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giugiu25's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.0
bioniclib's review against another edition
4.0
Two of the features of these books I like are the puzzle aspect; there's very little in the way of character development or really even complex characters and the high society world; with all it's fancy words, erudition, and nearly indolent art appreciation. It's good escapist for one such as me, someone who never gets the clues, always sees people as complex, and firmly rooted in the middle class tier of society.
Now for some book-specific stuff.
Expanding, for the moment, on the fancy words, here's a great example of the old-timey words I love: "'Do you prefer to assume that some balmy joker found out about the crime through telepahty or crystal-gazing, hied to a typewriter, composes a dithyramb, returned hot-footed to the house, and for no good reason, took the terrific risk of being seen putting the paper in the mail-box?" (p. 101)
The nursey rhyme theme the murderer takes I first saw in Christie's "And Then There Were None" or as it was called when I read it "Ten Little Indians". But while I read it first, it actually came out 10 years after this book. I wonder if Dame Christie had read it and tucked the theme away for a later book.
The last one is a spoiler, so if you've not read the book yet, don't read it.
Vance pulls a look-over-there-trick and switched the poisoned glasses. Which gets Prof Dillard to drink the poison and "kill himself". I'm not sure how I feel about Vance killing the bad dude. Taking justice into his own hands by killing the culprit fits the mold for a story in 2019 not 1929. I wonder if this is the first time the detective kills the bad guy?
Now for some book-specific stuff.
Expanding, for the moment, on the fancy words, here's a great example of the old-timey words I love: "'Do you prefer to assume that some balmy joker found out about the crime through telepahty or crystal-gazing, hied to a typewriter, composes a dithyramb, returned hot-footed to the house, and for no good reason, took the terrific risk of being seen putting the paper in the mail-box?" (p. 101)
The nursey rhyme theme the murderer takes I first saw in Christie's "And Then There Were None" or as it was called when I read it "Ten Little Indians". But while I read it first, it actually came out 10 years after this book. I wonder if Dame Christie had read it and tucked the theme away for a later book.
The last one is a spoiler, so if you've not read the book yet, don't read it.
Spoiler
Vance pulls a look-over-there-trick and switched the poisoned glasses. Which gets Prof Dillard to drink the poison and "kill himself". I'm not sure how I feel about Vance killing the bad dude. Taking justice into his own hands by killing the culprit fits the mold for a story in 2019 not 1929. I wonder if this is the first time the detective kills the bad guy?
lprnana6572's review against another edition
3.0
This book was written in 1928. The lead character uses a combination of unusual words and contracted words in his speech which was a bit unusual. I would say it was so-so.
itzami's review against another edition
3.0
It's not great. It's not bad. It's just another mystery novel.
To be absolutely frank, most of the book doesn't actually explore and investigate the murder. It just keeps adding more and more details that seem to only exist to fill pages.
I'm not a fan of books where you're able to find the culprit before or even at the same time as the main character and, sadly, this is one of those cases.
Compared to other mystery novels, this book doesn't add much to anything, which is a pity.
To be absolutely frank, most of the book doesn't actually explore and investigate the murder. It just keeps adding more and more details that seem to only exist to fill pages.
I'm not a fan of books where you're able to find the culprit before or even at the same time as the main character and, sadly, this is one of those cases.
Compared to other mystery novels, this book doesn't add much to anything, which is a pity.
diogoafsimoes's review against another edition
4.0
Ao longo destas semanas sentia que estava num mundo completamente à parte ao mergulhar nas palavras de S.S. Van Dine!
Com personagens credíveis e um final que só conhecemos nos momentos finais, este é sem dúvida um dos clássicos da literatura polícial. Sentirei saudades desta equipa de detetives.
Com personagens credíveis e um final que só conhecemos nos momentos finais, este é sem dúvida um dos clássicos da literatura polícial. Sentirei saudades desta equipa de detetives.
vaniaasantos's review against another edition
5.0
Desconhecia a coleção Vampiro até ao ano passado quando foi noticiado que uma nova série seria reeditada. Depois disso, comecei a pesquisa e coloquei os livros na secção de "encomendar futuramente", isto porque havia outros livros que estavam à mais tempo à espera.
Mas, finalmente!, encomendei livros desta série, sendo este o primeiro, e comecei logo a ler. E já o devia ter feito há mais tempo! Adorei a história, o constante desconfiar das personagens e das suas intenções, e o constante saber quem possivelmente é o assassino e, de seguida, já não ser a personagem porque a história mudou - mas tenho de admitir que fiquei muito feliz quando suspeitei de quem era o verdadeiro assassino e ser quem suspeitava que fosse. Foi suspense até ao final.
Espero que os restantes livros desta nova coleção sejam tão bons, ou melhores, do que este.
Mas, finalmente!, encomendei livros desta série, sendo este o primeiro, e comecei logo a ler. E já o devia ter feito há mais tempo! Adorei a história, o constante desconfiar das personagens e das suas intenções, e o constante saber quem possivelmente é o assassino e, de seguida, já não ser a personagem porque a história mudou - mas tenho de admitir que fiquei muito feliz quando suspeitei de quem era o verdadeiro assassino e ser quem suspeitava que fosse. Foi suspense até ao final.
Espero que os restantes livros desta nova coleção sejam tão bons, ou melhores, do que este.
hannah850's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
perasta0112's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
happlepider's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Possibly more enjoyable if I had a working knowledge of mathematics or chess, it was still enjoyable in seeing this variance on the golden age 'nursery rhyme murder' trope, and I fell for the murderer's plan right up until the end. Glad that WRITING IN CAPITALS to emphasise something important has fallen out of fashion. Found Vance more likeable than Wimsey or Campion, but in the same archetype.