Yet - reasoned the detective -like Hercules he had been responsible for ridding society of some of its most unpleasant monsters.So in the period leading up to his retirement, Poirot made up his mind to accept just twelve more cases: his self-imposed Labours.

In appearance Hercule Poirot hardly resembled an ancient Greek hero. Yet - reasoned the detective -like Hercules he had been responsible for ridding society of some of its most unpleasant monsters.

So in the period leading up to his retirement, Poirot made up his mind to accept just twelve more cases: his self-imposed 'Labours'.Each would go down in the annals of crime as a heroic feat of deduction.

Foreword 9

1 The Nemean Lion

2 The Lernean Hydra

3 The Arcadian Deer

4 The Erymanthian Boar

5 The Augean Stables

6 The Stymphalean Birds

7 The Cretan Bull

8 The Horses of Diomedes

9 The Girdle of Hyppolita

10 The Flock of Geryon

11 The Apples of the Hesperides

12 The Capture of Cerberus