Reviews

Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie

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bahopkins's review against another edition

4.0

Lord Edgeware Dies, also known as Thirteen at Dinner is a typical Agatha Christie mystery. It features her little Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and his good friend Hastings. The book is actually told from Hastings perspective. Christie gives her readers an array of colorful characters including the spoiled starlet, the talented young ingenue, the ridiculously rich nobleman and even the shady butler. The pace of the book is quick enough and the plot twists and turns plausible. It's not a standout among her classic mysteries but it is a good read and recommended to anyone who enjoys a decent mystery.

jennag2's review against another edition

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3.0

Man! I don’t know if my distracted reading of this (sporadically in my free time during holidays

mysteriousnorse's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 Stars
So, my biggest problem with this is that

Spoiler

this is the same setup and payoff as [b:Peril at End House|16424|Peril at End House (Hercule Poirot, #8)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327938128l/16424._SY75_.jpg|2991011]... Woman wants to get away with murder, involves Poirot to cover, and is ultimately undone. True, the crime and complications are quite different, but I thought it was a bit too similar since this book follows directly

. Also, Hastings is really an idiot. I'm used to defending Sherlock's Watson because I don't think he's an idiot, but Hastings is so near the Nigel Bruce version of Watson's level of idiocy that it makes my head spin. Anyway, I'd have liked it more if I hadn't been reading in order. Next up due to availability, I jump ahead nine novels to [b:Appointment with Death|16363|Appointment with Death (Hercule Poirot, #19)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1308808730l/16363._SY75_.jpg|2773090]!

obsidian_blue's review against another edition

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5.0

Lord Edgware started off a bit bumpy for me due to some of the racial slurs and stereotypes that were being thrown around by some of the characters. I really did have a hard time going on with the book after the "n" word was said. I literally closed it and said the hell with this. What disturbs me is that this isn't the first time I started to see the casual racism in Agatha Christie's works. The Big Four and it's racism towards Asians. There was also the calling out of young women who claimed rape to get money or married and how women falling in love with one another was not what they really wanted, they really do just want to get married to a man and live happily ever after in Nemesis. I do still love Agatha Christie's works but am starting to realize that if she and I ever met we probably wouldn't get on so to speak.

The story is once again told from the perspective of Captain Hastings who is back in England from his home in Argentina. He remarks that the people involved are long gone and many did not realize that Poirot had a hand with the murderer being captured.

This was a really quick read for me and I loved how there were so many viable suspects for who could have killed Lord Edgware. What really got me was that I was so smug halfway through by thinking I knew who killed Lord Edgware. I literally had my mouth hanging open when at the final denouement Hercule Poirot explains who the real murderer is and why they did. In the end, we have Hastings as the narrator including a letter the murder sent to Hercule Poirot prior to them being hanged. I can say that all signs points to the murder being a total narcissist and sociopath. I honestly didn't see it and I can say that no matter how smart I think I am, Agatha Christie is always one upping me.

Still very glad that I read this and now onward to Three Act Tragedy.