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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
This was an amazing book, I loved it so so much. My favorite Miss Marple was Bertram's Hotel for a long time, but this one might take its place. (Disclaimer, I wrote this years ago and while I've gotten better, I'm still bad at writing reviews, so my apologies if it's rambling or confusing.)
If you want to skim or read a review that's more succinct and to the point, read the words in bold.
PROS about this book.
- Miss Marple isn't irritating like she is in other ones. She's less fluttery and doesn't constantly put down her talents and pretend she knows nothing. She actually DOES stuff and tries to track down the murderer.
- Almost all of the characters were likeable. Almost. I loved Mr. Rafiel, Miss Prescott, Jackson, Evelyn Hillingdon, Molly Kendal, Tim Kendal, Dr. Graham...
- The married couples in this book actually acted like married couples (other than the Dysons). The Kendals actually seemed like what a couple in love would act like, they just really loved each other and you could tell - they would tease and laugh and show concern for one another, comfort one another. They wouldn't be over-the-top with their love, they were just a calm, steady couple and I really liked how normal they were.
- I loved Mr. Rafiel and how straight and to-the-point he was. He didn't mince words and I appreciated that. He's the character who voices what everyone is thinking - when Miss Marple says "and I might be wrong but..." he points out, "but you don't think you are, do you?" I hate that she is constantly downplaying her abilities and it's refreshing to hear someone be blunt and straight-up with her. Mr. Rafiel was funny, he's willing to do something to stop a murderer, and I loved how whole-heartedly he jumped into tracking someone down and figuring it out.
- It was creepy at times, like all Agatha Christies. She's a pro at writing creepily, with lots of dashes and periods and italics.
- I was honestly so confused with them when they were trying to figure it out (a good confused). It was incredibly confusing and then everything fell into place the closer it got to the end. The more you read, the more jumbled-up everything is; as soon as you realize who it is, Christie proves you wrong.
- I love that as soon as Miss Marple figured it out, she jumped into action; for an old lady she has a lot of get up and go.
- I liked all the action. There was zero interrogations because Miss Marple aint about that detective life.
- I liked that it happened on a resort, that's a relaxing and aesthetic place to read about lol.
- I appreciated that even though the murders happened there, the Kendals didn't roll over and die and that even at the end of the book after a lot of traumatic things have happened, that it's still running, even though they risked their lives. In most Agatha Christies, when something happens at a resort, hotel, or house, the people who own it end up moving away and selling the place. But in this story despite Molly being in danger (much more so than her husband, but I won't go into details), she still sticks around and I love how much backbone Molly has.
- I love how much backbone the Kendals have, period.
- I love Jackson and how willing he is to work to find the murderer, that he was trying to figure out on his own accord who the murderer was, even though he wasn't getting paid for that, and that he was still going around trying to track down who it was so that no more people died. I loved that he noticed, and was a really good observer, realized what was going on, what was fishy about this thing or that thing. It made me appreciate him even more when he was so smooth about explaining everything - he didn't give away that he was trying to find out what was going on, but he did tell Miss Marple something (when she caught him) that helped her solve the mystery, which also helped him solve what was going on (eg, he noticed the way someone was acting and thought it looked like maybe another person was trying to poison them, so he went to find out). Not too sure if at the end of the book he actually knew what was going on or if he just had an idea and it never got around to taking root.
- I really really liked Miss Prescott being willing to talk about what was going on even if Canon Prescott wasn't willing to. Miss Prescott just had a really good personality for a parson's sister. Agatha Christie normally makes them dowdy and frumpy and not much help, way too dried up and "old maid" (not like spinster though, because spinsters are cool - also, those are each links, go read them it's very interesting)
, but thankfully that is not Miss Prescott. She wants to talk about the murder just as much as the next guy - and is willing to weed out who it could be.
- I loved how the ending really is sad which doesn't happen with very many Agatha Christies though I just read one like this (They Do It With Mirrors) and I love when she makes the ending a bit nostalgic. It makes me sad and she does a good job. And I also love the epilogue to this book - how everyone has more or less gotten what they deserved, that everybody's more or less happy with their lives, and things are on the up and up. (Side note; I went to track down which Agatha Christie I thought was sad, and as I was reading the review I gave for They Do It With Mirrors, I realized my review was almost identical to this one. That book is similar in tone, but it's not the same story.)
- PLOT TWISTERS. I love plot twisters and ofc it's not an Agatha Christie murder mystery without one (or five).
- The murderer's backstory/history was really interesting. Like, the story behind the story, the reason for how it all came about. The way s/he murders, and the reasoning behind it was creepy and interesting.
- The reason behind why they were murdered was interesting - see, after they tell this rambling story about seeing a murderer once, they look up and sees who they thinks is the murderer and realize well crap so they abruptly change the subject and that's where it all starts.
CONS about this book.
- I kindaa guessed the murderer. Which was sad. Not completely, I just thought what they did was a little bit odd in their position, and I was like hmm...but it was a chapter before the reader found out for sure who it was so though it wasn't a huge shock, it was a little bit of a surprise since it had only just occurred to me.
- CRAAAAAP I liked the murderer AGAIN man! I always do that to myself. I liked the character and how they acted and it was a lil sad that they were guilty. (but I kinda enjoy liking the murderer so don't let that turn you off - this book is 100% worth the read.)
- It never totally resolved the question about a character who was a bit of a snoop - like, they were looking through someone's papers and it never really explained why. The reason given is that the snoop probably wanted to see if they had been left anything in a will, but the book never specifies if that is really true or not. By the end of the book, you really appreciate the snoop so ig that's the book telling you they were just curious and had no ulterior motives, but it was still a bit odd.
Agatha Christies with like-able murderers
Man in the Brown Suit
Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Endless Night
Mystery of the Blue Train
Pocketful of Rye
Murder on the Orient Express
A Caribbean Mystery
If you want to skim or read a review that's more succinct and to the point, read the words in bold.
PROS about this book.
- Miss Marple isn't irritating like she is in other ones. She's less fluttery and doesn't constantly put down her talents and pretend she knows nothing. She actually DOES stuff and tries to track down the murderer.
- Almost all of the characters were likeable. Almost. I loved Mr. Rafiel, Miss Prescott, Jackson, Evelyn Hillingdon, Molly Kendal, Tim Kendal, Dr. Graham...
- The married couples in this book actually acted like married couples (other than the Dysons). The Kendals actually seemed like what a couple in love would act like, they just really loved each other and you could tell - they would tease and laugh and show concern for one another, comfort one another. They wouldn't be over-the-top with their love, they were just a calm, steady couple and I really liked how normal they were.
- I loved Mr. Rafiel and how straight and to-the-point he was. He didn't mince words and I appreciated that. He's the character who voices what everyone is thinking - when Miss Marple says "and I might be wrong but..." he points out, "but you don't think you are, do you?" I hate that she is constantly downplaying her abilities and it's refreshing to hear someone be blunt and straight-up with her. Mr. Rafiel was funny, he's willing to do something to stop a murderer, and I loved how whole-heartedly he jumped into tracking someone down and figuring it out.
- It was creepy at times, like all Agatha Christies. She's a pro at writing creepily, with lots of dashes and periods and italics.
- I was honestly so confused with them when they were trying to figure it out (a good confused). It was incredibly confusing and then everything fell into place the closer it got to the end. The more you read, the more jumbled-up everything is; as soon as you realize who it is, Christie proves you wrong.
- I love that as soon as Miss Marple figured it out, she jumped into action; for an old lady she has a lot of get up and go.
- I liked all the action. There was zero interrogations because Miss Marple aint about that detective life.
- I liked that it happened on a resort, that's a relaxing and aesthetic place to read about lol.
- I appreciated that even though the murders happened there, the Kendals didn't roll over and die and that even at the end of the book after a lot of traumatic things have happened, that it's still running, even though they risked their lives. In most Agatha Christies, when something happens at a resort, hotel, or house, the people who own it end up moving away and selling the place. But in this story despite Molly being in danger (much more so than her husband, but I won't go into details), she still sticks around and I love how much backbone Molly has.
- I love how much backbone the Kendals have, period.
- I love Jackson and how willing he is to work to find the murderer, that he was trying to figure out on his own accord who the murderer was, even though he wasn't getting paid for that, and that he was still going around trying to track down who it was so that no more people died. I loved that he noticed, and was a really good observer, realized what was going on, what was fishy about this thing or that thing. It made me appreciate him even more when he was so smooth about explaining everything - he didn't give away that he was trying to find out what was going on, but he did tell Miss Marple something (when she caught him) that helped her solve the mystery, which also helped him solve what was going on (eg, he noticed the way someone was acting and thought it looked like maybe another person was trying to poison them, so he went to find out). Not too sure if at the end of the book he actually knew what was going on or if he just had an idea and it never got around to taking root.
- I really really liked Miss Prescott being willing to talk about what was going on even if Canon Prescott wasn't willing to. Miss Prescott just had a really good personality for a parson's sister. Agatha Christie normally makes them dowdy and frumpy and not much help, way too dried up and "old maid" (not like spinster though, because spinsters are cool - also, those are each links, go read them it's very interesting)
, but thankfully that is not Miss Prescott. She wants to talk about the murder just as much as the next guy - and is willing to weed out who it could be.
- I loved how the ending really is sad which doesn't happen with very many Agatha Christies though I just read one like this (They Do It With Mirrors) and I love when she makes the ending a bit nostalgic. It makes me sad and she does a good job. And I also love the epilogue to this book - how everyone has more or less gotten what they deserved, that everybody's more or less happy with their lives, and things are on the up and up. (Side note; I went to track down which Agatha Christie I thought was sad, and as I was reading the review I gave for They Do It With Mirrors, I realized my review was almost identical to this one. That book is similar in tone, but it's not the same story.)
- PLOT TWISTERS. I love plot twisters and ofc it's not an Agatha Christie murder mystery without one (or five).
- The murderer's backstory/history was really interesting. Like, the story behind the story, the reason for how it all came about. The way s/he murders, and the reasoning behind it was creepy and interesting.
- The reason behind why they were murdered was interesting - see, after they tell this rambling story about seeing a murderer once, they look up and sees who they thinks is the murderer and realize well crap so they abruptly change the subject and that's where it all starts.
CONS about this book.
- I kindaa guessed the murderer. Which was sad. Not completely, I just thought what they did was a little bit odd in their position, and I was like hmm...but it was a chapter before the reader found out for sure who it was so though it wasn't a huge shock, it was a little bit of a surprise since it had only just occurred to me.
- CRAAAAAP I liked the murderer AGAIN man! I always do that to myself. I liked the character and how they acted and it was a lil sad that they were guilty. (but I kinda enjoy liking the murderer so don't let that turn you off - this book is 100% worth the read.)
- It never totally resolved the question about a character who was a bit of a snoop - like, they were looking through someone's papers and it never really explained why. The reason given is that the snoop probably wanted to see if they had been left anything in a will, but the book never specifies if that is really true or not. By the end of the book, you really appreciate the snoop so ig that's the book telling you they were just curious and had no ulterior motives, but it was still a bit odd.
Agatha Christies with like-able murderers
Man in the Brown Suit
Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Endless Night
Mystery of the Blue Train
Pocketful of Rye
Murder on the Orient Express
A Caribbean Mystery
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fun, cozy mystery. Mrs. Marple is her usual disarming self but this time she's on vacation in the Caribbean.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I found this doesn’t age well considering the usage of the word negro, and the way that anyone local to the island was described felt a little uncomfortable.
The story was told well besides the above however I found the audiobook narrator so-so. I would have loved for her voice to be exclusively for Mrs. Marple while they had someone else play the other character. Her range to put on other voices was lacking. Besides that her diction was clear and easy to understand.
The story was told well besides the above however I found the audiobook narrator so-so. I would have loved for her voice to be exclusively for Mrs. Marple while they had someone else play the other character. Her range to put on other voices was lacking. Besides that her diction was clear and easy to understand.
mysterious
medium-paced
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Nachdem ich neulich eine Verfilmung von "Das Schicksal in Person" sah, wollte ich unbedingt den Ausgangsroman für jene Geschichte wiederlesen. Darum also die "Karibische Affäre", in der Miß Marple das erste Mal Mr. Rafiel begegnet und sich zur Nemesis erkärt.
Hier erzählt ein pensionierter Major laut langweilige Geschichten und muß deswegen sterben. Dumm nur, daß Miß Marple unter den Hotelgästen ist und auf ihre altbewährte Art herausfindet, wer der Mörder war.
Ich nehme an, der Text aus dem Jahre 1964 ist in der neuen Übersetzung etwas geglättet worden, um nicht als misogyn und rassistisch zu gelten.
Hier erzählt ein pensionierter Major laut langweilige Geschichten und muß deswegen sterben. Dumm nur, daß Miß Marple unter den Hotelgästen ist und auf ihre altbewährte Art herausfindet, wer der Mörder war.
Ich nehme an, der Text aus dem Jahre 1964 ist in der neuen Übersetzung etwas geglättet worden, um nicht als misogyn und rassistisch zu gelten.
Compelling and enjoyable Marple. Interesting cast of characters - especially Mr. Rafiel - and well paced plot and tension. More fun and stakes because the police presence takes backstage and the solving is left to the amateurs. Main complaint is (again) the casual sexual motifs that pose no problem for an adult reader but are just unnecessary, despite many good and true points. Example: "To have sex experience urged on you exactly as though it was an iron tonic! Poor young things..." Basically entire plot is driven by sex outside of marriage. But I don't want to be too scrupulous; I did really like this one and just find it interesting how Agaatha Christie incorporates more explicit content in her later work.
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A