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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Hercule Poirot mystery # 8 has the “retired” detective on holiday with his friend Hastings at the Cornish seaside town of St. Loo. A mystery lands in their laps when a young heiress, the current owner of the once magnificent End House, admits that she’s had several near misses in the last few days. Nick Buckley can’t imagine why anyone would try to kill her, but Poirot insists she is in grave danger, and, indeed, there are several more attempts. Unfortunately her cousin is shot instead when she’s mistaken for Nick while wearing Nick’s Chinese shawl.
This is a fine example of the kinds of puzzling cases Christie is so good at crafting. We have a large cast of interesting characters – a sullen housemaid, a sweet ingénue, a suspicious Australian couple, a best friend (who’s married to a drunk), an aviator who has gone missing during an around-the-world mission, an art dealer, and a penniless former Navy commander. There are considerable plot twists, and just when you are sure you have it figured out, Christie throws another curve at you.
On the whole an entertaining summer read.
This is a fine example of the kinds of puzzling cases Christie is so good at crafting. We have a large cast of interesting characters – a sullen housemaid, a sweet ingénue, a suspicious Australian couple, a best friend (who’s married to a drunk), an aviator who has gone missing during an around-the-world mission, an art dealer, and a penniless former Navy commander. There are considerable plot twists, and just when you are sure you have it figured out, Christie throws another curve at you.
On the whole an entertaining summer read.
ketutar's review
4.0
It was irritating that I still remember the episode of Poirot :-D
Yeah, it was the butler. Sure, the butler did it. Yeah, yeah, Hercule, it was the butler. But of course, there's a reason, the butler did it. You know.
(No, it wasn't the butler. There isn't a butler in the book. Wasn't the maid, either. Stop trying to spoil the book for yourself. :-D)
Devious little story. Who is lying? The thing is that we are dropped hints all the time, but one doesn't see them as that, when one doesn't know the secret. I could see them so clearly, because I knew what they were revealing.
It's a good story.
Yeah, it was the butler. Sure, the butler did it. Yeah, yeah, Hercule, it was the butler. But of course, there's a reason, the butler did it. You know.
(No, it wasn't the butler. There isn't a butler in the book. Wasn't the maid, either. Stop trying to spoil the book for yourself. :-D)
Devious little story. Who is lying? The thing is that we are dropped hints all the time, but one doesn't see them as that, when one doesn't know the secret. I could see them so clearly, because I knew what they were revealing.
It's a good story.
myadventurewithbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
maisieb14's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
manu13's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
valerie_kucerova's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The beginning of the story was a slow read for me. For me, it was very hard to know who was who in the story. However, I have enjoyed how Hastings's character matured from the first book to know. Also, I have enjoyed how Hercule Poirot investigated this case and how he created a situation to catch the real murderer. Overall, I enjoyed the storyline and Agatha Christie's writing style and was shocked by the result at the end.
ana_bolton's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
pareltje's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5