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saucepotrach's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
janemarple's review against another edition
mysterious
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? Yes
3.25
I’m not a fan of short stories, as you don’t get the plot and character development found in a great novel. That said, like any short story collection this one is definitely uneven. The best are the famous Witness for the Prosecution, The Mystery of the Blue Jar, and The Second Gong.
jb16772's review against another edition
5.0
This collection of short stories shows what good a storyteller Agatha Christie was. The book is a nice mix of crime and paranormal intrigue. Highly enjoyable. I read the title story after watching the play based on the story, but did not continue with the other stories until a few months later. When I started reading again it was impossible not to read story after story until the book ended. This was at least my second read through and although the stories felt familiar they never were tiring and the plot twist were as good as they were previously. As good as the book is not all stories have the same high quality but this is a definite case of the sum be greater than the whole of the parts.
- The witness for the prosecution: 5 stars. Brilliant.
- Accident: 5 stars. Great story, with a marvelous unexpected twist.
- The fourth man: 5 stars. Great story, with an interesting take on multiple personality disorders
- The mystery of the blue jar: 4 stars. Most disappointing of the lot. crime disguised as paranormal activity.
- Mr Eastwood's adventure: 5 stars. Brilliant story about a second cucumber. With a twist or two along the way.
- Philomel Cottage. 5 stars Great story, and you fear for the lady. But in the end it leaves you wonderinng what the truth is.
- The red signal: 5 stars. A story with a few twists an turns along the way.
- The second gong: 4 stars. Relatively mediocre Poirot story, especially compared to the rest of the stories.
- Sing a song of sixpence: 5 stars. Nice mystery, with an interesting 'detective'
- SOS: 5 star. paranormal, normal or abnormal that is the question.
- Wireless: 5 stars. Somewhat predictable but not as predictable as 'blue jar'
- Poirot and the regatta mystery: 5 stars. nobody does it better, which is true for AC and Hercule Poirot.
- The witness for the prosecution: 5 stars. Brilliant.
- Accident: 5 stars. Great story, with a marvelous unexpected twist.
- The fourth man: 5 stars. Great story, with an interesting take on multiple personality disorders
- The mystery of the blue jar: 4 stars. Most disappointing of the lot. crime disguised as paranormal activity.
- Mr Eastwood's adventure: 5 stars. Brilliant story about a second cucumber. With a twist or two along the way.
- Philomel Cottage. 5 stars Great story, and you fear for the lady. But in the end it leaves you wonderinng what the truth is.
- The red signal: 5 stars. A story with a few twists an turns along the way.
- The second gong: 4 stars. Relatively mediocre Poirot story, especially compared to the rest of the stories.
- Sing a song of sixpence: 5 stars. Nice mystery, with an interesting 'detective'
- SOS: 5 star. paranormal, normal or abnormal that is the question.
- Wireless: 5 stars. Somewhat predictable but not as predictable as 'blue jar'
- Poirot and the regatta mystery: 5 stars. nobody does it better, which is true for AC and Hercule Poirot.
littletaiko's review against another edition
3.0
A collection of short stories that ranged from what just happened to really good. My favorites were the title story and the one with Poirot.
eusorph's review against another edition
4.0
Audiobook version. Christie definitely got my attention. The writing is high quality and though I am not a fan of short stories, these are undoubtedly very good. I look forward to reading more by her.
soy_sputnik's review against another edition
3.0
Una vez más la edición de la portada y contraportada no explican que esta no es una novela sino una serie de relatos. Bueno, un poco, pero puedes irte con la finta. El primero es el que toma el título, los demás son muchos experimentos bonitos de Agatha Christie donde se burla y en ocasiones es escabrosa y coquetea con el terror. Un excelente libro para adentrarte al estilo de la autora ✍️
teressac's review against another edition
3.0
Decent mystery short stories. I guessed the ending/killer in about 80% of the stories so not much suspense or thinking involved but still decent.
spookysoto's review against another edition
3.0
Como ya he expresado antes, los cuentos de Agatha no son mis favoritos, pero esta colección es de las mejores para mi.
La mayoría de los cuentos tienen un toque paranormal, tan de moda en la época en la que fue escrita.
Mis favoritos:
Accidente 3.5
¿Dónde está el El testamento? 4
Villa ruiseñor 4
Testigo de cargo 3.5
Testigo de cargo
Leonard Vole es arrestado por el asesinato de Emely French, una mujer adinerada entrada en edad. Ella lo nombro su único heredero, sin saber que el estaba ya casado. Es por esto que el es principal sospechoso de su asesinato, por lo que es acusado y enjuiciado.
Su esposa Romaine accede a testificar en su contra. Al principio le da a la fiscalía evidencias fuertes en contra de su esposo, pero luego fabrica evidencia que desacreditan su propio testimonio entendiendo que esto mejora las oportunidades de que su esposo salga libre.
Lo consigue y el es declarado no culpable.
Al final se revela que el realmente si mato a Emely French.
A Agatha no le gustaba mucho el final, ya que el culpable no recibió su castigo. Para la obra de teatro decidió cambiar el final, agregó una amante para Leonard con la que el planeaba irse y dejar a Romaine que cargara con la acusación de perjurio, Romaine toma un cuchillo y mata a Leonard. Este es el final que tiene la Película del cine de Billy Wilder.
La mayoría de los cuentos tienen un toque paranormal, tan de moda en la época en la que fue escrita.
Mis favoritos:
Accidente 3.5
¿Dónde está el El testamento? 4
Villa ruiseñor 4
Testigo de cargo 3.5
Spoiler
Testigo de cargo
Leonard Vole es arrestado por el asesinato de Emely French, una mujer adinerada entrada en edad. Ella lo nombro su único heredero, sin saber que el estaba ya casado. Es por esto que el es principal sospechoso de su asesinato, por lo que es acusado y enjuiciado.
Su esposa Romaine accede a testificar en su contra. Al principio le da a la fiscalía evidencias fuertes en contra de su esposo, pero luego fabrica evidencia que desacreditan su propio testimonio entendiendo que esto mejora las oportunidades de que su esposo salga libre.
Lo consigue y el es declarado no culpable.
Al final se revela que el realmente si mato a Emely French.
A Agatha no le gustaba mucho el final, ya que el culpable no recibió su castigo. Para la obra de teatro decidió cambiar el final, agregó una amante para Leonard con la que el planeaba irse y dejar a Romaine que cargara con la acusación de perjurio, Romaine toma un cuchillo y mata a Leonard. Este es el final que tiene la Película del cine de Billy Wilder.