Reviews

The Blood-Stained Pavement by Agatha Christie

octavia_cade's review against another edition

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mysterious fast-paced

3.0

This is the second Miss Marple short story in a row where I solved the mystery before Miss Marple told me the answer, which is possibly the most successful I've ever been as a mystery reader. Admittedly, it was less a shining insight on my part, and more a decision to look for the most domestic detail and assume it was key to the entire thing... no surprises that, when the question of laundry came up, I knew I was on the right track to an answer. 

So far, the solutions to the short stories in this series have hinged on cooking, gardening, and laundry (plus one wandering off the domestic topic altogether in the silly temple of Astarte story) so it admittedly didn't take a great deal of perspicacity on my part to realise the trend. 

glenn_blake's review against another edition

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2.0

This story was ok, but if Joyce saw the blood dripping on the pavement, why was there no trace of it only moments later. That part doesn't make sense. Also it seems too much of a coincidence that she just happens to overhear the exact same conversation twice in different locations separated by a period of twelve months. Normally in a novel a few discrepancies like this don't matter so much, but when it's a whodunit, the fine details do matter

readingwithcats's review

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dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0


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kate_hollingsworth's review against another edition

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relaxing fast-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

4.0

mairiairi's review

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3.0

The way the murder was carried out was really good - I never would have guessed it.

The only part that ever bothered me was, when she sees the bloodstains on the pavement, and then later she goes over and looks, to tell herself that she's seeing things, why doesn't she see the blood? I just don't get it. What did they do with the blood? It wouldn't have evaporated would it? And I was always bothered that they explained how the blood got there but they never explained how it LEFT.

Other than that, it's a really interesting story and I always enjoy it.