Reviews

Postern of Fate by Agatha Christie

june_zhu's review against another edition

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mysterious slow-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

1.5

ranooshe's review against another edition

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3.0

You know when a famous writer collaborates with a novice, each for his reasons ? Well, this is exactly what I felt reading this book.
The Christie plot and spirit is there. You get a glimpse of it every once in a while, especially with the unconvincing ending. Otherwise, it feels so alien to Chistie's style. So many deviations from the story into unnecessary discussions, descriptions and dialogues. The dog, the every day life details.. etc.
The motive of the culprit was not very rational either.
All in all, I had to read it as part of Agatha Christie books spree. I don't think I will read it again any time soon.
I do have a question : why are nursery rhymes a recurring theme in so many of Christie books ?

helen___'s review against another edition

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adventurous funny 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

3.75

elisavaz's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious slow-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

2.0

Por enquanto é o livro mais fraco da Agatha Christie que eu li. O relacionamento entre os idosos é muito bonitinho e fofo, mas o mistério fraco e quase nem acreditei que existia um complô para assassinar os personagens.

linsey1828's review against another edition

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lighthearted 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

3.0

pipsaidaemilia's review against another edition

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slow-paced

1.5

mathilde56's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

3.25

calixita's review against another edition

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2.0

Where was your editor, Agatha? This read like a bunch of ideas for a novel, loosely organized. Too many repetitions, contradictions and confusion. The only thing that raised it above one star was the enjoyment of visiting Tommy and Tuppence.

vincederr's review against another edition

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3.0

The finale book in the Tommy & Tuppence series. In this book the Beresfords have moved into the countryside and are settling into an old home. While sorting through some antique books Tuppence come across a code that spells out: “Mary Jordan did not die naturally.” Sparked by the cryptic note our heroes are off trying to figure out who killed Mary Jordan. I must admire the fact that Agatha wrote this book at 82 years old, but on the other hand it shows. This book is not her best work and is my least favorite T&T book. T&T are just as fun and playful as ever, but the plot just isn’t there. I kept asking why do I care? Finishing this book was a slight chore. I was entertained by T&T, but ultimately the book falls woefully below Agatha’s best.

ginaparrish's review against another edition

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3.0

This book has gotten way more crap than it deserves. First off, it was one of the last books Christie wrote and the fifth in a series. For the most part, you can read Christie’s books out of order. (I am about to finish reading them all chronologically, so I know.) Not so with her Tommy and Tuppence novels. If you read it alone, I can see why it isn’t her best. But to cap off the Tommy and Tuppence saga I rather enjoyed it. You wouldn’t read the fifth Harry Potter before reading the others first, would you? Then you can’t really judge this one apart from the rest.

The reason I enjoyed it is because it revisits characters that I enjoy. And though I haven’t enjoyed as many of Christie’s later novels, I wouldn’t go as far as to say she was losing her mental faculties. Many of her books since the beginning involve elderly people who should remember something important but don’t. There is a lot of banter, but there is a lot of banter in general in her books, especially in Tommy and Tuppence.

The mystery part was a tad lacking in this one, and it was moderately easy to solve. But honestly there was a lot less ideology than some of her other spy novels so I liked that. If you are a true Christie fan, and you have read her other Tommy and Tuppence, you will be glad you read this one.