Midwinter Murder – Agatha Christie’s Collection Of Short Mysteries
Last Updated on April 22, 2026
January is a funny ole month where the fun and festivities of Christmas have ended, the days are short, and the weather is normally awful.
I don’t know about you, but it is definitely the time of year when I feel tired all the time. I wake up tired!
That makes it tricky to really get into a new book. I have found myself falling asleep mid-read only to be woken when the book or my Kindle falls on my face. I hate it when that happens.
So, this week, I decided to change it up and go with Midwinter Murder by Agatha Christie. Surprisingly, I hadn’t read it before,e but the idea of a collection of short mystery stories was what clinched it.
Each is around 20 pages long, perfect to read in one sitting, and I never ‘forget’ where I was in the book before I nodded off.
It has worked out a treat, and while I fully plan to return to something meatier next week, for now, I am very happy with the short but sweet adventures of Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Parker Pyne and Tuppence Beresford.
If Midwinter Murder is not a book you’ve read before, then let me take you through what to expect…
12 Short Agatha Christie Mysteries
We all know Agatha Christie is the Queen of Crime, and this book brings together a collection of 12 short mysteries from her most popular detectives.
However, the book opens with a lovely introduction from Ms Christie as she recalls her own Christmas days at Abney Hall when she was a young girl.
It’s a lovely way to open the book and set the scene for the first story.
The Chocolate Box
Hastings and Poirot are relaxing in front of the fire when Hercule admits to having once been deceived.
The story follows an investigation into the mysterious death of an elderly man through a seemingly innocent box of chocolates with mismatched lids.
A Christmas Tragedy
Up next is Miss Marple as she recounts how she identified a murderer at a holiday gathering.
Her intuition tells her a husband plans to kill his wife, but when the murder occurs, the husband has an alibi.
The Coming of Mr. Quin
Set on New Year’s Eve, this supernatural-tinged tale introduces the enigmatic Mr. Quin, who appears at a gathering where guests discuss a decade-old suicide.
In the ten years since the death, nobody has ever fully figured out why it occurred until Mr. Quin’s presence and carefully placed questions help reveal the truth.
The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest
Mr Clayton is found dead in a large chest in the living room of his friend, Major Rich, the same room where a party had been held the previous night.
Poirot investigates when Major Rich is accused of murder, and the pieces of the puzzle don’t fit together as neatly as the police think.
The Clergyman’s Daughter
Monica Deane inherits a large house from her aunt but lacks the means to maintain it.
She takes in lodgers to make ends meet, but the house appears to be haunted by poltergeists that drive tenants away.
When a mysterious man repeatedly tries to buy the property while wearing different disguises, she seeks help from detectives Tommy and Tuppence.
The Plymouth Express
A naval officer discovers a murdered woman under a train seat on the Plymouth Express.
The victim is Flossie Halliday, daughter of a wealthy businessman. She was traveling with her maid but sent the maid away at Bristol.
Poirot investigates the theft of her jewels and her murder, which occurred between Bristol and Newton Abbot.
Problem at Pollensa Bay
Parker Pyne, another of Christie’s detectives, demonstrates his expertise in solving relationship problems rather than murders, showing Christie’s versatility in mystery writing6.
Sanctuary
Bunch Harmon finds a dying man in her local church while arranging flowers. Before dying, he utters only the word “sanctuary.”
When suspicious relatives arrive demanding his coat, Bunch consults her godmother, Miss Marple.
Together, they uncover a complex case involving stolen jewels and a prison escape.
The Mystery of Hunter’s Lodge
Poirot, ill with flu, sends Hastings to investigate a murder at Hunter’s Lodge. The victim is Harrington Pace, killed while his nephew Roger Havering was in London.
Two women claim a bearded stranger visited before the murder, but Poirot discovers the truth lies in the mysterious disappearance of the housekeeper Mrs Middleton.
The World’s End
Mr Satterthwaite travels to Corsica with the Duchess of Leith, where they meet her cousin Naomi Carlton-Smith.
Naomi’s fiancé has been accused of the,t so it is up to Mr Satterthwaite and the mysterious Mr Quin to work together to resolve the case.
The Manhood of Edward Robinson
Edward Robinson, a timid clerk dominated by his practical fiancée Maud, wins £500 in a competition.
Instead of being sensible as Maud would expect, he secretly buys a sports car leading to an adventure involving high society, jewel theft, and a case of mistaken identity that transforms Edward’s personality.
Christmas Adventure
Poirot spends Christmas at a country house where he receives a mysterious warning note about the Christmas pudding.
The story involves a stolen ruby, children attempting to prank Poirot, and his clever use of their prank to catch the real criminals.
How Good Are The Stories?
Expectations are always high when it comes to Agatha Christie, and while I loved some stories, others fell a little flat for me. Honestly, we’re only talking about one or two here.
For the most part, the collection demonstrates Christie’s mastery of the short story format, with each tale maintaining the high standards of plotting and misdirection that made her novels famous.
Her ability to create compelling mysteries in condensed form is particularly impressive, as she manages to include all the essential elements of a satisfying detective story: complex characters, clever clues, and surprising solutions.
I loved how all of her famous detectives were included, though I found that in Sanctuary, Miss Marple’s role was really small, and the majority of the story was about Bunch Harmon working out what happened.
I was also really intrigued by the fact that quite a few of these were adapted in the original Poirot TV series – the one with the always fantastic David Suchet as Hercule Poirot.
So, I think I’ll delve into that a little more…
The TV Adaptations
I recently listened to a podcast episode of The Rest is Entertainment – hosted by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde – and in it, Osman was explaining why he chose to adapt The Thursday Murder Club as a movie, and We Solve Murders as a TV show (yes, that is already in the works).
As far as he was concerned, each of his books had roughly four and a half hours worth of TV or movie content. Clearly, that’s too long for a film and too short for a tv series.
So, that means either trimming down the plot or adding to it, depending on which format you ultimately decide to go with.
And it made me think of Midwinter Murder and the 12 short stories from Agatha Christie. And here’s why.
The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest, The Plymouth Express, The Mystery of Hunter’s Lodge and Christmas Adventure have all been adapted for the original TV series.
All of them have been changed in some way. For example, the first had a title change and is called The Mystery of the Spanish Chest. In it, Poirot is actually at the party when the dead body is in the chest – rather than solving the mystery after the event.
Likewise, for The Mystery of Hunter’s Lodge, where Hercule is with the hunting party before coming down with flu so he knows them all personally.
In The Plymouth Express, Flossie Halliday’s father in the book is an American steel millionaire, yet in the TV adaptation, he is an Australian mining magnate.
Of course, I understand that adaptations cannot stick religiously to the original material, and some are better than others.
But, I did think it was interesting how, in the books, Hercule Poirot is generally called upon after a crime has been committed, yet on TV, he is, more often than not, in the thick of it from the beginning.
Visually, it is better as we get to see what he sees and try to solve the crime alongside him as we watch from home.
I still can’t help but think that books are always a little bit better.
Why It’s A Great Read
The Midwinter Murder collection holds special appeal for several reasons. First, it showcases Christie’s versatility as a writer, demonstrating her ability to craft mysteries across different lengths and styles.
Second, the mix of detectives brings something fresh and new with every story.
Thirdly, the winter setting adds an extra layer of atmosphere to the mysteries, with snow-covered landscapes and isolated country houses creating the perfect backdrop for the intricate plots.
I loved that I could pick it up, and every story was standalone, so I could read them in any order.
That also means you can pick it up whenever you fancy a shorter story in between reading your own books.
