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A review by book_concierge
The Big Four by Agatha Christie
1.0
Digital audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser
1*
Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings are on the trail of an evil syndicate trying to take over the world.
That sounds like a James Bond novel synopsis more than a murder mystery featuring the famous Belgian detective and his “little grey cells,” and that is the crux of the problem. Originally these were short stories and Christie tried to weave them together into an espionage thriller, but without much success.
The action takes place over several years. There are multiple attempts on Poirot’s and/or Hastings’s lives. I never really knew what this syndicate was after (other than world domination) or why. Most of the scenarios seemed incredibly far-fetched and unrealistic. And worse, they were under-developed.
One thing that DID capture my attention (however briefly) was mention of.
Skip this one and concentrate on the traditional mysteries.
Hugh Fraser does a respectable job of narrating the audiobook. I like David Suchet’s interpretation of Poirot better, but that isn’t Fraser’s fault.
1*
Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings are on the trail of an evil syndicate trying to take over the world.
That sounds like a James Bond novel synopsis more than a murder mystery featuring the famous Belgian detective and his “little grey cells,” and that is the crux of the problem. Originally these were short stories and Christie tried to weave them together into an espionage thriller, but without much success.
The action takes place over several years. There are multiple attempts on Poirot’s and/or Hastings’s lives. I never really knew what this syndicate was after (other than world domination) or why. Most of the scenarios seemed incredibly far-fetched and unrealistic. And worse, they were under-developed.
One thing that DID capture my attention (however briefly) was mention of
Spoiler
Hastings’s wife. What? He’s married? I don’t recall any other mention of his beloved in any of the other books I’ve read, nor in the TV miniseries. And he’s always on about “auburn-haired” women and mooning over them in the other books.Skip this one and concentrate on the traditional mysteries.
Hugh Fraser does a respectable job of narrating the audiobook. I like David Suchet’s interpretation of Poirot better, but that isn’t Fraser’s fault.