Reviews - Sad Cypress | The StoryGraph

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I am participating in #ReadChristine2023 and for the month of January Sad Cypress was the pick featuring jealousy. Overall, I really enjoyed this book even though I felt that the reveal was not the strongest. At the beginning of the book we are in a courtroom where we meet Elinor Carlisle who has been charged with the murder of her wealthy older aunt. We then flash to several months earlier when she and her fiancé Rodney receives an anonymous note, saying that someone is worming their way into the aunts heart. Rodney and Eleanor decide to go visit the aunt and to see what is really going on. The two of them while not being related by blood are cousins by marriage and have always planned on getting married and sharing the estate that they will get when the aunt dies.

We then follow along as the course events unfold. I really liked Elinor as a character I thought that she was very strong and I really sympathized with what she was going through. Hercule Poirot does not come into the book until at least halfway through but that did not bother me. I had read so many Miss Marple books last year I was accustomed to that. I do think that Miss Marple could have been utilized in this book versus pro, but it didn’t take away from enjoyment of the book. Overall, it was a very satisfying read. I just didn’t love the why behind the murder.

sganesh44's review against another edition

0.5

mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

paguilera's review against another edition

3.0

Sadly, I'm resuming my Hercule Poirot read-through with one of those Poirot books that don't have the fun, little detective showing up until well into the story. When that happens I almost always enjoy the book far less. Usually we're being introduced to characters who will surround the murder that will eventually take place and prompt the entrance of Poirot into the story. Such stories always feel like they are about the initial characters rather than Poirot himself, and this story was no exception. The problem is that I didn't really like any of those characters, lol. So I spent half of the book just waiting for Poirot to show up. Eventually he shows up to save the day, and the story, and once the murder occurs there is an interesting little mystery that I had fun trying to solve (I guessed the motive and the type of person, but I had no idea of their actual identity, and the opportunity/method completely stumped me). So, in the end I did like it, but I really hope the next book is more Poirot-centered.

olupoginol's review against another edition

3.0

wonderful characters, subpar mystery

bookgramer_'s review against another edition

3.0

2.5 ⭐

This is considered to be one of Agatha Christie's most loved novels, and I can't even begin to comprehend this.

I wasn't impressed with the story until the very end. The flow didn't hold my attention and I found it a tad bit boring. I didn't care much for the characters and I feel Poirot was painted in a rather poor picture in this book.

My least favorite by her.

nedjemet's review against another edition

5.0

While there are minor things I could nitpick, I can't justify giving this less than five stars because I was enthralled with this story! It did a brilliant job of setting everything up in a way where I thought that I was putting together the clues while I was actually dismissing little oddities that I should have paid more attention to. Definitely a showing of Christie at her best. Perhaps not quite so good as [b:The Mysterious Affair at Styles|52843028|The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot, #1)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585632445l/52843028._SY75_.jpg|3366260] or [b:Death on the Nile|131359|Death on the Nile (Hercule Poirot, #18)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486837149l/131359._SY75_.jpg|3038762], but close enough for this to make my list of recommendations and for me to have no interest in talking about the book in detail for fear of spoiling the fun. Christie novels are puzzles boxes. The fun is discovering the solution. Far be it from me to say the wrong thing and spoil that fun for another reader.