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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
This was another typical Hercule Poirot mystery. This new woman has Hercule Poirot in a tizzy. There's someone out to kill her and things aren't adding up. Poirot can't find all the pieces and it's throwing him for a loop. Of course Hastings is even more lost than Poirot, but he's as always a sounding board for the great detective. Nick Buckly seems to be stuck in the middle of some bad trouble with one of her closest friends being the biggest suspects.
I liked this story. I wasn't overly surprised by the ending, I had started to suspect things being a little too muddled and convenient. Watching Poirot figure it all out was a lot of fun though.
I liked this story. I wasn't overly surprised by the ending, I had started to suspect things being a little too muddled and convenient. Watching Poirot figure it all out was a lot of fun though.
This was a fairly enjoyable Poirot installment, with an interesting play on the typical formula. Poirot and Hastings start out on holiday, with nothing to induce Poirot (per his own proclamation) into taking on a new case aside from a bullet whizzing past his head. Of course, that very thing nearly happens, but instead of the egg-shaped head, the aforementioned bullet forces a hole through the hat of the charmingly modern young lady introduced as Nick Buckly. Missing her noggin, but doing just as was proposed, Poirot and Hastings endeavor to take on a murder case before the murder has been committed.
Nick and her titular estate, End House, hold their own as main features in this cozy mystery...right up until the very end. Christie has Poirot at a disadvantage here, with a lot of kindling but very little fuel to get his grey cells into high gear. That is, until an actual murder takes place—Nick's own cousin, Maggie. However, the murderer has apparently missed his mark with Nick as the intended target. So, full-speed ahead goes Poirot.
The characterizations were a little wobbly, but the majority of the cast of players were fairly filled out. Some notable exceptions were Nick's crowd—her would-be boyfriend, George Challenger, her best friend, Freddie Rice, and Jim Lazarus, an art dealer in love with Freddie. These three are lacking in some development for no apparent reason.
There was the occasional blatant sexist remark and the stereotypical Jewish comments about Lazarus, and I honestly don't know if we have to just chalk that up to the era in which it was written or if it was meant to be a reflection on that very era because the comments all came in the form of dialogue. So the possibility that it was simply meant to be part of a character's personality and personal prejudices (including Hastings, Japp, and Poirot) is hanging out there for me like bait.
For the most part though, this was a typically entertaining Poirot mystery. On to the next.
Nick and her titular estate, End House, hold their own as main features in this cozy mystery...right up until the very end. Christie has Poirot at a disadvantage here, with a lot of kindling but very little fuel to get his grey cells into high gear. That is, until an actual murder takes place—Nick's own cousin, Maggie. However, the murderer has apparently missed his mark with Nick as the intended target. So, full-speed ahead goes Poirot.
The characterizations were a little wobbly, but the majority of the cast of players were fairly filled out. Some notable exceptions were Nick's crowd—her would-be boyfriend, George Challenger, her best friend, Freddie Rice, and Jim Lazarus, an art dealer in love with Freddie. These three are lacking in some development for no apparent reason.
There was the occasional blatant sexist remark and the stereotypical Jewish comments about Lazarus, and I honestly don't know if we have to just chalk that up to the era in which it was written or if it was meant to be a reflection on that very era because the comments all came in the form of dialogue. So the possibility that it was simply meant to be part of a character's personality and personal prejudices (including Hastings, Japp, and Poirot) is hanging out there for me like bait.
For the most part though, this was a typically entertaining Poirot mystery. On to the next.
mysterious
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:
Complicated
mysterious
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:
Yes
I did figure the ending out which is a first for when I read Agatha Christie
i can’t decide if the ending was far-fetched or brilliant
My favorite Poirot! All the classics: Poirot tries to go on vacation, treats Hastings like his favorite pet, an interesting victim & some great twists that you feel like you should have noticed after the ending is revealed.
mysterious
fast-paced
(Audio) This was really captivating and one of the first times Christie writing about young people that didn't make me cringe. The plot is tight and the characters sound. Poirot is especially sharp and witty at Hastings in this one, which I must admit I kind of like - after all, what are sidekicks for, am I right? The final solution was absolutely baffling and brilliant, one of the best yet - and I didn't have the slightest inkling.
*
"Poirot," I said. "I have been thinking."
"An admirable exercise my friend. Continue it."
*
"Poirot," I said. "I have been thinking."
"An admirable exercise my friend. Continue it."
I’m sure you are all getting tired of hearing me say this, but Agatha Christie just does not disappoint!
Despite the beautiful cover on this edition, not Agatha's best.
Poirot witnesses a murder attempt on a beautiful woman while on holiday and can't resist getting involved. Desperate in preventing further violence, he is swept up in the foreboding socialite atmosphere of End House and its glamorous heroine.
As one would perceive from the author, he is not able to stop a murder from happening.
From poisoned chocolate to dark skies lit by fireworks, secret panels, secret wills, and secret engagements, all supported by an assortment of characters - witnesses, suspects, criminals - this is a fairly typical Christie.
However, it fell a bit flat for me. The mystery and motive were too complex and far fetched, at least part of the mystery wouldn't be able to be "solved" by the reader as we don't have enough info, and in my opinion, the location is underutilised. "End House" sounds so enigmatic and atmospheric, right? One imagines sweeping cliffs or perhaps windswept moors or rugged hills. At the very least, a quiet, half forgotten beach. And inside, one expects a dark, creaking, foreboding house. But instead, we get... a house. Just a house. There's hints of a beach nearby, with Poirot's resort. But when comparing with Christie's other more memorable locations... Petra, the Nile, not to mention remote islands cut off from society, sprawling crooked houses, countryside manors brimming with poisons and secrets. So, yeah. Under-utilised.
Anyway, this one was a bit forgettable for me. Not bad, just okay.
Poirot witnesses a murder attempt on a beautiful woman while on holiday and can't resist getting involved. Desperate in preventing further violence, he is swept up in the foreboding socialite atmosphere of End House and its glamorous heroine.
As one would perceive from the author, he is not able to stop a murder from happening.
From poisoned chocolate to dark skies lit by fireworks, secret panels, secret wills, and secret engagements, all supported by an assortment of characters - witnesses, suspects, criminals - this is a fairly typical Christie.
However, it fell a bit flat for me. The mystery and motive were too complex and far fetched, at least part of the mystery wouldn't be able to be "solved" by the reader as we don't have enough info, and in my opinion, the location is underutilised. "End House" sounds so enigmatic and atmospheric, right? One imagines sweeping cliffs or perhaps windswept moors or rugged hills. At the very least, a quiet, half forgotten beach. And inside, one expects a dark, creaking, foreboding house. But instead, we get... a house. Just a house. There's hints of a beach nearby, with Poirot's resort. But when comparing with Christie's other more memorable locations... Petra, the Nile, not to mention remote islands cut off from society, sprawling crooked houses, countryside manors brimming with poisons and secrets. So, yeah. Under-utilised.
Anyway, this one was a bit forgettable for me. Not bad, just okay.