There's Captain Hastings. He is Poirot's friend and often assists him in his investigations. Hastings is a bit of a bumbling but loyal character. Another is Inspector Japp, a police inspector who sometimes works with Poirot. He represents the more traditional police approach to solving crimes.
Well, the number of Poirot short stories can be a bit tricky to pin down precisely. It depends on which editions and compilations you consider. Generally, there are a significant number of them that have delighted mystery lovers over the years.
One of the best is 'The Adventure of the Cheap Flat'. It shows Poirot's brilliant deductive skills as he uncovers the mystery behind a seemingly ordinary flat with a very low rent. The plot twists and turns, keeping the reader on edge.
Another excellent short story is 'The Red Signal'. In this story, Poirot uses his psychological insights along with his detective skills. The atmosphere is rather tense as Poirot tries to prevent a potential crime based on some strange premonitions and signs.
In 'The Adventure of the Missing Will', Poirot is faced with a situation where a will has disappeared and there are many potential beneficiaries with their own secrets. He examines the small details like the behavior of the servants and the layout of the house. Then there's 'The Adventure of the Clapham Cook' where the disappearance of a cook leads to a much bigger mystery involving illegal activities. Poirot's ability to see the connections between seemingly unimportant things is what makes these plots so interesting.
Another excellent one is 'The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan'. In this story, Poirot uses his sharp intellect to solve a jewel - heist mystery. He carefully observes the suspects and the circumstances, piecing together the clues in his unique way.
The mystery element. Each short story has a well - crafted mystery. For example, in 'The Submarine Plans', there are multiple suspects and red herrings. The plot keeps you guessing until Poirot reveals the truth. Also, the settings in which the mysteries occur, whether it's a posh hotel or a small village, add to the charm. The contrast between Poirot's foreign nature and the often very English settings creates an interesting dynamic.
You can start by looking at collections that are highly rated. For example, 'The Complete Poirot Short Stories' is a good place to begin. It compiles all of Agatha Christie's Poirot short stories in one volume.
Another aspect of the plot twists is the setting. Christie often uses the setting of the story to create surprises. For instance, a seemingly idyllic small town may hide many dark secrets. The closed - in environment, like a country house in some stories, can both limit and enhance the possibilities of the plot twists, as the number of suspects is relatively small but the relationships among them can be very intricate.
People who love mystery and detective stories would enjoy it. Fans of classic literature are also likely to be attracted to these short stories as they are written by Agatha Christie, a renowned author in the genre.