The title refers to the "Three Gables", a house where three generations of the Leonides family live. When the patriarch, Aristide Leonides, is found poisoned one day, suspicion inevitably falls on different members of the family, each of whom may have had their own reasons for getting rid of him.
2. A Homicide is Declared
Answer: A Murder is Announced
No killer would be so confident as to announce the time and location of a proposed murder through a newspaper advertisement; or would they? When a person does end up dead at the announced time and place, it is up to Miss Marple to unmask the murderer.
3. In the Direction of Nothing
Answer: Towards Zero
An old widow has some of her family and friends gathered at her house. When the old lady is found murdered one morning, suspicion immediately falls on her two heirs. One of Christie's regular sleuths, Superintendent Battle, features in this book.
4. Melancholy Conifer
Answer: Sad Cypress
The title of this novel is taken from a song in Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night". Elinor Carlisle inherits her aunt's wealth, but loses her fiance to Mary Gerrard. When later Mary is found dead, Elinor is arrested with jealousy attributed as the motive. Poirot is brought in to help prove her innocence and dramatically reveals the real killer inside the court during the proceedings.
5. Mute Observer
Answer: Dumb Witness
The US edition of this book was published under the title "Poirot Loses a Client". A wealthy spinster writes to Poirot worried that there may have been an attempt made on her life. Unfortunately, by the time the letter reaches Poirot, she has already died. Will Poirot still be able to crack the case?
6. The Confidential Foe
Answer: The Secret Adversary
This is the first Christie novel to feature the detective couple, Tommy and Tuppence. An ex-soldier, Tommy gets together with a war volunteer, Prudence to form the "The Young Adventurers, Ltd" since they are both out of work. They soon find themselves neck deep in serious espionage.
7. The Non-stationary Digit
Answer: The Moving Finger
The tranquility of the quiet village of Lymstock is shaken when a series of anonymous letters making scandalous accusations start doing the rounds. Things take a deadly turn when a maidservant ends up dead. With the police unable to make any headway, the vicar's wife turns to Miss Marple for help.
8. Pachyderms Don't Forget
Answer: Elephants Can Remember
One of the last novels written by Christie, it features both Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver. The latter is approached at a luncheon by a woman who wishes to know the truth about her son's fiancee's parents - who murdered whom? Since the event had taken place a decade earlier and the police investigation had been inconclusive, Ariadne enlists the help of Poirot in getting to the root of the mystery.
9. Date with the Grim Reaper
Answer: Appointment with Death
Set largely in the exotic location of Petra, the novel draws from Christie's own experiences having travelled the region with her archaeologist husband. Mrs. Boynton is on a trip with her family, all of whom don't appear to be overly fond of her but are willing to do her bidding.
When she is found dead one day, Hercule Poirot, who happens to be at the same location, promises to have the murderer revealed within 24 hours.
10. Dormant Execution
Answer: Sleeping Murder
The novel was published after Christie died though it had been written much earlier with instructions for its later release. When Gwenda Reed, a newly married woman buys an old house on the south coast of England, it feels just like home. Little does she realise that she had in fact lived there as a little girl and had probably witnessed her mother being murdered. Luckily, Miss Marple is around to help her unravel the tangled strings of the past.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LadyCaitriona before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
