Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. In the Foreword, Agatha Christie mentions that she wrote this novel in response to a request for a “good violent murder with lots of blood” (ix). How did you find the tone of Hercule Poirot’s Christmas compared to other “cozy” mysteries you might have read? Did the graphic nature of the crime affect your reading experience?

2. What makes this novel a “locked-room” mystery? How does it compare to other works you’ve read in this subgenre, like Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” (1841)?

3. The dysfunctional family dynamic at the heart of the story subverts the traditional warmth of a Christmas setting. Do you think the book would have been as effective if it were set at a different time of year?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. David’s return to Gorston Hall ultimately helps him confront and move on from his hatred of his father. Have you ever found release from a painful memory or a grudge? What helped you gain this freedom?

2. Poirot suggests that the forced cheerfulness of Christmas can create intense psychological strain. How do you manage stress, particularly around the holidays?

3. One of the novel’s major themes is The Corrupting Influence of Wealth and Greed. Do you believe that wealth inevitably compromises individuals’ consciences and their relationships? Consider sharing an example to support your stance.

4. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas explores The Fragility of Identity and the Performance of Self. Do you believe that there is such a thing as a stable “true self,” or do individuals simply take on different roles based on their surroundings and goals? What personal experiences and beliefs shape your answer to this question?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Simeon wields immense patriarchal power, and he uses his wealth to control and manipulate every member of his family. In what ways does his character reflect the social structures and expectations of the 1930s?

2. What does the novel’s treatment of “illegitimate” children, particularly Sugden and Stephen, reveal about the social anxieties and stigmas of the era in which the novel was written?

3. The country house mystery often isolates a group of privileged characters, forcing them to confront a crime within their own circle. How does Christie use this claustrophobic setting to critique the English class system and the notion of a “respectable” family?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does Christie employ mystery conventions, such as the locked-room murder and red herrings, in this novel? What other authorial decisions and literary techniques does she utilize to create suspense?

2. How does Poirot’s psychological approach to crime-solving contrast with the more evidence-based methods of a detective like Sherlock Holmes? How does his focus on the character of the victim and the emotions of the suspects contribute to the resolution’s impact?

3. Consider the female characters who marry into the Lee family. How do characters like the pragmatic Lydia, the resilient Hilda, and the calculating Magdalene navigate the toxic patriarchal environment of Gorston Hall?

4. The theme of performance is central to the story, with characters like Pilar and Stephen assuming false identities. In what ways is Sugden’s entire investigation the most elaborate and deceptive performance of all?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Sugden’s motivation stems from a lifetime of resentment for his father’s treatment of his mother. What might a letter from his mother to a young Sugden contain that would shape his meticulous, decades-long plan for revenge?

2. At the start of the novel, Lydia creates miniature gardens that reflect the family’s “arid” and “dead” emotional world, but she creates her “Garden of Eden” without a serpent at the end. What kind of miniature garden would you design to represent the future for another character or couple, such as David and Hilda or George and Magdalene? What would it include?

3. During the story’s resolution, several characters leave Gorston Hall to start new lives, breaking free from the past. What might a postcard from Harry in Hawaii or Stephen and Conchita in South Africa say to Alfred and Lydia a year after the murder?