rosheegats's review against another edition
2.0
2.5. What… what even was that ending?? It gave no absolute indication of THAT person being the murderer. Maybe that was the point, idk. Or I’m just dumb. Either way, it began on such an interesting character study on the family and ended rather disappointingly >:((
tashamuseray's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
polpoletus's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
laurahastoomanywips's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A classic Poirot
So clever, with nods to previous cases such as "Orient Express".
An enjoyable read
So clever, with nods to previous cases such as "Orient Express".
An enjoyable read
maschanyx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
dels_bookmarks's review against another edition
3.0
A classic Christie; this was the September choice for Read Christie 2023 with a motive of hatred.
Set in Jerusalem, and Petra where the murder takes place, a controlling malevolent American matriarch whom everyone hates has died. Was it her heart? Or was it murder? Poirot is there so we know it’s the latter.
What’s interesting about this one is the argument that as no one minds that she’s dead, does it matter who did it?
“The moral character of the victim has nothing to do with it! A human being who has exercised the right of private judgment and taken the life of another human being is not safe to exist amongst the community.”
There’s lots of quirky characters, a dysfunctional family, lots of motives, and some questionable alibis. All the characters are British or American, and there’s an eye-wateringly insulting attempt by Christie at a local’s second language English.
I didn’t guess who did it, it’s quite convoluted, and Poirot’s exposition at the end is one of his most pompous and arrogant I’ve read. But still thoroughly enjoyable. I also liked the 1930s psychology discussions, and really, that’s where Christie’s expertise lies, in examining human behaviour.
Interesting fact: Christie adapted this in 1945 for the stage and removed Poirot and even changed the murderer!
Set in Jerusalem, and Petra where the murder takes place, a controlling malevolent American matriarch whom everyone hates has died. Was it her heart? Or was it murder? Poirot is there so we know it’s the latter.
What’s interesting about this one is the argument that as no one minds that she’s dead, does it matter who did it?
“The moral character of the victim has nothing to do with it! A human being who has exercised the right of private judgment and taken the life of another human being is not safe to exist amongst the community.”
There’s lots of quirky characters, a dysfunctional family, lots of motives, and some questionable alibis. All the characters are British or American, and there’s an eye-wateringly insulting attempt by Christie at a local’s second language English.
I didn’t guess who did it, it’s quite convoluted, and Poirot’s exposition at the end is one of his most pompous and arrogant I’ve read. But still thoroughly enjoyable. I also liked the 1930s psychology discussions, and really, that’s where Christie’s expertise lies, in examining human behaviour.
Interesting fact: Christie adapted this in 1945 for the stage and removed Poirot and even changed the murderer!
ttylerssmith's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
megpancoast's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5