English Mysteries Club discussion

Here is the thread to discuss the intriguing One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie with Tracey the Bookworm, Emilia and France-Andrée.

Reading starts on July 1st. Have fun!

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club in November 1940.

It is one of several of Christie's crime fiction novels to feature both the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and Chief Inspector Japp. This is Japp's final novel appearance.

This is one of AC books that I haven't read before so it will be all new to me.

I love the use of nursery rhymes in AC titles and stories. In this one, each chapter is a line of the rhyme. The lyrics are a little different from how I know the rhyme.

One, two, Buckle my shoe;
Three, four, shut the door;
Five, six, Pick up sticks;
Seven, eight, Lay them straight:
Nine, ten, A good fat hen;
Eleven, twelve, men must delve;
Thirteen, fourteen, Maids a-courting;
Fifteen, sixteen, Maids in the kitchen;
Seventeen, eighteen, Maids in waiting
Nineteen, twenty, My plate's empty.

I know it by heart until seven, eight and I think that’s because of the television series with David Suchet. When we played marelle it went only to twelve in our playground and for what I understand hopscotch is the same game.

I did decide to buy it as an audiobook, hope I like it that way.

So true Tracey! Agatha Christie found story plots in those things which are often commonly used or are not noticed very keenly. I love the way she made Poirot this interesting, father-like, friendly detective, which makes us fall in love with him.

PS. I couldn't help myself but begin reading the book! I have completed four chapters already. Has anybody started it yet?

France-Andrée wrote: "I did decide to buy it as an audiobook, hope I like it that way."

Oh I'm getting the audiobook too! It's the one read by Hugh Fraser (Hastings in the Suchet adaptations). Can't wait! He is a very good reader IMO.

Listened to chapter 1

I have a broken tooth so that gave another dimension to the reading. I thought it was a realistic depiction of going to the dentist and a good way to introduce characters.

Hugh Fraser is a very good narrator, I like his take on Poirot’s voice, on certain words you almost here David Suchet. I had a little difficulty in the first five minutes, bur I have found that what it takes me to acclimate to a new voice.

Hugh Fraser is one of my favourite narrators. I think it's a good sign when you start an audiobook by thinking that the narrator has a lovely voice and reads well and by the end of the book you are hearing all the different characters not just the voice of the narrator. Does that make sense?

Ruth wrote: "Hugh Fraser is one of my favourite narrators. I think it's a good sign when you start an audiobook by thinking that the narrator has a lovely voice and reads well and by the end of the book you are hearing all the different characters not just the voice of the narrator. Does that make sense?"

Absolutely! :) I could totally hear that in this novel, his voices were great. I really love his versions of Christie's novels.

Chapter 3 has moment that I found very modern. (view spoiler)[When Poirot goes to meet Mr. Barnes and we get a conspiracy theorist. I’ll give it to him that since he worked for secret services some of his theories might be realities in his world, but still that’s what I got from this character. (hide spoiler)] I’m not giving away anything about the ending or further in the book just a comment about a character.

I have finished, I tried to pace myself, but it is a quick listen to and I seem to have plenty of time right now.

Really liked it, more this time around maybe because I wasn't seeing the episode in my mind, but I think the differences between the televised version and the book registered more this time... it's a very good book. I enjoyed so much Hugh Fraser's narration and I'm really glad he's narrating the next one that is up in my rereading Agatha Christie.

I'm also finished - I really enjoyed it throughout but the ending (view spoiler)[where Poirot and the murderer discuss how the murderer is too useful to society to be imprisoned for murdering less useful people (very Crime and Punishment) (hide spoiler)] elevated the story for me. I found it very satisfying.

Anupama wrote: "So true Tracey! Agatha Christie found story plots in those things which are often commonly used or are not noticed very keenly. I love the way she made Poirot this interesting, father-like, friendl..."

I got the audio too and blasted through it finishing it in a couple of days.

I loved that Poirot needed 3 fillings. He has such a sweet tooth so of course, he would. I admit that I do not like going to the dentist and found these references uncomfortable. :)

This is the first of the Poirot novels to reflect the pervasive gloom of the Second World War and is one of Christie's most overtly political novels.
Several references to other books are throughout the novel:
"the Herjoslovakian loan" from The Secret of Chimneys
The Stymphalean Birds", and the Case of the Augean Stables from The Labours of Hercules
A reference to Hastings adventure in The Big Four
Poirot's love interest Countess Vera Rossakoff is also mentioned.

I have been reading my way through the Poirot books and found these references added to my reading. Obviously readers at the time of publishing would be following along in the series and avidly waiting for the 'next Poirot' just as we await books in a loved series today.

France-Andrée wrote: "I have finished, I tried to pace myself, but it is a quick listen to and I seem to have plenty of time right now.

Really liked it, more this time around maybe because I wasn't seeing the episode i..."

I have been listening to all the books and Hugh Fraser definitely is the best narrator of Christie's books. I listen at night and sometimes I fall asleep with Hugh talking in the background :) Very restful and enjoyable.

Tracey the Bookworm wrote: "I loved that Poirot needed 3 fillings. He has such a sweet tooth so of course, he would. I admit that I do not like going to the dentist and found these references uncomfortable. :)"

OMG how did I miss that! You're so right :D One of the things that made me laugh was how he suspected all the people in the waiting room to be murderers before his visit, and then thought them delightful people afterwards.

Tracey the Bookworm wrote: "This is the first of the Poirot novels to reflect the pervasive gloom of the Second World War and is one of Christie's most overtly political novels.
Several references to other books are througho..."

Yes, this was one of her most political books, with a lot of references to the divisions in political and social leanings playing a big role in the actual mystery. I actually thought it was written in the 1930s but checking just now I realise it was published in 1940. This must have been very topical at the time and makes the ending that much more interesting.

I’m rereading the entire Agatha Christie oeuvre (sounds posh, but I couldn’t find another word for it) and when Poirot mentioned the countess I got confused because he hasn’t met her yet... and then I remembered this one was later on.

I liked how Mr. Morley knew exactly what Poirot was saying while having the work done, I wonder if it’s a class in dentistry school to be able to understand the half pronounced words; I know my dentist is great at it too.

I went down a rabbit hole and read Harm by Hugh Fraser after this, finished it yesterday. It’s a thriller and I liked it, a little violent; the second in the series sounds more like a mystery, but the heroine is still a contract killer.

Emilia wrote: "Tracey the Bookworm wrote: "I loved that Poirot needed 3 fillings. He has such a sweet tooth so of course, he would. I admit that I do not like going to the dentist and found these references uncom..."

It's amazing how perception is clouded by anxiety.

Emilia wrote: "Tracey the Bookworm wrote: "This is the first of the Poirot novels to reflect the pervasive gloom of the Second World War and is one of Christie's most overtly political novels.
Several references..."

Yes, it does. I learnt a lot about the political situation in Britain at the time.

I hadn’t realized it was 1940, I thought it was a little earlier just before the war. I agree that the choice in the ending is very much explained if we think of the leaders at the time and what people wanted to do with them.

France-Andrée wrote: "I’m rereading the entire Agatha Christie oeuvre (sounds posh, but I couldn’t find another word for it) and when Poirot mentioned the countess I got confused because he hasn’t met her yet... and the..."

Yes his books are very different from what Captain Hastings would approve of. :)

About Poirot and the dentist ... I just watched a dramatisation of Murder in the Mews, and Captain Hasting was ragging Poirot about always avoiding the dentist, even though he has toothache, yet being quite happy to go out with him for dinner. Perhaps it's an ongoing theme?

I too am reading all the Poirots in order for another group, but although Murder in the Mews is number 18, I can't say I'd picked that up before.

This is a great buddy read :)

I had read Miss Marple but not Peroit. This is the second one and he is growing on me. I enjoyed the fact that Agatha can make fun of herself— CI Japp telling Hercule that he is talking like a thriller by a lady novelist.

If you enjoy Agatha poking fun at herself, you would enjoy Ariadne Oliver in the Poirot stories. She appears first in the not Poirot setting of Parker Pyne Investigates (in the short “The. Case of the discontented Soldier”) , but in Poirot she’s in Cards on the Table first. I’m a little surprised that’s she’s in the series quite this early, I had forgotten that.

How is this buddy read going? Should it be continued through August?

Archiving this now, but leaving it open.