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zaisgraph 's review for:

The Unexpected Guest by Charles Osborne, Agatha Christie
4.0
funny mysterious relaxing fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Quick, highly improbable, bordering on absurd, slightly problematic and tons of fun, The Unexpected Guest is a marginally silly read that is perfect to past the time. I thought I wouldn't like this because it isn't 100% Agatha, but honestly, I did not feel anything significant change here seeing that this is an adaptation. Originally a play, I just accepted that most (if not all) of the action happened within literally a single room and its general vicinity. The characters here were standard to the Christie universe, though I guess that because they were created for a live audience, their eccentricities have been dialed up making them more cartoony than usual. Some were fine, some felt forced. Like usual, I found myself switching my guilty party several times. I love it when authors make me do that. Or playwright?

After reading classics and thrillers, I wanted an old school whodunit as a palette cleanser. Wish fulfilled! I read the hardback novelization while listening to the audiobook narrated by Christie legend, Hugh Fraser. That is always a good time! The Unexpected Guest is recommended!