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nattypom's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
maritay918's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
liketheverb's review against another edition
4.0
This was amazing. I loved everything about it. As a classic, I was afraid that this book wouldn't hold my attention or would be so archaically boring that I wouldn't be interested. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As the best-selling mystery author of all time, I should have known how amazing this book would be, but I find having low-expectations saves me a great deal of disappointment.
I can honestly say that I have never been so happy to have been wrong in my life. Christie's writing is refreshing, even though it's been over eighty years since she wrote this book, and has a timeless quality that I have never seen in a modern mystery story. The plot moves so quickly, and it made the story so much more engaging, and easy to follow.
Written from the point of view of the Vicar of St. Mary Mead (Len Clement), the reader discovers details of the grisly murder as he does and you can make logical leaps and guesses at the truth. It's only in the third-to-last chapter that Miss Marple arrives to tidy up all of the loose ends, throw all of your assumptions and theories out of the window--in a most gracious and self-deprecating manner--and wrap up the story in a neat little bow.
As part of my 2018 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge, this book featured a female protagonist over the age of 60 (Miss Marple), and was an excellent rationalization to dip my feet in the voluminous body of work that Christie has to offer. I cannot wait to meet Hercule Poirot in The Mysterious Affair at Styles next.
I can honestly say that I have never been so happy to have been wrong in my life. Christie's writing is refreshing, even though it's been over eighty years since she wrote this book, and has a timeless quality that I have never seen in a modern mystery story. The plot moves so quickly, and it made the story so much more engaging, and easy to follow.
Written from the point of view of the Vicar of St. Mary Mead (Len Clement), the reader discovers details of the grisly murder as he does and you can make logical leaps and guesses at the truth. It's only in the third-to-last chapter that Miss Marple arrives to tidy up all of the loose ends, throw all of your assumptions and theories out of the window--in a most gracious and self-deprecating manner--and wrap up the story in a neat little bow.
As part of my 2018 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge, this book featured a female protagonist over the age of 60 (Miss Marple), and was an excellent rationalization to dip my feet in the voluminous body of work that Christie has to offer. I cannot wait to meet Hercule Poirot in The Mysterious Affair at Styles next.
theraindiary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-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
1.75
bookswithlexs's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
My first Agatha Christie book and it was a reading for uni, it was quite good but the pace sometimes was a bit too slow for me (although the chapters are so short and that helps a lot).
maxitoo's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
heyyhanna's review against another edition
mysterious
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
3.0
chloec_m's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
juleswells's review against another edition
2.5
I wanted to give Agatha Christie a try but she's not for me
rebeccasreadingrambles's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed re-reading (or re-listening actually) Miss Marple's first "case". It's been many years since the first time I read this mystery, and I found that I was as confused and surprised as before. Ms Christie does a wonderful job (as usually) of throwing you off the scent, and just as you think you have it all figured out, something else is thrown in to make you start over again. My only gripe (small, small one) is that Miss Marple is much in the background and only pops up here and there. But, it makes sense as this is the novel where she is introduced. A great AC mystery!