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Hercule Poirot #0.36
Murder in the Mews: a Hercule Poirot Short Story
In this interesting short story, a young woman appears to have committed suicide while her roommate was away for the weekend. When the roommate returned, she found the upsetting scene, and called the police.
However the lead inspector, our friend Japp, was sufficiently doubtful about the cause of death that he called in the help of Hercule Poirot. Where will the inconsistencies lead?
Librarian's note: this entry is for the short story, "Murder in the Mews." Collections of stories by the author, including the collection with this one as the lead story, can be found elsewhere on Goodreads. The individual entries for all Poirot short stories can be found by searching Goodreads for: "a Hercule Poirot Short Story."
However the lead inspector, our friend Japp, was sufficiently doubtful about the cause of death that he called in the help of Hercule Poirot. Where will the inconsistencies lead?
Librarian's note: this entry is for the short story, "Murder in the Mews." Collections of stories by the author, including the collection with this one as the lead story, can be found elsewhere on Goodreads. The individual entries for all Poirot short stories can be found by searching Goodreads for: "a Hercule Poirot Short Story."
78 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 1937
264 people are currently reading
1689 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,977 books76.8k 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)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
August 3, 2025
“Well,” he said. “I know what I’m going to do next. What about you?” “Eh bien,” said Poirot. “I shall complete my search for the unimportant. There is still the dustbin.”
Poirot sees past the murder indications when a strange murder case staged as a suicide come to Inspector Japp's attention in Murder in the Mews to uncover the problems suffered by the victim and what really happened, by searching for the seemingly unimportant.
The premise and plot points are similar to The Market Basing Mystery which came out first I think, but this is the extended and polished novella with the same concepts. The characters, including the victim and themes of murder/ suicide and blackmail are all better developed in this iteration.
The moral implications and Poirot's perspective of the seemingly unimportant but vital indications add extra depth to the plot. On the whole, a good mystery and definitely recommended for a novella.
“Your Sherlock Holmes did the same. He drew attention, remember, to the curious incident of the dog in the night-time—and the answer to that was there was no curious incident. The dog did nothing in the nighttime.”
🌟🌟🌟3/4
[3/4 star for the premise; 3/4 star for the characters; 3/4 star for the plot; 3/4 star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing - 3 3/4 star in total.]
Poirot sees past the murder indications when a strange murder case staged as a suicide come to Inspector Japp's attention in Murder in the Mews to uncover the problems suffered by the victim and what really happened, by searching for the seemingly unimportant.
The premise and plot points are similar to The Market Basing Mystery which came out first I think, but this is the extended and polished novella with the same concepts. The characters, including the victim and themes of murder/ suicide and blackmail are all better developed in this iteration.
The moral implications and Poirot's perspective of the seemingly unimportant but vital indications add extra depth to the plot. On the whole, a good mystery and definitely recommended for a novella.
“Your Sherlock Holmes did the same. He drew attention, remember, to the curious incident of the dog in the night-time—and the answer to that was there was no curious incident. The dog did nothing in the nighttime.”
🌟🌟🌟3/4
[3/4 star for the premise; 3/4 star for the characters; 3/4 star for the plot; 3/4 star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing - 3 3/4 star in total.]
July 24, 2025
Poirot and Japp investigate a murder that has been made to look like suicide.
Badly made to look like suicide. Poirot has to untangle quite a few knots to unravel a blackmailer's scheme gone wrong.
But unravel them he does.
Keep your eye on the attache case at the golf course.
Or not. Could just be a red herring after all.
Recommended.
I read this as part of the short story collection Murder in the Mews.
Badly made to look like suicide. Poirot has to untangle quite a few knots to unravel a blackmailer's scheme gone wrong.
But unravel them he does.
Keep your eye on the attache case at the golf course.
Or not. Could just be a red herring after all.
Recommended.
I read this as part of the short story collection Murder in the Mews.
June 21, 2019
Quite a unique mystery, and one that I wish I had read before seeing the TV adaption, although the Suchet version is faithful to the text to a large extent. Many short stories can feel rushed or as if they do not have enough room to really develop in a significant way. Christie is successful here by keeping a small cast of characters and a tightly wound plot that keeps the suspense going, but doesn't feel half-baked. Her superb ability to describe a character so thoroughly in just a sentence or two means that she doesn't get bogged down in too much detail where it isn't needed. One of my favorite Poirot short stories thus far, only diminished by the lack of our dear Hastings!
January 3, 2022
3 Stars. The title story of a collection of four in a book of the same name. An eighty page novelette which was first serialized in "Redbook" in the United States in the fall of 1936. The book came out in 1937. It's good; there's an amusing twist, but it's nothing to write home about! As Poirot remarks to Inspector Japp when walking home after dinner, "It's a good night for murder." It was the 5th of November, the night for fireworks and being thankful that Guy Fawkes failed to blow up Parliament and the King in 1605. The next morning, Japp calls Poirot and stuns him with, "There was a suicide in the mews." They had walked through there the previous evening. A young widow, Barbara Allen shot herself. Her flat mate, Jane Plenderleith, had been out of town and returned to find the terrible scene. The police doctor however found inconsistencies. It may have been murder masked as suicide. There's a political side to the case; Mrs. Allen was engaged to Charles Laverton-West, an up-and-coming MP. Then there's Major Eustace from India, who's he? This was not adding-up and Poirot gets to work. (August 2020)
October 5, 2024
Re-read 4th October 2024.
It was first published as a book in the collection Murder in the Mews in 1937, which consisted of four novella length Poirot stories gathered in one volume. I have a copy.
I own it also as part of a collection of twelve short stories including four Poirot cases.”Autumn Chills”
I like this story so much you may be surprised to learn I possess a third copy as an ebook in its individual form.
This is a great Poirot murder mystery where a suicide looks all wrong.
A real bonus of this story is that it is sympathetic to the often maligned Chief Inspector Japp. The story starts with the pair walking back to Poirot’s flat having been out together for dinner. Thereafter, the episode demonstrates their working relationship and respect for each other.
I remember my early visits to London when I too took short cuts down these old fashioned, converted mews. It didn’t strike me at the time but as this novella demonstrates one downside to living in such a location. Would be that the neighbours perhaps would know all your business.
The misdirection here isn’t intended to get one over on the reader; the clues are all there. Poirot’s methods should not be ignored, what he says and what he does is openly shown. It is the intelligence of one of the characters that would mislead and confuse. Unfortunately for them Poirot was not taken in and solves the case, just like we love him to do.
It was first published as a book in the collection Murder in the Mews in 1937, which consisted of four novella length Poirot stories gathered in one volume. I have a copy.
I own it also as part of a collection of twelve short stories including four Poirot cases.”Autumn Chills”
I like this story so much you may be surprised to learn I possess a third copy as an ebook in its individual form.
This is a great Poirot murder mystery where a suicide looks all wrong.
A real bonus of this story is that it is sympathetic to the often maligned Chief Inspector Japp. The story starts with the pair walking back to Poirot’s flat having been out together for dinner. Thereafter, the episode demonstrates their working relationship and respect for each other.
I remember my early visits to London when I too took short cuts down these old fashioned, converted mews. It didn’t strike me at the time but as this novella demonstrates one downside to living in such a location. Would be that the neighbours perhaps would know all your business.
The misdirection here isn’t intended to get one over on the reader; the clues are all there. Poirot’s methods should not be ignored, what he says and what he does is openly shown. It is the intelligence of one of the characters that would mislead and confuse. Unfortunately for them Poirot was not taken in and solves the case, just like we love him to do.
Read
March 17, 2025A woman is found dead, shot in the head during bonfire night. She is found alone in her locked bedroom, is it suicide or murder? Poirot is here to figure it out! Very nice short story!
December 8, 2022
Awesome twists :))
June 30, 2020
A brilliant short mystery..
I liked particularly coz it is fast paced..
The clues were superb and definitely the suspense was different..
One of its kind, ( like all of her other works )
I liked particularly coz it is fast paced..
The clues were superb and definitely the suspense was different..
One of its kind, ( like all of her other works )
August 18, 2018
Once again, Hercule Poirot manages to work his way through the seemingly unsolvable mystery. In "Murder in the Mews," also published as "Dead Man's Mirror," he's confronted with four short stories - the perfect length for bedtime reading.
In the titular story, Hercule is able to pinpoint whether a young lady's seeming suicide is or isn't; in "The Incredible Theft," Hercule must recover an important government document which has disappeared while a suspicious guest attended a house party. "Dead Man's Mirror" gives another Poirot another suicide to solve, while in "Triangle at Rhodes," murder follows Poirot on vacation.
I believe this was published originally in 1937; it's certainly Poirot at his best and Christie at hers. Delightful.
In the titular story, Hercule is able to pinpoint whether a young lady's seeming suicide is or isn't; in "The Incredible Theft," Hercule must recover an important government document which has disappeared while a suspicious guest attended a house party. "Dead Man's Mirror" gives another Poirot another suicide to solve, while in "Triangle at Rhodes," murder follows Poirot on vacation.
I believe this was published originally in 1937; it's certainly Poirot at his best and Christie at hers. Delightful.
April 16, 2015
This isn't even the actual book I read bc they its so old they don't even have it on here. But this book was ok, (Murder in the Mews) and I truly respect the author. She is one of the greatest writers of all time, but this book came out in 1937, and now days we can't truly appreciate the art she made because we don't use the same language or style she used with writing back then.
June 16, 2017
A taste of mystery and murder in these 4 short stories with Hercule Poirot. A dose of entertainment from the master of suspense, Agatha Ghristie.
January 24, 2019
Oh! Poor girl. Suicide. How awful. Or... was it murder? Or was it suicide?? Or was it (attempted) murder...of a different victim?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2019
Loved it!!
July 9, 2021
A surprisingly interesting story, with a lot of twists and turns and red herrings in all the right places. This one was really enjoyable.
October 25, 2021
Weniger ist manchmal mehr, dass dachte ich, als Poirot seine Lösung vorlegte. Wer weiß, ob der Täter andernfalls gefunden worden wäre.
July 9, 2022
English is my first language, and yet I always learn new expressions from Agatha Christie.
hairy at the heel = dangerous or untrustworthy
gasper = a cheap cigarette
Full-cast audio adaptation. I guessed the ending, but that's because it was a short story, so there wasn't time to bring in her usual nine or ten suspects. When there are only three suspects, it isn't hard to pick the right one.
hairy at the heel = dangerous or untrustworthy
gasper = a cheap cigarette
Full-cast audio adaptation. I guessed the ending, but that's because it was a short story, so there wasn't time to bring in her usual nine or ten suspects. When there are only three suspects, it isn't hard to pick the right one.
September 16, 2023
3.5 stars
February 24, 2017
I got myself a pile of lesser known ACs at a book sale and just threw myself into them! This one is a little pot-boiler: four novellas, very fast paced, from incident to crime scene to interrogation to conclusion in 20-50 pages, and even more satisfying was I got 2 out of the four before the denouement! There's nothing literary about these, I just adore the scenes and the language and the character sketches...as murderous as she is, she also always makes me smile!
February 12, 2017
I loved this collection of stories. Each one drew me in and, like a previous reviewer, my favourite was the last one. I would have liked to have had the last one extended into a full novel.
July 9, 2017
I like how the 'criminal' did things. Very smart (if her opponent wasn't Poirot xd) I enjoyed it!
September 23, 2017
One of my favorite Christies, a real gem, sophisticated, dark, full of London at the time.
December 9, 2017
Fun read, and one of these times I will figure it out before they reveal everything. One day.
If you haven't read something by Agatha Christie, do it now!
If you haven't read something by Agatha Christie, do it now!
August 7, 2018
Another solid set of short stories. I had read a few of them in a other works, but they were fun to revisit and this is a quick read.
June 29, 2021
Excellent collection. Slowly winding my way through all the Agatha Christie books and thoroughly enjoying the ride.
July 19, 2021
Somewhat strange for a short story. Not as obvious as most short stories are.
March 20, 2023
A short easy-to-follow mystery that was first published in 1937. Hercule Poirot has a big role in this mystery and I really liked his detective work! There is even a little humor between Hercule and Chief inspector, Japp.
Mrs. Barbara Allen, is found dead lying on the floor in her boudoir holding a gun in her hand. How she died remains a mystery. Was it murder or suicide? Her roommate Miss Jane Plenderleith becomes a suspect and so does Mrs. Allen’s fiancé, Charles Leverton-West. Together Hercule Poirot, and Chief inspector, Japp solve this murder mystery.
On November 5,
Mrs. Barbara Allen, is found dead lying on the floor in her boudoir holding a gun in her hand. How she died remains a mystery. Was it murder or suicide? Her roommate Miss Jane Plenderleith becomes a suspect and so does Mrs. Allen’s fiancé, Charles Leverton-West. Together Hercule Poirot, and Chief inspector, Japp solve this murder mystery.
On November 5,
January 28, 2023
short story. fast paced. predictable.
January 2, 2022
An entertaining collection of short stories, four in all, and that's about all I have to say about it.
Read
February 11, 2021Murder in the Mews, consists of 4 different stories, or should I say four different cases! I think um already a "A.Christie" fan! Her style of writing and plotting is so brilliant that it gives me those kind of feeling, when someone steals your mascara from your eyelashes and you don't even sense it! That's how precise her thinking is_she exactly knows what she is up to, or what she's gonna create! Well this is my second read of Agatha so I can be biased but technically I have read 5 solid stories of suspense from her (as this contains 4 stories). And I found her solution magical on an average, (some are super brilliant and others are brilliant) till now.
The first case in this book is "Murder in the Mews". Within 1 or 2 pages of reading I knew it was not a suicide it was a murder and soon Poirot gonna clear everything out! But then, there popped up suspensions! Is it really a murder? Or a suicide? Or a murder being committed and arranged like suicde? Or vise versa! Each page passes by, the air of suspense gets thicker and thicker. But M. Hercule Poirot left no stone unturned, you can't be in puzzle for so long! He has answer to your every question.
Particular Rating: 3.5/5
But I wonder even more when he solved the second case in " The Incredible Theft". Without a clue, but a clue! I found him stupendously fantastic in the second case. He not only knows the "whys" and "hows" of an action of the guilty one but also is very clear about human gestures_both of the guilty and not-guilty. He might be a little man but his intelligence deserves a bow.
Particular Rating: 3/5
"Dead Man's Mirror", the third one suggested something horror by name! At least I felt that way! But wait, is it so?... By the way it is the very story where I was doubtful about Poirot !! I was way too disappoint to find that Poirot took the wrong one as guilty! But as I mentioned before, his intelligence deserves a bow . His methods of finding the truth eventually made my jaw dropped for a while. There's surprise after surprise. But the absolute truth and very last line of this chapter might wheel a tiny turbulence of emotions in readers mind...
Particular Rating: 4/5
And then comes the last case "Triangle at Rhodes". I think I would enjoy the story more if the triangle would related to any sorts of planning and plotting, like calculation, like mathematics! Love triangle is world's most creepy triangle to me. The very last case disappointed me in so many ways. 💔
Particular Rating: 2/5
The first case in this book is "Murder in the Mews". Within 1 or 2 pages of reading I knew it was not a suicide it was a murder and soon Poirot gonna clear everything out! But then, there popped up suspensions! Is it really a murder? Or a suicide? Or a murder being committed and arranged like suicde? Or vise versa! Each page passes by, the air of suspense gets thicker and thicker. But M. Hercule Poirot left no stone unturned, you can't be in puzzle for so long! He has answer to your every question.
Particular Rating: 3.5/5
But I wonder even more when he solved the second case in " The Incredible Theft". Without a clue, but a clue! I found him stupendously fantastic in the second case. He not only knows the "whys" and "hows" of an action of the guilty one but also is very clear about human gestures_both of the guilty and not-guilty. He might be a little man but his intelligence deserves a bow.
Particular Rating: 3/5
"Dead Man's Mirror", the third one suggested something horror by name! At least I felt that way! But wait, is it so?... By the way it is the very story where I was doubtful about Poirot !! I was way too disappoint to find that Poirot took the wrong one as guilty! But as I mentioned before, his intelligence deserves a bow . His methods of finding the truth eventually made my jaw dropped for a while. There's surprise after surprise. But the absolute truth and very last line of this chapter might wheel a tiny turbulence of emotions in readers mind...
Particular Rating: 4/5
And then comes the last case "Triangle at Rhodes". I think I would enjoy the story more if the triangle would related to any sorts of planning and plotting, like calculation, like mathematics! Love triangle is world's most creepy triangle to me. The very last case disappointed me in so many ways. 💔
Particular Rating: 2/5
February 9, 2016
Pretty good stories. I actually liked the last one the best. It was short and sweet. But overall, I liked them all. I didn't love the Mirror one, and the continual references to adoption (how she wasn't really their child). But that's my own personal thing with adoption. Quick read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews