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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
I did not love this book. I didn’t like the whole 4 sleuths idea. The ending was a twist though.
More of a 3,5 stars, but I simply can't give Agatha Christie less than 4 stars... She was a master of her craft, what a delight!
Another surprise Christie ending, you don't really know what you know until the very end! I loved getting to join the detectives throughout the hook and try to solve it myself.
4 Agatha Christie sleuths and 4 people who have got away with murder and all 8 of them are invited to a dinner party by a man who knows all of their secrets. Naturally he turns up dead, but which of them committed the crime? I loved this plot and can't believe I haven't read it until now. This was a fairly slow paced book with lots of talk of psychology rather than any tangible clues to go after. This is the first novel Ariadne Oliver has appeared in and she is definitely Agatha Christie fictionalised. Her little remarks about being an author provide some great comedy moments. Pretty enjoyable read.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 stars
I found this one a little boring and hard to follow, probably because I don't really understand how Bridge works. But I love that we got to meet Colonel Race and Ariadne Oliver—they're both incredible and I can't wait to see more.
I found this one a little boring and hard to follow, probably because I don't really understand how Bridge works. But I love that we got to meet Colonel Race and Ariadne Oliver—they're both incredible and I can't wait to see more.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First review here on The Storygraph, I am hoping for a few more to come in the future. (Crossing my fingers)
I do not know the rating system on this website and how people usually use it, so I am not so sure whether or not 4.5 stars describe best my opinion on this book, but it'll stay as it is I guess.
I absolutely loved this book. It has been recommended to me by a friend, who said it was clearly incredible, and I must say I am not disappointed in the slightest.
The build-up of the plot might seem long to some (and I have to admit I would have loved a bit more of M. Hercule Poirot) but I loved getting to know the four suspects, first through their eyes and mind, in the way they wanted the police to perceive them, and then through their past.
Still, I am confused as to why Miss Anne Meredith had whole chapters dedicated to her and her life, when the other four suspects did not. If I remember correctly, only Mrs. Oliver, Battle, and Poirot had ones dedicated to them and their search, which most times included the other characters.
Maybe late Mrs. Agatha Christie was trying to lead us on a false piste ?
This is part of the first books I ever read in English (which is not my first language) and I must say the French italic parts from time to time were somewhat reassuring. It was also fantastic that I had my British best friend with me to read it out loud when we felt like it.
Although I do not know anything about Bridge-playing, the evident theme of it throughout the book has not been an issue, which was great.
The ending was phenomenal, but, if I dare say, a bit confusing in some points. I do not mind fast action, but it kind of felt a bit rushed ? Maybe it was because I read the last 50 pages in one sitting. I would not have been mad if the book had ended with Miss Anne Meredith having killed Mr. Shaitana, just like Mrs. Lorrimer thought she saw, or all four making a pact to kill him (though the latter would have been kind of anti-climactic).
I would vividly recommend this book to anyone wanting a "light" summer read.
Agathe 🐢
I do not know the rating system on this website and how people usually use it, so I am not so sure whether or not 4.5 stars describe best my opinion on this book, but it'll stay as it is I guess.
I absolutely loved this book. It has been recommended to me by a friend, who said it was clearly incredible, and I must say I am not disappointed in the slightest.
The build-up of the plot might seem long to some (and I have to admit I would have loved a bit more of M. Hercule Poirot) but I loved getting to know the four suspects, first through their eyes and mind, in the way they wanted the police to perceive them, and then through their past.
Still, I am confused as to why Miss Anne Meredith had whole chapters dedicated to her and her life, when the other four suspects did not. If I remember correctly, only Mrs. Oliver, Battle, and Poirot had ones dedicated to them and their search, which most times included the other characters.
Maybe late Mrs. Agatha Christie was trying to lead us on a false piste ?
This is part of the first books I ever read in English (which is not my first language) and I must say the French italic parts from time to time were somewhat reassuring. It was also fantastic that I had my British best friend with me to read it out loud when we felt like it.
Although I do not know anything about Bridge-playing, the evident theme of it throughout the book has not been an issue, which was great.
The ending was phenomenal, but, if I dare say, a bit confusing in some points. I do not mind fast action, but it kind of felt a bit rushed ? Maybe it was because I read the last 50 pages in one sitting. I would not have been mad if the book had ended with Miss Anne Meredith having killed Mr. Shaitana, just like Mrs. Lorrimer thought she saw, or all four making a pact to kill him (though the latter would have been kind of anti-climactic).
I would vividly recommend this book to anyone wanting a "light" summer read.
Agathe 🐢
The most boring Poirot book I've read. Too many similiar characters. Snooze fest.
I had wanted to be interested in this one, but no matter what, I couldn't get interested in this one and struggled to get through it.
Mr. Shaitana knows how to throw a party. Hercule Poirot is cautious about accepting the invitation to his latest party. When Mr. Shaitana turns up dead, Poirot is in an investigation with no physical evidence and only four suspects.
I started this not realizing that this had a few other of Christie's characters. With the other characters and them going their own ways for the investigation to come back with what they discovered, the investigation felt stretched to me. Now, part of this probably was Christie's way of keeping the reader guessing about what was happening, but to me it was frustrating and annoying. It was part of the reason I couldn't get into the story line.
As there was no evidence, this book did stick to more of the psychological aspect. I'm all game for psychological mysteries that leave me baffled and confused as to who possibly could have done it, but this once again fell into my motto for this book of "i couldn't get into it. it simply didn't click." I would have loved for it too as I think this would have been wonderful to see a more psychological mystery from her, but it this one wasn't for me.
As the ending approached it wrapped up quickly. There was a couple of twists, but overall, it was quick and felt like it ended more abruptly than her other novels that I've read.
Mr. Shaitana knows how to throw a party. Hercule Poirot is cautious about accepting the invitation to his latest party. When Mr. Shaitana turns up dead, Poirot is in an investigation with no physical evidence and only four suspects.
I started this not realizing that this had a few other of Christie's characters. With the other characters and them going their own ways for the investigation to come back with what they discovered, the investigation felt stretched to me. Now, part of this probably was Christie's way of keeping the reader guessing about what was happening, but to me it was frustrating and annoying. It was part of the reason I couldn't get into the story line.
As there was no evidence, this book did stick to more of the psychological aspect. I'm all game for psychological mysteries that leave me baffled and confused as to who possibly could have done it, but this once again fell into my motto for this book of "i couldn't get into it. it simply didn't click." I would have loved for it too as I think this would have been wonderful to see a more psychological mystery from her, but it this one wasn't for me.
As the ending approached it wrapped up quickly. There was a couple of twists, but overall, it was quick and felt like it ended more abruptly than her other novels that I've read.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated