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mary_juleyre's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
travelsalongmybookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This months readchristie2024 choice for me was Cards On The Table. We are in the thirties and this one was written in 1936, my edition is 1963.
I enjoyed this brain teaser of a murder mystery. The (not very nice) Mr Shaitana invites Hercule Poirot to a dinner party, with the promise of the other attendees having committed a murder before. Also at the party are the awesome Ariadne Oliver, the stoic Superintendent Battle and Colonel Race, forever in my mind David Niven. Dinner is had and then two games of Bridge. The games are made up of the four sleuths in one room and the other four guests in the other. Shaitana sits out by the fire, and is murdered. Only one of them could have done it, while they were dummy. There are no clues, only the people themselves. Poirot has to use his little grey cells to unravel this complex and psychological mystery.
This is a twisted tale, Agatha certainly leads us on a merry dance. My edition has a foreword by AC herself advising not to just choose the least likely person but to think about the mind of the murderer and the psychological aspect of the case. So of course, I flip flopped between the four suspects, fell for the obvious and then gasped at the reveal! This was cleverly done, I always marvel how in a short book (192pages) we have such a complete story, with so much detail and plot.
I have to say I am really enjoying my journey throughthedecades this year. I am trying to squeeze in more than one book a month if I can as I am just enjoying this way of reading so much.
I also want to just do a little plug for the swinging Christie’s podcast which I am LOVING! All sixties, all Christie, I am looking forward to picking my reads for this decade and may dedicate a month to just that alone!
gh0st0fth0ught's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
claire32's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.0
lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I think this might be an underrated Christie. Very well-constructed. Plays fair and focuses on the psychology of the suspects.
btrlymv's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
tanviiiii's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
nekoi's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
kieshab84's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Hercule Poirot had done it again, and again I'm not sure how it happened. It seems to me that the twist is always too fantastical to believe. Nothing in the book ever shows how the murderer did it. It was masterfully written as all the Poirot books are. I will keep reading the series.