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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
This is quite an unusual Poirot novel by the sole fact that the investigation happens 16 years after the crime and with the main suspect and culprit already dead. This whole premise got me interested but at the same time nervous, because any physical proof would have been long gone and Poirot would have to go only by recalls of the crime. This wouldn’t prove an obstacle for a detective like Poirot, since he likes to focus on the physiological and the suspects; but still there is always some object that sparks a new line of investigation. The whole case is comprised by the interviews of the five suspects, nothing else and nothing more. It was quite interesting, and I didn’t find it as monotonous as it could sound, but yet I felt this case was missing its usual spark; in a sense it was way too simple.
That’s not to say that I guessed the culprit. I could get to the conclusion that Caroline was protecting Angela because she thought she did it, and in a way it disappointed me at first thinking that I got the right culprit when Poirot shared that fact. I like to be wrong when it comes to Agatha Christie’s novels and shocked by how the theory I never thought of makes everything click in place. The final and real culprit made sense, and if I think about it Elsa had the means to commit the crime, but her motive was too obscure since we, as readers got lied to, but I didn’t feel we got lied with as much class as usual. And the thing is that, even with Elsa being the unexpected murder, the case felt too simple, the motive was simple, the way it was committed also was, and the investigation was even more. In a way, and for once, the theories I formulated in my head were more interesting that the case offered in the end.
One thing I liked about this novel is how the ending is left open. I think that gives realism to the case, because a happy ending with Elsa in jail when Poirot only had his thought process to go by, wouldn’t have made any sense. I also liked the last sentence that closes the story, how Elsa talks about how she tried to destroy Amyas and Caroline, but they were free while she was the one who died and got trapped inside a dull life. We don’t usual see the side of the murderer in crimes of passion, and I think that reflection gives the reader something to think about.
All in all it was an entertaining and light read, even if it wasn’t my favorite Poirot case since it seemed to lack something.
That’s not to say that I guessed the culprit. I could get to the conclusion that Caroline was protecting Angela because she thought she did it, and in a way it disappointed me at first thinking that I got the right culprit when Poirot shared that fact. I like to be wrong when it comes to Agatha Christie’s novels and shocked by how the theory I never thought of makes everything click in place. The final and real culprit made sense, and if I think about it Elsa had the means to commit the crime, but her motive was too obscure since we, as readers got lied to, but I didn’t feel we got lied with as much class as usual. And the thing is that, even with Elsa being the unexpected murder, the case felt too simple, the motive was simple, the way it was committed also was, and the investigation was even more. In a way, and for once, the theories I formulated in my head were more interesting that the case offered in the end.
One thing I liked about this novel is how the ending is left open. I think that gives realism to the case, because a happy ending with Elsa in jail when Poirot only had his thought process to go by, wouldn’t have made any sense. I also liked the last sentence that closes the story, how Elsa talks about how she tried to destroy Amyas and Caroline, but they were free while she was the one who died and got trapped inside a dull life. We don’t usual see the side of the murderer in crimes of passion, and I think that reflection gives the reader something to think about.
All in all it was an entertaining and light read, even if it wasn’t my favorite Poirot case since it seemed to lack something.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
yum yum one of my favorite poirots for a reason... like obviously i remember who the murderer is but christie always does it very cleverly!!! so many red herrings you wouldnt notice if you didnt know to look for them
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Me estoy resignando a aceptar que nunca le voy a atinar al asesino. Muy interesante que el crimen tenga mucho tiempo de haber sucedido lo que hace que Poirot demuestre lo inteligente que es. hay mucho drama de un polígono amoroso.
Tiene algunos pleonasmos que no me agradan que se repiten en otros libros, pero es cuestión de acostumbrase.
Las cartas y como Poirot desglosa los motivos de los "cinco cerditos" me gustó mucho.
Tiene algunos pleonasmos que no me agradan que se repiten en otros libros, pero es cuestión de acostumbrase.
Las cartas y como Poirot desglosa los motivos de los "cinco cerditos" me gustó mucho.
“Lo que no entiendes es que hay cosas que no se pueden comprar”
"Pero no todo en la vida tiene su precio. Hay cosas que no se venden"
“Se necesita más que un aviso impreso para alejarte de la realidad... Solo tenemos una vida para vivir”
“No sirve de nada resentirse por algo que no puedes detener”
Had all the elements of a great mystery, but left me feeling...unfulfilled? Bored? Something didn't quite click for me. I love Christie and I love Poirot, but this just kind of felt like a slog. Also the ending was not that surprising to me. Still trying to figure out why I didn't love it.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
pretty good i wish there was more objective snooping but the concept of solving a crime from people's subjective accounts is done pretty well!
Me ha encantado la historia si tuviera que poner un pero sería el final, no me parece justo. De todas maneras es brillante y como Agatha juega otra vez con todo para despistar.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes