Scan barcode
vincederr's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun read to engage through the holidays. I attempted to read each part on the corresponding day. We start December 22nd and the story goes through December 28th. This was great idea and I'd recommend reading it that way. I fell behind, because the 24th is quite a large portion of the book and Christmas Eve quite a busy day for me.
We get a classic set up and an old rich miser calls home his family for the holidays. A family that he hates and that hates him. Throw in a suspicious valet and an uninvited guest and we've got a murder on our hands. The writing is a breeze to read and the book really does fly. The mystery was good and solvable if you're a better detective than me. As always Dame Christie fooled me again although she does play fair in this novel. You are given all of the pieces its just a matter of not dismissing the important one.
4.5 stars
We get a classic set up and an old rich miser calls home his family for the holidays. A family that he hates and that hates him. Throw in a suspicious valet and an uninvited guest and we've got a murder on our hands. The writing is a breeze to read and the book really does fly. The mystery was good and solvable if you're a better detective than me. As always Dame Christie fooled me again although she does play fair in this novel. You are given all of the pieces its just a matter of not dismissing the important one.
4.5 stars
ginaparrish's review against another edition
4.0
I have been reading all of Agatha Christie's mysteries chronologically and therefore read this in April...I was afraid it would be too sentimental because it took place at Christmas but I found it would have been just as well that it didn't. The only thing about it that was "Christmasy" was the fact that a family who would ordinarily never see each other comes together for the holiday.
I found this book refreshing. Another reviewer likened it to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and I could see that--but it was different in a lot of ways. I have started to find trends in Agatha Christie's writing--how she reveals clues, who she chooses for the murderer, the ways she leads you astray--and I have been able to guess several of them because of that. This time I didn't even try to guess because I knew I wouldn't get it.
Some other reviewers have noted that she broke some "rules" in this one. But, like in any art form, an artist who truly knows and has mastered the rules can choose to break them. She's done it plenty of times before with great success.
Someone also commented that it wasn't very realistic--something like it would never happen. To that I would like to say--of course not. Like all of her other books, no, this would probably never happen in real life. And I prefer that.
I found this book refreshing. Another reviewer likened it to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and I could see that--but it was different in a lot of ways. I have started to find trends in Agatha Christie's writing--how she reveals clues, who she chooses for the murderer, the ways she leads you astray--and I have been able to guess several of them because of that. This time I didn't even try to guess because I knew I wouldn't get it.
Some other reviewers have noted that she broke some "rules" in this one. But, like in any art form, an artist who truly knows and has mastered the rules can choose to break them. She's done it plenty of times before with great success.
Someone also commented that it wasn't very realistic--something like it would never happen. To that I would like to say--of course not. Like all of her other books, no, this would probably never happen in real life. And I prefer that.
soeroe22's review against another edition
4.0
Audiobook
Very cosy murderous christmas. Definitely recommend, but I do say; as an audiobook it was confusing at some point
Very cosy murderous christmas. Definitely recommend, but I do say; as an audiobook it was confusing at some point
megegghan's review against another edition
4.0
I think this is the first one I've figured out before the ending, but it had an entertaining cast of characters.
shmadsie's review against another edition
4.0
Ooo, this one had such a good how factor but, as for the who, they kept acting sooo suspiciously! It took two times of me going: really, this person just keeps doing things a guilty person would do before I cottoned on to the fact that... that's probably because they're guilty, lol. It was so in your face that my brain wanted to completely overlook it at first. So the who wasn't much of a secret, but the how was very delicious!
books_and_beth's review against another edition
3.5
The killer surprised me on this one. It took a little longer to get into the mystery at the beginning.
aido_potato's review against another edition
4.0
Phenomenal mystery and final act, but with a slow and boring start. This book might have become my favorite Poirot adventure if it had matched the quality of the finale all the way through.
vailasleep's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
I mean, I'm sure we've all considered murdering a family member during the Christmas period but few of us have yet to cross the line...
There were elements of this book that I loved. Not heavy with a complex plot but mainly character driven, it was a great mental work out trying to work out what made each character tick and to determine their possible motivations and lies.
Everyone seemed suspicious, and yet this is one of the first Christie books where I've guessed the killer. It just felt quite heavy handed and obvious once it had been introduced. Each time something relating to it was mentioned I almost rolled my eyes - at Agatha Christie, can you imagine! There were red herrings but I felt that they were almost there to give us some variations on the killer's motivation or story than as a credible substitute for the actual killer.
There were elements of this book that I loved. Not heavy with a complex plot but mainly character driven, it was a great mental work out trying to work out what made each character tick and to determine their possible motivations and lies.
Everyone seemed suspicious, and yet this is one of the first Christie books where I've guessed the killer. It just felt quite heavy handed and obvious once it had been introduced. Each time something relating to it was mentioned I almost rolled my eyes - at Agatha Christie, can you imagine! There were red herrings but I felt that they were almost there to give us some variations on the killer's motivation or story than as a credible substitute for the actual killer.