Whitehaven Mansions is a series of fanfics based on The Hercule Poirot Series, mostly the TV adaptation of the novels. It was written by Jadrea on Archive of our Own, and focuses on the actions of Poirot, Hastings, Miss Lemon, and Hastings' twenty-year-old nephew Silas McKinney. It can be found here
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So far, the series includes the following installments:
- Death on the Bellevue: A case of a banker murdered on the Bellevue Express.
- "Sleeping Beauty": A oneshot focused on Silas and Hastings.
- The Case of the Strawberry Pie: While collecting strawberries at a market, Miss Lemon becomes involved in a mystery of her own.
- "Bloody Inconvenient": A oneshot, once again focused on Silas and Hastings.
- Blood in the Tea Leaves: A case involving an assassin attempting to kill Poirot, which finds another target instead...
The series includes the following tropes:
- Affectionate Nickname: By ‘’Blood in the Tea Leaves’’, Poirot tends to call Silas “mon petit”.
- Continuity Nod: There’s a mention of Miss Lemon working for a detective before Poirot. Presumably this is a reference to Parker Pyne, whom she worked for in the novels.
- Cry into Chest: Silas does this to Hastings immediately after a nightmare.
- Cuddle Bug: Silas is revealed as this in one of the short entries. He spends a lot of time being hugged and comforted in Blood in the Tea Leaves.
- Curse Cut Short: In Blood in the Tea Leaves:Shopkeeper: Thought you coppers were meant to solve crimes, not sit around with your thumbs up your-Poirot: Good morning, Monsieur.
- A Day in the Limelight: Miss Lemon gets involved in a case during The Case of the Strawberry Pie. She doesn't even need Poirot to solve it.
- The Ghost: Celeste McKinney, Silas’ mother and Hastings’ sister, is referred to often enough, but never quite makes it onscreen.
- Hurt/Comfort Fic: "Bloody Inconvenient" and "Blood in the Tea Leaves" both involve this.
- It's All My Fault: After the attack on Silas, Poirot and Hastings separately feel this, the former because an assassin was sent to Whitehaven presumably after him, the latter because Silas is family.
- Miscarriage of Justice: Blood in the Tea Leaves: Richards was hanged for the Hangman murders despite being an accomplice rather than the actual murderer.
- Never One Murder: During “Death on the Bellevue”, Poirot and Hastings uncover a second murder almost immediately.
- No Periods, Period: Averted. Silas gets them, as he’s transgender.
- Nosy Neighbor: Mrs. Axleby is one of these. She's a more sympathetic version than normal, as she's one of the most helpful people the group meet in Char Knoll.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Mrs. Axleby is aware that she’s part of a murder investigation immediately, but plays dumb.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Hastings is so upset after Silas is attacked that he chokes out a witness, attacks someone he thinks is the killer though just happens to have a similar last name, and is generally much more short-tempered than usual.
- Original Flavor: The longer fics, especially Death on the Bellevue, feel like they could be episodes of Poirot.
- Past Experience Nightmare: Hastings has one about his time in the trenches, though it’s fairly vague.
- Silas is left with nasty recurring nightmares after he’s attacked at Whitehaven.
- Politically Correct History: The one time it comes that Silas is transgender, it’s not much of an issue, which is noticeable given the 1930s were not the most accepting time. Possibly justified in that the one character who is apparently aware of/okay with it is family.
- Red Baron: Bartholomew Richards was called “The Hangman”
- Rich Bitch: Miss Biggsby.
- Secret Relationship: Between Mr. Rencliffe and Miss Biggsby, though they're no longer in love, just married. It’s never explained how Cornick knew about it.
- Shell-Shocked Veteran: Hastings has nightmares about the trenches. It doesn't come up too much in-series.
- Sleep Cute: Hastings comes across Poirot and Silas asleep with the former resting his head on the latter’s shoulder. In-context (Silas has been having flashbacks to when he was attacked and is finally relaxed), it brings him to tears.
- Spot the Thread: Poirot uncovers the plot after he realizes Clara the maid mentions the wrong room that Miss Biggsby took refuge in.
- Strong Family Resemblance: A verbal one. Silas has a few similar verbal ticks to his uncle, Hastings.
- Apparently Hastings and his sister (Silas’ mother) also share a strong physical resemblance.
