Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
The literal worst. Total garbage. All her other mysteries are great, but this (and her thrillers) are total trash. Sorry. Not sorry.
I’d try explaining why, but it isn’t worth it.
I’d try explaining why, but it isn’t worth it.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Not my favorite.. usually I find these tales to be unpredictable and unique, but this one was just a tad out of left field? It didn't flow as well as I'd like it to. It seemed rather rushed and forgettable. :/
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
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:
No
This was definitely different than the normal mysteries I've read from Poirot's lineup. This led to some interesting ideas, but also because of how long it took to finalize the case, it dragged in some places.
Every third chapter, Hastings gets captured by one of the Big Four and and used as bait to catch Poirot, which fails largely because he is too dumb too confide anything to.
Also, lots of cringey talk about "chinamen."
Also, lots of cringey talk about "chinamen."
As much as I love Christie, the "big scary international organization" novels aren't as strong as her other work. She tends to simplify and romanticize these espionage-heavy tales so I just don't like them as much.
I had a positive memory of this one from when I first read it years ago, but clearly the bloom is off the rose.
I had a positive memory of this one from when I first read it years ago, but clearly the bloom is off the rose.
adventurous
dark
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:
No
Once again, Poirot and Hastings are trying to uncover a mystery. This time, they’re trying to bring down organized crime! This is told in the original serialized publication, where each “chapter” is a short story, but they all tie together.
This is fun but...it is not actually a murder mystery. It's a James Bond adventure of international conspiracies. There's nothing to solve, nothing to engage with. Cute, but not actually in any way a murder story.