When Miss Marple Met Hercule Poirot Part One Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In "The Murder at the Vicarage", where do Colonel Protheroe and his family live?

Answer: Old Hall

Gossington Hall will appear in other Miss Marple mysteries. Danemead is Miss Marple's own home, while The Manor is invented. This is Miss Marple's first appearance in a full length novel. Miss Marple lives in St Mary Mead. The local colonel is shot in the vicar's study and it is up to Miss Marple to solve the mystery.

2. In "The Mysterious Affair at Styles", where did Cynthia Murdoch work, as a Red Cross nurse?

Answer: Tadminster

Agatha Christie got the first idea for "The Mysterious Affair at Styles", while she was a nurse. Hercule Poirot bursts onto the literary scene in this book, Christie's first published novel, in 1921. He is assisted by Arthur Hastings - in later books Captain Hastings - who was injured in World War One.

The story takes place at Styles, in Essex. Mrs Emily Inglethorp is murdered, and Poirot has to work out who killed her.

3. In "The Body in the Library", how was Ruby Keene killed?

Answer: Burnt to death

Although people presumed that Ruby Keene was the dead body in the library of Gossington Hall, really it was the young Girl Guide, Pamela Reeves. She was drugged and strangled and then taken to Gossington Hall. Gossington Hall is owned by Colonel Bantry and his wife, Dolly. The Bantrys are good friends of Miss Marple.

4. In "Murder on the Links", what is Dulcie Duveen's nickname?

Answer: Cinderella

"Murder on the Links", is Poirot's second novel. Captain Hastings falls in love, and a wedding is planned at the end of the book. The mystery concerns a man who is found dead on a golf course.

5. In "The Moving Finger", who did Jerry Burton hire a cottage from?

Answer: Emily Barton

"The Moving Finger" was written at the same time as "N or M?"; Agatha alternated between them. Jerry Burton is a pilot, and was injured. He and his sister, Joanna, come to Lymstock, for some peace and quiet. However there is a spate of anonymous letters, and there are two deaths in the village so Miss Marple comes to investigate.

6. In "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd", the story begins with the death of Mrs Ferrars. How did she die?

Answer: Suicide

This is the most controversial of Christie's novels. Mrs Ferrars was married, but the villagers of King's Abbot believed that she murdered her husband, as he was an alcoholic. Mrs Ferrars was expected to marry the local squire, Roger Ackroyd. But before she could marry him, she committed suicide with an overdose of veronal. Shortly after her death, Roger Ackroyd is stabbed to death.

Instead of Captain Hastings, Poirot is assisted by Doctor James Sheppard. The Doctor is also the narrator.

7. In "A Murder is Announced", what month does the novel begin in?

Answer: October

Miss Marple has to find out who placed an announcement, in the Chipping Cleghorn Express, that a murder will take place at a certain time, date and place. There are three murders in this novel - one from a gunshot wound, one from an overdose of sleeping pills and another person is strangled.

This book makes the first appearance of Chief Inspector Craddock, Sir Henry Clithering's nephew. He will assist Miss Marple in three full length novels and one short story.

8. In "The Big Four", what type of meat helps Poirot solve the mystery of Jonathan Whalley's death?

Answer: Mutton

This is an unusual Poirot mystery. Captain Hastings has returned from Argentina - leaving his wife, Cinderella, behind - and assists Poirot to bring down "The Big Four", an international gang. This also features Hercule Poirot's twin brother, Achille. There is much debate if Achille really exists or not.

9. In "They Do It with Mirrors", what did Alex Restarick take from Carrie Louise, to find out if she was being poisoned?

Answer: Nail clippings

Miss Marple has tried to keep in touch with her childhood friends, Ruth Van Rydock, and Ruth's sister, Carrie Louise. Surprisingly, it is American Ruth who Miss Marple sees more of. Carrie Louise has been married three times and is running a reform school with her present husband. Inspector Curry assists Miss Marple.

10. In "The Mystery of the Blue Train", what was the profession of Kitty Kidd?

Answer: Stage actress

Instead of Captain Hastings, Poirot is sometimes assisted by Katherine Grey, a young woman who has been left a legacy by an old woman, and travels to the French Riviera. The Blue Train is officially called the Calais-Paris-Nice Express.

11. In "A Pocket Full of Rye", where did the Fortescue family live?

Answer: Yew Tree Lodge

Miss Marple investigates this mystery which seems very similar to the traditional nursery rhyme "Sing a Song of Sixpence". "The King" is killed in his counting house, while "The Maid" is hanging out washing when she is killed. "The Queen" in her parlour is killed after "The Maid" however.

12. In "Peril at End House", what is the name of the place, in the South of England, where Captain Hastings and Poirot are staying?

Answer: St Loo

Nick Buckley, a young woman, asks for Poirot's help, claiming that there have been three attempts on her life in as many days. She lives at End House, and when her cousin is killed, Poirot sends Nick to a nursing home, to keep her safe. But is she as safe as Poirot thinks?

13. In "Lord Edgeware Dies", who was the third victim in the book?

Answer: Donald Ross

Geraldine Marsh is Lord Edgeware's daughter, and did not die. Poirot and Hastings investigate when Lord Edgeware is stabbed to death. They have to work out how a murder suspect could be in two places at once. Lord Edgeware was married to the stage actress Jane Wilkinson, but refused to give her a divorce, according to Jane.

14. "4:50 from Paddington": what season is this book set in?

Answer: Winter

In fact it begins a few days before Christmas. Miss Marple's good friend, Mrs Elspeth McGillicuddy, witnesses a murder on a passing train. The only problem is that there is no body. Miss Marple asks a good friend, Lucy Eylesbarrow, to investigate for her. Chief Inspector Craddock also helps Miss Marple.

15. In "The Murder on the Orient Express", at the beginning of the book, who does Poirot share his compartment with?

Answer: Hector MacQueen

This is a very well known novel, and was made into a successful film in 1974, with Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot. Christie seemed to enjoy setting her books on or around trains. The case involves a kidnapping of a little girl many years before, and the guilty person being stabbed to death on a stranded train.

Source: Author JaneMarple

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Agatha Christie never allowed her two most famous detectives to meet - until now! This quiz is a mixture of full length novels - six Miss Marples and seven of Hercule Poirot's. Warning - spoilers ahead!

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