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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Honestly, reading about the plot was better than the actual book. I liked the idea of a thief in a hostel setting, I like murder mysteries, but for some reason they didn't mix very well, in my opinion. It could be because I am not a fan of Poirot and am biased but this time I think it was the lack of creativity.
Very muddling and confusing especially how the detective, Poirot does come about his findings.
In my mind I cannot see the Miss Lemon of the books as anything other than Pauline Moran of the TV show. Who does not match the descriptions in the book at all.
I enjoyed the fact the Miss Lemon had such a large part in this story and that it includes a sister that Poirot had no idea existed.
I enjoyed the fact the Miss Lemon had such a large part in this story and that it includes a sister that Poirot had no idea existed.
dark
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
This book somehow lacks the usual wit and rhythm of a Christie. A writer so prolific cannot be expected to create masterpieces every time, and in this case she did not.
The book drags during the long sequence of interviews, although I’ve certainly read (and enjoyed) longer. It also never quite explains how Poirot arrives at some of his more difficult conclusions — knowledge that the reader only acquires through shifting perspectives.
If I were to make lists of Christie’s works, this would top none of them: neither the worst, nor the most ambitious, nor the most clever.
The book drags during the long sequence of interviews, although I’ve certainly read (and enjoyed) longer. It also never quite explains how Poirot arrives at some of his more difficult conclusions — knowledge that the reader only acquires through shifting perspectives.
If I were to make lists of Christie’s works, this would top none of them: neither the worst, nor the most ambitious, nor the most clever.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dramatic and Energetic.
To be very honest, I swayed a lot with my rating on this from thinking it to be nothing more than an average 3, and yet the more I thought about it, the more I felt this book was actually incredible to read and obsessively engaging, but no matter how hard I try to justify it, I feel like it falls a little short of a perfect 5 rating, part and parcel of it owing to the fact that there are some rather serious racist undertones that had no place in the book.
Even if I were to try and see from the lens of when it was written, it still didn't add anything to the book, which essentially translated to the fact that the book wasn't perfectly written.
That being said we have discussed the bad, onto the good now. Any book with Poirot is always going to be an exceptionally good read, but this book I felt went the distance on the whodunit genre. A fusion blend of murder mystery meets dark academia sprinkled with the goodness of method and madness that only Agatha Christie can bring.
Clues, pretexts, twists, and to top it all off, to somewhat quote the great Poirot himself, everyone is capable of murder.
A remarkable story that will leave you guessing constantly and surefire pick up for anyone wanting to read a murder mystery.
To be very honest, I swayed a lot with my rating on this from thinking it to be nothing more than an average 3, and yet the more I thought about it, the more I felt this book was actually incredible to read and obsessively engaging, but no matter how hard I try to justify it, I feel like it falls a little short of a perfect 5 rating, part and parcel of it owing to the fact that there are some rather serious racist undertones that had no place in the book.
Even if I were to try and see from the lens of when it was written, it still didn't add anything to the book, which essentially translated to the fact that the book wasn't perfectly written.
That being said we have discussed the bad, onto the good now. Any book with Poirot is always going to be an exceptionally good read, but this book I felt went the distance on the whodunit genre. A fusion blend of murder mystery meets dark academia sprinkled with the goodness of method and madness that only Agatha Christie can bring.
Clues, pretexts, twists, and to top it all off, to somewhat quote the great Poirot himself, everyone is capable of murder.
A remarkable story that will leave you guessing constantly and surefire pick up for anyone wanting to read a murder mystery.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No