Book Review: The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
Author: Agatha Christie
Publisher: Harper Collins, India

I have not read much of Christie’s mysteries but the ones that I have read, have always given me a good time. Whether it was The Mysterious Affair at Styles or Murder on the Orient Express, each murder mystery is laced with intricate plot details and unprecedented twists that can leave the readers at the edge of their seats. Along came The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (and other stories) that have Hercules Poirot as the pivotal character. His wit and suave nature are there throughout to entertain.

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is a collection of six stories (abridged versions) that uncover the truth behind unusual murders. While the titular story traces the mystery behind a Ruby that’s present inside the pudding, the Mystery of the Spanish Chest deals with the dead body of the only person who made up his mind not to attend the party where the murder took place just minutes before the deed. The Underdog and Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds are slightly slow-paced but The Dream is my favourite amongst the lot. As the needle of suspicion rotates from one character to another, the revelations are sure to give you heebie-jeebies.

I also liked the titular story because of the way Poirot gets involved in a romantic encounter with Bridget. Agatha Christie’s writing is clever, with little scope of a flaw in terms of plot execution. I remember how difficult it is for me to teach these stories to Middle School children owing to their web-like complexity. But once these kids understand, they cannot help but fall in awe of Christie’s writing.

Overall, The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is a great collection to have. It’s a great read! Kudos to Harper Collins for the immaculate indentation and beautiful cover.

Buy this book from here: Amazon