sandralaurentino's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Murder, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, and Kidnapping
jerusha's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Moderate: Classism, Racism, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Racial slurs
julied's review
adventurous
lighthearted
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? No
3.0
Moderate: Misogyny, Fatphobia, Murder, Racism, and Kidnapping
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
The first of Christie’s Colonel Race series, The Man in the Brown Suit tells the story of Anne Beddingfeld, an intrepid budding adventuress investigating the mysterious death of a man in a train station and the apparently connected murder of a woman in a nearby home.
As you know if you’ve been following along with my reviews, I’ve been chronologically working through Christie’s writings, and have been enjoying myself quite a bit so far. Unfortunately, this one was definitely my least favorite. While it was hilarious in parts (possibly even funnier than it was intended to be, as some parts seemed a bit ridiculous), I found it long winded and confusing, and never really clicked with the narrator in the audio version. And, especially with a portion of the novel set in Africa, there were unfortunately some racist and sexist moments that are always disconcerting and problematic to see and definitely diminished my overall enjoyment level.
In the end, I was still shocked by the twist and enjoyed the characters, but if you’re looking for your next Christie this isn’t the one I’d rush to grab!
Recommended if you like: adventurous mysteries; tough heroines; humorous narration.
CW: Death/murder; kidnapping/confinement; some mentions of war.
The first of Christie’s Colonel Race series, The Man in the Brown Suit tells the story of Anne Beddingfeld, an intrepid budding adventuress investigating the mysterious death of a man in a train station and the apparently connected murder of a woman in a nearby home.
As you know if you’ve been following along with my reviews, I’ve been chronologically working through Christie’s writings, and have been enjoying myself quite a bit so far. Unfortunately, this one was definitely my least favorite. While it was hilarious in parts (possibly even funnier than it was intended to be, as some parts seemed a bit ridiculous), I found it long winded and confusing, and never really clicked with the narrator in the audio version. And, especially with a portion of the novel set in Africa, there were unfortunately some racist and sexist moments that are always disconcerting and problematic to see and definitely diminished my overall enjoyment level.
In the end, I was still shocked by the twist and enjoyed the characters, but if you’re looking for your next Christie this isn’t the one I’d rush to grab!
Recommended if you like: adventurous mysteries; tough heroines; humorous narration.
CW: Death/murder; kidnapping/confinement; some mentions of war.
Moderate: Murder, Death, and Kidnapping
tatianars's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Sexism, Trafficking, Alcohol, Death of parent, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, Death, and Stalking
for_esme_with_love's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
It got off to a strong start - intriguing heroine and mystery - but the severe anti-Blackness during the portion of the book that takes place in South Africa is pretty upsetting. I think this one should stay in the vaults.
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Violence and Kidnapping
Lots of casual racism from the narrator.questingnotcoasting's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Racial slurs
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