The Labors of Hercules: The Stymphalean Birds by Agatha Christie (1947)

The Labors of Hercules: The Stymphalean Birds by Agatha Christie (1947)

February 20, 2024

3 minutes

Agatha Christie, books, Hercule Poirot, mystery, reviews, Short Story, The Stymphalean Birds

Harold Waring, a youthful under-secretary of state at 30, relishes a holiday retreat in Herzoslovakia, nestled at a lakeside hotel overlooking the serene Lake Stempka. Amidst the tranquil surroundings, he encounters a few fellow English travelers, notably an elderly dame, Mrs. Rice, and her married daughter, Mrs. Elsie Clayton. However, the unsettling presence of two peculiar women momentarily unsettles Harold. Draped in billowing cloaks with hooked noses and elongated fingernails, they evoke an eerie semblance of sinister birds of prey.

Engaging in conversation with Mrs. Rice, Harold uncovers the harrowing truth about her daughter’s plight. Contrary to his assumptions, Mrs. Elsie Clayton is not a widow but trapped in an abusive marriage. Her husband, Philip, a man consumed by alcohol-fueled jealousy and a ferocious temper, has become the architect of her gradual demise. Furthermore, Mrs. Rice learns from the hotel staff that the enigmatic duo are Polish siblings.

One fateful morning, Harold discovers Elsie in the woods, her tears a testament to the anguish of her circumstances. Offering solace, he accompanies her back to the hotel, only to encounter one of the Polish women en route, prompting speculation about what she may have witnessed. Later that evening, chaos ensues as Philip Clayton storms into Harold’s quarters in a fit of rage, accusing Elsie of infidelity based on the Polish woman’s insinuations. In the ensuing scuffle, Elsie defends herself, inadvertently causing Philip’s demise.

Shocked and apprehensive, Harold frets over the credibility of their account in the eyes of the foreign authorities, fearing manslaughter or, worse, murder charges. In a bid for exoneration, Mrs. Rice proposes bribery as a solution, with Harold reluctantly agreeing and providing the necessary funds. Lacking proficiency in the local tongue, he entrusts Mrs. Rice with the negotiations, leading to a seemingly favorable outcome – until the Polish women resurface, wielding damning knowledge and blackmailing the hapless English visitors.

Desperate for guidance, Harold encounters Poirot by the lakeside, divulging the convoluted turn of events. Poirot discerns a connection between the Polish women and mythical Stymphalean Birds, pledging assistance. True to his word, Poirot orchestrates the downfall of the blackmailers, reassuring Harold of their apprehension. However, a startling revelation unfolds – the true malefactors are Mrs. Rice and her daughter, who fabricated the existence of Philip Clayton. Unbeknownst to Harold, the purported bribery scheme was a ruse orchestrated by Mrs. Rice, leaving him innocent but disillusioned.

With newfound resolve, Harold vows to master every European language, determined never to be deceived again.

The Review

I immensely enjoyed this short story for several reasons. The first reason is that the solution to the mystery is challenging to work out. I suspected Mrs. Rice and her daughter the whole time but only tumbled to half of the solution. The second reason this is a great story is that it is self-contained; there are no lingering questions left, and the story’s premise doesn’t feel too big; therefore, the author has to skirt over large puzzle pieces to get everything to hang together in a few short pages. Third, it’s believable. Scammers duping vacationers are as old as vacations themselves; maybe not the particulars are couched in the type of vacation or the type of scam, but the feeling of being taken advantage of by people pretending to be friends is universal. The fourth reason I liked this story is that Greek mythology works organically within the story to richly describe the main characters’ appearance, motivation, and actions.

Also, the use of chivalry as Harold’s ultimate downfall is very English to me, and it definitely feels like something that would happen to Hastings if he wasn’t under Poirot’s watchful eye. Poirot coming in and slaying all of Harold’s foes reminds me of an Arthurian legend, which is just the thing I think Christie set out to do with the labors of Hercules theme.