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shonaberu's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Classism, and Antisemitism
prashiie's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
3.0
“After all, that was what one came abroad for - to see all these peculiar things one reads about in books.”
This book starts in Bulawayo. It is the second time Agatha Christie writes about this location.
Anthony Cade is asked to bring the memoirs of Count Stylptitch and to return some letters to Virginia Revel. The Comrades of the Red Hand as well as the Loyalist Party are trying to get the memoirs from Cade. On top of all that, he also finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery.
The story was a bit confusing because I found it hard to separate the Comrades of the Red Hand from the Loyalist Party. But still found it an entertaining book. One thing I found disturbing is how some characters talked about black people.
“Merciful God in heaven! He has married a black woman in Africa! Come, come, it’s not so bad as all that. She’s white enough - white all through, bless her.”
I mean, this was written in 1925, so we cannot really judge that time by our current standards. But reading it was still quiet disturbing.
“It’s awful, but I never really look at them properly.”
The servants and the so-called "lesser" people are usually ignored. Nobody really notices them, which gives them anonymity. In this case, Varaga took advantage of that.
This book starts in Bulawayo. It is the second time Agatha Christie writes about this location.
Anthony Cade is asked to bring the memoirs of Count Stylptitch and to return some letters to Virginia Revel. The Comrades of the Red Hand as well as the Loyalist Party are trying to get the memoirs from Cade. On top of all that, he also finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery.
The story was a bit confusing because I found it hard to separate the Comrades of the Red Hand from the Loyalist Party. But still found it an entertaining book. One thing I found disturbing is how some characters talked about black people.
“Merciful God in heaven! He has married a black woman in Africa! Come, come, it’s not so bad as all that. She’s white enough - white all through, bless her.”
I mean, this was written in 1925, so we cannot really judge that time by our current standards. But reading it was still quiet disturbing.
The servants and the so-called "lesser" people are usually ignored. Nobody really notices them, which gives them anonymity. In this case, Varaga took advantage of that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Racism
Minor: Kidnapping and Murder
kayahcherie's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs
sunny_not's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
2.25
Mostly I hated it it was quite racist and xenophobic. Also it was a lot more slower than her other books and I felt super bored at places. I was thinking of giving it 2.75 since I started to like the book towards the end however anthony's remark about being married to a white woman rather than a black woman since he hadn't lowered himself that much??????? was so awful and racist and I hated it so so so so much. I think Agatha Christie's later books might not be for me since they are full of these kinds of things and I'm also not interested in spies and conspiracies. However since I had picked some of her other books I will read them too I guess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
amsu's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
jupiter2932's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism, Racism, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexism