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genny's review against another edition
I usually love Poirot stories, but I think the short story form doesn't work for me as things happen too quickly and the mysteries are solved too easily. I was listening on audiobook and the cases flew by without leaving much of an impression. I much prefer the full-length novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
donxmore's review
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? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
rosalindroe's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
silver_valkyrie_reads's review
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Book five of my personal read through of Agatha Christie in publication order, and the first book of short stories in that read through!
At first I found the short story format very annoying, because Hastings had plenty time in each story to be an arrogant idiot, as usual, but not enough time to redeem himself and make me like him again, as he usually does in a novel. After the first couple of stories though, I found he generally barely even had to time to be obnoxiously arrogant, so it balanced out, and I was able to enjoy the stories pretty well from that point on.
Knowing Agatha Christie plots as well as I do in general I could usually spot the misdirection ("Oh, that's definitely NOT the vital clue" "so he's not the murderer then...") but typically didn't predict what the actual reveal would be.
This one might be a good book to ease younger mystery lovers into mysteries written for adults.
At first I found the short story format very annoying, because Hastings had plenty time in each story to be an arrogant idiot, as usual, but not enough time to redeem himself and make me like him again, as he usually does in a novel. After the first couple of stories though, I found he generally barely even had to time to be obnoxiously arrogant, so it balanced out, and I was able to enjoy the stories pretty well from that point on.
Knowing Agatha Christie plots as well as I do in general I could usually spot the misdirection ("Oh, that's definitely NOT the vital clue" "so he's not the murderer then...") but typically didn't predict what the actual reveal would be.
This one might be a good book to ease younger mystery lovers into mysteries written for adults.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Racial slurs
mx_eyebrows's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Death, Xenophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Misogyny
Minor: Antisemitism
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