Misteriozni gospodin Kvin (original 1930; edition 2004)

An unusual series for Christie, Mr. Quin appears at just the right moment, asks just the right question, and Mr. Satterthwaite solve some long ago event. More supernatural than I would have ever suspected of Ms. Christie. ( )

This collection of short stories featuring the elderly, bachelor connaissor, Mr. Satterwaite, and the appearing and disappearing Mr. Harley Quin were written and published over a period of years early in Christie's career. In this collection they almost work as a novel, as Mr. Satterwaite seems to develop as a character as he solves more curious situations brought to his attention by Quin and as Quin becomes more clearly a supernatural figure. The supernatural element disqualifies them as classic Golden Age mysteries, with it's humorous injunction against ghosts and Oriental villains. ( )

A set of twelve short stories, written at various times so not intended as a series as such. But each one features the likeable, intuitive epicure Mr Satterthwaite. He is acquainted with most of the British upper and upper middle class families of the era and also takes a benevolent interest in young and promising artists in many fields.

The stories also feature the strange person known as Mr Quin, based somewhat on the classic Italian Harlequin, who appears in order to avert tragedies and to see justice done, where possible. I never worked out who or what he is supposed to be; I think it's left up to the individual.

Light-weight crime fiction, written in Agatha Christie's usual incisive style. Other than the two main characters most of the people are a bit flat, but I expect that with this author. Nothing too gory, but rather more mystical than I've come to expect from Christie.

I didn't much like the final story or its endings, but thought the others made a good mix of stories, rather different from what I expected.

Recommended.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2020/04/mysterious-mr-quin-agatha-christie.... ( )

I didn't enjoy those short stories as much as those of Ms Marples. Some were really weird and seemed to lack .. something. ( )

A collection of short stories about Mr. Satterthwaite, an older unmarried man, who meets Mr. Quin several times when something mysterious is going to happen and he (Satterthwaite) figures out the mystery with some help from Quin who seems to represent death.