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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Me ha parecido una novela atípica debido a su fuerte enfoque psicológico; incursiona en la mente humana de una manera brutal, dando a los personajes unos caracteres muy marcados y creíbles, pero, al mismo tiempo, sumamente complejos. Personalmente, sentía que en un momento todos eran vulnerables y al siguiente momento eran capaces de hacer cualquier cosa por defender lo que ellos creían cierto.
Creo que el punto clave de esta trama es el entorno familiar en el que ocurre este caso; no tenemos un detective, solo hay familiares y empleados, y ninguno de ellos está unido al otro por lazos de sangre, lo que conlleva que no hay ningún tipo de lealtad; es un entorno casi hostil, en el que algunos personajes mostraban una frialdad y una insensibilidad que daban escalofríos, y otros mostraban características que rozaban en lo psicótico.
Además, contamos con la maravillosa narración de Agatha Christie, quien hace una excelente muestra de equilibrio entre diálogo y narración, agilizando un caso que, a mi parecer, con otro tipo de narración podría llegar a resultar demasiado lento.
El final me decepcionó un poco, pues me pareció algo abrupto, pero igualmente es una novela que recomiendo encarecidamente. Me enganchó desde la primera página y ha resultado ser una lectura apasionante.
Creo que el punto clave de esta trama es el entorno familiar en el que ocurre este caso; no tenemos un detective, solo hay familiares y empleados, y ninguno de ellos está unido al otro por lazos de sangre, lo que conlleva que no hay ningún tipo de lealtad; es un entorno casi hostil, en el que algunos personajes mostraban una frialdad y una insensibilidad que daban escalofríos, y otros mostraban características que rozaban en lo psicótico.
Además, contamos con la maravillosa narración de Agatha Christie, quien hace una excelente muestra de equilibrio entre diálogo y narración, agilizando un caso que, a mi parecer, con otro tipo de narración podría llegar a resultar demasiado lento.
El final me decepcionó un poco, pues me pareció algo abrupto, pero igualmente es una novela que recomiendo encarecidamente. Me enganchó desde la primera página y ha resultado ser una lectura apasionante.
dark
mysterious
slow-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:
No
sporo, kraj je bio ok ali nista specijalno
Book on CD read by Robin Bailey
From the book jacket: According to the courts, Jacko Argyle bludgeoned his mother to death with a poker. The sentence was life imprisonment. But when Dr Arthur Calgary arrives with the proof that confirms Jacko’s innocence, it is too late – Jacko died behind bars following a bout of pneumonia. Worse still, the doctor’s revelations reopen old wounds in the family, increasing the likelihood that the real murderer will strike again.
My reactions:
I really enjoy Agatha Christie’s mysteries; there’s a good reason she’s often called “the Queen of Crime.” But this one didn’t really capture my attention. Of course, I was listening to the audio and the many characters were sometimes hard to differentiate. It also seemed somewhat melodramatic and “overacted” … but perhaps that is the fault of the narrator and not Christie’s writing.
The mystery itself is satisfyingly complex, with many suspects, just as many (or more) motives, and a determined amateur sleuth in Dr Calgary. Other reviewers give it high marks, so it may just not have been the right book at the right time for me.
Robin Bailey sets a good pace on the audiobook and his diction is clear.
From the book jacket: According to the courts, Jacko Argyle bludgeoned his mother to death with a poker. The sentence was life imprisonment. But when Dr Arthur Calgary arrives with the proof that confirms Jacko’s innocence, it is too late – Jacko died behind bars following a bout of pneumonia. Worse still, the doctor’s revelations reopen old wounds in the family, increasing the likelihood that the real murderer will strike again.
My reactions:
I really enjoy Agatha Christie’s mysteries; there’s a good reason she’s often called “the Queen of Crime.” But this one didn’t really capture my attention. Of course, I was listening to the audio and the many characters were sometimes hard to differentiate. It also seemed somewhat melodramatic and “overacted” … but perhaps that is the fault of the narrator and not Christie’s writing.
The mystery itself is satisfyingly complex, with many suspects, just as many (or more) motives, and a determined amateur sleuth in Dr Calgary. Other reviewers give it high marks, so it may just not have been the right book at the right time for me.
Robin Bailey sets a good pace on the audiobook and his diction is clear.
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:
Complicated
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
The title and the description were familiar, and I soon realised that I had seen an adaptation of this book. Miss Marple is the detective in the 2007 movie, but she is not originally in the book.
Unfortunately I remembered too much of the film, so I knew who the killer was from the beginning of the book. Of course, that didn't stop me from investigating while reading. Although Miss Marple was missing from the book, the killer was the same as in the movie. The story was not a big surprise, but it was nice to be immersed in a light crime story after Yellowface.
As usual, the police made no progress, so Dr. Calgary solved the case. There were small clues that pointed to the identity of the killer, but the case certainly gave everyone a lesson. The siblings were constantly suspicious of each other and it poisoned their relationship. In addition, the husband of one of them began to investigate, with deadly consequences...
The way of thinking about adoption annoyed me in the book, but I must add that it was the 1950s. There was a bit too much psychological analysis, but I was pleased to get to know all the characters in depth. Hester, Tina and Micky were my favourites.
Unfortunately I remembered too much of the film, so I knew who the killer was from the beginning of the book. Of course, that didn't stop me from investigating while reading. Although Miss Marple was missing from the book, the killer was the same as in the movie. The story was not a big surprise, but it was nice to be immersed in a light crime story after Yellowface.
As usual, the police made no progress, so Dr. Calgary solved the case. There were small clues that pointed to the identity of the killer, but the case certainly gave everyone a lesson. The siblings were constantly suspicious of each other and it poisoned their relationship. In addition, the husband of one of them began to investigate, with deadly consequences...
The way of thinking about adoption annoyed me in the book, but I must add that it was the 1950s. There was a bit too much psychological analysis, but I was pleased to get to know all the characters in depth. Hester, Tina and Micky were my favourites.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I saw an article describing this as Agatha Christie meets Succession, so my expectations were high. I was a little disappointed. It was definitely interesting and refreshing to read an Agatha Christie which was focused on familial dynamics and not convoluted murder plots. Still, the pacing and progression of the story felt a little off. Most of the book felt repetitive. I wish Christie dived further into the psychodrama of it all. I still had a fun time.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Death of parent, Murder
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes