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bookwyrmknits's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
2.0
This is my least favorite of the Poirot novels yet. I had two main issues with it: First, the casual racism of the era is taken to the extreme in this one, and I greatly disliked the characterization of so many characters as a result. Second, apparently this was originally a set of short stories with a connected theme/enemy, and the flow of the story is lacking as a result. It felt broken up in odd ways as a result of its origin as short stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and Racial slurs
Minor: Suicide
tiasreads's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
merry_mandolin's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
This one just seems more racist than usual. I know it's a product of its time... but the constant references really took me out of the story.
So we were already off to a bad start... and then it just got over the top crazy.
It was the classic of the criminal mastermind behind the scenes... but like four of them? But also like political in the vaguest of ways... mostly like English Good, any other culture Bad. They're trying to destroy the world and cause chaos!!! It was giving thinly veiled war propaganda. Just not my vibe.
Some of the individual chapters that started as short story-esque mysteries were good... until their motives all became about THE BIG FOUR. (This makes sense finding out after the fact that this books was a series of short stories smashed together under the Big Four "plot." Explains why it seemed a little all over the place.)
It just all seemed so cliche and overdramtic in the worst way.
I've always just enjoyed her more contained murder mysteries more. I love a study of human nature and a interesting handful of character backstories being fleshed out. This fighting some ambiguous supervillain team is just weird.
Also, as an aside... Hastings, how could you just leave your--fairly recently married--wife for MONTHS like that?! People were literally like 'Go back to South America and be with your wife and we'll leave you alone.' And you were like 'Hell no! Gotta avenge my friend no matter the cost!'
All I'm saying is... I'd divorce Hastings.
So we were already off to a bad start... and then it just got over the top crazy.
Some of the individual chapters that started as short story-esque mysteries were good... until their motives all became about THE BIG FOUR. (This makes sense finding out after the fact that this books was a series of short stories smashed together under the Big Four "plot." Explains why it seemed a little all over the place.)
It just all seemed so cliche and overdramtic in the worst way.
I've always just enjoyed her more contained murder mysteries more. I love a study of human nature and a interesting handful of character backstories being fleshed out. This fighting some ambiguous supervillain team is just weird.
Also, as an aside... Hastings, how could you just leave your--fairly recently married--wife for MONTHS like that?! People were literally like 'Go back to South America and be with your wife and we'll leave you alone.' And you were like 'Hell no! Gotta avenge my friend no matter the cost!'
All I'm saying is... I'd divorce Hastings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
balth_the_chaotic_good's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
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
this is a love story. to me
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
daryn's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Sexism
babblingbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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? No
3.5
This was really entertaining, but be aware there is a lot of casual racism and racist slurs towards Chinese characters. (The edition I was reading is from 1960s, not the exact edition listed here).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
poirot's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Torture, and Grief
Minor: Suicide
chrisscorkscrew's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
One of my favourite comfort-read Christie’s. It’s not a classic murder mystery meant to be taken seriously, but instead it is one of Christie’s lurid thrillers.
It has an overblown plot about world domination, a cliffhanger in every chapter and is not meant to be taken seriously. It is just a fun ride, particularly if you seek out the audio version read by Hugh Fraser who wrings every last drop of indignation and horror out of the narrator, Captain Hastings.
It has an overblown plot about world domination, a cliffhanger in every chapter and is not meant to be taken seriously. It is just a fun ride, particularly if you seek out the audio version read by Hugh Fraser who wrings every last drop of indignation and horror out of the narrator, Captain Hastings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Violence and Murder
This book is of its time. It was written by British author during a period of imperialism and some cultures are displayed stereotypically or inaccurately which modern readers may find offensive.lasbrumas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
2.5
I didn't hate it? But I didn't love it either. It certainly was interesting, at least, and you can see real world influences on the text. In that way, I enjoyed it, but as for the mystery, it just felt eh. Also, do be aware this is a product of its time. Racism, ableism, etc abound.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
gillian_aftanas's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Suicide, Torture, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation