shaq's review against another edition
4.0
Conniving and deceitful.
Agatha Christie, you've done it again. I absolutely love the teleportation spell that Agatha Christie can cast, allowing me to go back in time and witness a story so immersive and absolutely beautifully written.
I feel my reviews for Agatha Christie books are going to sound repetitive, and because to an extent the fact is that shes got the formula to write great stories, with the right amount of intrigue, mystery, and pace to keep the book highly interesting and with enough twists and turns that leave you gasping for more. And unfortunately as usual, its hard to talk about what makes this book so great without having to spoil a reader's first and blind read to the story, but I will say that the theme of the book was absolutely chilling, and without much complication, there was a great investment in all the characters and as always Hercule Poirot being there to juice the story up even further makes it all the more brilliant, but anything else would not be fair to talk to someone who hasnt read the book yet so into spoiler zone we go.
I will also say that I had heard criticism that this book is pretty misogynistic. but if Im being honest, I personally didnt think so. I mean I feel like especially for her time, Agatha Christie was steps ahead of the rest in terms of promoting and uplifting and in doing so, yes there are going to be hero women characters as much as there are villains, and if anything the formula "Cherhez la femme" is brilliant in its own way.
For me, this was the first mystery where greed and money were the driving motivators to the crime and I feel like it bringing out the ugly in people was just brilliantly captured. I want to say that I was able to guess who the criminal was, but it would be a lie if I said I knew why he did it as well, and not to mention twist upon twist upon twists. Just when you thought you know whats going to happen, theres a whole another story unravelling behind. This was truly a case of money brings the worst out of everyone.
For me this was one of the best themed murder mysteries, Id say ignore the haters, and definitely time travel to post WWII where nothing is as it seems and simply no one can be trusted.
Agatha Christie, you've done it again. I absolutely love the teleportation spell that Agatha Christie can cast, allowing me to go back in time and witness a story so immersive and absolutely beautifully written.
I feel my reviews for Agatha Christie books are going to sound repetitive, and because to an extent the fact is that shes got the formula to write great stories, with the right amount of intrigue, mystery, and pace to keep the book highly interesting and with enough twists and turns that leave you gasping for more. And unfortunately as usual, its hard to talk about what makes this book so great without having to spoil a reader's first and blind read to the story, but I will say that the theme of the book was absolutely chilling, and without much complication, there was a great investment in all the characters and as always Hercule Poirot being there to juice the story up even further makes it all the more brilliant, but anything else would not be fair to talk to someone who hasnt read the book yet so into spoiler zone we go.
Spoiler
Ill talk about the bad part first, I feel like the start of the book was a little all over the place, I felt we were made to think there was some supernatural powers to play, and honestly, the method of naming people, especially when it comes to the same person taking different names got a little confusing to the point that I had to make a cheat sheet to sort of know whos who and what everyone is called, but thats about where the bad of this ends.I will also say that I had heard criticism that this book is pretty misogynistic. but if Im being honest, I personally didnt think so. I mean I feel like especially for her time, Agatha Christie was steps ahead of the rest in terms of promoting and uplifting and in doing so, yes there are going to be hero women characters as much as there are villains, and if anything the formula "Cherhez la femme" is brilliant in its own way.
For me, this was the first mystery where greed and money were the driving motivators to the crime and I feel like it bringing out the ugly in people was just brilliantly captured. I want to say that I was able to guess who the criminal was, but it would be a lie if I said I knew why he did it as well, and not to mention twist upon twist upon twists. Just when you thought you know whats going to happen, theres a whole another story unravelling behind. This was truly a case of money brings the worst out of everyone.
For me this was one of the best themed murder mysteries, Id say ignore the haters, and definitely time travel to post WWII where nothing is as it seems and simply no one can be trusted.
maria_clara's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
leasummer's review against another edition
3.0
I missed the connect between the title and the story. It was entertaining but parts didn’t hold my attention well. It was slow to get to the mystery and Poirot didn’t show up until well in the story.
I want to love Christie as she’s the Queen of Mystery, but I haven’t found one I love yet.
I want to love Christie as she’s the Queen of Mystery, but I haven’t found one I love yet.
gabedubberke's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
marthabethanreads's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
qwelling4's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
loud_purrbox's review against another edition
dark
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was fun. It was the first Poirot I read and I liked it a lot better than I thought I would based on the movies I’d seen which I never liked at all. I still don’t like him as much as I like Miss Marple but it was a good solid detective plot and I liked it.
That Lynn is a bit of a weirdo but that’s alright. I like how the characters stay in character all the way to the end, how internally consistent the ending is even if it is a bit shocking.
I was also surprised by how insightful Poirot is in his assessment of Lynn. Psychology in a book like this is necessary because it provides motive for actions and I think Christie does it well, in a way that pushes the story forward.
That Lynn is a bit of a weirdo but that’s alright. I like how the characters stay in character all the way to the end, how internally consistent the ending is even if it is a bit shocking.
I was also surprised by how insightful Poirot is in his assessment of Lynn. Psychology in a book like this is necessary because it provides motive for actions and I think Christie does it well, in a way that pushes the story forward.
imperfectcj's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed this Poirot mystery up until the ending. The twists and turns were all interesting, and Poirot was less irritating and full of himself than he sometimes is (mellowing with age? How old is he by now, anyway? He has to be ancient), but that ending normalizes domestic violence rather more than I'm comfortable with.
olq0's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5