Christie, Agatha -- Masterpieces in Miniature: The Detectives (2005)

MASTERPIECES IN MINIATURE: THE DETECTIVES (2005) is a relatively new collection of thirty-nine short stories featuring most of Agatha Christie's series detectives. If you are already an avid reader of Mrs. Christie's short fiction, you might not need to bother with this one, unless your collection is missing Parker Pyne and Harley Quin, the two characters most prominently featured herein.

Most sources agree that Christie published 66 mystery novels and 150 short stories and novelettes in her career; of the latter (short stories and novelettes), 20 were Miss Marples (20/150 = 13.33 percent), 50 were Poirots (50/150 = 33.33 percent), 14 were Parker Pynes (14/150 = 9.3 percent), 14 were Harley Quins (14/150 = 9.3 percent), and 15 (Mike Grost's number) were Tommy and Tuppences (15/150 = 10 percent).

Since Marple and Poirot totaled almost 47 percent of Christie's output, one would naturally expect a higher representation of Marples and Poirots in this volume; but delightfully for Pyne/Quin devotees, this is not so. Out of 14 published stories starring Parker Pyne, 12 are here (12/14 = 85.7 percent), and 13 out of the 14 Harley Quins are, too (13/14 = 92.8 percent); in contrast, only 8 Poirots (8/50 = 16 percent) and 6 Marples (6/20 = 30 percent) are in MASTERPIECES IN MINIATURE. Call it a Christie short story sampler.

This book is usually list priced at $24.95, but remaindered copies in good condition are available from Edward R. Hamilton at $11.95.

MASTERPIECES IN MINIATURE: THE DETECTIVES (2005)

Agatha Christie

Short Story Collection: 39 Stories

St. Martin's Minotaur

Trade Paperback

691 pages

Contents:

Part One: Parker Pyne

"Meeting Parker Pyne" by Agatha Christie (1 page)

12 Stories

Part II: Harley Quin

"Presenting Mr. Harley Quin" by Agatha Christie (1 page)

13 Stories

Part III: Hercule Poirot

8 Stories

Part IV: Miss Jane Marple

6 Stories

--Michael