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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
This is not the worst Agatha Christie I’ve ever read, but it’s close.
WTF? The book doesn't have 8 pages but 256.
*Review*: Wonderful. For one, Poirot wasn't in the limelight and we were able to be in the environment of the murders without any Maverick detective. It sell the reality of the story. Collin Lamb serves as a sharp observer but we still can keep up with his senses quite easily as compared to someone we know with an infamous mustache.
The second thing to be loved here, is the back and forth switching of first person and third person narratives. It just works surprisingly well. totally unrelated, but it kind of reminded me of RE4's player switching mechanic.
*Review*: Wonderful. For one, Poirot wasn't in the limelight and we were able to be in the environment of the murders without any Maverick detective. It sell the reality of the story. Collin Lamb serves as a sharp observer but we still can keep up with his senses quite easily as compared to someone we know with an infamous mustache.
The second thing to be loved here, is the back and forth switching of first person and third person narratives. It just works surprisingly well. totally unrelated, but it kind of reminded me of RE4's player switching mechanic.
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:
No
My first time reading Agatha Christie, I bought this book for 99 cents at an independent bookstore. Not her best work I’m assuming but I’m definitely going to try and find some more books of hers now.
A young acquaintance of Hercule Poirot happens to fall into the investigation of a murder--and a bizarre one at that. A young typist stumbles upon a dead body in the home of a blind woman, only for the blind woman to say she never called the young woman and doesn't know the man either! So, the case is brought to Hercule Poirot as a bit of an experiment: can he solve the case without setting foot from his apartment, as he often claims is possible?
This was a fun story. I enjoyed the neighbors of the blind woman and seeing all of them be examined. I enjoyed the break in the case. I enjoyed the main narrator, the young man who stumbles into the case on accident. Unlike several Christies that I have read lately, there was no character I detested, and I rooted for several of them. I was very interested in the multiple story lines, and found the writng good. It was one of my favorites I've read lately. In places it was a little fantastic, and characters were sometimes overly obtuse, but all in all I had a good time and I think that is what matters most.
This was a fun story. I enjoyed the neighbors of the blind woman and seeing all of them be examined. I enjoyed the break in the case. I enjoyed the main narrator, the young man who stumbles into the case on accident. Unlike several Christies that I have read lately, there was no character I detested, and I rooted for several of them. I was very interested in the multiple story lines, and found the writng good. It was one of my favorites I've read lately. In places it was a little fantastic, and characters were sometimes overly obtuse, but all in all I had a good time and I think that is what matters most.
I am not convinced I like all of the later Pirot books. I think it's because I miss Poirot himself. Perhaps.
This just had too many characters and the all mushed into one another a bit.
This just had too many characters and the all mushed into one another a bit.
3.5 stars
If there's Poirot in the story my fan girling self wants him there all the time! This novel introduced him on the page 142. Even though I do appreciate the different approach, secret service work is always fascinating to us common people.
If there's Poirot in the story my fan girling self wants him there all the time! This novel introduced him on the page 142. Even though I do appreciate the different approach, secret service work is always fascinating to us common people.
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Brilliantly written. Lots of fun to try to guess who did it but as usual was surprised. I highly reccomend the audio version read by Hugh Fraser.
Me gustó mucho. Dios! De verdad creí que estaba cerca, pero la verdad era que lo que descubrí estaba relacionado con el otro crimen y ni me di cuenta.
Amo a Agatha y sus libros, lo rápido que pasan y como todos sus personajes son tan humanos.
Mi querido Poirot no apareció mucho por aquí, pero su aporte fue estelar, sobre todo con la broma que hizo. Me encanta el factor humano en él, su capacidad de pensar en las personas y en lo que estas puedan sentir más que en los detalles y las pistas.
Fue distinto a los otros que he leído porque el crimen ocurre en la primera página y no es hasta casi el final cuando recién descubrimos la identidad de la víctima. Todo el tiempo pensé que la respuesta iba por otro camino, pero no.
Colin y su amor estuvo un poco de más, apoyo a Dick y Poirot con que es un tonto. Pero estuvo bien lo que aportó a la trama.
No tengo más que decir que por eso es de mis autoras favoritas. Cada libro que tomo de ella me aporta algo, incluso los que menos me han gustado han sido capaces de distraerme y darme un buen momento.
Amo a Agatha y sus libros, lo rápido que pasan y como todos sus personajes son tan humanos.
Mi querido Poirot no apareció mucho por aquí, pero su aporte fue estelar, sobre todo con la broma que hizo. Me encanta el factor humano en él, su capacidad de pensar en las personas y en lo que estas puedan sentir más que en los detalles y las pistas.
Fue distinto a los otros que he leído porque el crimen ocurre en la primera página y no es hasta casi el final cuando recién descubrimos la identidad de la víctima. Todo el tiempo pensé que la respuesta iba por otro camino, pero no.
Colin y su amor estuvo un poco de más, apoyo a Dick y Poirot con que es un tonto. Pero estuvo bien lo que aportó a la trama.
No tengo más que decir que por eso es de mis autoras favoritas. Cada libro que tomo de ella me aporta algo, incluso los que menos me han gustado han sido capaces de distraerme y darme un buen momento.
After slogging through some inferior Ngaio Marsh mysteries including one about Cold War spies it was delightful to read this Poirot story. While Poirot's part is small I liked both of the other male protagonists Colin Lamb and Hardcastle who may not have been as smart as Poirot but are far from dumb. I figured out the who pretty quickly and because of the fantastical murder scene and a description of a work place and of course since I knew from jump to look for a murderer. There were some lucky plot devices but for the most part I liked this critique of the genre in a mystery.