Agatha Again

21. THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY
Bundle and Jimmy investigate the deaths of two of their friends. They find out that Seven Dials is more than just a district in London, even more than a night club, it's a secret society! What does it do and who are its members? One of Agatha's best in which nothing is what it seems. Nothing!

Memorable quotes:
-"I may say that as a general rule I do not hold with women standing for Parliament. They can make their influence felt in a more womanly fashion."
-"The more they talk, the less they'll do. You'd be surprised how well that works out."
-"Youth! What a wonderful thing!... And we do not appreciate it until we grow to - er - maturer years."
-"The young hero never tells his plans."

Favourite Guest Character: Bundle, of course!
Mystery: *****
Final Solution: *****
Entertainment: ****
14/15


20. AFTER THE FUNERAL (Poirot)
This one was difficult to read for me because it deals with what happens with a house after the owner dies... too close, too personal. Anyway, the Abernethies are a large family with many possible heirs although no-one really seems to be suitable: too many gamblers, artists, lousy painters. On top of it, one of them assumes that "he was murdered, wasn't he?" Was he really? Poirot collects the information from his friends, spies and even goes undercover to solve this mystery. It takes a master to recognise a true masterpiece! Oh, and wedding cakes that smell of almonds are bad for your health.

Memorable quotes:
-"The value of money is always relative."
-A woman who could be intelligent about everything else in the world could be a complete fool when it came to some particular man."
-"Everyone has something to hide."
-"It's a waste of time - having regrets."

Favourite Guest Character: Cora. Or Mr. Goby :-)
Mystery: ***
Final Solution: ****
Entertainment: ***
10/15


19. THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE (Miss Marple)
The story is told by the vicar, who one moment wishes Colonel Protheroe was dead and the next moment finds him dead behind his desk. In St. Mary Mead, plenty of "old pussies", including a Miss Marple, seem to have heard or seen something. But the strangest thing is that the ones who confessed to murder are not guilty. Or?

Memorable quotes:
-"There is nothing so inhuman as the mask of the good servant."
-"Intuition is like reading a word without having to spell it out."
-"I should say her hearing is remarkably keen. I'm going by the amount of scandal she has started by 'just happening to overhear accidentally'."
-"There is ... a lot of human nature in all of us."
-"Nothing, I believe, is so full of life under the microscope as a drop of water from a stagnant pool."
-"The young people think the old people are fools; but the old people know the young people are fools!"

Favourite guest character: The vicar with his naivety.
Mystery: ***
Final solution: ***
Entertainment: ****
10/15