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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was well done and tense. Just wasn't one of my favorite Miss Marple mysteries. Murders in the past and present play a part but some things were just left unanswered.
I'm not a fan of Miss Marple, but I couldn't leave to be read another book by the Queen of Crime. As the other books I've read by her, with the exception of the previous one, it left me guessing who was the killer until the end of the book.
I can't believe I finally read an Agatha Christie book I haven't read before! (Or one that my mom hasn't spoiled for me a million times). It was nice to change the usual settings, although, as I suspected, it has a few problems concerning the workers of the Caribbean hotel Miss Marple is staying at. I know this is a very old book, written in different times, but it's still really shocking to witness casual displays of racism by a writer so familiar to me. So if you decide to read this, please keep in mind that you too, will have to face it. And for the record, this is not a book I'd recommend to anybody I wish would fall in love with her novels and her talent to build intricate puzzles before our very eyes. It's extremely easy to guess who the killer is, and the way Miss Marple herself finally discovers it is, frankly, very ridiculous. So, unless you consider going on the same journey I am taking, that is, to read every Miss Marple book in order, maybe I'd skip it altogether. There are many other better opportunities to experience Christie's genius, without having to experience her prejudiced views.
I’m not sure why, but this was not as engaging a read as the other Agatha Christie mysteries I’ve read- like Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express. I just could not get into the storyline. I may give it another try later.
So Miss Marple gets to go to a damn island and I don't? Well, okay.. I will just sit here and enjoy the murder mystery.
A Caribbean Mystery is all about Miss Marple being on vacation.. or is she? It's all nice and sunshine-y but she is bored out of her mind. So it doesn't take long for someone to be murdered and for Miss Marple to finally have fun investigating again.
That being said, this book was kind of annoying and a bit frustrating for me. Don't get me wrong, I was jealous that she was on vacation but the things people said in this book were just eye roll worthy. I get it, it was during a different time and people had horrible views and opinions on things. Heck, they still do. I just wish the gender stereotypes would go away. People can do whatever the heck they want to now.
Other than that, the mystery part was actually pretty good. The amount of suspects (in my mind) kept me on my toes and I had no idea who actually did it until the big reveal. I am, however, a bit worried about how this one ended. Especially with the Latin saying.. all I can guess is that we are going to get more murders.
A Caribbean Mystery is all about Miss Marple being on vacation.. or is she? It's all nice and sunshine-y but she is bored out of her mind. So it doesn't take long for someone to be murdered and for Miss Marple to finally have fun investigating again.
That being said, this book was kind of annoying and a bit frustrating for me. Don't get me wrong, I was jealous that she was on vacation but the things people said in this book were just eye roll worthy. I get it, it was during a different time and people had horrible views and opinions on things. Heck, they still do. I just wish the gender stereotypes would go away. People can do whatever the heck they want to now.
Other than that, the mystery part was actually pretty good. The amount of suspects (in my mind) kept me on my toes and I had no idea who actually did it until the big reveal. I am, however, a bit worried about how this one ended. Especially with the Latin saying.. all I can guess is that we are going to get more murders.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As usual, Christie does a deft job of quickly limning believable characters and a complex mixture of motives and red herrings in a brief novel that is fun to read. I spotted the killer quickly but still enjoyed the book.
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/a-caribbean-mystery/
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/a-caribbean-mystery/
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
although i’m a huge fan of Agatha Christie and I’m gonna keep making my way through her backlist, this one was rather disappointing.
the Miss Marple narratives have never been my cup of tea, as I find them rather improbable to the point where they become a little unbelievable. for me, a lot of the joy of Christie’s novels that I’ve loved has come from the eccentricity of Poirot as a protagonist, who I find myself enjoying much much more than Marple. I think I’m just not a fan of the whole “innocent old lady, who actually is amazing at solving crimes” as a premise and the idea of a proper detective story works better for me.
I, also, cannot talk about this book without talking about the multiple little racist remarks that are sprinkled throughout in a way I haven’t yet seen in one of Christie’s books. obviously, she is a product of her time, but it was hard to sympathize with characters that are criticizing natives for their way of life as if this isn’t their land and as if they aren’t entitled to live however they wish to. it was beyond uncomfortable.
the only reason I gave it (almost) two instead of one stars is that the mystery did hook me quite a bit, and I was left wondering until the very last moment…I’d say the twist was pretty well done too.
the Miss Marple narratives have never been my cup of tea, as I find them rather improbable to the point where they become a little unbelievable. for me, a lot of the joy of Christie’s novels that I’ve loved has come from the eccentricity of Poirot as a protagonist, who I find myself enjoying much much more than Marple. I think I’m just not a fan of the whole “innocent old lady, who actually is amazing at solving crimes” as a premise and the idea of a proper detective story works better for me.
I, also, cannot talk about this book without talking about the multiple little racist remarks that are sprinkled throughout in a way I haven’t yet seen in one of Christie’s books. obviously, she is a product of her time, but it was hard to sympathize with characters that are criticizing natives for their way of life as if this isn’t their land and as if they aren’t entitled to live however they wish to. it was beyond uncomfortable.
the only reason I gave it (almost) two instead of one stars is that the mystery did hook me quite a bit, and I was left wondering until the very last moment…I’d say the twist was pretty well done too.