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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
This is one of the best Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot books I have read.
Unlike other Agatha Christie novels in this book Agatha Christie lays her cards on table and tells you that 'these are the four suspects and one of the them is the murderer'. And if you think that this fact makes the book less mysterious and interesting then you can't be more wrong.
I admit when I started this book I though that I could figure out the murderer as its just 4 suspects and I had a 25% chance to be right. But as the book progressed and Agatha Christie revealed more about each character and their psychology you realize that any one could be the murderer. No red herrings, no least likely suspects, no suspect with best opportunity or motive. Each suspect has the same opportunity and same motive. The book is pure logic and pure psychology... the kinds I like the best.
The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is the Bridge. The game of bridge plays a big role in the novel and as I have no idea about the game, it was all Greek and Latin to me. In depth description of the game of bridge did get tedious.
But still one of my favorite Christie novel.
Unlike other Agatha Christie novels in this book Agatha Christie lays her cards on table and tells you that 'these are the four suspects and one of the them is the murderer'. And if you think that this fact makes the book less mysterious and interesting then you can't be more wrong.
I admit when I started this book I though that I could figure out the murderer as its just 4 suspects and I had a 25% chance to be right. But as the book progressed and Agatha Christie revealed more about each character and their psychology you realize that any one could be the murderer. No red herrings, no least likely suspects, no suspect with best opportunity or motive. Each suspect has the same opportunity and same motive. The book is pure logic and pure psychology... the kinds I like the best.
The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is the Bridge. The game of bridge plays a big role in the novel and as I have no idea about the game, it was all Greek and Latin to me. In depth description of the game of bridge did get tedious.
But still one of my favorite Christie novel.
ITA-ENG
Uno dei romanzi più interessanti della Christie. Intelligente, molto intelligente. Verso la fine ho iniziato a domandarmi per quale motivo Poirot fosse così perplesso, perché si agitasse tanto e perché Battle facesse domande inutili. E poi le ultime pagine...wow. Me l'ha fatta ancora una volta!
One of the most interesting novels by Christie. Very, very intelligent. Towards the end I started asking myself why Poirot was so perplexed, why he was so worked up and why Battle was asking useless questions. And then I read the last pages...wow. All I have to say is...she got me again!
Uno dei romanzi più interessanti della Christie. Intelligente, molto intelligente. Verso la fine ho iniziato a domandarmi per quale motivo Poirot fosse così perplesso, perché si agitasse tanto e perché Battle facesse domande inutili. E poi le ultime pagine...wow. Me l'ha fatta ancora una volta!
One of the most interesting novels by Christie. Very, very intelligent. Towards the end I started asking myself why Poirot was so perplexed, why he was so worked up and why Battle was asking useless questions. And then I read the last pages...wow. All I have to say is...she got me again!
I read this because it involved a Bridge game. I liked the mystery and enjoyed the aspects that surprised me. The Bridge component did not disappoint, I liked thinking through the story in relation to the hands of cards. :)
Classic Christie. I have no bones to pick with this one from start to finish. Not that I usually have with Christie’s books especially when it comes to Poirot, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. From the plot to the characters, to the characters’ back stories and finally to the resolution. Ah, perhaps my only peeve was that I did not manage to guess correctly this time, but it was still a satisfying read!
It started with a chance encounter when Poirot met the outrageous Mr. Shaitana at an art exhibition. The latter boasted about having many artefacts and rare collection that would boggle the mind. Perhaps to pique Poirot’s interest, he insinuated that he also had this particular collection that would be attractive to Poirot, because it featured the best part of the criminal cases.
“And what do you consider the best objects, artistically speaking, in crime?” inquired Poirot.
“My dear fellow – the ones who have got away with it!”
Ill at ease, Poirot accepted Shaitana’s invitation to his party that would be held at his house to check out his ‘collection’. With recurring casts from Poirot’s series, you’d be happy to find familiar faces who would assist Poirot and contribute to the investigation.
It started with a chance encounter when Poirot met the outrageous Mr. Shaitana at an art exhibition. The latter boasted about having many artefacts and rare collection that would boggle the mind. Perhaps to pique Poirot’s interest, he insinuated that he also had this particular collection that would be attractive to Poirot, because it featured the best part of the criminal cases.
“And what do you consider the best objects, artistically speaking, in crime?” inquired Poirot.
“My dear fellow – the ones who have got away with it!”
Ill at ease, Poirot accepted Shaitana’s invitation to his party that would be held at his house to check out his ‘collection’. With recurring casts from Poirot’s series, you’d be happy to find familiar faces who would assist Poirot and contribute to the investigation.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
mysterious
fast-paced
So many twists and turns!
I'm done! It feels like I am finishing books up so slowly lately - June wasn't a strong reading month.
Thanks to Hercule Poirot, it ended well - the Belgian detective dominates the story from start to finish. That may sound like it's something needless to say, but Agatha Christie did tend to have some Poirot books where the beloved detective didn't even show up until the second half or toward the end. In this case we open up with him at a party and end with him entertaining survivors.
The story was fascinating. While it wasn't her strongest mystery, who cares because I loved the general concept. Poirot was invited along with three other detectives of sorts (one mystery novelists, a Scotland Yard Detective, etc) to have dinner with four murderers who had gotten away with it. When the party host is found dead in front of all the guests, they had four suspects.
Blending the past murders with the present was interesting enough, but it was the time Christie took to dig into various motivations and personality traits that was the actual winner here. Sometimes her story takes so much focus that characters play mere backdrop counterparts, but in this case the paper people are individually drawn and convincingly motivated.
It may not be the most exciting in her library, but so far it's one of my many favorites. The story speeds by and it stays intriguing from start to finish. The ending line was just hilarious too - have to love the people who dare to tease the detective.
Thanks to Hercule Poirot, it ended well - the Belgian detective dominates the story from start to finish. That may sound like it's something needless to say, but Agatha Christie did tend to have some Poirot books where the beloved detective didn't even show up until the second half or toward the end. In this case we open up with him at a party and end with him entertaining survivors.
The story was fascinating. While it wasn't her strongest mystery, who cares because I loved the general concept. Poirot was invited along with three other detectives of sorts (one mystery novelists, a Scotland Yard Detective, etc) to have dinner with four murderers who had gotten away with it. When the party host is found dead in front of all the guests, they had four suspects.
Blending the past murders with the present was interesting enough, but it was the time Christie took to dig into various motivations and personality traits that was the actual winner here. Sometimes her story takes so much focus that characters play mere backdrop counterparts, but in this case the paper people are individually drawn and convincingly motivated.
It may not be the most exciting in her library, but so far it's one of my many favorites. The story speeds by and it stays intriguing from start to finish. The ending line was just hilarious too - have to love the people who dare to tease the detective.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
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
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes