ?????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ????? ??????. ?? ????? ????????????, ??? ??????? ??????????? ??????, ???? ???????????? ????????, ????? ??????? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ????????. "
232 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1955
817 people are currently reading
19521 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,235?books71.7k?followersAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Кр?ст? (Ukrainian)
Αγκ?θα Κρ?στι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉丝蒂 (Chinese)
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Кр?ст? (Ukrainian)
Αγκ?θα Κρ?στι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉丝蒂 (Chinese)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,314 reviews
May 21, 2022
Hickory Dickory Death = Hickory Dickory Dock (Hercule Poirot, #30), Agatha Christie
Hickory Dickory Dock is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie and first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 31 October 1955 and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in November of the same year under the title of Hickory Dickory Death.
???????? ??? ??? ?? ?????: ????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ??????? ?????????? ???????: ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????: ??? ???? ? ??? ??? ?????? ???1995??????
?????: ???????? ?????? ??????? ???????: ????? ??????? ?????: ???? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???1374? ??209?? ?????: ????????? ????? ?? ????????? ???????? - ???20?
?????: ??? ?? ??????? ????????? ???????: ????? ??????? ?????: ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ???1390? ??262?? ????9789643637804? ??? ??? ?? ???1392 ??246??
??? ????? ???: (??????? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?? ??? ? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ? ??????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ? ????? ?? ?? ??? ???? ? ???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ???? ????! ?????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ????)? ????? ???
????? ?????? ????? 20/05/1399???? ???????? 30/02/1401???? ???????? ?. ???????
Hickory Dickory Dock is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie and first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 31 October 1955 and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in November of the same year under the title of Hickory Dickory Death.
???????? ??? ??? ?? ?????: ????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ??????? ?????????? ???????: ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????: ??? ???? ? ??? ??? ?????? ???1995??????
?????: ???????? ?????? ??????? ???????: ????? ??????? ?????: ???? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???1374? ??209?? ?????: ????????? ????? ?? ????????? ???????? - ???20?
?????: ??? ?? ??????? ????????? ???????: ????? ??????? ?????: ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ???1390? ??262?? ????9789643637804? ??? ??? ?? ???1392 ??246??
??? ????? ???: (??????? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?? ??? ? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ? ??????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ? ????? ?? ?? ??? ???? ? ???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ???? ????! ?????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ????)? ????? ???
????? ?????? ????? 20/05/1399???? ???????? 30/02/1401???? ???????? ?. ???????
December 3, 2019
Why the hell doesn't 欧宝娱乐 have a galaxy (instead of just 5 stars) rating system for books that just make you go
May 27, 2023
Hercule Poirot book No. 32 sees a kleptomaniac case at a student boarding house become a lot more deadly despite Poirot already being on the premises. One of the weaker books in the series. 5 out of 12, Two Stars.
2013 read
2013 read
August 16, 2024
I loved this story when I was younger.
Something about Miss Lemon's sister just made me smile. I think it was the way she cared about these young adults under her roof and wanted to keep them all safe from whatever vaguely nefarious person was at work in her boarding house.
It opens with Miss Lemon making a couple of mistakes in transcription.
Poirot is flabbergasted. Miss Lemon never makes mistakes of any kind!
Something must be wrong.
As it turns out, Miss Lemon was not hatched fully formed from an egg. She does, in fact, have a sister that proves otherwise. Said sister, Mrs. Hubbard, is a widow who has recently taken the position of matron at a student hostel. She is (as would be expected of someone of the Lemon line) excellent at her job.
She's basically a warm & fuzzy version of Poirot's secretary.
But all is not well in Mrs. Hubbard's world.
There have been several unusual thefts and some petty destruction of property. And none of it makes sense to her.
Poirot rides to the rescue! His Miss Lemon must get her groove back, no matter the cost. And if worrying about her sister is causing her to be less than her perfect self, then Poirot will set things to right.
Once Poirot starts poking around, the strange little incidents begin to look quite a bit more sinister. And it soon becomes evident that if he doesn't solve this case, a cold-blooded renter will get away with murder.
Now, because there are a lot of different ethnicities represented in boarders, you're going to get a bit of that typical cringe that you find in older books. It's not mean-spirited, but there is that condescending "see? brown people can be smart!" thing that I believe was meant well, but doesn't hit right when you read it today.
If you're used to skimming past this in older books, you'll probably like this one just fine.
Recommended for fans of Agatha Christie.
Something about Miss Lemon's sister just made me smile. I think it was the way she cared about these young adults under her roof and wanted to keep them all safe from whatever vaguely nefarious person was at work in her boarding house.
It opens with Miss Lemon making a couple of mistakes in transcription.
Poirot is flabbergasted. Miss Lemon never makes mistakes of any kind!
Something must be wrong.
As it turns out, Miss Lemon was not hatched fully formed from an egg. She does, in fact, have a sister that proves otherwise. Said sister, Mrs. Hubbard, is a widow who has recently taken the position of matron at a student hostel. She is (as would be expected of someone of the Lemon line) excellent at her job.
She's basically a warm & fuzzy version of Poirot's secretary.
But all is not well in Mrs. Hubbard's world.
There have been several unusual thefts and some petty destruction of property. And none of it makes sense to her.
Poirot rides to the rescue! His Miss Lemon must get her groove back, no matter the cost. And if worrying about her sister is causing her to be less than her perfect self, then Poirot will set things to right.
Once Poirot starts poking around, the strange little incidents begin to look quite a bit more sinister. And it soon becomes evident that if he doesn't solve this case, a cold-blooded renter will get away with murder.
Now, because there are a lot of different ethnicities represented in boarders, you're going to get a bit of that typical cringe that you find in older books. It's not mean-spirited, but there is that condescending "see? brown people can be smart!" thing that I believe was meant well, but doesn't hit right when you read it today.
If you're used to skimming past this in older books, you'll probably like this one just fine.
Recommended for fans of Agatha Christie.
November 29, 2021
In this 32nd book in the 'Hercule Poirot' series, the detective investigates mysterious occurrences at a rooming house. Like all Agatha Christie books, it can be read as a standalone.
Hercule Poirot is asked to investigate a rash of theft and vandalism at a boarding house for students and young workers.
The items involved seem random - a diamond ring, a scarf, a backpack, light bulbs, eye wash, etc.- but Poirot suspects a sinister motive may underlie the incidents.
When Poirot threatens to call in the cops a young woman, Celia Austin, confesses to some of the small thefts but claims innocence of the other incidents.
Pretty soon several people connected to the boarding house are dead and residents' dark secrets start to come to light.
To me this seemed like one of Agatha Christie's less developed (and more obvious) plots with not quite believable motivation for many of the characters. Still, it was an entertaining light mystery.
You can follow my reviews at
October 7, 2017
3.5
“I congratulate you on having such a unique and beautiful problem.”
Again Poirot shows how clever he is, this time because his perfect secretary starts getting typing errors. It's amusing how he is half in awe of her, half in fear of her. Set in a hostel with a mixed group, this intriguing story wasn't like other mysteries by her that I've read. He's called in because of a bizarre list of items stolen, but murder comes across eventually.
Set in a hostel with a mixed group, characters become more individualized that some of her other works. As usual there are jabs at various groups of people (the paranoia of the Americans tickled me, actually pretty true), and there is the stigma of alcoholism hidden in there with one particular character. The eccentric hostel owner, the straight-laced sister team, the young lovers scheming to win affections, all of the characters are well-done.
Poirot is still top dog, but he shares plenty of investigative time with another detective, which is kind of discouraging. Poirot twiddles his mustache more during the first half the book before the murder happens, then the police take over the playing field until the ending and actual reveal happens. Poirot isn't even involved in most of the interviewing.
“I congratulate you on having such a unique and beautiful problem.”
Again Poirot shows how clever he is, this time because his perfect secretary starts getting typing errors. It's amusing how he is half in awe of her, half in fear of her. Set in a hostel with a mixed group, this intriguing story wasn't like other mysteries by her that I've read. He's called in because of a bizarre list of items stolen, but murder comes across eventually.
Set in a hostel with a mixed group, characters become more individualized that some of her other works. As usual there are jabs at various groups of people (the paranoia of the Americans tickled me, actually pretty true), and there is the stigma of alcoholism hidden in there with one particular character. The eccentric hostel owner, the straight-laced sister team, the young lovers scheming to win affections, all of the characters are well-done.
Poirot is still top dog, but he shares plenty of investigative time with another detective, which is kind of discouraging. Poirot twiddles his mustache more during the first half the book before the murder happens, then the police take over the playing field until the ending and actual reveal happens. Poirot isn't even involved in most of the interviewing.
January 8, 2022
Agatha Christie Book Reading Challenge
BOOK 18 :- MAY 2020
3 STARS
BOOK 18 :- MAY 2020
3 STARS
July 23, 2020
As the Poirot Buddy Read draws to a close (5 books to go) after 2 and a half years I am still happily surprised when I come across a book, that not only do I not remember but I thoroughly enjoy and give 5 stars to.
M. Poirot becomes suspicious when Ms Lemon makes a number of mistakes in a letter she has typed for him, why, how can this be, the reliable unfazed Ms Lemon in error, mais non. It transpires her sister returned from Singapore a widow, and having to take a job as a housekeeper of student accommodation has been having some problems. Poirot intrigued listens to Ms Lemon's story of her sister and then invites the sister to tea to learn more. A large house lived in by a number of students of varying nationalities has been experiencing some strange robberies and vandalisms, what connects these strange thefts, Poirot is determined to find out tuit de suite.
A wonderful Poirot and a wonderful book full of twists and turns. What starts out as the stealing of a shoe ends in murder, can Poirot bring it to a successful and speedy conclusion ? Of course.
M. Poirot becomes suspicious when Ms Lemon makes a number of mistakes in a letter she has typed for him, why, how can this be, the reliable unfazed Ms Lemon in error, mais non. It transpires her sister returned from Singapore a widow, and having to take a job as a housekeeper of student accommodation has been having some problems. Poirot intrigued listens to Ms Lemon's story of her sister and then invites the sister to tea to learn more. A large house lived in by a number of students of varying nationalities has been experiencing some strange robberies and vandalisms, what connects these strange thefts, Poirot is determined to find out tuit de suite.
A wonderful Poirot and a wonderful book full of twists and turns. What starts out as the stealing of a shoe ends in murder, can Poirot bring it to a successful and speedy conclusion ? Of course.
February 9, 2025
Hi all. Taking one for the team literally. Caught the flu or bad cold that has been circulating around the Midwest. I haven’t moved much from the couch or bed in nearly two days. My Super Bowl viewing will consist of the mobile app in my bed. Not that I was going to watch this year as I detest both teams. It’s my excuse to head to bed early. In my spurts of energy I managed to finish my first Poirot case of the year. I probably won’t finish a book a month like last year but I would like to continue reading over Dame Christie’s body of work. I wish I could elaborate more but my little grey cells are dormant until this virus goes away. No need to elaborate on that.
The gist is Mrs Lemon’s sister Mrs Hubbard is the house mother at a youth hostel where thefts have been occurring over a three month period. Mrs Lemon suggests to her sister to contact Poirot, who, of course, realizes that this case is more than a simple string of thefts. He implores her to call the police before it’s too late. Before the cops can be contacted, a young lady is found dead in her room. She is not the last victim here. Poirot senses grave danger and as usual figures out everything before the police do. There is Christie’s usual twist at the end, but this time it fits and does not seem as far fetched as usual. Perhaps in my convalescence I will watch the A&E show after hearing David Suchet elaborate on the prep for this one in his memoir. I still have more Poirot to read and might read more before rhe week is out. If not, my little grey cells will be on hiatus.
4 stars
The gist is Mrs Lemon’s sister Mrs Hubbard is the house mother at a youth hostel where thefts have been occurring over a three month period. Mrs Lemon suggests to her sister to contact Poirot, who, of course, realizes that this case is more than a simple string of thefts. He implores her to call the police before it’s too late. Before the cops can be contacted, a young lady is found dead in her room. She is not the last victim here. Poirot senses grave danger and as usual figures out everything before the police do. There is Christie’s usual twist at the end, but this time it fits and does not seem as far fetched as usual. Perhaps in my convalescence I will watch the A&E show after hearing David Suchet elaborate on the prep for this one in his memoir. I still have more Poirot to read and might read more before rhe week is out. If not, my little grey cells will be on hiatus.
4 stars
January 25, 2025
3.5 stars
# 10 in my Agatha Christie Challenge
During the first 50 pages, I thought that Agatha Christie had let Hercule Poirot go a bit soft in her latter books, but then bodies started dropping in a co-ed boarding house and all the signs pointed to murder, which got interesting. As always, there is plenty of fantastic characterization, albeit slightly melodramatic. I never mention enough how much I laugh at Poiriot's loveable arrogance or raise an eyebrow at some of the political and social issues that creep up in these books. As this book was written in the 1950s, the big fear was Communism, and several characters are implied to be card-carrying members. But really the most memorable scene in the book probably goes to one of the characters and her tirade against the British police calling them "pigs" and referring to them as the Gestapo, only to have her collection of brandy bottles revealed.
欧宝娱乐 review published 09/04/18( Edited and Revised on 25/01/25)
# 10 in my Agatha Christie Challenge
During the first 50 pages, I thought that Agatha Christie had let Hercule Poirot go a bit soft in her latter books, but then bodies started dropping in a co-ed boarding house and all the signs pointed to murder, which got interesting. As always, there is plenty of fantastic characterization, albeit slightly melodramatic. I never mention enough how much I laugh at Poiriot's loveable arrogance or raise an eyebrow at some of the political and social issues that creep up in these books. As this book was written in the 1950s, the big fear was Communism, and several characters are implied to be card-carrying members. But really the most memorable scene in the book probably goes to one of the characters and her tirade against the British police calling them "pigs" and referring to them as the Gestapo, only to have her collection of brandy bottles revealed.
欧宝娱乐 review published 09/04/18( Edited and Revised on 25/01/25)
July 27, 2024
Definitely not one of Christie's most memorable books, but still entertaining.
December 16, 2022
?? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ????? ????????♀??? ??? ????? ?????? ? ????????? ? ???? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ????????♀???? ??? ?? ?? ???? ?? ??? ????????????? ? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ????? ????????? ???? ?? ?? ??????D:????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ??????????????????? ?? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? Hickory Dickory Dock.
February 4, 2023
The master Belgian detective is at work again …
… but, in HICKORY DICKORY DEATH, he solves the mystery without providing the reader with any inspiration or entertainment.
Residents of a student hostel are puzzled by the meaning of a series of senseless and seemingly unrelated thefts of no particular value or obvious intent. But Hercule, with a carefully considered application of the “little gray cells”, of course, is worried that it may be otherwise. Then an apparent suicide from an overdose of morphia and a subsequent murder make it obvious that the problem is much more than the work of a mean-spirited prankster. Before long, Poirot’s mental sleuthing leads him beyond the group of young students and into the sinister world of international drug smuggling.
HICKORY DICKORY DEATH is entertaining in the sense that it provides a workmanlike mystery whose dots can be connected to the solution only by a detective as brilliant as Poirot. But, if you’re looking for a more typical Poirot mystery that provides the occasional piece of typical Poirot characterizations - snobbery, pomposity, insufferable self aggrandization, humour, bilingual word play, repartee, or droll insulting jabs at the police and their lesser, more grounded abilities - HICKORY DICKORY DEATH is not it. Indeed, the quantity of time that Poirot is even on stage is minimal at best.
HICKORY DICKORY DEATH is definitely to be read by any mystery fan and, in particular, by fans of Agatha Christie and all of her recurring characters. But as far as quality goes, it’s only in the middle of the pack.
Paul Weiss
… but, in HICKORY DICKORY DEATH, he solves the mystery without providing the reader with any inspiration or entertainment.
Residents of a student hostel are puzzled by the meaning of a series of senseless and seemingly unrelated thefts of no particular value or obvious intent. But Hercule, with a carefully considered application of the “little gray cells”, of course, is worried that it may be otherwise. Then an apparent suicide from an overdose of morphia and a subsequent murder make it obvious that the problem is much more than the work of a mean-spirited prankster. Before long, Poirot’s mental sleuthing leads him beyond the group of young students and into the sinister world of international drug smuggling.
HICKORY DICKORY DEATH is entertaining in the sense that it provides a workmanlike mystery whose dots can be connected to the solution only by a detective as brilliant as Poirot. But, if you’re looking for a more typical Poirot mystery that provides the occasional piece of typical Poirot characterizations - snobbery, pomposity, insufferable self aggrandization, humour, bilingual word play, repartee, or droll insulting jabs at the police and their lesser, more grounded abilities - HICKORY DICKORY DEATH is not it. Indeed, the quantity of time that Poirot is even on stage is minimal at best.
HICKORY DICKORY DEATH is definitely to be read by any mystery fan and, in particular, by fans of Agatha Christie and all of her recurring characters. But as far as quality goes, it’s only in the middle of the pack.
Paul Weiss
October 26, 2024
3.25/5
Mnogo?? bohaterów nieco mnie rozprasza?a, a ca?o?? by?a troch? przekombinowana, ale mimo wszystko Christie jak zwykle szokuje!
Mnogo?? bohaterów nieco mnie rozprasza?a, a ca?o?? by?a troch? przekombinowana, ale mimo wszystko Christie jak zwykle szokuje!
March 5, 2025
Еркюл Поаро отива в студентско общежитие на Хикъри Роуд, за да разбере кой е извършил в него поредица странни кражби. Случаят привидно бързо се изяснява, но междувременно там е убито момиче, а пък напрежението между останалите съквартиранти в сградата доста се повишава. Полицията започва да разследва убийството, но и детективът също има важна роля в разплитането на мистерията, която води до разкриване на канал за контрабанда и други жестоки престъпления.
March 13, 2020
????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ????????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ???????
???????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ?? ????????? ???????
???? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ???????
???????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ?? ????????? ???????
???? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ???????
December 27, 2021
An intriguing beginning gone awry and a clever plot defiled by implausible events is all I could say about this novel of the Poirot series. The idea of a possible kleptomaniac in a student hostel sounds interesting, isn't it? Yes, it is. And this original theme attracted me very much to the story. It started well, I must say, with the problem being brought to the notice of our dear Poirot by his secretary Miss Lemon and Poirot assisting Miss Lemon's sister, Mrs. Hubbard, the warden of the hostel. But when the disappearance of items comes to an end with the confession of the "false" kleptomaniac, and in its stead murder takes place and the whole plot is changed, the story begins to go downhill with the monotony of the criminal investigation.
The opinionated statements by Christie about the suspects and her constant defense as to the innocence of one suspect was a bit tiresome and this deliberate attempt at misleading the readers was not too pleasing. Poirot's ingeniousness was in its best element, and he solves the mystery which was baffling to both the police and the readers. But even with Poirot, certain inferences that he made sounded too fantastic. For example, his knowledge of the contents of a certain letter by a dying man to his solicitor, the true relationship between two characters, came out of the blue without any previous hint as to how Poirot could draw such a conclusion. Also, the student characters were so stereotyped which made them uninteresting.
It was alright on the whole, but I would have liked it more had she been a little careful in her creative effort.
The opinionated statements by Christie about the suspects and her constant defense as to the innocence of one suspect was a bit tiresome and this deliberate attempt at misleading the readers was not too pleasing. Poirot's ingeniousness was in its best element, and he solves the mystery which was baffling to both the police and the readers. But even with Poirot, certain inferences that he made sounded too fantastic. For example, his knowledge of the contents of a certain letter by a dying man to his solicitor, the true relationship between two characters, came out of the blue without any previous hint as to how Poirot could draw such a conclusion. Also, the student characters were so stereotyped which made them uninteresting.
It was alright on the whole, but I would have liked it more had she been a little careful in her creative effort.
February 26, 2023
"Order and method" have reigned supreme in Hercule Poirot's life and "now that crumpets were baked square as well as round he had nothing about which to complain." All that is about to change....
February 18, 2013
First off I do understand the criticism aimed at this book. There are too many characters for such a short book and as such hardly any of them are fleshed out. Also Poirot plays a relatively minor role and a lot of the interrogations are actually carried out by his inspector friend (although it is Poirot who finally pieces everything together).
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!
What made this book stand out for me though was the final revelation of the villain. I find that so many detective stories try to shock the reader that it's got to the point where I instantly suspect the people the author obviously doesn't want me to suspect. The little boy, the innocent damsel, the poor disfigured man, the narrator himself, sometimes even the detective himself. I usually discount the initial primary suspect as the murderer from the start. So it came as quite a refreshing surprise to me when Nigel Chapman, the person everyone suspected most, actually turned out to be the villain! The twist was that there was no twist...and that was a brilliant twist! :D
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!
What made this book stand out for me though was the final revelation of the villain. I find that so many detective stories try to shock the reader that it's got to the point where I instantly suspect the people the author obviously doesn't want me to suspect. The little boy, the innocent damsel, the poor disfigured man, the narrator himself, sometimes even the detective himself. I usually discount the initial primary suspect as the murderer from the start. So it came as quite a refreshing surprise to me when Nigel Chapman, the person everyone suspected most, actually turned out to be the villain! The twist was that there was no twist...and that was a brilliant twist! :D
July 20, 2016
A bunch of boarders, mostly students and young folk, get into a bit of mischief which turns out to be more than just a bit of mischief.
Hickory Dickory Dock was published in the latter half of Agatha Christie's career. It's also one of the later Poirot books. As such, it does feel a bit more mature in the characterization and such. But what the hell do I know? I'm no Christie scholar. I've only read a few of her many books. This is yet another one that has me wanting to read more of her work.
In this tale of love, death and well, I'll just say "more," our usual hero Poirot, that diminutive man from Belgium, plays but a small role. That was a disappointment, a disappointment made up for with a slightly more interesting police detective and a variant cast of crazy landlords, rather one-dimensional students and a couple multilayered individuals that had me bouncing back and forth between who I thought had "dunnit".
Maybe this isn't Christie's most memorable work, but it would be a credit to any mystery writer's oeuvre.
Hickory Dickory Dock was published in the latter half of Agatha Christie's career. It's also one of the later Poirot books. As such, it does feel a bit more mature in the characterization and such. But what the hell do I know? I'm no Christie scholar. I've only read a few of her many books. This is yet another one that has me wanting to read more of her work.
In this tale of love, death and well, I'll just say "more," our usual hero Poirot, that diminutive man from Belgium, plays but a small role. That was a disappointment, a disappointment made up for with a slightly more interesting police detective and a variant cast of crazy landlords, rather one-dimensional students and a couple multilayered individuals that had me bouncing back and forth between who I thought had "dunnit".
Maybe this isn't Christie's most memorable work, but it would be a credit to any mystery writer's oeuvre.
March 9, 2023
I won't change my rating since first impressions of reading a story are that count, but in my second reading, I'm not that impressed despite the fact that I didn't remember most of the story!
Maybe it's the fact that even though it's a Hercule Poirot story, Poirot doesn't feel like the protagonist in this book! Maybe the fact I was Google translating so much French!
Seriously, why doesn't the editor add footnotes with those sentences translated since I very much doubt that all readers know French!
The plot is interesting, as is the setting and the suspects!
Through this story, Agatha Christie describes how people from different countries and cultures interact with each other and how differently they view situations that arise and how they react!
Maybe it's the fact that even though it's a Hercule Poirot story, Poirot doesn't feel like the protagonist in this book! Maybe the fact I was Google translating so much French!
Seriously, why doesn't the editor add footnotes with those sentences translated since I very much doubt that all readers know French!
The plot is interesting, as is the setting and the suspects!
Through this story, Agatha Christie describes how people from different countries and cultures interact with each other and how differently they view situations that arise and how they react!
August 5, 2017
“I spit upon the murder”—Mrs. Nicoletti
“They are stupid about love, these girls—as if love mattered” Mrs. Nicoletti
Hickory Dickory Dock is one of Christie’s novels with a nursery rhyme title, though there is little to no connection. There is a Mrs. Hubbard (like the one with a cupboard), but again, this is just Christie being cute. I certainly did read this half my life ago and probably enjoyed it more then than I did this time, in the context of having read the previous 29 Poirot novels. This isn’t one of his best ones, but it is remarkable in that it is one of the rare ones that mentions current politics at all—the McCarthy trials of the early fifties in the U. S. Christie makes fun of people thinking people are Communists everywhere. Poirot also plays a relatively small role in this one, although he does assert his principal interrogational principle: conversation (getting to know people through talking to them).
“Everything interests me”—Poirot
There’s too many characters in this book, and few of them are adequately developed, as a result. We have an array of international students in co-ed housing, including an Indian, African, Jamaican, Egyptian, and so on. I am not sure why she does this, really. I guess she is appealing to some idea of the “exotic” stereotypical foreigner as opposed to the fairly stereotypical, formal/stuffy Brits and the amusingly arrogant Poirot. There’s a pompous British grad student in psychology, Colin, that Christie makes fun of, which is also her way of making fun of pop psychology. Is Celia a kleptomaniac, or is she just stealing stuff to get Colin’s attention and close psychological analysis?
There’s multiple murders in Hickory Dickory Dock, and then this admirably wrapped up conclusion which we have come to expect. Christie especially loves her poisons (morphine overdose, in this one.)! But I thought this was, for Christie, on par. On to #31!!
“They are stupid about love, these girls—as if love mattered” Mrs. Nicoletti
Hickory Dickory Dock is one of Christie’s novels with a nursery rhyme title, though there is little to no connection. There is a Mrs. Hubbard (like the one with a cupboard), but again, this is just Christie being cute. I certainly did read this half my life ago and probably enjoyed it more then than I did this time, in the context of having read the previous 29 Poirot novels. This isn’t one of his best ones, but it is remarkable in that it is one of the rare ones that mentions current politics at all—the McCarthy trials of the early fifties in the U. S. Christie makes fun of people thinking people are Communists everywhere. Poirot also plays a relatively small role in this one, although he does assert his principal interrogational principle: conversation (getting to know people through talking to them).
“Everything interests me”—Poirot
There’s too many characters in this book, and few of them are adequately developed, as a result. We have an array of international students in co-ed housing, including an Indian, African, Jamaican, Egyptian, and so on. I am not sure why she does this, really. I guess she is appealing to some idea of the “exotic” stereotypical foreigner as opposed to the fairly stereotypical, formal/stuffy Brits and the amusingly arrogant Poirot. There’s a pompous British grad student in psychology, Colin, that Christie makes fun of, which is also her way of making fun of pop psychology. Is Celia a kleptomaniac, or is she just stealing stuff to get Colin’s attention and close psychological analysis?
There’s multiple murders in Hickory Dickory Dock, and then this admirably wrapped up conclusion which we have come to expect. Christie especially loves her poisons (morphine overdose, in this one.)! But I thought this was, for Christie, on par. On to #31!!
April 5, 2020
A wonderful story - I give this 4 out of 5 on an Agatha Christie scale as it's not one of her absolute finest, but is still better than 99% of all the other mysteries out there. The story starts with Miss Lemon making 3 mistakes in a letter for Hercule Poirot and develops from there, a lesson for all of us in how many ways there are to begin a story. The plot is good, the characters believable, and the setting is well described. I got the impression Poirot is not in this book as much as some of his other stories and that there's more interaction and dialogue between characters outside of the investigation. Both these items may or may not work depending on your point of view.
October 18, 2017
Hercule Poirot frowned.
"Miss Lemon," he said.
"Yes, M. Poirot?"
"There are three mistakes in this letter."
His voice held incredulity. For Miss Lemon, that hideous and efficient woman, never made mistakes. She was never ill, never tired, never upset, never inaccurate. For all practical purposes, that is to say, she was not a woman at all. She was a machine - the perfect secretary. She knew everything, she coped with everything. She ran Hercule Poirot's life for him, so that it, too, functioned like a machine.
Order and method had been Hercule Poirot's watchwords from many years ago. With George, his perfect manservant, and Miss Lemon, his perfect secretary, order and method ruled supreme in his life. Now that crumpets were baked square as well as round, he had nothing about which to complain.
Square crumpets?! Have I missed these so far?
Anyway, to the book... Hickory Dickory Dock was a fun read, in which Miss Lemon gets some page time. The story is set in 1955 in London and Miss Lemon is worried about her sister and the strange goings on at the hostel where her sister works: Things have gone missing.
In order to return to a life of normalcy and perfection, Poirot offers to help Miss Lemon's sister solve the mystery of the disappearing items.
Hickory Dickory Dock is a great story to note the differences in Christie's writing between the pre- and post-war periods. This story is set in the 50s, and the bright young things are now less decadent and more international. The youth comes across in Christie's dialogues reasonably well, but the international aspect made me cringe.
Let's face it, despite her efforts, Christie just was not great at writing characters from non-English backgrounds.
Still, it was fun watching Poirot solve this, even if sometimes you just want to kick Poirot in the shins.
Hercule Poirot nodded understandingly. It seemed to him appropriate that Miss Lemon's sister should have spent most of her life in Singapore. That was what places like Singapore were for. The sisters of women like Miss Lemon married men in business in Singapore, so that the Miss Lemons of this world could devote themselves with machine-like efficiency to their employers' affairs (and of course to the invention of filing systems in their moments of relaxations).
"Miss Lemon," he said.
"Yes, M. Poirot?"
"There are three mistakes in this letter."
His voice held incredulity. For Miss Lemon, that hideous and efficient woman, never made mistakes. She was never ill, never tired, never upset, never inaccurate. For all practical purposes, that is to say, she was not a woman at all. She was a machine - the perfect secretary. She knew everything, she coped with everything. She ran Hercule Poirot's life for him, so that it, too, functioned like a machine.
Order and method had been Hercule Poirot's watchwords from many years ago. With George, his perfect manservant, and Miss Lemon, his perfect secretary, order and method ruled supreme in his life. Now that crumpets were baked square as well as round, he had nothing about which to complain.
Square crumpets?! Have I missed these so far?
Anyway, to the book... Hickory Dickory Dock was a fun read, in which Miss Lemon gets some page time. The story is set in 1955 in London and Miss Lemon is worried about her sister and the strange goings on at the hostel where her sister works: Things have gone missing.
In order to return to a life of normalcy and perfection, Poirot offers to help Miss Lemon's sister solve the mystery of the disappearing items.
Hickory Dickory Dock is a great story to note the differences in Christie's writing between the pre- and post-war periods. This story is set in the 50s, and the bright young things are now less decadent and more international. The youth comes across in Christie's dialogues reasonably well, but the international aspect made me cringe.
Let's face it, despite her efforts, Christie just was not great at writing characters from non-English backgrounds.
Still, it was fun watching Poirot solve this, even if sometimes you just want to kick Poirot in the shins.
Hercule Poirot nodded understandingly. It seemed to him appropriate that Miss Lemon's sister should have spent most of her life in Singapore. That was what places like Singapore were for. The sisters of women like Miss Lemon married men in business in Singapore, so that the Miss Lemons of this world could devote themselves with machine-like efficiency to their employers' affairs (and of course to the invention of filing systems in their moments of relaxations).
April 29, 2025
Christie's book of the month.
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
December 18, 2019
On the surface a simple case of missing items in a student accommodation seems like an easy mystery for Poirot to solve. Just like the plot this novel has some great hidden depths that gives the reader a snapshot of the time period that this story was written.
I really liked the setting of this story which allows Christie to introduce an eclectic mix of characters, whilst it’s fair to say that the novel feels very 1950’s - she does an admirable job of adding some diversity to the narrative.
The setting of the hostel in Hickory Road (Agatha loves her nursery rhymes!) feels so unique and fresh compared to her other settings, and whilst the hijinks through the first act allows the reader to get use to the characters - I was completely hooked by the time the dead body turned up!
It might not be Christie’s best mystery but their is something fascinatingly different that makes it one not to miss.
I really liked the setting of this story which allows Christie to introduce an eclectic mix of characters, whilst it’s fair to say that the novel feels very 1950’s - she does an admirable job of adding some diversity to the narrative.
The setting of the hostel in Hickory Road (Agatha loves her nursery rhymes!) feels so unique and fresh compared to her other settings, and whilst the hijinks through the first act allows the reader to get use to the characters - I was completely hooked by the time the dead body turned up!
It might not be Christie’s best mystery but their is something fascinatingly different that makes it one not to miss.
September 5, 2023
?????? ???????
August 21, 2023
?????? ??????
??? ???? ????? ? ????? ? ??? ??????
??? ???? ????? ? ????? ? ??? ??????
June 14, 2020
Unos robos sin importancia en una residencia de estudiantes dan paso a un misterioso caso de asesinato. Otro caso a resolver por Poirot, aunque en este caso su protagonismo es menor.
La trama es interesante, entretenida, un sinfín de pistas sin sentido que al final van tomando forma; un conjunto de estudiantes cada cual más variopinto: la modosita, la puritana, el crápula, la americana, el estudioso, el cerebrito, …, especiado todo ello con los cameos de un par de estudiantes indios (de la India) en el típico papel de independentistas anti-sistema y de un estudiante africano, que ?cómo no! es la nota simpática de la trama, en el papel del "negro simplón".
El libro en general me ha gustado, me ha resultado entretenido y me lo he leído en un plis-plas. Como siempre, chirría la actitud paternalista, en este caso hasta racista, que se ve cuando se trata de personajes fuera del estereotipo del inglés blanco, pero es de esperar para la época en que se escribió y la edad/educación de la autora.
La trama es interesante, entretenida, un sinfín de pistas sin sentido que al final van tomando forma; un conjunto de estudiantes cada cual más variopinto: la modosita, la puritana, el crápula, la americana, el estudioso, el cerebrito, …, especiado todo ello con los cameos de un par de estudiantes indios (de la India) en el típico papel de independentistas anti-sistema y de un estudiante africano, que ?cómo no! es la nota simpática de la trama, en el papel del "negro simplón".
El libro en general me ha gustado, me ha resultado entretenido y me lo he leído en un plis-plas. Como siempre, chirría la actitud paternalista, en este caso hasta racista, que se ve cuando se trata de personajes fuera del estereotipo del inglés blanco, pero es de esperar para la época en que se escribió y la edad/educación de la autora.
December 22, 2021
Hickory Dickory Dock sees detective Hercule Poirot helping his secretary's sister in a very bizarre case. At a London youth hostel random items are being stolen. Some items reappear, but there seems to be no logic to the thefts. Can Poirot solve the mystery ? Of course he can.
Agatha Christie sets up a somewhat offbeat crime & throws Poirot & his obsession with order into the mix. The plot certainly has an intriguing opening, but even the fanous Belgian detective admits (& I agree with him) that some aspects of the solution are "far fetched" & implausible.
This might not be Christie's finest hour, but it does have a certain old world charm about it & it's a pleasant enough piece of entertainment.
Agatha Christie sets up a somewhat offbeat crime & throws Poirot & his obsession with order into the mix. The plot certainly has an intriguing opening, but even the fanous Belgian detective admits (& I agree with him) that some aspects of the solution are "far fetched" & implausible.
This might not be Christie's finest hour, but it does have a certain old world charm about it & it's a pleasant enough piece of entertainment.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,314 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.