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slugluv's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars—I liked a couple of these short stories but most of them felt really underdeveloped and predictable
xenb's review against another edition
3.0
It was a very interesting idea - the twelve labours of Hercules. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but somewhere between 'The Horses of Diomedes' and 'The Girdle of Hippolyta' I completely lost interest, but short stories are generally not my cup of tea.
Out of nowhere plot twists are no doubt the essence of Christie's book and I like them, but somehow it felt a bit too much. Nevertheless, I was entertained and that means the purpose of this book was fulfilled.
Out of nowhere plot twists are no doubt the essence of Christie's book and I like them, but somehow it felt a bit too much. Nevertheless, I was entertained and that means the purpose of this book was fulfilled.
aliciagriggs's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Another enjoyable Poirot. This one was quite different- like a selection of short stories, but the difference is that these short stories were part of a bigger picture. It was really quite clever.
I found some of the stories didn't hold my interest and yet the ending/solution still astounded or interested me.
I found some of the stories didn't hold my interest and yet the ending/solution still astounded or interested me.
aprilparker97's review against another edition
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
3.25
kim_reads87's review against another edition
3.0
I thought the plot sounded right up my street but sadly it fell a little short. There were some good points but as these are a group of short stories they lack the complexity that I’m used to with Christie.
kat_sanford's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ginaparrish's review against another edition
3.0
I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie and I am about three-quarters of the way through reading all of her mysteries. That said, I had trouble getting through this book of short stories. I don’t know if it was the format or what.
The one thing I will say is that the concept would have been clever if she had been less obvious with it. She makes it Poirot’s idea to accomplish his equivalent of the 12 labors of Hercules before retirement, so he constantly making far-reaching comparisons throughout the whole book.
“The dog is missing? Why that is JUST LIKE in the first labor of Hercules when...” etc. etc.
It would have gone over better if she had just titled each story with the labor it is referring to and let us make the connection without Poirot’s help. And if goes over our heads? Tough luck.
Overall, okay. Not her best short stories.
The one thing I will say is that the concept would have been clever if she had been less obvious with it. She makes it Poirot’s idea to accomplish his equivalent of the 12 labors of Hercules before retirement, so he constantly making far-reaching comparisons throughout the whole book.
“The dog is missing? Why that is JUST LIKE in the first labor of Hercules when...” etc. etc.
It would have gone over better if she had just titled each story with the labor it is referring to and let us make the connection without Poirot’s help. And if goes over our heads? Tough luck.
Overall, okay. Not her best short stories.
megegghan's review against another edition
3.0
Entertaining but not a must-read. Not all stories were about murder which was a nice change.
anisha_inkspill's review against another edition
4.0
Twelve short stories by Agatha Christie where Hercule Poirot takes on his last 12 cases, each one gives a nod to a labour of (the Greek hero) Hercules. I listened to the audiobook, brilliantly read and entertaining.