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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Classic Agatha with a modern twist. Felt like something was missing in the explanation at the end.
Solid 3.5, I think it needed a more delicate build up? The ground work was there but it gets quite poetry in the denouement when it doesn't seem to have earned it
What a clever, tragic story. Christie was clearly inspired by Greek tragedies and Shakespeare, and Poirot played his part too - magnificent and brilliant, as always.
Hallowe'en Party is a bit darker than the usual Christie novel. This one involves the murder of a child. At a children's Halloween party, of all places. Hercule Poirot & Ariadne Oliver must team up to solve the case
Usually, Poirot is more than a bit arrogant regarding his fame & success with cases, but by 1969, when the novel was published, he is elderly & a bit humble (but just a bit - he still has a ridiculous pride in his mustache). He is now beginning to understand that the younger generations are not familiar with his old cases. Ariadne Oliver lends a bit of brevity to an otherwise dark story. She's a famous crime novelist, much like Agatha Christie herself. Not much else is known about her, except that she *really* enjoys apples. She philosophizes about the case as if she is plotting her latest bestseller, which is dryly humorous. I wonder how much of Oliver is based on Christie.
Times are changing in the 60s & that's reflected in the book. Several characters complain about the rise in crime, ecpecially violent crimes committed by juveniles & the mentally unstable. Clearly, this was a frightening time for many.
Christie here brings us her usual mix of multiple suspects, twists, turns, & red herrings, & reveals you don't see coming - all of the things that keep us coming back for nearly a century of memorable crimes.
Usually, Poirot is more than a bit arrogant regarding his fame & success with cases, but by 1969, when the novel was published, he is elderly & a bit humble (but just a bit - he still has a ridiculous pride in his mustache). He is now beginning to understand that the younger generations are not familiar with his old cases. Ariadne Oliver lends a bit of brevity to an otherwise dark story. She's a famous crime novelist, much like Agatha Christie herself. Not much else is known about her, except that she *really* enjoys apples. She philosophizes about the case as if she is plotting her latest bestseller, which is dryly humorous. I wonder how much of Oliver is based on Christie.
Times are changing in the 60s & that's reflected in the book. Several characters complain about the rise in crime, ecpecially violent crimes committed by juveniles & the mentally unstable. Clearly, this was a frightening time for many.
Christie here brings us her usual mix of multiple suspects, twists, turns, & red herrings, & reveals you don't see coming - all of the things that keep us coming back for nearly a century of memorable crimes.
DNF at 52%. I love Agatha Christie, but for some reason, I keep bouncing right off this book every few paragraphs. I’ll try it again someday.
Pas pu le finir. Ne retient pas l'attention.
2 1/2 stars
Oh dear. This is my 2nd Christie book this month in which I not only didn't really enjoy it, I found it to be implausible, unnecessarily convoluted, and rather dull. In fact it was Poirot who was dull. I know! And it has Poirot AND Mrs. Oliver...a fave of mine. But neither could save this one.
One more bone to pick, expected more of a Halloween theme from the title and opening scene, but nope. Disappointing on that front too.
Oh dear. This is my 2nd Christie book this month in which I not only didn't really enjoy it, I found it to be implausible, unnecessarily convoluted, and rather dull. In fact it was Poirot who was dull. I know! And it has Poirot AND Mrs. Oliver...a fave of mine. But neither could save this one.
One more bone to pick, expected more of a Halloween theme from the title and opening scene, but nope. Disappointing on that front too.
Kinda disappointed…☹️ A cozy mystery, for sure, but lackluster.
A lot of characters and a lot of backstory revealed in the final few pages made me uninterested in the middle half. The premise starts fun enough but wow, a lot of characters to consider suspects for such a short book.