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sharkybookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
Poirot’s dentist has dramatically committed suicide, but as one of the last patients to see him alive, Poirot isn’t so sure…
This was a solid murder mystery - the solution was ingenious, as ever, and I certainly didn’t figure it out. The tie-in to the nurses rhyme was clever, too. But I just didn’t feel particularly invested in all the secret service intrigue, which escalated rather quickly and was presumably a bit more exciting to read about in 1940 than it is now. I did very much enjoy the very last detail to be revealed though - an amusing finishing touch on Christie’s part.
Very solid murder mystery - clever, but didn’t quite draw me in and the stakes felt rather overblown.
thaurisil's review against another edition
3.0
While I read through Agatha Christie's novels with the Appointments with Agatha group, I'm putting a templated synopsis of each novel in my review. It has spoilers!
Book: 28 of Christie's novels, 21 of Hercule Poirot novels
Setting: London
Detective and Companions: Hercule Poirot, Inspector Japp
Crime: Poirot's dentist, Mr Morley is found dead. It appears to be a suicide, but Poirot does not think so.
Suspects:
- Frank Carter, boyfriend of Mr Morley's secretary Gladys Nevill
- Mabelle Sainsbury Seale, a missionary returned from India
- Mr Amberiotis, a crook and a patient of Mr Morley's who is later found dead
- Mr Barnes, a retired member of the Home Office
- Mr Reilly, Mr Morley's young partner
- Alistair Blunt, a powerful banker
- Julia Olivera, Alistair Blunt's niece-in-law
- Jane Olivera, Alistair Blunt's grandniece-in-law
- Howard Raikes, Jane's boyfriend and a political activist
Twists and Turns:
- It initially seemed that Mr Morley's death was the main murder to be solved, until Mr Amberiotis and another lady Mrs Albert Chapman were found dead.
- First Miss Sainsbury Seale's body was found in a trunk with the face battered. Then Poirot's tip helped the police discover through dental records that it was actually Mrs Chapman's body. Later it was found that it was Miss Sainsbury Seale's, and "Mrs Chapman" had misled them.
- Through Mr Barnes' tip, the reader was led to believe that there was a plot against Mr Blunt, but Mr Blunt was actually the criminal.
Written in 1940 at the start of the Second World War, this book has a decidedly political tone. Alistair Blunt represents conservative ideals, and Frank Carter and Howard Raikes represent fascism and socialism respectively. The tone of the book is gloomy, with none of the silly lightheartedness of her early books. Poirot ruminates about himself getting old, and his revelation leaves him with more sadness than triumph. None of the couples give Poirot any of his usual romantic joy. And the fact that Alistair Blunt is guilty while Frank Carter and Howard Raikes are not perhaps reveals Christie's fears about anticipated changes in the government.
The story itself was not the best. While the premise for the murder was that only a man like Blunt with unlimited financial capabilities and power could carry it out, it was convoluted and difficult to follow.
Book: 28 of Christie's novels, 21 of Hercule Poirot novels
Setting: London
Detective and Companions: Hercule Poirot, Inspector Japp
Crime: Poirot's dentist, Mr Morley is found dead. It appears to be a suicide, but Poirot does not think so.
Suspects:
- Frank Carter, boyfriend of Mr Morley's secretary Gladys Nevill
- Mabelle Sainsbury Seale, a missionary returned from India
- Mr Amberiotis, a crook and a patient of Mr Morley's who is later found dead
- Mr Barnes, a retired member of the Home Office
- Mr Reilly, Mr Morley's young partner
- Alistair Blunt, a powerful banker
- Julia Olivera, Alistair Blunt's niece-in-law
- Jane Olivera, Alistair Blunt's grandniece-in-law
- Howard Raikes, Jane's boyfriend and a political activist
Twists and Turns:
- It initially seemed that Mr Morley's death was the main murder to be solved, until Mr Amberiotis and another lady Mrs Albert Chapman were found dead.
- First Miss Sainsbury Seale's body was found in a trunk with the face battered. Then Poirot's tip helped the police discover through dental records that it was actually Mrs Chapman's body. Later it was found that it was Miss Sainsbury Seale's, and "Mrs Chapman" had misled them.
- Through Mr Barnes' tip, the reader was led to believe that there was a plot against Mr Blunt, but Mr Blunt was actually the criminal.
Written in 1940 at the start of the Second World War, this book has a decidedly political tone. Alistair Blunt represents conservative ideals, and Frank Carter and Howard Raikes represent fascism and socialism respectively. The tone of the book is gloomy, with none of the silly lightheartedness of her early books. Poirot ruminates about himself getting old, and his revelation leaves him with more sadness than triumph. None of the couples give Poirot any of his usual romantic joy. And the fact that Alistair Blunt is guilty while Frank Carter and Howard Raikes are not perhaps reveals Christie's fears about anticipated changes in the government.
The story itself was not the best. While the premise for the murder was that only a man like Blunt with unlimited financial capabilities and power could carry it out, it was convoluted and difficult to follow.
natalia86's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Siempre descubro que una vez que empiezo con un libro de la autora, me atrapa y no puedo dejar de leerlo. Este libro no fue la excepción, sin embargo, es de los que menos me ha gustado, aunque como siempre el desenlace como siempre te sorprende.
dalicieux's review against another edition
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? Yes
2.75
novi's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
I surprisingly enjoyed this! I'm surprised bc my friend said she didn't like this, so my expectations were low. Also usually I don't like Christie's espionage stories, which this one seemed to be. But since the beginning the story actually revolved around a murder, so we're investigating that. The writing was also really good and it was so easy to read and a page turner for me since page 1. I do still have some questions about the resolution though, which I think was pretty complicated but weirdly didn't *feel* farfetched to me, in the context of the story. And Poirot was not annoying at all here lol, probably because instead of Hastings, he's partnering with Inspector Japp here! I'm a fan of their interactions so I really enjoyed it.
tarareadsalot's review against another edition
challenging
funny
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
4.0
One part of the reveal was a bit... well but apart from that it was really great.
mborer23's review against another edition
3.0
Poirot hates going to the dentist...and now he'll have to find a new one, because his dentist has just been murdered. What, if anything, does his hygienist's unusual absence have to do with the murder? Or the odd assortment of patients Dr. Morley saw that day, including a mysterious foreigner and an influential financier?
Enjoyable enough, if a bit more gruesome than Poirot's usual fare. The ending is a doozy.
Enjoyable enough, if a bit more gruesome than Poirot's usual fare. The ending is a doozy.
hopelikeyou's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
3.0
ash_schroeder27's review against another edition
4.0
I love Christie’s writing. This one was interesting as it was a little different then her others. I really enjoyed the whole “was it a suicide or murder?”. Poirot is my favorite detective and I love all of the stories concerning him.