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Hercule Poirot #0.37
Yellow Iris: a Hercule Poirot Short Story
Hercule Poirot gets an an alarming telephone call late at night, in which the phrases “it’s life and death” and “the table with the yellow irises," are whispered. It results in Poirot rushing to the luxurious restaurant Jardin des Cygnes. He's desperate to stop an impending murder, and find the person behind the voice on the phone. After bumping into an old acquaintance, he is invited to join a dinner party in full swing. But, just as the dancing begins and champagne is overflowing, a morbid announcement is made and the lights go out. By the time they come back on, everything has changed….
Librarian's note: this entry is for the story, "Yellow Iris." Collections of short stories by the author can be found elsewhere on Goodreads. Individual entries for all Poirot short stories can be found by searching Goodreads for: "a Hercule Poirot Short Story."
Librarian's note: this entry is for the story, "Yellow Iris." Collections of short stories by the author can be found elsewhere on Goodreads. Individual entries for all Poirot short stories can be found by searching Goodreads for: "a Hercule Poirot Short Story."
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1937
About the author
Agatha Christie
6,366 books79k 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 Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (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 Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
June 1, 2019
This was a very enjoyable short story that shows of Poirot to great effect, his intuition, his knowledge of human nature and his little grey cells.
I remember it as a fabulous TV episode with David Suchet as Poirot, but I also remember it as more complicated than this short story. Maybe my memory of the TV episode is enhance by the fact that Agatha Christie did extend this short story to the novel Sparkling Cyanide. However in doing so she dropped poor old Poirot and replaced him by her stalwart Colonel Race.
All of that said this was an enjoyable detective story, read as part of my Poirot Buddy read from January2018 to December 2020.
I remember it as a fabulous TV episode with David Suchet as Poirot, but I also remember it as more complicated than this short story. Maybe my memory of the TV episode is enhance by the fact that Agatha Christie did extend this short story to the novel Sparkling Cyanide. However in doing so she dropped poor old Poirot and replaced him by her stalwart Colonel Race.
All of that said this was an enjoyable detective story, read as part of my Poirot Buddy read from January2018 to December 2020.
September 7, 2025
This was the basis for the novel Sparkling Cyanide, but the plot was changed up quite a bit from that one to this one. It was still very recognizable, though, because the widower gathers everyone for a creepy reenactment of the night his wife committed suicide and/or was murdered.
POISON!?
In Sparkling Cyanide, it's Colonel Race as the retired MI5 officer who investigates the suspicious goings-on, but in Yellow Iris, it's Poirot who responds to an anonymous plea for help on the telephone.
He shows up at a restaurant in search of a table with yellow irises, ready to save the day.
And of course, he does.
This one was fun for me, but I enjoy seeing how Christie took so many of her shorts and expanded on them. I'd definitely recommend this one to completionists like myself!
Ortiginally published in The Strand Magazine in 1937.
Read as part of the short story collection The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories.
POISON!?
In Sparkling Cyanide, it's Colonel Race as the retired MI5 officer who investigates the suspicious goings-on, but in Yellow Iris, it's Poirot who responds to an anonymous plea for help on the telephone.
He shows up at a restaurant in search of a table with yellow irises, ready to save the day.
And of course, he does.
This one was fun for me, but I enjoy seeing how Christie took so many of her shorts and expanded on them. I'd definitely recommend this one to completionists like myself!
Ortiginally published in The Strand Magazine in 1937.
Read as part of the short story collection The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories.
September 6, 2025
‘M. Poirot – can you come at once – at once – I’m in danger – in great danger – I know it …’
At once … it’s life or death … the Jardin des Cygnes … at once … table with yellow irises …’
Yellow Iris is one of those stories with a great premise - a widower invites the same set of friends that were present when his wife dies/ was murdered a few years ago and there is danger in the air once again - or so intriguing that there might not really be a solvable case, thereby leading to reliance on dramatics to move the plot forward. The characters themselves weren't interesting or motivated, they mostly seemed to just party - however strange that is on a death anniversary.
The whole story just has an ambience of jazz age mystery and danger without any clever solves or Poirot's 'order and method', not really recommended for the Christie fans who prefer a good solving procedure.
🌟1/2🌟
[Half a star for the premise; 1/4 stars for the characters; Zero stars for the plot; 1/4 star for the world-building; Half a star for the writing - 1 1/2 stars in total.]
At once … it’s life or death … the Jardin des Cygnes … at once … table with yellow irises …’
Yellow Iris is one of those stories with a great premise - a widower invites the same set of friends that were present when his wife dies/ was murdered a few years ago and there is danger in the air once again - or so intriguing that there might not really be a solvable case, thereby leading to reliance on dramatics to move the plot forward. The characters themselves weren't interesting or motivated, they mostly seemed to just party - however strange that is on a death anniversary.
The whole story just has an ambience of jazz age mystery and danger without any clever solves or Poirot's 'order and method', not really recommended for the Christie fans who prefer a good solving procedure.
🌟1/2🌟
[Half a star for the premise; 1/4 stars for the characters; Zero stars for the plot; 1/4 star for the world-building; Half a star for the writing - 1 1/2 stars in total.]
September 25, 2024
This one was fan but too dramatic (and a bit silly).
This story was first published in July 1937.
Years later (1945), this short story was adapted for an extended version, which was published as “Sparkling Cyanide” (also known as “Remembered Death”), a much better version, but with Colonel Race, instead of M. Poirot.
This story was first published in July 1937.
Years later (1945), this short story was adapted for an extended version, which was published as “Sparkling Cyanide” (also known as “Remembered Death”), a much better version, but with Colonel Race, instead of M. Poirot.
August 8, 2026
The radio play adaptation of 'Yellow Iris'
A review of the Samuel French / Concord Theatricals online eBook (December 5, 2019) of the radio play first broadcast November 2, 1937 and adapted from the same-titled short story (The Strand Magazine in July 1937).
Poirot is called out to a nightclub where a caller has told him that she is in danger. Poirot arrives, but all at first seems normal. Gradually he perceives that a murder attempt will be made, but he manages to defuse the situation in time.
Due to the nightclub setting, the plot is constantly interrupted by a selection of original cabaret songs. The lyrics (written by Christopher Hassall and not by Agatha Christie) are included in the playscript. These completely distract from the mystery plot and make for a rather tiresome reading experience. The reaction from the radio audience was similar, as you can read at the play's Wikipedia article.
No archived recording of the radio broadcast has been found and I could not find any evidence of the songs having any later performances or recordings.
This is my fifth review of Agatha Christie's shorter (usually 25-40 minute) plays written as originals or adapted from short stories back in the day. These are probably the most obscure works of Christie. The usually thorough Wikipedia bibliography of Christie only lists 5 of them. Even the Agatha Christie official website only lists 6 of them. I can find at least 9 (see under Trivia and Links below), although one of those is not publicly available.
The radio play of Yellow Iris counts against my Complete Agatha Christie binge read goal, so as of early August 2026 I have 4 novels (including 2 remaining Westmacotts), 1 short story collection, 5 full-length theatrical plays, 1 short one-Act plays) and 1 autobiography left to go.
Trivia and Links
As best as I can currently find there are at least 8 of the shorter radio, television or theatrical plays which are available to read or to listen to as of August 2026. A 9th radio play, the original Three Blind Mice (1947), does not have a surviving radio recording or a publicly available script. The dates and timings are from various sources (Official Agatha Christie website, Wikipedia, publishers Concord Theatricals/Samuel French, Audible Audio) with timings approximate and some still to be confirmed. Not all of these plays or anthologies have a separate listing on Goodreads.
I have stroked through those that I have now read or listened to or which are not available. The stroke-throughs are not visible on all platforms (e.g. mobile phones), so I have also marked them with an X.
1. The Wasp's Nest (Originally broadcast as a live television play on the BBC June 18, 1937) adapted from the same-titled Hercule Poirot short story (1928), also available as part of A Poirot Double Bill & Rule of Three & Rule of Thumb - 25 minutes X
2. The Yellow Iris (1937) adapted from the same-titled Hercule Poirot short story (1937), also available as part of Murder in the Studio and/or A Poirot Double Bill - 60 minutes X
3. Three Blind Mice (May 1947), the original radio play version of what later became a short story, and then a full length stage play The Mousetrap, A Play In Two Acts (1952). No recording or publicly available script exists. X
4. Butter in a Lordly Dish (1948), the original BBC audio recording is also available as part of the audiobook Agatha Christie: The Lost Plays (2015) - 30 minutes X
5. Personal Call (1954), the original BBC audio recording is also available as part of the audiobook Agatha Christie: The Lost Plays (2015) - 30 minutes X
6. Murder in the Mews (1955) an adaptation of the same-titled Hercule Poirot short story / novella (1936), there does not appear to be a printed version of this, but the original BBC audio recording is available as part of the audiobook Agatha Christie: The Lost Plays (2015) - 60 minutes [this adaptation is not by Christie herself and therefore may not be considered part of the canon, but it was made in her lifetime so presumably she had some right of approval.] X
7. Afternoon At The Seaside (1962) also available as part of Rule of Three - 55? minutes
8. The Patient (First performed at the Duchess Theatre, London December 29, 1962) also available as part of Rule of Three & Rule of Thumb - 40 minutes X
9. The Rats (1961, first performed at the Duchess Theatre, London, December 20, 1962) also available as part of Rule of Three & Rule of Thumb- 35 minutes X
A review of the Samuel French / Concord Theatricals online eBook (December 5, 2019) of the radio play first broadcast November 2, 1937 and adapted from the same-titled short story (The Strand Magazine in July 1937).
[on the telephone]
PAULINE.(urgently) Is that Monsieur Hercule Poirot? Is that Hercule Poirot?
POIROT. Hercule Poirot speaks!
PAULINE. Monsieur Poirot, can you come at once - at once? I'm in great danger, I know it!
POIROT. Who are you? From where are you speaking?
PAULINE. At once ... It may be life or death! The Jardin des Cygnes ... at once ... table with yellow irises -
(the line goes dead)
Poirot is called out to a nightclub where a caller has told him that she is in danger. Poirot arrives, but all at first seems normal. Gradually he perceives that a murder attempt will be made, but he manages to defuse the situation in time.
Due to the nightclub setting, the plot is constantly interrupted by a selection of original cabaret songs. The lyrics (written by Christopher Hassall and not by Agatha Christie) are included in the playscript. These completely distract from the mystery plot and make for a rather tiresome reading experience. The reaction from the radio audience was similar, as you can read at the play's Wikipedia article.
No archived recording of the radio broadcast has been found and I could not find any evidence of the songs having any later performances or recordings.
This is my fifth review of Agatha Christie's shorter (usually 25-40 minute) plays written as originals or adapted from short stories back in the day. These are probably the most obscure works of Christie. The usually thorough Wikipedia bibliography of Christie only lists 5 of them. Even the Agatha Christie official website only lists 6 of them. I can find at least 9 (see under Trivia and Links below), although one of those is not publicly available.
The radio play of Yellow Iris counts against my Complete Agatha Christie binge read goal, so as of early August 2026 I have 4 novels (including 2 remaining Westmacotts), 1 short story collection, 5 full-length theatrical plays, 1 short one-Act plays) and 1 autobiography left to go.
Trivia and Links
As best as I can currently find there are at least 8 of the shorter radio, television or theatrical plays which are available to read or to listen to as of August 2026. A 9th radio play, the original Three Blind Mice (1947), does not have a surviving radio recording or a publicly available script. The dates and timings are from various sources (Official Agatha Christie website, Wikipedia, publishers Concord Theatricals/Samuel French, Audible Audio) with timings approximate and some still to be confirmed. Not all of these plays or anthologies have a separate listing on Goodreads.
I have stroked through those that I have now read or listened to or which are not available. The stroke-throughs are not visible on all platforms (e.g. mobile phones), so I have also marked them with an X.
7. Afternoon At The Seaside (1962) also available as part of Rule of Three - 55? minutes
November 11, 2025
"The English they do not have a cuisine, my friend, they have only the food."
Agatha Christie, Yellow Iris: A Short Story (Hercule Poirot)
Review to follow.
Agatha Christie, Yellow Iris: A Short Story (Hercule Poirot)
Review to follow.
January 2, 2022
4 Stars. It's late at night at the home of a world famous detective. He's warming his feet by the radiator. The telephone rings. He jumps. He imagines it to be a call about a country house murder, his forte. With the rich man found holding an orchid! It's not, but there is a flower involved! Poirot is a detective after all, and a desperate voice, that of a husky woman, tells him to come quickly to one of his favourite restaurants to a table with the yellow irises. The short story, just 21 pages, appeared first in "The Strand" in 1937. I found it in "The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories" of 1939, reprinted more recently by HarperCollins. At the late night club, Luigi the Maître D', directs Hercule Poirot to the table of Barton Russell, an American millionaire, where he finds an acquaintance, Anthony Chapell. It's a rather morbid dinner party; the yellow irises are there to recognize the sad fourth anniversary of the death of Russell's young wife. But who called Poirot and why was he summoned? I hope you enjoy, as I did, the synchronicity of Poirot's imagined murder in the country house, and this soiree at the Jardin des Cygnes night club. (March 2021)
January 6, 2019
One of Agatha Christie's popular character, Hercule Poirot is back, this one is a case that is very different then the previous ones. Poirot receives a call from a woman who is need of his assistance to help him stop a killer that might be wanting to kill her.
These short stories of Christie's are so nice when you need something quick to read, or you don't have the time to start or want to start a new book just so you can quit reading in a half an hour. These are quick, cute, fun little reads that still filled with plenty of enjoyment as a full length novel.
These short stories of Christie's are so nice when you need something quick to read, or you don't have the time to start or want to start a new book just so you can quit reading in a half an hour. These are quick, cute, fun little reads that still filled with plenty of enjoyment as a full length novel.
December 28, 2020
Preceduto da un'interessante introduzione che racconta la Agatha Christie drammaturga, Iris gialli in realtà è un radiodramma che parla di denaro e vendetta. Al centro una combriccola che ha assistito al suicidio (o forse omicidio, chi lo sa) di una loro amica e che si ritrova senza saperlo con l'obiettivo di commemorarla. Peccato che questa diventa l'occasione per un altro delitto, ma c'è Poirot e lui, si sa, è infallibile! Ben costruita, bella idea, ma un po' stucchevole il dialogo che porta alla risoluzione del delitto
September 11, 2017
Now this story was different from other Poirot stories. Very quick and entertaining read.
On the Edition: Very well done audio edition by HarperAudio. The reader was a superb voice actor.
On the Edition: Very well done audio edition by HarperAudio. The reader was a superb voice actor.
February 7, 2012
Yellow Iris is a short story by Agatha Christie involving the detective Hercule Poirot.
In Yellow Iris Poirot is called upon to attend a party where a murder is about to take place. It's up to Poirot to stop the murderer from striking again.
I'm really enjoying the short stories by Agatha Christie. Poirot is at his best here, and also at his most conceited too! He knows that a murder will be placed in his lap and he knows he will solve it.
Yellow Iris had a great twist at the end, and I found it thoroughly enjoyable. If you're a Agatha Christie fan I strongly recommend these short stories.
In Yellow Iris Poirot is called upon to attend a party where a murder is about to take place. It's up to Poirot to stop the murderer from striking again.
I'm really enjoying the short stories by Agatha Christie. Poirot is at his best here, and also at his most conceited too! He knows that a murder will be placed in his lap and he knows he will solve it.
Yellow Iris had a great twist at the end, and I found it thoroughly enjoyable. If you're a Agatha Christie fan I strongly recommend these short stories.
December 2, 2015
Hercule Poirot after a very upsetting phone call from a mystery woman, attends to a party and tries to stop a killer before he or she kill again. Yellow Iris was a short Agatha's story with a twist and I loved it!
June 2, 2019
Haha oh yes! Just what the doctor ordered, a champagne cocktail mystery.
May 30, 2019
Very short story, doesn’t really allow for any character development, just Poirot pulling a solution out of the air following what appears to be a murder at a nightclub. No real investigation or background, just a dramatic scene - definitely leaves some questions about a questionable past death unanswered.
August 13, 2016
Another fast, enjoyable read from the mistress of mysteries!
August 16, 2026
I thought it strange that they let the (potential) murder just slide and decided to not involve the authorities.
July 1, 2019
Not one of Agatha's best short stories. Its too short to really develop much of anything, either in plot or personality. The idea of the murder also seems ridiculous to me, almost a deadly game of Duck Duck Goose or Musical Chairs. Poirot also doesn't have much opportunity to shine, which is usually enough to save an otherwise flailing mystery. Skip this one.
February 25, 2020
I enjoy the wit but not the hubris of Hercule Poirot. I also think I enjoy longer books where you get a better feel for the different characters through prolonged exposure. I'm not a fan of Poirot announcing who he is, and because he is who he is, he gets to do as he wishes.
February 16, 2015
Always find Christie a good light read. This one didn't let me down
March 1, 2017
Not many words, bland plot -- but Hercule makes the difference. 4 stars.
March 9, 2017
Always a fun set of characters.
April 18, 2018
Hands down the weirdest Christie/Poirot story I've read with regards to style, format, pacing, overall construction. Feels much more contemporary.
September 20, 2018
easy one. simple and interesting story
October 15, 2018
Sub-par.
March 26, 2019
The narrator of this audiobook ruined this story for me with his overacting
April 13, 2019
Can't wait to read the novel which is said to be an extended version of this short story. The twist was so good you know it will make a better story if longer!
September 25, 2019
This was way too short to really do anything. Everything happens so quickly it almost made no sense.
October 29, 2019
A mysterious call leads Poirot to a restaurant and an unexpected encounter with an old friend, and manages to solve a murder. I'm loving these novellas in the audio format, lots of great narrators
December 20, 2019
This is the one like Sparkling Cyanide.
January 25, 2020
Short Stories.....
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews