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ginaparrish's review against another edition
2.0
I have been reading through all of Christie’s books chronologically and unfortunately found this one to be a dud. The mystery is fairly good and unexpected, but it’s hard to like when the masochistic ingenue, Lynn Marchmont, keeps making horrible remarks.
There is only one other of Christie’s novels that I’ve come across with a character as bad as her—Anne Beddingfield in The Man With the Brown Suit. Both only fall for the kind of men that hit them and are abrasive and cruel. This is probably why Christie was (and is) accused of being sexist...
Here is some damning evidence:
“‘Well, there have been dreadful things in the papers lately. All these discharged soldiers—they attack girls.’
‘I expect the girls ask for it.’
She smiled. ” (Ch 14)
And let’s not leave out the happy ending...
“I fell for David because he was dangerous and attractive—and, to be honest, because he knows women much too well. But none of that was real. When you caught hold of me by the throat and said if I wasn’t for you, no one should have me—well—I knew then that I was your woman!” (Ch 17)
I have sometimes made concessions for Christie when a character says something unbelievably racist or for words that are no longer politically correct because of the era in which she wrote. Even in this book she refers to Irish eyes as “smeared on with a smutty finger” on multiple occasions. None of that is okay, but I understand it in the context of the time and culture in which it was written. I find it hard to believe that abuse towards women was encouraged as attractive even then.
There is only one other of Christie’s novels that I’ve come across with a character as bad as her—Anne Beddingfield in The Man With the Brown Suit. Both only fall for the kind of men that hit them and are abrasive and cruel. This is probably why Christie was (and is) accused of being sexist...
Here is some damning evidence:
“‘Well, there have been dreadful things in the papers lately. All these discharged soldiers—they attack girls.’
‘I expect the girls ask for it.’
She smiled. ” (Ch 14)
And let’s not leave out the happy ending...
“I fell for David because he was dangerous and attractive—and, to be honest, because he knows women much too well. But none of that was real. When you caught hold of me by the throat and said if I wasn’t for you, no one should have me—well—I knew then that I was your woman!” (Ch 17)
I have sometimes made concessions for Christie when a character says something unbelievably racist or for words that are no longer politically correct because of the era in which she wrote. Even in this book she refers to Irish eyes as “smeared on with a smutty finger” on multiple occasions. None of that is okay, but I understand it in the context of the time and culture in which it was written. I find it hard to believe that abuse towards women was encouraged as attractive even then.
megegghan's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this one. I feel like it would be a fun one to try to solve, there were lots of well-laid clues. The last chapter was a bit weird, but hey.
ogrebattle's review against another edition
mysterious
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? Yes
3.5
angrydance's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-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
2.0
thaurisil's review against another edition
4.0
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: 38 of Christie's novels, 25 of Hercule Poirot novels
Setting: Warmsley Vale, a village near London
Detective and Companions: Hercule Poirot, Superintendent Spence, Sergeant Graves
Crime: Gordon Cloade dies in an air raid during WWII. His young wife Rosaleen inherits his fortune, depriving his family of it. Two years later, a man named Enoch Arden, who may or may not be Rosaleen's first husband, Robert Underhay, who presumably died in Africa, appears.
Suspects:
- Rosaleen Cloade, Gordon's young wife who is terrified and under the thumb of her brother David
- David Hunter, a rebellious and obnoxious young man who intends to keep Gordon's fortune for him and Rosaleen
- Lynn Marchmont, a Wren officer during the war who has just returned to Warmsley Vale. She is engaged to Rowley but falls in love with David
- Adela Marchmont, Lynn's fussy, widowed mother and Gordon's sister who has difficulties paying her bills
- Jeremy Cloade, a solicitor and Gordon's brother, who has recently turned to fraud
- Frances Cloade, Jeremy's shrewd wife
- Lionel Cloade, a doctor and Gordon's brother, who developed a morphia addiction during the war
- Katherine Cloade, referred to as Aunt Kathie, Lionel's wife and a believer in the spirit world
- Rowley Cloade, a farmer who remained on his farm throughout the war and is engaged to Lynn
Twists and Turns:
- When Enoch Arden dies, we think he was murdered, and the prime suspect is David Hunter who stood to lose the most if Arden was truly Robert Underhay. But actually, Arden's death was a mistake. Rowley realised that Arden was Frances' relative and was angry at the trick that his relatives were playing, and punched Arden, not expecting him to fall backwards, hit his head on a kerb and die.
- When Rowley comes to Poirot looking for a friend who would recognise Arden and Poirot produces Major Porter, it seems like a big coincidence, and Poirot is smug about it. But actually, Rowley knew that Poirot had heard Porter talking about Underhay two years prior, and conspired with Porter to declare that Enoch Arden was Robert Underhay.
- Rosaleen seems like a terrified little girl plagued by a guilty conscience who eventually commits suicide. But actually, she is killed by David Hunter, who feared that her identity as Eileen Corrigan, a housemaid, would eventually be uncovered.
I greatly enjoyed this. It was a different sort of murder mystery, that didn't seem so much of a murder mystery than a mystery of identities and motives. The setting is post-WWII London where taxes are high and people who used to get by relatively comfortably are struggling to make ends meet. This theme appears repeatedly, in people's struggles, their motives for crime, and the impact it has on their habits and food. Christie also explores the change in identity people had when some, like Lynn, returned from the war and found herself listless with peacetime, and others, like Rowley, struggled with a low self-esteem after not having been through the adventures of war, and stayed behind to work on the farm under orders by the British government. Overall an interesting read.
Book: 38 of Christie's novels, 25 of Hercule Poirot novels
Setting: Warmsley Vale, a village near London
Detective and Companions: Hercule Poirot, Superintendent Spence, Sergeant Graves
Crime: Gordon Cloade dies in an air raid during WWII. His young wife Rosaleen inherits his fortune, depriving his family of it. Two years later, a man named Enoch Arden, who may or may not be Rosaleen's first husband, Robert Underhay, who presumably died in Africa, appears.
Suspects:
- Rosaleen Cloade, Gordon's young wife who is terrified and under the thumb of her brother David
- David Hunter, a rebellious and obnoxious young man who intends to keep Gordon's fortune for him and Rosaleen
- Lynn Marchmont, a Wren officer during the war who has just returned to Warmsley Vale. She is engaged to Rowley but falls in love with David
- Adela Marchmont, Lynn's fussy, widowed mother and Gordon's sister who has difficulties paying her bills
- Jeremy Cloade, a solicitor and Gordon's brother, who has recently turned to fraud
- Frances Cloade, Jeremy's shrewd wife
- Lionel Cloade, a doctor and Gordon's brother, who developed a morphia addiction during the war
- Katherine Cloade, referred to as Aunt Kathie, Lionel's wife and a believer in the spirit world
- Rowley Cloade, a farmer who remained on his farm throughout the war and is engaged to Lynn
Twists and Turns:
- When Enoch Arden dies, we think he was murdered, and the prime suspect is David Hunter who stood to lose the most if Arden was truly Robert Underhay. But actually, Arden's death was a mistake. Rowley realised that Arden was Frances' relative and was angry at the trick that his relatives were playing, and punched Arden, not expecting him to fall backwards, hit his head on a kerb and die.
- When Rowley comes to Poirot looking for a friend who would recognise Arden and Poirot produces Major Porter, it seems like a big coincidence, and Poirot is smug about it. But actually, Rowley knew that Poirot had heard Porter talking about Underhay two years prior, and conspired with Porter to declare that Enoch Arden was Robert Underhay.
- Rosaleen seems like a terrified little girl plagued by a guilty conscience who eventually commits suicide. But actually, she is killed by David Hunter, who feared that her identity as Eileen Corrigan, a housemaid, would eventually be uncovered.
I greatly enjoyed this. It was a different sort of murder mystery, that didn't seem so much of a murder mystery than a mystery of identities and motives. The setting is post-WWII London where taxes are high and people who used to get by relatively comfortably are struggling to make ends meet. This theme appears repeatedly, in people's struggles, their motives for crime, and the impact it has on their habits and food. Christie also explores the change in identity people had when some, like Lynn, returned from the war and found herself listless with peacetime, and others, like Rowley, struggled with a low self-esteem after not having been through the adventures of war, and stayed behind to work on the farm under orders by the British government. Overall an interesting read.
debf56's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
dobilodeau's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
emmasthingstoread's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
clarer's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75