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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
“Words are only the outer clothing of ideas.”
There’s something so deeply satisfying (and a little humbling) about reading Agatha Christie books—The ABC Murders being no exception. I went in thinking I had it all figured out from the start, convinced I was a step ahead this time. And for a while, I was. But of course, in true Christie fashion, she twisted the knife and pulled the rug out from under me. The brilliance lies not in hiding the suspect, but in making them so obvious that you stop suspecting them altogether. It’s a delicious kind of deception—and one I’ve come to adore about her writing.
What really stood out in this one was the psychological twist. This wasn’t just about clues and alibis; it was about manipulation, ego, and illusion. Christie teases the reader’s logic, dangling the culprit in plain sight, only for you to realize much too late that they’ve been shadowing you all along. I found myself frustrated in the best way—"how did I fall for that again?"—and honestly, any time Christie tricks me is a win in my book.
That said, I do lean toward her more traditional closed circle mysteries—those intimate settings with a fixed pool of suspects, crackling with tension. This one, being more of a chase across multiple locations, didn’t grip me quite as tightly. I wasn’t perched at the edge of my seat like I’ve been with her best, and there were moments I wished for more of that claustrophobic, interpersonal suspense she does so well.
Still, The ABC Murders is a clever, layered, and impressively structured mystery that showcases Christie’s psychological depth. Even when I’m not completely hooked, I find myself admiring just how effortlessly she plays the game—and wins every single time.
There’s something so deeply satisfying (and a little humbling) about reading Agatha Christie books—The ABC Murders being no exception. I went in thinking I had it all figured out from the start, convinced I was a step ahead this time. And for a while, I was. But of course, in true Christie fashion, she twisted the knife and pulled the rug out from under me. The brilliance lies not in hiding the suspect, but in making them so obvious that you stop suspecting them altogether. It’s a delicious kind of deception—and one I’ve come to adore about her writing.
What really stood out in this one was the psychological twist. This wasn’t just about clues and alibis; it was about manipulation, ego, and illusion. Christie teases the reader’s logic, dangling the culprit in plain sight, only for you to realize much too late that they’ve been shadowing you all along. I found myself frustrated in the best way—"how did I fall for that again?"—and honestly, any time Christie tricks me is a win in my book.
That said, I do lean toward her more traditional closed circle mysteries—those intimate settings with a fixed pool of suspects, crackling with tension. This one, being more of a chase across multiple locations, didn’t grip me quite as tightly. I wasn’t perched at the edge of my seat like I’ve been with her best, and there were moments I wished for more of that claustrophobic, interpersonal suspense she does so well.
Still, The ABC Murders is a clever, layered, and impressively structured mystery that showcases Christie’s psychological depth. Even when I’m not completely hooked, I find myself admiring just how effortlessly she plays the game—and wins every single time.
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A clever mystery, as you would expect from Agatha Christie. For some reason, I didn't love it as much as the others I've read though. I had very little interest in the characters themselves, and I found the resolution to be a little strange. But still an interesting and engaging read!
3.5 - I agree with whoever said it’s like a criminal minds episode. However this one was a tad more boring for my taste. Still a good crime I did not guess.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
ABC Murders. J'adore Agatha Christie comme jamais et ABC est la 1ère fois que je le lis en livre et j'ai adoré.
La complicité des meurtres fait que si il n'avait pas rencontré le personnage clé, toute l'histoire n'aurait jamais vu le jour.
Agatha a une façon de te balader dans ce livre. Ce n'est pas ennuyeux. Chaque phrase, non importante, dite dans le livre sert pour la conclusion.
Comme dit Poirot, "Les choses les plus banales sont parfois la réponse à nos questions."
Mais j'ai adoré ce livre. Je le recommande à mort.
La complicité des meurtres fait que si il n'avait pas rencontré le personnage clé, toute l'histoire n'aurait jamais vu le jour.
Agatha a une façon de te balader dans ce livre. Ce n'est pas ennuyeux. Chaque phrase, non importante, dite dans le livre sert pour la conclusion.
Comme dit Poirot, "Les choses les plus banales sont parfois la réponse à nos questions."
Mais j'ai adoré ce livre. Je le recommande à mort.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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