Title: The Labours of Hercules

Published in: 1947

Date read: Not yet read

Score: /5

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Detective

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Labours of Hercules," published in 1947, is a collection of twelve short stories by Agatha Christie, all linked by a unique and compelling central premise. This is a crucial work for the character of Hercule Poirot, as it serves as a transitional phase, marking his intention to retire from detective work.

At the beginning of the book, Poirot declares his intention to close his practice. However, his doctor suggests that he can't simply stop working and that a gradual withdrawal would be better for his mind. Inspired by a friend's reference to the mythological Greek hero, Poirot decides to take on twelve final, select cases, each one mirroring one of the Twelve Labours of Hercules.

The book's structure is episodic, with each chapter a self-contained mystery corresponding to a specific Labour:

"The Nemean Lion": Poirot investigates the disappearance of a Pekinese dog, a case he finds trivial but which has profound consequences.

"The Lernean Hydra": He battles a multi-headed monster of a different kind—gossip and rumours—to clear a man's name.

"The Arcadian Deer": He searches for a missing young woman, using his "little grey cells" to track her across a continent.

"The Erymanthian Boar": He hunts a dangerous gangster, a modern-day "boar," who operates in a secluded Swiss resort.

"The Augean Stables": He is tasked with cleaning up a political scandal, a metaphor for the filthy Augean stables.

"The Stymphalian Birds": He confronts two evil sisters who prey on people's misfortunes.

"The Cretan Bull": He investigates the mysterious and potentially dangerous madness of a young man.

"The Horses of Diomedes": He tackles a case involving drug-trafficking and a group of wild, reckless young people.

"The Girdle of Hippolyta": He tracks down a stolen painting, pursuing a thief with the cunning of the mythical Amazon queen.

"The Cattle of Geryon": He investigates a dangerous cult, confronting a three-headed monster of a different kind.

"The Apples of the Hesperides": He seeks out a stolen golden goblet, a priceless artifact.

"The Capture of Cerberus": He delves into a final case involving a mysterious London nightclub and a formidable guardian, much like the three-headed dog of mythology.

The collection is a clever and satisfying showcase of Poirot's intellectual range, demonstrating his ability to solve crimes from the mundane to the deeply sinister. In a final twist, the last case forces him to confront his old adversary, the Countess Vera Rossakoff, proving that even a Herculean effort cannot truly end his life of detection.

Comments:

Books that we've read by Agatha Christie (8):
The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot, #1) (1920), The Secret Adversary (Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries, #1) (1922), The Murder on the Links (Hercule Poirot #2) (1923), The Man in the Brown Suit (Colonel Race, #1) (1924), The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot, #4) (1926), The Murder at the Vicarage (Miss Marple #1) (1930), The Thirteen Problems (Miss Marple, #1) (1932), And Then There Were None (1939)