The Nemean Lion: a Hercule Poirot Short Story

Hercule Poirot #0.39

by Agatha Christie

Includes "The Nemean Lion," "The Lernean Hydra," "The Arcadian Deer," and "The Earmanthian Boar." 2 cassettes.

Genres: Mystery, Agatha Christie, Short Stories, Crime, Fiction, Detective, Classics

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1939

About the author

Agatha 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)

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A yappy Pekinese dog (standing in for the lion) has been kidnapped, ransomed, and returned safely.
So what's the problem?



Well.
The husband of the dog's owner wants his money back and sends Poirot on the trail of the dognapper. The story takes some interesting twists and turns that I wasn't expecting!
Along the way, Poirot meets Amy Carnaby, who shows up in another story, and stops a poisoner. I honestly wish Amy were a recurring character like Ariadne Oliver or Superintendent Battle because she was a hell of a lot of fun.



Originally published in The Strand Magazine in 1939 & put together with 11 other stories in 1947 and published as The Labours of Hercules.
These 12 cases are chosen by Poirot as his own labors of Hercules that he will undertake before his supposed retirement.

[Shira Glassman · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much going on in such a short space! The A-plot is about stopping the kidnapping of rich women's dogs for ransom, but like the expert she was, Christie also wove in a more human-centered drama plus a discussion of a poignant social issue, all relating to the same neat and tidy story. Not a bad place to start, if you're looking for a very quick sample of what Poirot is all about before delving further.

This story is the first in a collection of twelve that is one of my favorite Poirot books, but they are mostly unrelated to each other beyond the central theme of Poirot trying to take cases that relate to the Labors of Hercules so you don't have to worry that you're going to be left hanging if you only feel like reading just one.

[Jack Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars. Can Hercule Poirot slay the Nemean Lion, or at least his equivalent to the one the Greek mythical hero Hercules took on so many centuries ago? Without giving away the story, he doesn't slay it as much as tame it! The story is the first of twelve in "The Labours of Hercules" of 1947. It originally appeared in "The Strand" in 1939, and I picked it up in "Hercule Poirot The Complete Short Stories" from 1999. Poirot is thinking of retiring to grow vegetable marrows, such as zucchini and squash, but his friend Dr. Burton of All Souls College in Oxford sparks his interest in his famous namesake, Hercules. Perhaps, Poirot thinks, he might conclude his career after successfully conquering his version of the twelve Herculean challenges? But the dognapping of a Pekinese is to be the first? Sir Joseph and Lady Hoggin's pet has been taken for ransom. It turns out to be the right choice as what first appears to be of little importance, after all Poirot has dealt with murder and royalty, becomes life and death. Get set for numerous pet Pekes, including Shan Tung, Nanki Poo, and Augustus. And the benevolence of Hercules. (April 2021)

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poirot is looking for interesting cases in particular. He becomes interested in one when a woman's Pekinese dog is kidnapped and returned, but he is contacted by her husband.

He finds out how the ransom is demanded and delivered, he realizes the person he should be looking for. After finding her, Poirot offers a deal to Sir Joseph: don't ask who committed the crime and you get your money back, but have that person arrested and there is no guarantee of the money back. It is insinuated that Poirot also prevents a murder.

Who done it? Amy Carnaby. She realizes that she is getting older, and needs some funds into retirement. She has an invalid sister who has a Pekinese, so they just "switched" them at the house and thereby the dog had disappeared without being in the slightest danger.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever little story. It's always nice when there is a little justice for the underlings who are treated as nothing.

[Manea Ionut · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Câinii sunt înţelepţi. Ei se furişează într-un colţ umbrit pentru a-şi linge rănile şi nu revin în lume decât după ce sunt iarăşi întregi."

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following on from The “Trials of Hercules” this is the first instalment of the last 12 cases by Hercule Poirot. From Poirot’s view point, not the most ‘high brow case’ he was hoping for. The story revolves around a Dog Napping Ring. Can Poirot figure out “who done it” and “why?”

[Brooklyn Tayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A re read of Hercule Poirot's first "labour of Hercules". Just as fabulous as the first read.

[Lloyd Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever, very very clever. Typical Poirot. I especially liked the part about the bitter tonic at the end. 5 stars.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 Stars.

[Dennis Brock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd & Interesting 3.5/5

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Hercule Poirot short story. Light and clever.

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

— Ceva interesant în dimineaţa aceeasta, Miss Lemon? – întrebă a doua zi când intră în birou.
Avea încredere în Miss Lemon. Era o femeie lipsită de imaginaţie, dar avea instinct. Ceea ce ea considera demn de luat în seamă era, de obicei, demn de luat în seamă. Era născută secretară.
— Mai nimic, domnule Poirot. Doar o scrisoare care cred că v‑ar interesa. Am pus‑o deasupra.
— Şi despre ce e vorba?
— De la un bărbat care vrea să cercetaţi dispariţia pechinezului nevestei.
Poirot se opri cu piciorul în aer. Aruncă o privire plină de reproş lui Miss Lemon. Ea însă nu observă, începuse să bată la maşină. Bătea cu precizia şi cadenţa unei mitraliere.
Poirot era bulversat; bulversat şi amărât. Miss Lemon, eficienta Miss Lemon, îl dezamăgise! Un pechinez! Mai ales visul pe care‑l avusese noaptea trecută. Părăsea Palatul Buckingham după ce fusese felicitat şi i se mulţumise personal, când valetul venise şi‑i adusese ciocolata.
Îi stăteau pe limbă cuvinte pline de venin. Nu le rosti însă pentru că, graţie vitezei şi zelului cu care bătea la maşină, Miss Lemon tot nu le‑ar fi auzit.Cu un mormăit de dezgust culese scrisoarea de deasupra micului teanc aflat la marginea biroului.
Da, era exact ce spusese Miss Lemon. O adresă din City, o scrisoare scurtă şi fără înflorituri, o scrisoare de afaceri. Subiectul: răpirea unui pechinez. Un căţel din aceia cu ochii bulbucaţi, jucăria super‑răsfăţată a vreunei cucoane bogate. Poirot încreţi buzele în timp ce citea.
Nimic neobişnuit. Nimic straniu. Ba da, da, un mic amănunt, Miss Lemon a avut dreptate. Un mic amănunt într‑adevăr ciudat.
Hercule Poirot se aşeză. Citi scrisoarea încet, cu atenţie. Nu era cazul pe care şi‑l dorea, nu era genul de caz pe care şi‑l promisese. Nu era nici pe departe un caz important. Era chiar cu totul lipsit de importanţă. Nu era – şi aici era baza obiecţiei sale – o „muncă a lui Hercule”.
Din nefericire era curios. Da, realmente curios.
Ridică vocea ca să se facă auzit de Miss Lemon în ciuda zgomotului maşinii de scris.
— Sună‑l pe sir Joseph Hoggin – spuse – şi aranjază-mi o întâlnire la el la birou, aşa cum propune.
Ca de obicei, Miss Lemon avusese dreptate.
— Sunt un om cinstit, domnule Poirot, – spuse sir Joseph Hoggin.
Hercule Poirot făcu un gest evaziv care sugera (dacă voiai s‑o iei aşa) admiraţia pentru situaţia solidă a carierei lui sir Joseph şi aprecierea modestiei cu care acesta vorbea despre sine. Dar putea fi şi dispreţul pentru o astfel de afirmaţie. În orice caz, nu dădea glas gândului ascuns al lui Poirot, şi anume acela că sir Joseph era, în cea mai obişnuită accepţie a cuvântului, un om urât. Ochii lui Hercule Poirot se opriră în mod critic asupra fălcilor umflate, ochilor porcini, nasului borcănat şi asupra gurii cu buze strânse. Efectul general îi amintea de ceva sau de cineva, dar pentru moment nu‑şi putea da seama. Amintirea pâlpâia vag. Cu mult timp în urmă, în Belgia, ceva sigur în legătură cu săpunul.

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does anybody wonder how often a sympatric criminal gets off (crime dismissed) because they offer excuses for the seriously bad behavior. And, we expect, how often there's recidivism because they simple add their act for sympathy to their criminal behavior. How else do these people killing people keep getting release, 4 5 6 10 times by judges (is someone paying them off?).

[Joop · Rating 4 out of 5]

De eerste van de 12 laatste van HP. Leuke oplossing van een kidnapping. HP is wel wat soft.

[Wild · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story but Poirot has many more interesting ones, I feel the "case" it's solved way to easily even dough I always love it when Poirot sides himself with the criminals.

[Johnny Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the favorite short stories, The Nemean Lion shows Poirot not just as cunning but also kind.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Pekinese dog is kidnapped, the random paid and the fog returned unharmed but the husband wants his money back and so Poirot sets off about it. Recommended

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute doggie kidnapping story with an odd twist. Is the villain a villain?

[Veronica Palomba · Rating 2 out of 5]

Troppo contorti questi adattamenti delle 7 fatiche di ercole

[Colleen Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful short story. One of my favorites so far .

[Akemi G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this. The mystery isn’t so difficult, but the social conscience is notable. I thought Christie was a far-right racist/elitist so this is a pleasant surprise.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Steven Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story where Poirot has taken on his 1st of last 12 cases. The case is about a stolen dog.

[Emma Gallacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ingenious as usual!!

[Elba M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know anything about this short story. It was very interesting. In the story Poirot mentioned that he is planning to retire and he decided that he was going to accept 12 more cases.

[Zhanna Mi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't care for the characters or the investigation at all. Feels very obvious and absolutely not interesting

[cool breeze · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Missi · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUN 😁

[Susy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars