Some plays are better than others, but enjoyable overall. You can see her influence on modern mystery writers.

One summer in the early eighties I was really into this book, which led to one of the greatest theater experiences of my life. A community theater group was staging The Mousetrap in the basement of a church in the Cape Cod town my family was visiting. My mom and I tried to go see the show one night but it had sold out, so we were the first people to get tickets for the next night's performance, which meant that our seats were front row center. I was about 12 years old and I had been reading The Mousetrap and felt like I really knew the play. But my reading of it didn't include any humor at all, so I was shocked and tickled when the actor playing one of the character of Mr. Paravicini really hammed it up. I was laughing so hard that tears were coming out of my eyes and no sound was coming out but my whole body was spasming with laughter. This was a small-town community theater performance and it was all the cast could do not to burst out laughing at me. I later saw the Mousetrap in London, but nothing ever beat the experience of the church basement production that took me by surprise and cracked me up.

The Mousetrap: (****) I don't care if it's standard fare, it's a classic for a reason. I've seen it sneered at in community theater circles as "of course they're doing Mousetrap...so basic". Come on people. If it's a good play, shut up and don't judge.

Ten Little Indians: (*****) My favorite in this tome. This is an amazing play. I think standard practice now is to call it "And Then There were None". In the UK it and the book it was based off of were called "Ten Little Indians"--a more PC version of the actual original title. (I'm not gonna say what it was, it was the 30s, people were casually cruel in a way I can't grasp now). I believe my original understanding of it was that the book was "And Then There Were None", and the play which had a different ending was "Ten Little Indians". Man, transatlantic publishing practices are confusing!

Witness for the Prosecution: (****) One of her fantastic mysteries that transcribes really well to the stage. The double-blind and courtroom drama really is catnip for me. I did sound for a local theatre production of it--the double-blind isn't as effective (and they did precisely what A.C. specifically told them not to do with Greta and "the Girl") but it's still enjoyable to watch. "You can't miss if you've got good material"!

Appointment with Death: (*) You know what? Merh. The slow burn psychological build-up that works so well in the novel didn't translate well onto the stage. A three act murder mystery where the body doesn't hit the dirt until the last line of Act II is a bust, in my opinion. Add to that the outdated cringey humor with the English lady MP and the local dragoman and it's just not a great read.

The Hollow: (***) A play that really demonstrates A.C.'s brilliance in character creation and psychological tension. She makes the suspense go this way and that, and it's one of those plays where you can actually take bets on who it will be because she gives you all the information.

Towards Zero: (***) One of the classic who-done-its. Isolated conditions, a number of suspects--the murder victim had dropped a big "I know something you don't know" bomb at dinner the night before. I believe this is one of the influences in my childhood that got me interested in scents and makeup.

Go Back For Murder: (****) Based on "Five Little Pigs". This is a great example of how to put a flashback into a play. All the characters are so interesting. I really would like to see this on stage some day.

Verdict: (*) I didn't like it. Slow, boring, and I didn't sympathize enough with any of the characters to care about how it ended. And the ending was stupid.

Great collection of Agatha Christie's plays. Some were adapted from novels but most were written as plays originally with very detailed stage instructions. This makes these plays very dynamic and easy to read, although I would try to watch some of these as stage productions if the occasion presents itself. I love how music plays a big role in Christie's novels (songs, nursery rhymes...) and this element is also used in some of the plays, which adds to the atmosphere beautifully.

Ten Little Indians: 4⭐ I've already read the novel and it's one of my favourites. Love how the ending was developed for the play.

Appointment with death: 2⭐ not such a fan of this, whether it be in novel or play form.

The Hollow: 3⭐

The Mousetrap: 5⭐ love the "Huis Clos" atmosphere in combination with the "Shining" style setting!

Witness for the Prosecution: 4⭐ great court drama with a shocking twist and ending!

Towards Zero: 3⭐

Verdict: 4⭐ this is an unusual one. Very character driven and a comment on history and society in the 1940-50s.

Go back for Murder: 4⭐ loved how the element of going back in time is done for a stage production. He story is great. The end was unexpected but still enjoyable.

Overall,I really liked this book. However since it was straight plays it did get a little tiring after awhile. The stories themselves were wonderful Agatha Christie is such a phenomenal writer. Having to keep up with staging and characters can be annoying. I'm also not accustomed to reading straight plays.