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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
challenging
funny
tense
fast-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
mysterious
medium-paced
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
This was a good book until the very end. It’s a story about how a man with epilepsy is tricked into thinking he killed four people. I like the storytelling and I liked the way it felt to read the book, but I didn’t really buy the ending. I thought it was a silly twist.
I didn’t really understand how dominos featured into the story except that he played dominoes with the actual killer.
I didn’t really understand how dominos featured into the story except that he played dominoes with the actual killer.
funny
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
⏳ [Re-read project #18 of 2025, 1st proper review, rating maintained]
==================
🔹️ Number of death/s: 4
🔹️ Motive for the crime: Money
🔹️ Method of crime: Blow to the head (2), Strangulation (1), Knife stabbing (1)
🔹️ Main location: England
🔹️ Notable element: The well treaded AC trope where criminals underestimate Poirot, purposefully seeking him and try to bamboozle him similar to Lord Edgware Dies, Three Act Tragedy and Peril at End House
🔹️ Book type: Novel, H. Poirot
🔹️ Reference to SH: By name and loads of references, inc. the gaslighting of the eponymous character in the style of The Red-Headed League
==================
The ABC Murders aka The Alliterative Murders! Agatha Christie really has a knack for naming her characters 😊! The very first time I read this book, was actually in its French version, and from memory the first Poirot I read from start to finish. And it was right there that my literary love stort with AC began!
This book was vintage AC, showing her writing and plotting skills at its best. I loved her inclusion of dear Hastings - the banter between him and Poirot was priceless 😁. The puzzle was very well crafted. I have to say that re-reading did kill the suspense but I do remember how awed I was by the solution the first time I read it. I am so envious of all new readers who will discover this story.
The one plot device that tanked a bit for me was the 'league' of amateurs that 'spontaneously' reached out to Poirot. Of course, the culprit had vested interest in that, but for me, the very idea felt ludicruous, unnatural and serving little purpose, and had I been in Poirot/Hastings' place, it would have been a red flag.
P.S. The story is told in both first person and third person narrative.
#readchristie2025, May - Detectives
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a fun read! It was nice having fewer characters than normal, but still some depth. I did not predict the killer & I thought it was quite a clever twist. A fun Poirot read.
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced