The May selection for the Read Christie 2026 Challenge, 'Best Short Story Collection', is another Agatha Christie book I had never heard of - The Labours of Hercules (1947), the collection of tales featuring Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.
Poirot is on the verge of retirement. He meets Dr Burton, who jibes Hercule about his name and how he is nothing like his namesake, the Greek hero Hercules. Poirot claims he is unaware of this legend. After Burton departs, Poirot asks his secretary, Miss Lemon, to do some research into Hercules and he learns about the hero's Twelve Labours in which he was tasked to perform terrific feats such as slaying or capturing beasts, obtaining rare items or stealing. Poirot decides his final cases before retirement will align with these Labours.
His first case is the Nemean Lion, which Hercules had to slay despite the creature's impenetrable golden fur. In Poriot's adventure the lion is a yappy Pekinese dog named Shan-Tung that was kidnapped from a local park. Poirot soon discovers other dogs have been ransomed in a similar way and works to determine who is stealing the dogs and why. There is a twist in the tale as Poirot realises something larger is afoot.
The stories continue with Poirot investigating: gossip undermining a local doctor (the Lyrnean Hydra); the disappearance of a maid (the Arcadian Deer); a gangster in the Swiss Alps (the Erymanthian Boar); a political scandal (the Augean Stables); blackmail (the Stymphalean Birds); a broken engagement (the Cretan Bull); drug addiction (the Horses of Diomedes); an art theft (the Girls of Hyppolita); a cult (the Flock of Geryon); an antique heist (the Apples of the Hesperides); and a drug ring (the Capture of the Cerebus).
These are light-hearted tales which truncate the usual Christie style into short stories of the detective at work. While the stories are uneven in quality, the overall effect is very clever. Fans of Poirot will appreciate his familiar mannerisms and humour, and the unusual places he finds himself (like the London Tube). It is also great to see other characters - Chief Inspector Japp, Countess Rossakoff - make an appearance. For the most part, I really enjoyed this collection of stories. It is a good option for someone looking for a quick read.
My reviews of other Christie novels are available on this blog:
Murder on the Links (1923) Murder on the Orient Express (1934) The Body in the Library (1942) Mrs McGinty's Dead (1952)
A Caribbean Mystery (1964)