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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found this one fun, with multiple sleuths, one of them a writer of mystery novels, which felt playfully meta. I have absolutely no knowledge of bridge, except to know that it's way more complicated than euchre and therefore not something I'm likely to play well, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment of the novel.
Not to start off on a negative note but 1) the beginning and end are the most exciting (the end being the most exciting, as usual) and 2) the ending is the reason this review is four stars, and not three. Also ig you could say that 3) if there wasn't an ending, the beginning would be the reason this review was three stars, and not two.
P R O S
- b r i d g e . I did appreciate that even though there is a lot of reference to, and importance placed on, this game, you don't need to have any knowledge of bridge. It will (duh) make it more interesting, and you'll understand it - but you really don't need to know about the game beforehand. I have no clue what bridge is like, or how you mark up the scores, but I understood Poirot's harping on it and questioning everyone about them. And fsr the second time reading this book it wasn't half as boring (the parts where she talks about bridge) as it was the first time, so if you find yourself bored, maybe give the book another go once you've forgotten the story.
- c h a r a c t e r s . I enjoyed each of the characters and their quirks and their strengths - I always enjoy when Poirot accuses ppl and seeing how each character responds. On the surface, they're a lot like every other character in Christie's books (with the except of, possibly, Murder in Mesopotamia which had very unique characters, imo) - but as always, the more you read, the more you see the differences in how they react and while that's not really a pro, it's something I enjoy about Christie's books.
- i n t e r r o g a t i o n s . Even though the interrogations weren't lively or riveting, the ones later on in the book (when Poirot is getting somewhere and not just asking preliminary questions) were really fun to read, and actually interesting unlike most of the ones at the beginning. I found it enjoyable when he finally started getting into it with everyone and rooting out the reason for Shaitana being murderered.
- e n d i n g . Obviously when he gets close to finding out is one of the most exciting parts of the book, but I felt like this book's ending completely redeemed it. I would have given it three stars if Christie had changed the ending at all, so I'm giving it an extra star for being extra excellent. The middle of the book is (honestly) three stars, it's not fantastic - but I love the last few (maybe five, maybe six) chapters! If I were to reread, I would just skip to the end because it's so enjoyable, which is no surprise. It's chock full of plot twist after plot twist and it feels like every single chapter there's a new. Not to give anything away. But if anyone ever stumbles across this right around when they're in the middle of it and they're kind of bored out of their mind, I'd say just keep going, it's not a v long book, and you'll enjoy the ending even if you didn't enjoy the middle - mostly because it's over, but think of it this way: if you don't finish the book, you'll never come back to it bc who wants to reread a book they know is boring? And then you'll never find out what was so great abt the ending and your life will probably suck
P R O S
- b r i d g e . I did appreciate that even though there is a lot of reference to, and importance placed on, this game, you don't need to have any knowledge of bridge. It will (duh) make it more interesting, and you'll understand it - but you really don't need to know about the game beforehand. I have no clue what bridge is like, or how you mark up the scores, but I understood Poirot's harping on it and questioning everyone about them. And fsr the second time reading this book it wasn't half as boring (the parts where she talks about bridge) as it was the first time, so if you find yourself bored, maybe give the book another go once you've forgotten the story.
- c h a r a c t e r s . I enjoyed each of the characters and their quirks and their strengths - I always enjoy when Poirot accuses ppl and seeing how each character responds. On the surface, they're a lot like every other character in Christie's books (with the except of, possibly, Murder in Mesopotamia which had very unique characters, imo) - but as always, the more you read, the more you see the differences in how they react and while that's not really a pro, it's something I enjoy about Christie's books.
- i n t e r r o g a t i o n s . Even though the interrogations weren't lively or riveting, the ones later on in the book (when Poirot is getting somewhere and not just asking preliminary questions) were really fun to read, and actually interesting unlike most of the ones at the beginning. I found it enjoyable when he finally started getting into it with everyone and rooting out the reason for Shaitana being murderered.
- e n d i n g . Obviously when he gets close to finding out is one of the most exciting parts of the book, but I felt like this book's ending completely redeemed it. I would have given it three stars if Christie had changed the ending at all, so I'm giving it an extra star for being extra excellent. The middle of the book is (honestly) three stars, it's not fantastic - but I love the last few (maybe five, maybe six) chapters! If I were to reread, I would just skip to the end because it's so enjoyable, which is no surprise. It's chock full of plot twist after plot twist and it feels like every single chapter there's a new
Spoiler
"no this is actually the murderer" murderer
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Fortunately no Hastings, unfortunately still super sexist. Casual racism as per. Kind of messy plot.
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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:
Yes