Wednesday December 06, 2006

Poirot Investigates...

Another book of short stories featuring the egg shaped head and dapper Poirot. The stories are told by his friend Hastings. Most have been televised into one hour shows and extended to make the story fit the time alloted. My favourites from the book...

The Million Dollar Bond Robbery, where a bank send a load of Bonds off to America with a guardian from that bank only to find they are stolen from the vault they were placed in. Poirot suspects a setup as it appears the guardian must be the person who stole them but this is not so. In the TV show his guilt is enhanced as he was a gambler with a big dept..

The kidnapped Prime Minster. Before World War Two breaks out it is essential the the British PM speaks at a conference. On his travels he has a pot shot aimed at him then on his way abroad he appears to be kidnapped. The TV show is brilliant here. The Government officials re clamouring for Poirot to do something but he stolidly sits down and thinks his way to the solution on where the PM has got too.

The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim. another great story improved by its adaption on TV. Mr Davenheim goes missing and his safe in his house has been ransacked. Poirot keeps focus on the case and soon shows that Mr Davenheim is not all he seems...

The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman. In he TV show the interview with the chef in the serviced apartments where the victim lies dead is taken straight out of the book. Also in the TV show Hastings is buying a new car which ends up in a car chase and is pretty much written off afterwards much to his disgust. Miss Lemon Poirot's assistant also happens to have fallen in love with the person who commited the murder - adding to the complications..

So all in all some great short stories to read before bed.