Hercule Poirot

by | Aug 1, 2024 | Adults, Booklists | 0 comments

Hercule Poirot was created by British author Agatha Christie in the late 1910s. Poirot made his first official appearance in the book, The Mysterious Affair at Styles in 1920.  Poirot is Christie’s longest running character, appearing in thirty three books and two plays. Some of the best portrayals of Poirot include David Suchet, Kenneth Branagh, John Malkovich, and Peter Ustinov. Learn more about the famed Belgian detective and our favorite Poirot mysteries.

Agatha Christie created Poirot on a dare from her sister, Madge. On her seventh attempt to get published, John Lane, the co-founder of the Bodley Head publishing house, was the only one that was interested. Lane contracted Christie to write five more books under the Bodley Head company. During the first World War, Britain welcomed hundreds of refugees from Belgium. It is believed Agatha Christie was partly inspired by the war effort. This would make sense as to why Poirot came to England and how he could solve a crime in the countryside.  In the book Mysterious Affair at Styles, Poirot first demonstrates his logical and clue based skills. His common phrase “the little grey cells” shows that he uses his deductive reasoning skills to solve cases. Also he commonly refers to himself in the third person. After a while, Christie began to get tired of writing Poirot stories but she kept writing due to his high popularity. However in 1923, Christie was fed up with Bodley Head and the terms of their original contract. She hired agent Edmund Cork to help her find a new publisher. Around 1924, Christie signed a new contract with William Collins and Sons (which later became HarperCollins).  Agatha Christie formally retired the character of Poirot in 1975 in his final book, Curtain. Poirot remains the only fictional character to have an obituary featured on the front page of the New York Times*.  

 

*New York Times Archive – https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/06/archives/hercule-poirot-is-dead-famed-belgian-detective-hercule-poirot-the.html

Let’s meet Hercule Poirot

While being vague, we get to know Poirot through each book when he feels it is necessary especially when he’s deceiving the suspects. Christie gives clues that the Poirot family lives near the town of Spa in Belgium. In 2018 another town in Belgium, Ellezelles, adopted the birthplace of Hercule and the primary residence of the family. Through the characters of Inspector Japp and Captain Hastings, we get an insight to Poirot’s life on the police force. Poirot had been in the Brussels police force since 1893 or possibly even longer. At some point he was the Chief of the Brussels police. Inspector Japp admitted to working with Poirot in Belgium in 1904. During World War I, Poirot leaves Belgium for England as a refugee. While in Devon, Poirot and Hastings meet up and together they work on Poirot’s first case. After this case, he moves to London into the Whitehaven Mansions where he sets up his private detective business.  In his new career, Poirot solves crime in Europe and in the Middle East. Due to his sea sickness, Poirot does not travel often by both ship and plane. With this we see a lot of the stories involve train travel. At some point Poirot retires but he bounces back into business if the case needs him. Christie kept writing Poirot until the 1970s when he appeared in his final book, Curtain. 

 

Best Poirot Mysteries

  1. Murder on the Orient Express – arguably the best story to feature Poirot. We follow Poirot as he investigates the death of a passenger on the extravagant Orient Express. 
  2. Murder of Roger Ackroyd – One of the first books to have a twist ending. Who killed Roger Ackroyd? Was it his wife or the mysterious blackmailer?
  3. The ABC Murders – Poirot, Japp, and Hastings work together to track down a serial killer. Each of the victims follows the letters in the alphabet and involves train travel. 
  4. Peril at End House –  On holiday on the Cornish coast, Poirot is trying to protect Nick, the owner of End House. She says that she is the victim of several strange accidents. Is she lying?
  5. Five Little Pigs – The only Poirot story that is told through a series of flashbacks. Can Poirot find the real killer or will the secrets of the past never be revealed 
  6. Mystery of the Blue Train – When Poirot travels from London to the Rivera he finds himself at the center of a jewel heist. 
  7. After the Funeral – Someone in the family is killing off one wealthy relative at a time. This family reunion is about to see who’s next on the chopping block. 
  8. Mysterious Affair at Styles – The one that started it all. Set during the Great War, Hastings calls his old friend to find the killer. 
  9. Evil Under the Sun – Poirot really can’t get a nice holiday. When a woman is found strangled on the shore its up to Poirot to find the killer. 
  10. Curtain – Poirot’s final case. Read the epic conclusion of one of the great detectives.