While I still search for my copy of Agatha Christie’s The Hound of Death–highly recommended by Jerry House!–I came across several copies of Christie’s Double Sin and Other Stories. Yes, I buy duplicate copies of books if I like the various covers.
There are many editions of Agatha Christie’s Double Sin and Other Stories but I decided to go with an image of one of William Teason’s covers. If you’d like to see more Teason covers and discover more about this wonderful artist, just click here.
My favorite story in Double Sin and Other Stories is The Theft of the Royal Ruby (also known as The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding). Not only is it one of my favorite All-Time Christmas mysteries, but it’s also one of my favorite Hercule Poirot short stories. A valuable ruby has been stolen and Poirot is hired to find it. The mystery is set in a traditional English mansion in a rural setting with a large number of suspects. Great fun!
I also enjoyed “The Double Clue” which was first published in the U.K. in 1923 and in the U.S. in 1925. Poirot tells Hastings that it was the double clue of the glove and the cigarette case which made him suspicious. Only one of the clues was genuine and the other was …
Double Sin and Other Stories provides classic, entertaining mystery stories. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Double Sin — 1
- Wasp’s Nest — 21
- The Theft of the Royal Ruby (also known as The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding) — 35
- The Dressmaker’s Doll — 93
- Greenshaw’s Folly — 119
- The Double Clue — 151
- The Last Seance –165
- Sanctuary — 185
Good choice. I had that exact Dell edition 50 years ago! We recently watched all the David Suchet Poirots and I remember the “Christmas Pudding” episode.
Jeff, I love that David Suchet episode of “Christmas Pudding,” too! Classic!
And I remember it too on the tv series. One of the shorter ones, which are often the best.
Patti, I agree with you. Shorter is often better!
I have an old paperback copy of this book (with a different cover illustration) but the tiny print prevents me from reading it easily. I have read some of these stories elsewhere. I think I must not have read The Theft of the Royal Ruby (under either title) and I should do that soon. I did see the David Suchet version, which was very good.
I want to thank you again for letting me know about your review of The Statement by Brian Moore. I read your review and will plan on reading that book sometime soon, I hope.
Tracy, I’m a big fan of those William Teason covers, mostly on the DELL paperback editions of Agatha Christie’s works. I agree with you on the wonderful Suchet version of “The Theft of the Royal Ruby” (aka, “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding”).
Also, I enjoyed the link to the Ragged Claws site, with the Teason covers. That is a lovely site.
Tracy, the DELL paperbacks with the Teason covers used to be fairly available. Used bookstores had bins of them. That’s not the case anymore…