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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
I think i much prefer Hercule Poirot series over these kinds of stories. There is waaaaay too many characters to keep track of, and the plot is so convoluted. There is just no way of even having an idea of what is happening, and then there is twist and twist and twist... but none of them elicited any gasps from me.
Battle weary: enjoyable if very messy romp involving crowned heads of Europe, a secret society and international master criminals. By contrast, her Poirot books are as disciplined as a police report. The main enjoyment here is as a period piece, a vanished England which still had an empire and foreigners are a source of amusement or irritation (though she pulls a neat sleight of hand on this), but you’ll go for it if you like your entertainment laced with xenophobia and mildly anti-Semitic tropes that were de rigeur back then - though at least on the latter she seems to have partly relented in later life. “By far the least awful of the early romps,” says Robert Barnard. The bright young things depicted here may not be amusing to everyone but they’re nicely drawn and up for fun, although this can’t ameliorate her snobbery and prejudice.
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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:
No
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this was really good and characters were quite likeable! it always fascinates me when a criminal hides in plain sight! and even more when they start assisting the police! very clever! both twists/reveals surprised me completely! i did not see them coming! 👏🏼
adventurous
funny
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:
No
4-4.5 ⭐️
This was brilliant! I absolutely loved this one. I understand now why my mum always said this was one of her favourite Christie’s.
Anthony and Virginia are so cute oh my gosh 🥹🩷
This was brilliant! I absolutely loved this one. I understand now why my mum always said this was one of her favourite Christie’s.
Anthony and Virginia are so cute oh my gosh 🥹🩷
adventurous
lighthearted
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
definitely a product of its time, but a really engaging mystery
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A decent enough murder mystery, with some political intrigue mixed in. I guessed bits of the mystery but there were some twists and turns along the way as well.
Battle isn't as character as Poirot or Marple but the bones of the plot hold up well enough.
A lot of colonial era racism which made for an uncomfortable read.
Battle isn't as character as Poirot or Marple but the bones of the plot hold up well enough.
A lot of colonial era racism which made for an uncomfortable read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Colonisation