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A review by jdcorley
Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
People often dismiss Christie as formulaic - this is because she set out formulas that the rest of us are still catching up to - but books like this one show that she fervently experimented with the form of her mysteries, even in her most beloved series. Poirot does not come on stage until events are hopelessly tangled, quite late in the book.
Instead we have two intertwining stories about a spy plot in an "Eastern" country (Persian, by its description) and a prestigious private school for girls. Christie's negative judgments about English society are also on full display as the wealthy and influential are held up to be priggish buffoons, and the teachers she sympathizes with the most are hardworking, considerate and innovative, in their own way. We know a little more than the police do, so when the first murder happens we might think we've got the hang of it and the police don't, but Christie delights in piling up mysterious event on mysterious event until we're completely befuddled. Then Poirot comes in and the first thing he points out is that things are even more confusing than we thought. But he's here to get us through it. What a marvel.
Instead we have two intertwining stories about a spy plot in an "Eastern" country (Persian, by its description) and a prestigious private school for girls. Christie's negative judgments about English society are also on full display as the wealthy and influential are held up to be priggish buffoons, and the teachers she sympathizes with the most are hardworking, considerate and innovative, in their own way. We know a little more than the police do, so when the first murder happens we might think we've got the hang of it and the police don't, but Christie delights in piling up mysterious event on mysterious event until we're completely befuddled. Then Poirot comes in and the first thing he points out is that things are even more confusing than we thought. But he's here to get us through it. What a marvel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Murder