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sarapetker's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
miruna_cls's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
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: 23 of Christie's novels, 18 of Hercule Poirot novels
Setting: Israel
Detective and Companions: Hercule Poirot
Crime: Mrs Boynton, a sadistic mother who terrorises her children, is killed with an injection of digitalis via a hypodermic needle.
Suspects:
- Raymond Boynton, her stepson, who announces early that she needs to be die
- Carol Boynton, her stepdaughter, who plotted with Raymond
- Lennox Boynton, her oldest stepson, who has lost hope and fallen into subservient melancholy
- Nadine Boynton, Lennox's wife, and the only member of the family who is not under Mrs Boynton's spell
- Ginevra "Jinny" Boyton, Mrs Boyton's daughter, who displays signs of schizophrenia
- Sarah King, a young doctor who meets the Boyntons in Israel and is attracted to Raymond
- Theodore Gerard, a medical expert on schizophrenia
- Jefferson Cope, a friend of Nadine's
- Lady Westholme, an arrogant and selfish MP
- Miss Pierce, a vague, silly and suggestible lady who is friends with Lady Westholme
Twists and Turns:
- The most obvious murderer is Raymond Boynton, which, of course, means that he isn't the murderer!
- The first half of the book was about the villainy of Mrs Boynton, who has terrorised and kept her family under her thumb since their childhood. When she was killed, I immediately drew parallels to The Murder on the Orient Express, where the victim is also a villain. Curiously, Orient Express was again mentioned in this book. However, unlike in Orient Express, where everyone is involved in the murder, in this book, no one is involved in the murder. No one, that is, in the family, who are the main suspects.
- When Sarah King confronts Mrs Boynton, Mrs Boynton says, in a sinister way, "I never forget anything: not a name, not a face, not an action." The significance of this is only apparent at the end when Poirot reveals that the statement was made to Lady Westholme, who was standing behind Sarah, and was a former prisoner while Mrs Boynton was the prison wardress.
Book: 23 of Christie's novels, 18 of Hercule Poirot novels
Setting: Israel
Detective and Companions: Hercule Poirot
Crime: Mrs Boynton, a sadistic mother who terrorises her children, is killed with an injection of digitalis via a hypodermic needle.
Suspects:
- Raymond Boynton, her stepson, who announces early that she needs to be die
- Carol Boynton, her stepdaughter, who plotted with Raymond
- Lennox Boynton, her oldest stepson, who has lost hope and fallen into subservient melancholy
- Nadine Boynton, Lennox's wife, and the only member of the family who is not under Mrs Boynton's spell
- Ginevra "Jinny" Boyton, Mrs Boyton's daughter, who displays signs of schizophrenia
- Sarah King, a young doctor who meets the Boyntons in Israel and is attracted to Raymond
- Theodore Gerard, a medical expert on schizophrenia
- Jefferson Cope, a friend of Nadine's
- Lady Westholme, an arrogant and selfish MP
- Miss Pierce, a vague, silly and suggestible lady who is friends with Lady Westholme
Twists and Turns:
- The most obvious murderer is Raymond Boynton, which, of course, means that he isn't the murderer!
- The first half of the book was about the villainy of Mrs Boynton, who has terrorised and kept her family under her thumb since their childhood. When she was killed, I immediately drew parallels to The Murder on the Orient Express, where the victim is also a villain. Curiously, Orient Express was again mentioned in this book. However, unlike in Orient Express, where everyone is involved in the murder, in this book, no one is involved in the murder. No one, that is, in the family, who are the main suspects.
- When Sarah King confronts Mrs Boynton, Mrs Boynton says, in a sinister way, "I never forget anything: not a name, not a face, not an action." The significance of this is only apparent at the end when Poirot reveals that the statement was made to Lady Westholme, who was standing behind Sarah, and was a former prisoner while Mrs Boynton was the prison wardress.
themodelreader's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Racism
Minor: Religious bigotry and Murder
miriamrose's review against another edition
she kinda lost me with this one i can’t lie……
inessaojoao's review against another edition
4.0
4.0 stars!
This was a wonderful find! The story of this one is so interesting! And honestly, i couldn’t figure out who killed and how. I thought it would be similar to “Orient Express” where the family is working together and i was so excited when the truth finally got revealed.
The only bad part of this book was the ending. It felt so rushed, like those epilogues that appear at the end. I don’t exacly love those because, again, they feel rushed and it’s really out of context! So i just wish we could have known more about the characters after the truth being revealed!
I totally recommend!
This was a wonderful find! The story of this one is so interesting! And honestly, i couldn’t figure out who killed and how. I thought it would be similar to “Orient Express” where the family is working together and i was so excited when the truth finally got revealed.
The only bad part of this book was the ending. It felt so rushed, like those epilogues that appear at the end. I don’t exacly love those because, again, they feel rushed and it’s really out of context! So i just wish we could have known more about the characters after the truth being revealed!
I totally recommend!
samuelantonym's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
boyd94's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
kg18's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder