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laedyred's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.0
I read this one quickly; like many Agatha Christie novels, it's gripping and propels you into the mystery immediately. The reveal of the culprit is a little obvious, but the events leading up to it certainly had me doubting my own conclusions along the way. This is a great book to pick up if you're interested in one of Christie's standalone stories.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
m4rtt4's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Not bad, as anything by Christie ever even could be, but somehow the plot was a bit predictable in this one. Great family drama, but unfortunately so very stereotypical.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Medical content, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, and Suicide
okarenhelena's review against another edition
dark
funny
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Bullying, Murder, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Self harm, Mental illness, Car accident, and Child death
Minor: Terminal illness
questingnotcoasting's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
This was brilliant. I think it's one of my favourite Christie novels so far. It surprised me that it was much darker than most of her other books - this one certainly isn't a cosy mystery. It was more like And Then There Were None. The plot isn't driven by clues in the same way as some of her other puzzle mysteries but it does so much with a very simple premise. There are a few of her stock character types but mostly the cast of suspects felt very distinct to me. As usual, I didn't guess the ending but looking back of course the clues were all there.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
jerry_pov's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, and Terminal illness
Minor: Body shaming
aaround132's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
allin's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
backpackfullofbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“I think people more often kill those they love, than those they hate. Possibly because only the people you love can really make life unendurable to you.”
~
The protagonist of this story, a man called Charles, finds himself in the role of amateur detective when his father (who is high up in the police) asks for his assistance on a murder case.
The victim in the case is the overbearing elderly patriarch of the very wealthy Leonides family. He leaves behind a much younger wife, several dysfunctional adult children and several grandchildren. The protagonist Charles happens to be engaged to one of the old mans granddaughters, which is what gives him access to the family.
The Mr Leonides has been murdered by a switch in his diabetes medication, with a lethal injection being administered instead of his required insulin. Given his money and power a great many people may have wanted him dead, most notably his own family who have inherited not only money but a great deal of personal freedom.
~
Agatha went dark with this one!
One of things that Mrs Christie tends to do well is crafting fascinatingly dysfunctional family’s and this might be one of her best ones!
They all have some massive character flaw that is distinct to them in the family unit, making it a tapestry of unharmonious and loud personalities. This combined with the fact that the patriarch maintained control of his offspring well into their adult lives (to the extent where he dictates the raising of his grandchildren) makes this family a hotbed of dysfunction and frustrations.
~
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to try a Christie and are looking for a more intense storyline. I would also recommend this for fans of the film “Knives out” as the set up was definitely an inspiration for the film.
~
The protagonist of this story, a man called Charles, finds himself in the role of amateur detective when his father (who is high up in the police) asks for his assistance on a murder case.
The victim in the case is the overbearing elderly patriarch of the very wealthy Leonides family. He leaves behind a much younger wife, several dysfunctional adult children and several grandchildren. The protagonist Charles happens to be engaged to one of the old mans granddaughters, which is what gives him access to the family.
The Mr Leonides has been murdered by a switch in his diabetes medication, with a lethal injection being administered instead of his required insulin. Given his money and power a great many people may have wanted him dead, most notably his own family who have inherited not only money but a great deal of personal freedom.
~
Agatha went dark with this one!
One of things that Mrs Christie tends to do well is crafting fascinatingly dysfunctional family’s and this might be one of her best ones!
They all have some massive character flaw that is distinct to them in the family unit, making it a tapestry of unharmonious and loud personalities. This combined with the fact that the patriarch maintained control of his offspring well into their adult lives (to the extent where he dictates the raising of his grandchildren) makes this family a hotbed of dysfunction and frustrations.
~
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to try a Christie and are looking for a more intense storyline. I would also recommend this for fans of the film “Knives out” as the set up was definitely an inspiration for the film.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Violence, Grief, Murder, Suicide, and Terminal illness
akira_outofthegravity's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Child death
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