Reviews with content warning for Antisemitism - Das fehlende Glied in der Kette

🎧 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW 🎧

I enjoyed The Murder of Roger Ackroyd so much that I downloaded a few more Agatha Christie books on Audible. All narrated by the talented Richard Armitage. This is Christie's debut novel and the first to feature eccentric Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.

Poirot, a WWI refugee, settles in England near Styles Court, the country estate of the wealthy, elderly Emily Inglethorp, who helped him get settled. When authorities are baffled by Emily's poisoning, Poirot puts his herculean sleuthing skills (see what I did there?) to work. Suspects include Emily's much younger husband Alfred, John and Lawrence, her resentful stepsons from her first husband's previous marriage, her longtime hired companion Evelyn, John's wife Mary, Dorca the maid, Cynthia, a young family friend working as a nurse in a nearby dispensary, and Dr. Bauerstein, a poison expert from London who just happens to be visiting a nearby village. So many suspects, so many secrets, red herrings, and plot twists that Poirot must outwit to find Emily's killer.

This story, like Roger Ackroyd's, explores how money complicates relationships. It is narrated by Arthur Hastings, a friend of Poirot who is a guest at Styles Court while on sick leave from the Western Front. Christie wrote this during the Great War. Hercule Poirot was inspired by her work as a nurse, helping Belgian soldiers and refugees. Poirot's life as a refugee is touched upon.

I enjoyed this read. I suspected who the mastermind was, but the accomplice had me like #IKYFL Christie doesn't make it easy to stick with your first choice. I appreciate the wrenches she throws into the story to shake readers off the killer's scent and keep us guessing. That's why she's the queen of mystery.

TW: Antisemitism

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roseleaf24's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this mystery! It kept me guessing and engaged. I look forward to seeing more of some of the characters in future books.

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silverthorn's review against another edition

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funny mysterious medium-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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edwardian_girl_next_door's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

My umpteenth read of this particular Christie (for my wip retelling it from Mary Cavendish's point of view!). A rollicking read on the surface, the flaws appear upon closer inspection -- too many red herrings, too many side plots, too many coincidences and pieces of convenient timing. (The forward in my edition notes that, despite this, Christie went on to master the art of false clues, and I'm inclined to agree.) The influence of Sherlock Holmes is particularly marked as Christie tries to find her own voice in the genre; Hastings fits Dr. Watson almost to a tee, from his veteran status to his overall rather clueless demeanor. This novel also introduces archetypes which Christie continued to use in her later writing, such as "the wealthy old matriarch" and "the proud, aloof, and deeply emotional woman character." On top of that, it provides a fascinating glimpse into WWI England, a world engulfed in ration cards, spies, convalescent homes, and Red Cross charity fêtes. With all its quirks, it's a book near and dear to my heart, and a must-read for anyone interested in Christie or the cosy mystery genre.

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sappypatheticm's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

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lmsokol18's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

A solid Poirot mystery. Christie’s novels are so well-written and engaging over a hundred years later. It is fun to guess along with Hastings and wait for the big reveal at the end. However, the n word is used along with some casual sexism and antisemitism.

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lydiamcleod's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

One of my favorite Christie books yet.

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