The Mysterious Mr Quin

By Agatha Christie

Book Overview

Mr. Harley Quin has an almost magical flair for appearing at the scene of the most remarkable crimes. But is it a light trick that haunts his shadow with a ghostly apparition? Is it fate that invited him to a New Year's Eve murder? And what forces are at work when his car breaks down outside Royston Hall, an isolated estate with a deadly history?

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425103536
• ISBN13: 9780425103531
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Berkley
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.8" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Christie's Enigmatic Sleuth Stars in Volume of Short Stories

Harley Quin shines in the world of aristocratic evil and blue-blooded criminality. His mission is always to see that justice is done. Whether it be a young wife with a shocking secret from her past, a great actress playing her most daring role not on stage but in real life, or a handsome bridegroom whose wedding night turns into a wake, Harley Quin always arrives at precisely the right moment. His unorthodox methods will always be able to target the guilty party. This book is notable for the appearance of Mr. Satterthwaite, the means by which Mr. Quin makes his riveting revelations. They are reminiscent of other famous duos like Holmes and Watson or Poirot and Hastings as they work together and solve crimes with an uncanny accuracy.So if you need a little passion, blackmail, and murder in your life, pick up this volume of fascinating short stories.

A book dedicated to Harlequin, the Invisible

This book contains most, but not all, of the adventures of Mr. Satterthwaite and Mr. Quin. (See my listmania list for a complete list). Mr. Satterthwaite is an elderly bachelor whom life has passed by - a spectator in other people's lives - but like Miss Marple, he's grown very perceptive.Mr. Quin - Mr. Harley Quin - is a vaguely supernatural figure, associated with the immortal Harlequin, whose appearance in Satterthwaite's life presages adventure. Generally he appears as an advocate for the dead, and always as a catalyst: Satterthwaite does most of the reasoning, prompted by Quin. His theory is that one is more likely to solve a mystery after enough time has elapsed to put events in perspective. His gift for inspiring Satterthwaite lies in guiding him to ask the right questions."The Coming of Mr. Quin" - Mr. Quin appears after midnight on New Year's Eve, speaking of a breakdown that his chauffeur will shortly put right; Satterthwaite is among the guests of the house party who have stayed up. Quin guides the conversation to the mysterious suicide of Derek Capel, which happened 10 years ago in the same house. He contradicts the theory that nobody will ever know why Capel did it."The Shadow on the Glass" - If Satterthwaite consents to stay in a new-money household (he's a snob), it's a sign that the cooking is very good, or that something interesting will happen. He's currently staying with the Unkertons, who have bought a house with a romantic ghost story - a haunted window - and who have a genius for inviting trouble. In this case, they've invited a group of empire-builder-type hunters: Iris Staverton, Richard Scott and his new bride, and Scott's best-friend, who's been second fiddle all his life. Tactless, since Iris and Richard once had a very public relationship."At the Bells and Motley" - When the 3rd flat tire of the day strands Satterthwaite and his chauffeur 40 miles from their destination, the chauffeur soothes his employer's ruffled temper by suggesting that he go to the nearby inn - the Bells and Motley - to telephone his host, get something to eat, and maybe stay the night. Satterthwaite cheers up considerably to find Quin as a fellow-guest, and to be reminded that this little town was recently the scene of a nine-days wonder: a newlywed man, with a rich, lovely young wife, who mysteriously vanished."The Sign in the Sky" - Satterthwaite, having just seen young Martin Wylde convicted of the murder of Vivien Barnaby (a married woman he was leaving upon his engagement), and suspecting that he's innocent, seeks out a favourite restaurant, catering to jaded gourmets: the Arlecchino. Where, of course, he joins Mr. Quin at table to discuss the case."The Soul of the Croupier" - Satterthwaite, on his annual trip to Monte Carlo, notes that few of the glamourous nobility attend anymore - except the Countess Czarnova, and even she is seen less with great men these days than the nouveau riche."The World's End" - Satterthwaite's snobbery works agai

haunting and worthwhile

Not only some of Christie's best writing, but as well, some of the best short stories ever published. The final 2 pieces are especially provocative and will leave lasting impressions on the reader. As other reviewers have stated, the characters here are bigger mysteries than the plots, which works well to pull you into the stories. Is everything explained by the final paragraph? Or is this just the beginning of more mysteries to come? It's up to you to decide. Overall: thought-provoking, excellent stuff...

Very different from Christie's usual short story collection

There's something different in this book from all the other A. Christie murder novels I've read, and I think it's the quality of mystery around the characters, not the murders (or would-be murders in this book's case). I'm writing about the strangely uncanny, rather incomprehensible Mr. Quin. In all the stories, Mr. Quin seems to knows the ways of human nature so well, that he can pinpoint the people who are maybe on the verge of death. But strangely enough, it's not he who tries to save the would-be victims; it's his solid, predictable "friend", Mr. Satterthwaite who always happens to be in the right place at the right time. Using Mr. Quin's little hints, Mr. Satterthewaite uses his brain to piece together the puzzles, and he always arrives just in the nick of time to save the victims. I strongly recommend The Mysterious Mr. Quin.

Unusual Christie Work

I would recommend this book to both Christie fans as well as those readers picking up her work for the first time. The stories are all unique but have one common theme - a supernatural element running through them that is somehow connected with the mysterious appearances and disappearances of that enigmatic creature, Mr. Harley Quin. Unlike the character of Mr. Satterthwaite whose thoughts and reactions are transparent to the reader, Mr. Quin remains shrouded in darkness (a little like Holmes and Watson). We are always excited by his appearance because that is the indication that a mystery is about to appear on the horizon. Unlike Sherlock Holmes however, Mr. Quin does not play any active role in solving the puzzles; rather he throws out hints and suggestions to Mr. Satterthwaite who is usually quick-witted enough to pick up the thread of thought and so stumble upon the truth. Yet Mr. Quin is not a selfish being; in fact his appearance is frequently just in time to prevent a tragedy or a miscarriage of justice that may result in the wrong person being accused. Rather, he is content to stay out of the spotlight and maintain his anonymity; we observe in the stories that while he seems to know a lot of people, none of the characters have ever actually met him. Yet everyone accepts his presence and word unquestioningly. The stories are tinged with a romantic streak yet remain absorbing mysteries and studies of human nature. Highly recommended!