3.72 AVERAGE


3.5 stars. For 85% of the book, I thought it was going to be a 4-starer, but the end was just a little too convoluted for that.

In typical Agatha Christie fashion, this book is just what I'd hoped it would be. I'm glad I got, glad to have read it and just glad overall. The intrigue, suspense...it truly kept me guessing as to how everything tied in together and just when I thought I knew who the killer was, I was utterly wrong. It was a truly satisfying read. Thanks again, Agatha Christie!! 😊👏👏
adventurous challenging dark 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
mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Pembunuhan terjadi di Paviliun Olahraga sebuah sekolah berasrama. Hal ini menyebabkan Meadowbank, sekolah bergengsi dan terkenal di Inggris, berada di ambang kehancuran. Apa yang sebenarnya tengah terjadi?

Meskipun latar utama cerita adalah sekolah, nyatanya buku ini penuh dengan nuansa politik. Siapa yang mengira jika kekacauan revolusi dan kudeta sebuah kerajaan di Timur Tengah itu berhubungan dengan pembunuhan di sebuah sekolah?

Tapi itulah yang membuat novel ini begitu menarik. Sehingga ketidakhadiran Poirot di dua per tiga bagian awal cerita tidak begitu mempengaruhi antusiasme dalam membaca.

"Apalagi-aku punya pikiran bahwa kita semua punya sedikit kebiadaban dalam diri kita-asal ada alasan untuk membiarkan kebiadaban itu muncul" -hlm. 33

Tokoh dalam cerita ini bisa dibilang tidak sebanyak di cerita Oma Agatha yang lain. Karakterisasinya pun cukup kuat dan unik sehingga tidak membuat pembaca bingung.

Tapi jangan lengah! Karena ada kucing di tengah burung dara! Pembaca perlu melihat dengan detail kepribadian setiap tokoh untuk bisa membongkar penyamaran sang kucing. Meski pada akhirnya tetap hanya bisa dilakukan oleh Hercule Poirot seorang.

"Hidup ini akan membosankan sekali bida kota selalu sependapat dengan setiap orang mengenai setiap hal" - hlm. 142

nunca gostei dela ;)
adventurous lighthearted mysterious relaxing 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

This one didn’t do it for me. I have been reading all of Christie’s mysteries chronologically and this one fell flat compared to some of her other novels. It reminded me of Dorothy Sayer’s Gaudy Night but much less interesting.

Like others have pointed out, everything is laid out for you from the beginning. So even if you don’t know who the murderer is in the end (which you probably will), it comes as no surprise when you find out. You always feel a step ahead, which is strange because I think in Hercule Poirot novels he usually is one step ahead of you as the reader. But he really only makes a cameo at the end anyway.

Overall, worth the read but not one I’d recommend for someone new to Agatha Christie.
dark mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
mysterious 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: Complicated