Reviews

Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie

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bettysong's review against another edition

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mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

historic_chronicles's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

"'A trifle, a little, the likeness of a dream, and death comes as the end...'"

Renisenb has recently returned with her daughter to the family home belonging to her father, Imhotep, following the death of her husband. Aiming to resume the previous life she once lived alongside her brothers, their wives and children, her grandmother and various servants, Renisenb is relieved to be home while she grieves for the loss of her husband. However, when Imhotep returns from a business trip with a new concubine in tow, the beautiful yet ruthless Nofret, tensions rise within the household and death quickly descends upon the family.

For this month's #readchristie2023 the theme was "fall from a height".

This is a distinctly unique Christie novel in that it is the only work where Agatha Christie delved into historical fiction. Set in Thebes 2000BC, this novel came about through Christie having been challenged by Egyptologist Stephen Glanville to delve into the ancient history of Egypt. Christie, noted for her admiration of Egypt and ancient artefacts with her own husband being an archaeologist, was only too happy to oblige.

Christie's knowledge and appreciation of ancient history is clear to see throughout the novel and I found this a perfect choice for this month's reading challenge. The setting of the home against the west bank of the River Nile with its evocation of the heat made this a light read for later summer nights.

The build up in tension (and body count) gave way for high drama and a fun read, however I did find the characters inauthentic to their time period. With dialogue, actions and an inner monologue, I often felt that this same storyline could have been set in a period that was present for Christie herself and very little would have changed.

Overall, while I applaud Christie's devotion to the challenge, I unfortunately found the translation of a historical murder mystery to be slightly lackluster, yet still an enjoyable read if not taken too seriously.

reading_under_covers's review against another edition

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4.0

Like many of Christie’s standalone novels, this one took a bit for me to get into, but, once I did, it was an enjoyable ride! I did find the murderer to be a tad predictable, but it was intriguing regardless.

nonabgo's review against another edition

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4.0

I started listening to the audiobook, but I couldn't get past the first 3 chapters, because I couldn't understand the names. Then I switched to the e-book and it was a whole different experience. And thus "Death Comes as the End" became one of my favorite Christie books, because it is so different in setting (albeit not so much where it comes to the mystery and motivations, but we'll get to that).

The story is set in Ancient Egypt. So no Poirot, no Miss Marple, no modernity. There's a family comprised of a widowed father of four (three sons and a daughter, also widowed), who is a Ka priest and, as such, has a decent fortune. In his old age, he decides to bring home a concubine. And thus chaos ensues, because the concubine is not particularly to the family's liking and end up dead.

I don't know about historical accuracy (and don't even care so much about it, but I understand she had some help from an Egyptologist), but the book was fun especially because of the setting. The customs, the Nile with its ecosystem, the religious aspects that direct this family's life made me want to keep reading. I was thoroughly invested in the characters, especially in Renisenb, who goes through a little big of an evolution from a naïve, trusting young woman, to a more mature version of herself, and in Esa, the wise and witty grandmother whom I wouldn't mind to be like when I grow up. It was entertaining to watch the different family dynamics, the women bickering in their part of the house, the brothers and their competition to win their father's approval, the marriages and how the romantic relationships develop. In fact, beyond the murder(s) and the search for the killer, this book is basically a family drama with telenovelistic vibes and I was, in all honesty, all for it.

No, I did not guess who the killer was. I guessed the gender, but this is rather irrelevant. I wanted it to be

Spoiler

Hori

, purely for the fun of it, because his motivations would have been more interesting than the actual killer's, who didn't particularly convince me.

But beyond the murder-mystery, what got to me was the family drama, the way characters interact with each other, the personal growth, the intimacy of it all. And it was a true adventure to visit Ancient Egypt.

juliettecaringi's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

adperfectamconsilium's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A different setting and time period for an Agatha Christie mystery but the same family relationships and problems. Times change but not human nature.

I've always enjoyed stories set in Ancient Egypt and this one is no exception.
A young widow and her daughter returns to the wealthy family home run by the lovable but overbearing Imhotep, a ka-priest.

Young Renisenb is at first glad to be back, thinking life will be as it was eight years previously, but it gradually becomes obvious that things do change especially when family rivalries, squabbles and problems have time to fester.
Into a tension already simmering like the desert heat Imhotep returns from a journey accompanied by a beautiful, young concubine called Nofret.

Nofret wastes no time in antagonising everyone and plotting to remove the inheritance of Imhotep's sons so it is no surprise when she is found dead from a cliff fall.
Of course she didn't fall. She was pushed. And the murderer will use local superstitions and the threat of Nofret's ghostly spirit to kill again. And again. And again.

The body count really mounts up in this one! I was rapidly running out of suspects. I had a suspicion but still didn't know for sure. There were too many possibilities and again the plot cleverly kept me guessing.

It's a quick read with some dialogue heavy pages absolutely flying by. The place and time is used to good effect. Possibly it's a bit too far-fetched but it's still an enjoyable whodunnit and a nice change from Christie's other mysteries.