Classic Mysteries

Agatha Christie, 2022

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was Agatha Christie’s first big success. Published in 1926, it starts when a very grumpy Hercule Poirot throws a vegetable marrow over his garden wall, nearly hitting his neighbour, Dr James Shepherd. Poirot’s grumpy because he’s retired and bored. Fortunately for him, Roger Ackroyd, the local wealthy businessman, is murdered in mysterious circumstances, giving Poirot a case to solve. Warning! Don’t read the Wikipedia article before you read the book – it gives the plot away.

Agatha Christie, 1998

Death in The Clouds, published in 1935, is an excellent “locked room” mystery – with the locked room actually being a few thousand feet in the air! Twelve people are travelling from Paris to London but one of them will be murdered en route. But how? How murder anyone on an aircraft without any of the other passengers seeing what transpires? Hercule Poirot (now very much out of retirement!) is one of the passengers but, to his chagrin, he noticed nothing. It’s a challenge….

Agatha Christie, 2002

4.50 From Paddington. Published in 1957, 4.50 From Paddington has one of the most gripping openings Agatha Christie ever wrote. The wonderfully named Mrs Elspeth McGillicuddy is travelling by train to meet her old friend, Miss Jane Marple. Another train runs alongside and, to her horror, Mrs McGillicuddy sees a woman being strangled. Utterly horrified, Mrs McGillicuddy finds no one believes what she saw – apart from Miss Marple.

Dorothy L. Sayers, 2012

Wimsey is out for dinner with his good friend, Chief Inspector Charles Parker, when a Dr Carr overhears their conversation and joins in. Dr Carr has a grievance. His elderly patient, the wealthy Miss Agatha Dawson, has died unexpectedly. Dr Carr requests a post-mortem – suggesting he suspects foul play - which causes huge scandal in the village. And the villagers seem justified. There’s no evidence of foul play; however Wimsey is intrigued enough by the doctor’s story to investigate. It isn’t so much a “whodunnit” as a “howdunnit”. Peter Wimsey is fairly sure who the villain is – Miss Dawson’s niece - but how was Mis Dawson killed? (if she was killed) and what possible motive could there be? After all, the supposedly devoted niece will inherit everything, so why murder an old woman who hasn’t long to live?

Dorothy L. Sayers, 1995

Unlike Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple, Agatha Christie’s best known characters, Peter Wimsey falls in love in a romance that has delighted readers ever since. It all starts when Harriet Vane is accused of murder (Spoiler! Peter never believes she’s guilty!) in Strong Poison, published in 1930. Harriet Vane, on trial for her life, is accused of murdering her former lover, Philip Boyes, by poisoning him with arsenic. Peter Wimsey has to solve the case to save Harriet. He does it with the help of the redoubtable, if elderly, Miss Climpson, who, in a marvellously funny scene, sets up a fake séance in order to find the evidence Peter (and Harriet) so desperately need.

Terry Pratchett, 2014

Guards! Guards! published in 1989 tells the story of a plot to take over the city of Ank-Morpork by removing the Patrician (the leader of the city) and install a puppet ruler by the use of a very large and deadly dragon. Sam Vimes has to reorganise himself, reorganise the failing City Watch and – finally – uncover the plot and save the Patrician and the city.

Terry Pratchett, 1997

Men At Arms, published in 1993, is a classic detective story with added werewolves, trolls and dwarves. Edward d’Eath, a poverty-stricken aristocrat, is convinced that only the restoration of the monarchy will save the city. Armed with the Discworld’s only firearm, the “gonne” he sets out to murder the Patrician. But there’s a massive twist in the story…

Terry Pratchett, 2008

Feet of Clay, published in 1996, is a cracking detective story. It concerns a series of murders apparently committed by a golem – an immensely strong creature made of clay. At the same time, the Patrician is being mysteriously poisoned by arsenic. Sam Vimes and the City Watch have to find out the truth of the case and work out how the Patrician, in view of all the defences surrounding him can possibly be poisoned.