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marlisenicole's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hannahdrew's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
martha_r's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
em1246's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A bit different to Christie’s normal work but still fantastic. Enjoyed the setting of Baghdad
lisas_library_factory's review against another edition
3.0
We're getting to the end of this years #ReadChristie challenge and this month the pick was yet again a novel that is not your average Christie.
It was a mixture of espionage and romance set during the Cold War. The strong suit - as with a lot of Christie's novels - was the character development. Especially the main character Victoria Jones was a true female adventurer and it was a pleasure to follow her around. However, I do prefer Christie's muder mysteries over the spy thrillers she wrote and also, in my opinion, the story took quite some time, till it picked up pase. So in the end, I gave it 3.5/5 stars.
It was a mixture of espionage and romance set during the Cold War. The strong suit - as with a lot of Christie's novels - was the character development. Especially the main character Victoria Jones was a true female adventurer and it was a pleasure to follow her around. However, I do prefer Christie's muder mysteries over the spy thrillers she wrote and also, in my opinion, the story took quite some time, till it picked up pase. So in the end, I gave it 3.5/5 stars.
kbkittyb's review against another edition
4.0
I love Agatha Christie so much!!
This one was a bit different. Very The 39 steps-esq. Very enjoyable, likable characters, suspenseful.
I will say the ending felt a bit rushed...but who cares, i loved it anyway!
This one was a bit different. Very The 39 steps-esq. Very enjoyable, likable characters, suspenseful.
I will say the ending felt a bit rushed...but who cares, i loved it anyway!
book_concierge's review
4.0
Adapted from the book jacket: Baghdad is holding a secret superpower summit, but the word is out, and an underground organization in the Middle East is plotting to sabotage the talks. Into this explosive situation appears Victoria Jones, a young woman with a yearning for love and adventure who gets more than she bargains for when she follows a young man to that city.
My reactions
I love Dame Christie’s works, and am especially fond of the series starring Hercule Poirot. This is one of her better stand-alone novels. There are lots of characters to sort out, and much intrigue (no surprise, given the basic premise). Victoria is plucky, thinks quickly, given to prevarication, and quite resourceful in a pinch. I love that she seizes opportunity; recently let go from her job she meets the charming Edward and decides to follow her heart (and her man) to Baghdad.
Among the people she encounters are a professor of archeology, a junior embassy official, an ebullient hotel owner, a taciturn older man, a jealous office worker, a seasoned spy, and, of course, her young man. Along the way she experiences something of the culture and customs of the Iraqi people, stumbles into the major espionage ring at the core of the novel and learns more than a little about herself.
I identified the culprit fairly early, but it was fun to watch it unfold and to watch Victoria talk her way out of more than one tight spot with her quick wit and talent for spinning a plausible story.
My reactions
I love Dame Christie’s works, and am especially fond of the series starring Hercule Poirot. This is one of her better stand-alone novels. There are lots of characters to sort out, and much intrigue (no surprise, given the basic premise). Victoria is plucky, thinks quickly, given to prevarication, and quite resourceful in a pinch. I love that she seizes opportunity; recently let go from her job she meets the charming Edward and decides to follow her heart (and her man) to Baghdad.
Among the people she encounters are a professor of archeology, a junior embassy official, an ebullient hotel owner, a taciturn older man, a jealous office worker, a seasoned spy, and, of course, her young man. Along the way she experiences something of the culture and customs of the Iraqi people, stumbles into the major espionage ring at the core of the novel and learns more than a little about herself.
I identified the culprit fairly early, but it was fun to watch it unfold and to watch Victoria talk her way out of more than one tight spot with her quick wit and talent for spinning a plausible story.
ketutar's review against another edition
5.0
They Came to Baghdad is not a murder mystery, it's a spy novel.
I think it's ingenious. Agatha was so clever!
It is a bit... well... how to say it. A pastiche? Parody? Hanging on the line between a parody and a non-parody. How Victoria just stumbles over a trouble and how she manages to get out of it, for example, she never needed to pay her hotel bill :-D I mean, I wouldn't mind having adventures like that.
But it was nevertheless thrilling.
I think it's ingenious. Agatha was so clever!
It is a bit... well... how to say it. A pastiche? Parody? Hanging on the line between a parody and a non-parody. How Victoria just stumbles over a trouble and how she manages to get out of it, for example, she never needed to pay her hotel bill :-D I mean, I wouldn't mind having adventures like that.
But it was nevertheless thrilling.
pbraue13's review against another edition
3.0
To say this book was filled with far-fetched plot points would be an understatement but as with most of Christies stand alone mysteries it’s interesting, readable, and gives us some fun female heroines!
mark_kivimaki's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
3.75
contains many of the typical elements of an agatha christie spy novel - an intrepid ingenue who is swept up in a whirlwind of international intrigue, a british colonial setting, shadowy and politically confused antagonists — but the protagonist is lovable enough and the plot does enough to subvert the tropes i expected that it was quite enjoyable