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telercoi's review
5.0
The genuine likability of our two leads, I think, is what makes this book such a hit for me, but the other characters also are so fun to read about. They seem very fleshed out for there being so many of them to meet and absorb in such a small time. I usually am not one for Christie political thrillers (this one involving England and the fictional Herzoslovakia, a dead king, a shaky democracy, and memoirs of a former statesman that could blow up multiple political plans), and in the hands of lesser characters this one definitely would have fallen flat. Nevertheless, a five star Christie for me!
angela_king's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kris_tea516's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.0
Book 15 of 52 for 2024
This book was fun & lighthearted. It had some super funny parts in it too. I will say there were some things that would be considered offensive today (& probably even for the time period) but when reading books written long ago, we have to consider the time they were written in. It’s good to read things that are offensive from time-to-time to recognize our failures of the past & learn to be more sensitive & empathetic toward others and also to consider what ways we may be being offensive to others today that we may not recognize as a society until many years down the road.
This book was fun & lighthearted. It had some super funny parts in it too. I will say there were some things that would be considered offensive today (& probably even for the time period) but when reading books written long ago, we have to consider the time they were written in. It’s good to read things that are offensive from time-to-time to recognize our failures of the past & learn to be more sensitive & empathetic toward others and also to consider what ways we may be being offensive to others today that we may not recognize as a society until many years down the road.
mariafernandagama's review
1.0
Ok, this was really, really, REALLY dull. Also, I've been reading a lot of Christie's novels recently and I think it's time I took a break because her little tricks are starting to really infuriate me. And on and on and on and on. It's come to a point where it's not even that fun anymore, to be totally honest. So I'll spend some time away from her books before I start hating them all.
Concerning this book in particular, it's very ridiculous, like unbelievably ridiculous. It's bad, but in that way that you can't really laugh at, it only inspires frustration and sorrow. The twists and turns of the narrative aren't enough to keep you engaged, none of the characters make absolutely any sense and on top of it all, you get a nice little fascist speech and the end, showing how the author believed that mankind needs a firm hand to guide it or we'll all just tear each other apart - something she makes her main character realize after he rides the subway ONCE. UGH. The nerve!!!!
Spoiler
Did somebody mention a mutilated corpse? Yeah, that's not the person you think it is. Did somebody appear that was previously unknown to all other characters? That is definitely someone else impersonating them.Concerning this book in particular, it's very ridiculous, like unbelievably ridiculous. It's bad, but in that way that you can't really laugh at, it only inspires frustration and sorrow. The twists and turns of the narrative aren't enough to keep you engaged, none of the characters make absolutely any sense and on top of it all, you get a nice little fascist speech and the end, showing how the author believed that mankind needs a firm hand to guide it or we'll all just tear each other apart - something she makes her main character realize after he rides the subway ONCE. UGH. The nerve!!!!
rluczyns's review
adventurous
challenging
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
3.0
skya7275's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
vanderyle's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
heathssm's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bbeckie12's review
3.0
I didn't mind this novel. I'm just starting to get into Agatha Christie. I felt this narrative was a bit difficult to follow at times but perhaps I'm just not used to the genre yet.