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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Not my favorite, Agatha Christie, but I always love a good Hercule Poirot story!
Okay, so let’s break this down: Sad Cypress kicks off with the death of Elinor Carlisle’s aunt, and suddenly, Elinor Carlisle’s life is in shambles. She breaks off her engagement after discovering her fiancé is now all about Mary Gerrard. Naturally, this sets Elinor Carlisle’s sights on murder—Mary Gerrard, that is. A classic love triangle, right? But, here’s the twist: this isn’t your usual Hercule Poirot plot where Hercule Poirot unravels the mystery in a dramatic showdown. Nope. This time, it’s all about the trial, which is... a bit of a curveball for Agatha Christie, who usually loves a good whodunit unraveling.
Now, I’m pretty sure this is Agatha Christie’s only legal fiction, and while it’s a decent mystery, the resolution was a bit... well, let’s just say it wasn’t as satisfying as I hoped. Maybe it’s just me being daft, but I couldn’t quite connect all the dots. The ending? Nebulous. A bit of a head-scratcher, honestly.
And speaking of head-scratchers, Sad Cypress as a title? What’s that about? I kept waiting for a big symbolic reveal involving a sad cypress tree, but... nothing. Was I missing something? Or was it just a random choice of words thrown in there for poetic flair? Either way, my daft arse couldn’t make the connection.
But hey, if you’re into legal thrillers mixed with a splash of mystery, Sad Cypress might just be your thing. Just don’t expect a Hercule Poirot-style “Aha!” moment, and don’t spend too much time wondering why it’s called Sad Cypress—you’ll be left scratching your head.
Now, I’m pretty sure this is Agatha Christie’s only legal fiction, and while it’s a decent mystery, the resolution was a bit... well, let’s just say it wasn’t as satisfying as I hoped. Maybe it’s just me being daft, but I couldn’t quite connect all the dots. The ending? Nebulous. A bit of a head-scratcher, honestly.
And speaking of head-scratchers, Sad Cypress as a title? What’s that about? I kept waiting for a big symbolic reveal involving a sad cypress tree, but... nothing. Was I missing something? Or was it just a random choice of words thrown in there for poetic flair? Either way, my daft arse couldn’t make the connection.
But hey, if you’re into legal thrillers mixed with a splash of mystery, Sad Cypress might just be your thing. Just don’t expect a Hercule Poirot-style “Aha!” moment, and don’t spend too much time wondering why it’s called Sad Cypress—you’ll be left scratching your head.
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
An elderly stroke victim dies without having arranged a will. Elinor Carlisle stood serenely in the dock, accused of the murder of Mary Gerrard, her rival in love. The evidence was damning: only Elinor had the motive, the opportunity and the means to administer the fatal poison. Yet, inside the hostile courtroom, only one man still presumed Elinor was innocent until proven guilty: Hercule Poirot was all that stood between Elinor and the gallows.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This is one of the higher rated Poirot mysteries, yet I found it boring. Reading through them in order, I felt this was re-using many of the prior elements (overseas relatives adopting new identities as servants/friends, intrigues with convalescents' wills, mysterious deathbed poisonings, Poirot is only brought in halfway through the book after an overlong set-up, etc.)
"Write what you know" yes but at this point already Christie feels tapped out.
"Write what you know" yes but at this point already Christie feels tapped out.
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
