The mysterious Mr. Quin

 Series: Harley Quin #1 


Author: Agatha Christie

Genre: Mystery

Original publication date: April 14, 1930

Book description: 

Harley Quin is an enigma. Even his friend Mr Satterthwaite is unable to understand how the man seems to appear and disappear almost like a trick of the light - and when he does appear it's usually in the sparkle of sunshine, or surrounded by a spectrum of coloured light pouring through a stained glass window...

In fact, the only consistent thing about the Mysterious Mr Quin is that his presence is always a harbinger of love ... or death.

Thoughts:

This is a very interesting story it is a mystery/historical fiction and yet it weaves a bit of magical realism. It is not straight out magical realism, there are just a few hints here and there on most stories but it feels so organic in them, Christie is a master in her writing style. It all just fits so well.  Mr. Quin is a very peculiar man. He has a special ability; he allows one to solve mysteries by stripping away the unnecessary details. This allows people around him to solve a mystery as they see the details in a more objective way.

We see a few people who have at first glance nothing in common. Mr. Quin comes into their life at random, and everyone is taken by him. The person he benefits mostly is his good friend Mr. Satterthwaite as they tend to meet up on a few occasions. 

 The first story, The Coming of Mr. Quin, sets the tone for the whole book when Quin appears at the doorstep of the country house where Mr. Satterthwaite happens to be spending his New Year's Eve, as the first visitor of the year. That in itself is very special but it all goes up a notch when among the small talk the subject comes to the topic of suicide that took place in the house a year prior. Mr. Quin helps the people in the house evaluate and reach the big why. Everyone there knew the man who committed suicide and thanks to a few inquiries the mystery unraveled. 

And so the stories go on, they have the same vibe to them. Mr. Quin shows up and either we have a tragic death or love story. It comes in two in one pack really. 

This is a collection of short stories, we follow Mr. Satterthwaite and his interesting meeting with Mr. Quin. 

I definitely think this is one of the best works by Agatha Christie and one you can reread multiple times without getting tired of them.



Trying to catch up to my own self appointed time frame. AC missing book reviews 3/6. I'm getting there.

See you in a bit. Stay safe! 


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