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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
fast-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
Grade: B+
Poirot and his clueless sidekick, Hastings, are back and inexplicably vacationing on the Cornish Riveria (I have questions. Why is Hastings back? Is he still married? Does his wife care that he is off ogling young women thousands of miles away while she's on a ranch in Argentina?). They meet a young woman, confusingly named Nick, who has survived numerous attempts on her life, and Poirot feels compelled to make sure the next attempt is not successful.
First of all, this is an excellently plotted mystery. I was surprised by the solution, although looking back, I can see how Christie played fair with the reader. It was nothing less than what I would expect from an early-ish Christie novel. I was also less annoyed by Hastings than I had been in the past. However, I'm the weird reader who isn't a Hastings fan, yet I still think I prefer the Poirot novels without him. For Poirot's part, he was as charmingly fussy as usual.
The downside was that it took me longer than it should have to really settle in with this one. I think that is because I found the character of Nick to be just insufferable. She was flippant and annoying, and I never understood why Poirot was so taken by her to the point that he would take on her protection. I do think that Nick could have been better written without changing the story. However, I also accept that she may be an example of what was expected of an early 1930s English trust fund baby.
So, this was a fairly successful Christie for me. The only way it could have been more successful is if one character was...different. In the grand scheme of things, however, it was a hit.
Poirot and his clueless sidekick, Hastings, are back and inexplicably vacationing on the Cornish Riveria (I have questions. Why is Hastings back? Is he still married? Does his wife care that he is off ogling young women thousands of miles away while she's on a ranch in Argentina?). They meet a young woman, confusingly named Nick, who has survived numerous attempts on her life, and Poirot feels compelled to make sure the next attempt is not successful.
First of all, this is an excellently plotted mystery. I was surprised by the solution, although looking back, I can see how Christie played fair with the reader. It was nothing less than what I would expect from an early-ish Christie novel. I was also less annoyed by Hastings than I had been in the past. However, I'm the weird reader who isn't a Hastings fan, yet I still think I prefer the Poirot novels without him. For Poirot's part, he was as charmingly fussy as usual.
The downside was that it took me longer than it should have to really settle in with this one. I think that is because I found the character of Nick to be just insufferable. She was flippant and annoying, and I never understood why Poirot was so taken by her to the point that he would take on her protection. I do think that Nick could have been better written without changing the story. However, I also accept that she may be an example of what was expected of an early 1930s English trust fund baby.
So, this was a fairly successful Christie for me. The only way it could have been more successful is if one character was...different. In the grand scheme of things, however, it was a hit.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Murder
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Minor: Antisemitism
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Whatta plot!! A complete twist at the end! Again poirot has done it:)
Hercule Poirot And hastings investigate on the murderer of Maggie buckley who is shot dead instead of Ms Nick buckley. Who why and how is what the book is all about! The perfect solution suggested by Poirot is mind blowing.go ahead for it if you are a crazy mystery lover:))
Hercule Poirot And hastings investigate on the murderer of Maggie buckley who is shot dead instead of Ms Nick buckley. Who why and how is what the book is all about! The perfect solution suggested by Poirot is mind blowing.go ahead for it if you are a crazy mystery lover:))
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
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes