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savvyrosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
In Hercule Poirot’s second novel, the detective and his friend Hastings are urgently summoned to France by a letter from one Paul Renauld, but arrive to find their client already dead. Poirot must piece together the truth from a series of confusing facts and clues—including a second body that appears not long after the first.
This was Agatha Christie’s third book and her second Poirot story. In some ways, its clear that she was beginning to come into her own as a mystery writer with this novel—where The Mysterious Affair at Styles (the first literary appearance of Poirot) was straightforward and almost simplistic in parts, The Murder on the Links was complex and filled with twists and surprise reveals. While I definitely enjoyed it, including the hilarious banter between Poirot and his rival, the arrogant French detective Giraud, by the end I felt like there had actually been a couple twists too many, and I was left slightly confused by the various intricacies of the plot. This likely won’t go down as one of my favorite Christie novels, but it was a solid read overall and the heavily detailed plot was incredibly well-written.
The Murder on the Links was also my first time listening to Christie as an audiobook, and I can highly recommend this format! Hearing the accents and intonations added a fun layer to the story, and the narrator did an excellent job. I’ll definitely be continuing my Christie deep dive with audiobooks moving forward.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Agatha Christie; twisted mysteries; family secrets and drama.
CW: Murder; death of a parent.
In Hercule Poirot’s second novel, the detective and his friend Hastings are urgently summoned to France by a letter from one Paul Renauld, but arrive to find their client already dead. Poirot must piece together the truth from a series of confusing facts and clues—including a second body that appears not long after the first.
This was Agatha Christie’s third book and her second Poirot story. In some ways, its clear that she was beginning to come into her own as a mystery writer with this novel—where The Mysterious Affair at Styles (the first literary appearance of Poirot) was straightforward and almost simplistic in parts, The Murder on the Links was complex and filled with twists and surprise reveals. While I definitely enjoyed it, including the hilarious banter between Poirot and his rival, the arrogant French detective Giraud, by the end I felt like there had actually been a couple twists too many, and I was left slightly confused by the various intricacies of the plot. This likely won’t go down as one of my favorite Christie novels, but it was a solid read overall and the heavily detailed plot was incredibly well-written.
The Murder on the Links was also my first time listening to Christie as an audiobook, and I can highly recommend this format! Hearing the accents and intonations added a fun layer to the story, and the narrator did an excellent job. I’ll definitely be continuing my Christie deep dive with audiobooks moving forward.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Agatha Christie; twisted mysteries; family secrets and drama.
CW: Murder; death of a parent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Murder
possiblyeve's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
a solid Christie, didn't realise this was the 2nd Poirot! didn't guess the ending (i never have, for a christie) and i like hastings as a foil and fresh narrative perspective.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexism
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Book three in my attempt to read through all Agatha Christie's mysteries in publication order!
The first third or half of this book, I expected to rate it three stars. Hastings is so much of an idiot as to be very annoying, and the mystery feels, if not quite predictable (hard to say for sure, since I did read this one in my teens and vaguely remembered parts of the solution), at least not gripping. Toward the end though, the mystery gets very twisty and complex, and Hastings once again makes me (grudgingly) like him through his good heart and well intentioned (if still often idiotic) actions.
The first third or half of this book, I expected to rate it three stars. Hastings is so much of an idiot as to be very annoying, and the mystery feels, if not quite predictable (hard to say for sure, since I did read this one in my teens and vaguely remembered parts of the solution), at least not gripping. Toward the end though, the mystery gets very twisty and complex, and Hastings once again makes me (grudgingly) like him through his good heart and well intentioned (if still often idiotic) actions.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
josefinceh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Probably not my favourite of the Poirot stories that I have read but still a light fun mystery. Definitely enjoyed the mingling love stories that surrounds the main plot of the story.
Listened to an audiobook version read by Pheobe Judge on the podcast "Pheobe reads a mystery".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
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