The Mystery of the Spanish Chest audiobook

A man lay dead in a trunk in the corner while a party went on around him.The murdered man told his wife he was traveling out of town, then went by his best friend's house to talk about something. A servant remembers letting him into the room he was found in, but his friend says he never saw him. A house party that included his wife and other friends was scheduled for that evening and carried on as usual with no one suspecting that he was in the room, as well.The next morning a servant saw a dark stain on the floor and traced it back to the trunk that was partially hidden by the screen, discovered the body, and alerted the police.The dead man's wife is one of those women that all the men are secretly in love with, including his best friend.

4 Stars. An expanded and improved version of "The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest." Here Miss Lemon plays a role. Poirot is consulted by Lady Chatterton - her friend Mrs. Clayton really needs his help. The murdered body of Clayton's husband, oozing blood, had been found in a large chest. Was she seeing someone else behind his back? Possibly Mr. Rich now arrested? Could the murder have actually happened during a party? The chest was in the same room! "Baghdad" appeared in 1932 in the "The Strand" in the UK, and in "Ladies' Home Journal" in the US. The "Spanish" version is from "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and a Selection of Entrees" in 1960. Mrs. Clayton is adamant; Rich did not murder her husband. Interesting premise for the 1930s. A party was held at Rich's home for the Claytons, Jock McLaren, a couple named Spence, and Rich himself. For a little dancing to records, food and fun. The party proceeded even when Mr. Clayton was called to Scotland on business. All was normal until the next morning when the chest in the corner was found with a body inside! From the beginning I thought Mrs. Clayton's story was suspect. Didn't you? (October 2019)

It is amazing how the reader can have the same facts that Poirot has and never see what he has seen. I thought I had this one and was on to something, only to realize that I would have hung the wrong man. I love the way Christie weaves her tales, she shows everything but yet leaves you in the dark until the end when you get the big reveal. Great quick read

Monsieur Poirot knows his Shakespeare, folks.

That was fun! Way too short of course ... but totally fun.

Quite different from the David Suchet dramatization. She tells us she's retelling Othello.

Poirot never disappoints!

3.5 starsShort stories are difficult to rate for me always. The plot is good and the mystery is well concealed. But the time is not enough to get absorbed in the story. I loved this one. My first Agatha Christie short story and I am a fan. Easy enough to understand but compelling enough that it doesn’t bore you. The killer I kind of expected but that’s just the one sliver of the whole mystery in my opinion. The way Hercule Poirot puts it all together is what I love the most.

Hugh Fraser, who plays Captain Hastings to David Suchet's Hercule Poirot does an outstanding job as the reader in this mystery. He nails Hercule Poirot!

This was/ is a rather excellent story by Agatha Christie. The story revolves around the finding of a dead body in a Chest. The wife believes the accused murderer is innocent. So, Poirot goes in per suit of who did murder the victim.Unlike so many other Poirot Short Stories, Agatha Christie actually introduces all the characters, Poirot interviews them, included the potential murder and keeps you guessing until the very end. This is what I was expecting in other Poirot books and never came off. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.