Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
These were good but also so incredibly short so it was just set-up and knock down and not much character, and I always like getting to know the players better.
"They’re her only near relatives, and her death brings them a tidy sum of money, I’ve no doubt. We all know what human nature is! Sometimes inhuman—yes" is the perfect quote to encapsulate all that is in this short story collection. This collection holds some of Agatha Christie's greatest detectives. Mr. Parker Pyne, Miss Marple, and the unique Monsieur Poirot. Each collection of stories is short, but just like her full-length stories, they pack a punch. It's a great read if you want to be introduced to Christie and see which stories may fit you. It is also a great read for dye-hard fans. I have not been let down by Agatha yet!
A collection of short stories, some of which involve Christie sleuths Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and the curious Mr. Parker Pyne, a character who seems to be more famous for solving interpersonal problems than murders. A light read and great fun.
adventurous
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
mysterious
fast-paced
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
A nice collection of stories from most of her lead characters.
As in the detectives' respective novels, the five stories in this collection about Hercule Poirot are of variable quality, the one about Miss Marple is a touch stronger, and the two about Parker Pyne are a bit worse. (The latter's whole schtick is that he can effortlessly read people via sexist and racist stereotypes and sets up confidence schemes to trick his clients into fixing their own problems. When he does solve a mystery, it's typically via key evidence that he knows and we don't, which doesn't yield the most satisfying reading experience.) There's also a ninth unrelated entry, mostly interesting for the anonymous narrator and the supernatural element that author Agatha Christie generally eschews.
On average these items are on the weaker side, and the book suffers further for the disjointed feeling of the assortment overall. Were these just the latest works that the writer hadn't already published elsewhere in 1939? They don't appear to have any special commonalities suggesting a shared group identity, particularly given the three different series that they draw upon. Ultimately I would say that the title can safely be skipped.
[Content warning for gun violence, domestic abuse, and suicide.]
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
On average these items are on the weaker side, and the book suffers further for the disjointed feeling of the assortment overall. Were these just the latest works that the writer hadn't already published elsewhere in 1939? They don't appear to have any special commonalities suggesting a shared group identity, particularly given the three different series that they draw upon. Ultimately I would say that the title can safely be skipped.
[Content warning for gun violence, domestic abuse, and suicide.]
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No