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2.95 AVERAGE
2.95 AVERAGE
I usually adore Agatha Christie, but this one fell far short of her usual brilliance. There never seemed to be much tension or suspense, and so the "big reveal," usually what sets a Christie mystery apart from any other in the genre, didn't feel like much of anything. I don't think I'll read any more of the Tommy and Tuppence series.
This is just bad. As I've noted about several of Christie's last books (which I have been reading in publication order), she seems to have lost her mojo late in life (she was in her 80s when she wrote this, after all!). This book is at least 50 pages too long; the same ideas and events are repeated endlessly--Tommy and Tuppence, who were witty and charming in their earlier books are just old and doddering here and seem to have lost not just their memories (which Christie hits on a lot), but also their intelligence. The mystery is not really solved--we're just told that it is--and we never really find out what the heck happened. The giveaway clue is so obvious that no one could miss it, except, apparently, Tuppence, who is the one who found it initially. I read this once before and didn't remember a single word--I see now why: it is worth forgetting!
mysterious
slow-paced
lighthearted
slow-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 pretty good. The Tommy & Tuppence ones aren't my favourite books; I'm just not that into the whole government/political thriller type. Also someone disguises themselves as another gender in order to mislead the protaganists, which is a gross transphobic trope. Of course, this was written a ton of years ago, so one has to give some thought to that before complaining.
This isn't my favorite agatha Christi book but I did enjoy it. I loved the characters though the plot was lacking. Overall it was a pretty solid book.
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book should have been 100-150 pages shorter. Almost nothing happened until 60% of the book. The ending was very anticlimactic, it felt like there wasn't any true mystery uncovered or a big reveal.
mysterious
slow-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
mysterious
fast-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
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No