This book is not one of Christie's best, so if you are a beginning reader of Agatha, then don't pick this one. It is still very cleverly written, so if you already read Agatha Christie's do not hesitate to get this one.

This is a good Agatha Christie, but it has a terribly slow pace. If this is your first time reading her work, don't read this book. Read one with excitement in it, so you can see Agatha's best side of her writing. There is a lot of imagery and description, but not a lot of suspense or dead bodies.

This thrilling book kept me up to the little hours of the night geussing who the killer is. I very much enjoyed it. Miss marpell is my favorite character (DAH!!!). If you did not have the pleasure to read it yet, run to your book store and buy it.

I had 2 read this book 4 a book report, and @ first i had no interest whatsoever in it at ALL! Once i started to get into it, I was automatically very confused! The plot was interesting, but the whole idea was just plain, well....confusing! I recommend this book to people who like somewhat twisted plots.

Hercule Poirot's dentist is found dead of a gunshot wound to the head. The police call it suicide, but Poirot is not convinced. The dentist's death is followed closely by the deaths of two of his patients, and Poirot undertakes to solve the mystery. Is it possible that these three deaths were merely "collateral damage" in a campaign to eliminate an influential financier, another of the dentist's patients? Two suspects immediately present themselves for consideration: the worthless ne'er-do-well boyfriend of the dental assistant and the left-wing radical boyfriend of the financier's niece. Both appear to have had ample motive, means, and opportunity to kill either the financier or the dentist. Poirot solves the mystery in exemplary fashion, but exposing the killer gives him no great pleasure. To find out why, you must read the book.

I enjoyed this book which i read in a day of travel - certainly made time go by unnoticed !!

The story begins with the 'murder' of the dentist of Hercule Poirot (soon after Poirot visits him), with apparently no motive whatsoever. Apparent motive soon arrives in form of 'suicide' to avoid loss of face after professional bungling.

Poirot undertakes to find out the truth. Pretty soon, posible motives and suspects begins piling up, and it all gets very complicated.

Unlike most of Agatha Christie's stories, this could've had several possible conclusions, even if 'read backwards' - which means the ending, though easy to guess, is almost impossible to deduce.

This means that the (highly interesting) journey through the book doesn't have a very satisfying conclusion.

However, it's very well written and i read it in no time at all - recommended !!

This book is good for a quick jump into the realm of good murder mysteries. The stories can be read in 15 to 25 minutes, for those of us without enough time to fully appreciate a full length novel. They are however engaging, fun, and nicely thought out. The title story (The Under Dog) is the longest and in my mind the best, as Mrs. Christie had more pages for charater development and story twists. Our favorite detective, Hercule Poirot is featured in all of the stories with multiple appearances of Captain Hastings. Each story had me wondering until the last page. Definately recomended as a before bed reading.

This Christie is a surprising treat for loyal fans. It comprises of eight short stories. Two of which are from the familiar egg headed detective Poirot, "The second gong" and "Yellow Iris" The later of the two involves Poirot being mysteriously called to a restaurant by an unknown lady caller in danger. Poirot has to discover who the caller is and the looming danger. Both these stories like the majority in this collection originally appeared in the Strand magazine. Mr Parker Pyne "The one and only original wizard", appears in two delightful tales which focus on the dapper English gent, solving a problem of the heart In "Problem at Pollensa Bay" and the mysterious disappearance of a diamond in "The Regatta mystery". The first of the two stories was my particular favourite as Christie explores the mystery of relationships in quite a comical almost Wodehousian style. This story shows us what a good sense of humour and keen wit Christie had. The Mr Satterthwaite and Harley Quin double act is really different. Mr Satterthwaite is helped by the supernatural presence of Mr Harley Quin, in "The Harlequin tea set" and "the love detectives". Mr Quin aids Mr Satterthwaite in solving puzzles by slowly revealing and suggesting things to both Mr Satterthwaite and the reader. The most surprising stories are the last two, "Next to a dog" and "Magnolia Blossom." Neither follow Christies usual tale of murder, however they are both morbid and serious. The stories explore the sombre side of life and are perhaps showing what the author thought about relationships she had experienced.. I enjoyed this selection of short stories because it is such an eclectic mixture of tales, illustrating the versatile talent of Christies writing. I would recommend this book both to newcomers to her writing and an unexpected welcome to those familiar with her work.

This book is a must have for any Aagtha Christie Fan. It talks of all her works in a detailed form, and mentions anything you might have missed when reading one of her books. Plus it has many side notes on how she came up with the idea for her books and short stories. It also contains her quests to find information on items in her books, i.e. poison. It tells a lot of her life too. In short I really enjoy this book and find something new in it everyday.

This is a collection of the first four cases in the Labours of Hercules set. With the exception of why Poirot is selecting his cases at the beginning (His impending retirementand connecting to namesake),the stories are well connected. The first story is "The Nemean Lion". Poirot tries to help a man clear up a case of kidnapping of his wife's dog after ransom has been paid. In his mind the Pekenise dog is as fierce as a lion. The ending is very cute where everything turns out well but unexpected. The next story is of the "Lernean Hydra". This intails Poirot cleaning up a rumor mill ensnaring a doctor, his older wife who dies, and his female dispenser. Poirot has to find the truth to stop the multi headed attack of rumors. Good ending as well. "The Arcadian Deer" is the story for the romantic poirot fans. In this tale, Poirot tracks a maid for a lovelorn mechanic. Feeling the challenge somewhat simple, Poirot is surprised with it's complexity and travel. Good ending with the standard Christie flair. Last but not least is the "Erymanthian Boar". This one has Poirot in Switzerland hunting down a killer. I was slightly disappointed in the reasoning used in this one but it was still good. Daniel Massey does a great job reading this set. His voice changes from one character to the next. He even does a somewhat passable Belgian accent. I do wholeheartily reccomend this for those who like Christie stories but don't have time for the novels. Enjoy.

I have read a number of Agatha Christie thrillers before this one, but The Big Four is right up among the top of my list with the others. This mystery novel incorporates the ever-famous detective of Hercule Poirot along with his part-time sidekick Hastings, the narrator of this novel. The two of them accidently come across various incidents that link them to the secretly powerful combination of "the big four". "The big four", who seeks world domination, consists of a French, an American, a Chinese, and a disguised figure who is like the hit man of the organization. The two men come across a chain of mysterious events, including murders, kidnappings, and crimes whose victims have some inside knowledge of the powerful criminals. Surely, they pursue the adventure, hot on the heels of the masterminds. Through many suprising twists and turns that only Christie can create, the two find themselves in deep trouble with no way out. Poirot is dead--or so we think. In the end of the novel, Poirot, who has faked his death, returns to save his partner Hastings and uncover the masks of the notorious villains. All is safe and Poirot is the victor once again.
This particular book, I thought, was quite exciting. Like all of Christie's books, the plots are just so fascinating and intriguing. She contorts the plot so much that it seems like there can be no logical ending--until the end when she springs the ultimate resolution on her readers. This novel, though, I felt was a bit unrealistic. Don't get me wrong, I still think this book is a must read because it is so hard to put down. However, many of her other plots and novels are quite realistic yet this one is just not. The story line is just very hard to believe. Aside from that, I feel that she did a fine job of incorporating other elements into her writing. For instance, not only were there conflicts between the detectives and criminals as there would be in the typical case, but there were also conflicts of emotions. Hastings, throughout the novel, is torn between his loyalty to his friend Poirot or to his wife that he loves so deeply. This is a very significant element that helps add to the book's success. All in all, I feel this is an excellent book that must be read if you are interested in anything of Agatha Christie.

I was literally unable to put this down. I finished it last night..for the 3rd time! Even though I know how it ends, everytime I read it again, it still thrills me! I have read about 3-4 other Agatha Christie books before this one. This is the best, in my opinion. It's so amazing and the plot twists and turns and..Poirot is my favorite character of all time. I read nothing else by Agatha Christie but Poirot. I would recommened this book to ANY mystery lover.

This had the classic elements of Christie mystery--lies, deception, adventure, murders. A rather unorthodox mystery, each chapter contains spellbinding twists that go to the outer level of Christie's mind. You come to the point where you are unsure what to believe... Poirot is on the trail of the most intelligent and crafty criminal minds there are. Their only blockade is none other than Poirot--the only man with a mind equal to theirs. What makes this such a great book is that each side has to attempt to out-wit each other, and frankly, that's just fascinating. I don't know why everyone else hated this book. I thought it was so exciting I couldn't put it down--I read it the day I got it. At least try it. Everywhere else I looked, this book got stellar reviews.

An average collection of books. Christie was not at fault for disliking this book however the reader will constantly be amazed at how christie manages to fool us over and over again. Like who is the mysterious 'veiled lady'. Overall an entertaining read which keeps you guessing.

Trying her hand at writing into occultism and supernatural subjects, Agatha Christie failed to provoke new insights nor deliver any entertainment value.

Several stories were outrightly occultic, such as the Hound of Death. These have got nothing to do with crimes.

A couple of other stories such as the Blue Jar have some crime involved, and could be considered readable.

What mystery and crime readers would normally expect from Agatha Christie was a thorough investigation of the paranormal, sifting the clues and evidence, and exhaust all possibilities before leaving it as ... unexplainable by known facts. Had Agatha Christie done that, the stories would have been much much more readable.

Where I know the original magazine publication dates, I have given them. Each story has also appeared in either _The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories_ or _The Golden Ball and Other Stories_.

"The Red Signal" (June 1924) Dermot and his uncle Sir Alington West (the famous psychologist) become involved in a discussion of premonitions at the Trents' dinner party. Dermot has had a few in his life - a 'red signal' for danger - while Sir Alington attributes them to subconscious observation. But tonight Dermot feels it again - although the only danger he can see is his love for Claire Trent, his best friend's wife.

"The Fourth Man" (December 1925) An Anglican canon, a psychologist, and a lawyer - all very distinguished representatives of the Church, Medicine, and the Law - fall to talking on a night train journey, ignoring the (apparently sleeping) man who also shares their compartment. While the viewpoint of the man in the street may have some merit, surely their own collective wisdom is good enough for the celebrated multiple personality case they're discussing...

"S.O.S." (February 1926) The Dinsmead family - pompous father, worn-down mother, and their 3 grown children - moved to a lonely country home rather abruptly upon Mr. Dinsmead's retirement from the building trade. Johnnie is suffering a series of running battles with his father, since he prefers chemistry to building, while his sisters are unhappy at being isolated in a house they think is haunted. Then a stranger (parapsychologist Mortimer Cleveland), stranded for the night by a flat tire, finds a mysterious message written in the dust beside his bed...

"Wireless", a.k.a. "Where There's a Will" (1926) Mary Harter's physician was careful to warn both his patient and her nephew, Charles Ridgeway, about her heart condition - that any shock could be fatal, but with care nothing would go wrong. When she then had a lift installed, thoughtful Charles persuaded her to get a radio as well. She enjoyed it at first, until it started giving messages from Beyond...

"The Call of Wings" - Silas Hamer was rich and content, a self-made man who had wanted wealth for material comfort rather than power, who believed in nothing that he couldn't see and touch. Then the music of panpipes, played by a strange, legless beggar with a beautiful face, catches his imagination, and he feels a call of immense freedom and wildness - but his money has turned to chains and shackles.

"The Gipsy" - Macfarlane (a Celt with a touch of second sight) and his best friend Dickie Carpenter were engaged to two sisters, until Esther dumped Carpenter without warning. But when Carpenter, an inarticulate, unsubtle Navy man, unburdens himself to his friend, he keeps getting off track, talking about his fear of gypsies, and how several times in his life he's literally had a gypsy's warning and disregarded it, only to have disaster strike - as in the case of his breakup, in fact.

"The Hound of Death" - Really a science fiction story. Sister Marie Angelique once saved her convent from the Germans by calling down lightning on them, but it wasn't prayer; she has visions of another life, whether future or past, where such powers were understood and disciplined. Alas, Dr. Rose at the sanitarium where she now lives in England not only takes her seriously, but with an eye to turning such powers to his own use...

"The Lamp" - When Mr. Winburn, his widowed daughter Mrs. Lancaster, and his little grandson Geoff take #19 for a ridiculously low rent, she doesn't believe it's haunted, although a little boy starved there 30 years ago (having been ordered never to go out) after his father's arrest in another city. But her father hears the boy crying, and Geoff can see him and wants to help him. The title comes from Widburn's quotation of a poem, since he's convinced Geoff may indeed be able to help: "'What Lamp has Destiny to guide/Her little Children stumbling in the Dark?'/'A blind understanding,' Heaven replied."

"The Last Seance", a.k.a. "The Stolen Ghost" - Raoul Daubreuil takes it for granted that his fiancee Simone will give up her work as a medium after they're married - for one thing, it's destroying her health. But will the work - and her clients - allow her to retire gracefully? Clients like Madame Exe, who is determined to make contact with her lost little girl at any price...

"The Mystery of the Blue Jar" - Jack Hartington lives to reduce his golf handicap. Unfortunately, he's only 24 and far from retired, so he gets up at six every morning for an hour's practice before work. Then he starts hearing cries for help every morning near a small cottage near the course - cries nobody else seems to hear.

"The Strange Case of Sir Arthur Carmichael" - Sometimes titled 'Andrew' rather than 'Arthur' - one heck of a printer's error. The old baronet had 2 sons, and the pleasant Sir Arthur has been content to allow his middle-aged stepmother and little half-brother to go on living with him. She, for her part, is devoted to her own son, and has an uncanny air about her. Then, a month before young Sir Arthur's marriage, he's stricken with an extraordinary form of amnesia, and the narrator (a distinguished psychologist) is called in. Hmm. His stepmother certainly has a motive to see that he has no heir other than her son, but how could she have arranged *this*?

"The Witness for the Prosecution" - See _The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories_.

Any former ready of Ms. Christie's work can easily guess the killer in this novel. Although the story idea and characters are well woven...it just doesn't live up to former novels. Miss Marple is great, as usual, but this time even I figured out the whodunnit before she did.

This story had an interesting plot line which could have been more well developed. Any avid reader of Ms. Christie could easily figure out the murder and how it was done. Miss Marple is fairly good but even someone like me figured out who it was faster than she did.