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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am very sad to say that I was unimpressed by this book.
The only other Agatha Christie book I've read is And Then There Were None. I guess I should've known my expectations would be high!
This book just felt so terribly boring. A woman is found dead, after about 50 pages, and then there's probably 150 pages worth of interviews and "sleuthing". Then, Hercule Poirot magically knows exactly what happened. I wish there had been more action, and more of a sinister plot. Very sad indeed.
The last 50 pages did suddenly produce a lot of action and explanation, but that was it. I wanted more from this! If it hadn't been an audiobook, I definitely do not think I would've finished it.
The only other Agatha Christie book I've read is And Then There Were None. I guess I should've known my expectations would be high!
This book just felt so terribly boring. A woman is found dead, after about 50 pages, and then there's probably 150 pages worth of interviews and "sleuthing". Then, Hercule Poirot magically knows exactly what happened. I wish there had been more action, and more of a sinister plot. Very sad indeed.
The last 50 pages did suddenly produce a lot of action and explanation, but that was it. I wanted more from this! If it hadn't been an audiobook, I definitely do not think I would've finished it.
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:
No
This one made my heart warm. A good cast of characters, especially Rosamund and the Gardeners. Very good ending though not 100% satisfying (But honestly Christie never is). It's not about if you can solve the crime yourself (you can't), but instead that you are having fun and along for the ride. This one would make a great movie.
This book felt a little flat compared to her other books. I'm not sure what it is either. I think it had to do with the ending. I was not expecting it to be the person it was and I was disappointed with how the case turned out. It was more complex then her other books with how the murder was organized. Just a little disappointed with this one.
mysterious
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
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
This was a book with a great plot, full of twists and turns that made sense and were entertaining. Unfortunately I remembered everything from having watched the TV episode, so it was no longer a surprise. However it was still worth it, as I could not remember the motivation for the killing.
Recommend it to all Poirot fans, as usual, but also to everyone who enjoys a good mistery book.
Recommend it to all Poirot fans, as usual, but also to everyone who enjoys a good mistery book.
I am an avid reader of Agatha Christie's books, and stories like this one are the reason why.
The way her plots develop is usually the same -we're put in context, the crime happens and the main character (Poirot in the case) investigates, only to solve the crime in front of all the suspects. There's usually a plot twist and more-often-than-not, Christie has left a trail of little clues and details for us to pick up and solve the mystery ourselves.
This doesn't mean these books get repetitive. Each story is a world on its own and the characters are different from book to book. And -though it may be just me-, the plot twist is ALWAYS surprising and unexpected.
This time our story is set in a hotel by the sea, where Poirot is on holidays. A funny set of characters are introduced to us: from the Redferns, a young married couple; to the annoying Mr. Blatt, or the Gardeners, an american couple. Arlena Stuart is a beautiful retired actress who has every male wrapped around her finger. She's famous for recurringly cheating on her husband, Captain Marshall, with young men. This time, her lover is Patrick Redfern, and their affair is obvious to everyone, including Captain Marshall's teenage daughter and Patrick's wife, Christine.
Most females hate Arlena, and some men are weary of her too.
And, one day, Arlena is found strangled at a lonely beach and Poirot is helping the local police solve the crime. However, every guest has a bulletproof alibi, including Arnela's lover and husband and Christine Redfern.
Poirot, charming as always -he might be vain, he might be a bit full of himself, but I can't help but adore him- manages to fit ever piece of the puzzle together and shock everyone with the truth. And in my opinion, it's one of the best crimes I've red about!
The characters are actually compelling, and in a weird way, I ended up enjoying pretty much all of them. The Gardeners are very fun!
I really, really did enjoy this one, and I didn't expect to like it this much!
The only negative thing I have to say is that I missed a map of the island showing where the beaches, paths and hotel were located. I played a bit of the PC game before reading the book and it helped me a lot when picturing all the comes and goes of the characters.
Just to end this review, I'd like to leave a quote from the book. When asked about how he solves all the crimes he's investigated, here's what Poirot has to say:
‘It is a little like your puzzle, Madame. One assembles the pieces. It is like a mosaic—many colours and patterns—and every strange‐shaped little piece must be fitted into its own place. (···)And sometimes it is like that piece of your puzzle just now. One arranges very methodically the pieces of the puzzle—one sorts the colours—and then perhaps a piece of one colour that should fit in with—say, the fur rug, fits in instead in a black cat’s tail.’
The way her plots develop is usually the same -we're put in context, the crime happens and the main character (Poirot in the case) investigates, only to solve the crime in front of all the suspects. There's usually a plot twist and more-often-than-not, Christie has left a trail of little clues and details for us to pick up and solve the mystery ourselves.
This doesn't mean these books get repetitive. Each story is a world on its own and the characters are different from book to book. And -though it may be just me-, the plot twist is ALWAYS surprising and unexpected.
This time our story is set in a hotel by the sea, where Poirot is on holidays. A funny set of characters are introduced to us: from the Redferns, a young married couple; to the annoying Mr. Blatt, or the Gardeners, an american couple. Arlena Stuart is a beautiful retired actress who has every male wrapped around her finger. She's famous for recurringly cheating on her husband, Captain Marshall, with young men. This time, her lover is Patrick Redfern, and their affair is obvious to everyone, including Captain Marshall's teenage daughter and Patrick's wife, Christine.
Most females hate Arlena, and some men are weary of her too.
And, one day, Arlena is found strangled at a lonely beach and Poirot is helping the local police solve the crime. However, every guest has a bulletproof alibi, including Arnela's lover and husband and Christine Redfern.
Poirot, charming as always -he might be vain, he might be a bit full of himself, but I can't help but adore him- manages to fit ever piece of the puzzle together and shock everyone with the truth. And in my opinion, it's one of the best crimes I've red about!
The characters are actually compelling, and in a weird way, I ended up enjoying pretty much all of them. The Gardeners are very fun!
I really, really did enjoy this one, and I didn't expect to like it this much!
The only negative thing I have to say is that I missed a map of the island showing where the beaches, paths and hotel were located. I played a bit of the PC game before reading the book and it helped me a lot when picturing all the comes and goes of the characters.
Just to end this review, I'd like to leave a quote from the book. When asked about how he solves all the crimes he's investigated, here's what Poirot has to say:
‘It is a little like your puzzle, Madame. One assembles the pieces. It is like a mosaic—many colours and patterns—and every strange‐shaped little piece must be fitted into its own place. (···)And sometimes it is like that piece of your puzzle just now. One arranges very methodically the pieces of the puzzle—one sorts the colours—and then perhaps a piece of one colour that should fit in with—say, the fur rug, fits in instead in a black cat’s tail.’
Another great book by the one and only Ms. Agatha Christie... This time Poirot goes on vacation and witnesses wickedness and evil under the sun... A murder mystery revolving around lust, love, money and drugs... Arlene is a beautiful but married woman who easily charms every man she meets. However, her charm does not save her from ending up strangled on a beach. Every guest at the hotel could be a killer for a different reason. It is up to Poirot to see through the hotel guests and decide who murdered Arlene... This is a fantastic book with deeply written and well-developed characters.