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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
4.5 stars rounded down.
An absolutely charming and darker than expected mystery!
At this point, my husband and I have read 3 Hercule Poirot mysteries and I think this one was the most enjoyable of the three (for me at least). We were constantly guessing and I adored Mrs. Oliver (the movie and Tina Fey did her a huge disservice).
I really enjoy how every major character Christie writes is so messy and flawed. It's so much more enjoyable and is something that I think a lot of modern authors shy away from.
An absolutely charming and darker than expected mystery!
At this point, my husband and I have read 3 Hercule Poirot mysteries and I think this one was the most enjoyable of the three (for me at least). We were constantly guessing and I adored Mrs. Oliver (the movie and Tina Fey did her a huge disservice).
I really enjoy how every major character Christie writes is so messy and flawed. It's so much more enjoyable and is something that I think a lot of modern authors shy away from.
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Urgh! Not expecting Nobel prize writing from a Poirot novel, but this one was distinctly unidimensional and uninteresting. Skip it, even if you like Poirot, or perhaps : skip it, because you like Poirot.
This is about my 7th Christie novel. I watched the movie, ‘A Haunting in Venice’ and so when my tween daughter started listening to this on a road trip, I thought I knew kinda what the book was about. Then she started describing something that didn’t sound at all like the movie. So I had to read this right away to see how different it was. It’s not even close, nothing, and I mean nothing in the plot is similar. The only thing that’s the same is it has Poirot and Mrs. Oliver.
This is so far the only Christie book I haven’t really liked. Poirot isn’t even his feisty know it all self. There are no twist and turns, it was rather dull. Honestly the movie’s plot was better and I never say that. There are too many characters to keep track of and the whole thing was convoluted, but predictable.
This is so far the only Christie book I haven’t really liked. Poirot isn’t even his feisty know it all self. There are no twist and turns, it was rather dull. Honestly the movie’s plot was better and I never say that. There are too many characters to keep track of and the whole thing was convoluted, but predictable.
If you’ve never read an Agatha Christie murder mystery, then by all means, read And Then There We’re None or Murder on the Orient Express. When I taught honors Geometry, I had my students read these and discuss reasoning. A murder mystery is certainly entertaining and if it’s a good one, then there’s a different type of engagement with the story. Analytical reading is very healthy. As for A Haunting in Venice, well, no so much. The ending was, of course, classic Agatha Christie and that was enjoyable. I certainly don’t regret reading it but am ready now for another classic. Next up: Frankenstein!
Finally! I sussed out the murderer in a Christie novel. This was such a good read. I also love how much the characters blatantly slag off the poor 13-year-old girl who was rather brutally drowned while apple bobbing—zero respect for the dead.
This mystery is nice and macabre fitting of the Halloween branding. The murder is of a child at a Halloween party, a mystery attendee drowned a girl in a bobbing for apples bucket. I just wish the ancillary characters and Poirot's investigation was as engaging as that opening party.