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A review by callum_mclaughlin
Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie
5.0
My favourite thing about this book was that it cleverly flipped the 'whodunit' concept on its head, choosing instead to focus far more on 'who didn't do it'.
The main theme throughout the entire thing is the need for justice, but not necessarily in the traditional sense of punishing the guilty. In fact, one of the most interesting plot points is the reluctance from many characters to re-open the case at all when the original suspect is proven innocent, preferring to live in denial rather than expose and face up to the ugly truth that a killer has been living amongst them. They have enjoyed the convenience of blaming the 'problem child', but they also don't want the innocent parties involved to have to live under a cloud of suspicion themselves. As such, the justice sought is far more about freeing them than it is catching the killer, and I thought that was a really fascinating moral twist.
The dynamic between the main cast of suspects was another interesting factor, with all the usual dramas and complexities of a family, but with the added complication that the children were all in fact adopted at different stages in their lives, and as such all harbour very different temperaments, outlooks and resentments. Each of the characters was also very distinct and well developed, adding yet more interest. Browsing through reviews on here, I can see a lot of people naming different characters as their favourites, (mine was Tina, for the record) and I think the fact that there is no obvious 'hero' or 'villain', with all of them having their own appeal and flaws, is testament to how well Christie crafts her characters in general.
The intrigue is built incredibly well, and Christie is masterful in painting suspicion and forming possible motives. Though the sensibilities of the time in which she was writing often lead to raised eyebrows amongst modern readers with regards to diversity and representation, I thought it was worth note that a physically disabled character was arguably presented as the most intelligent amongst the group here (with a good sub-plot about not underestimating, patronising or mothering those with physical ailments present), whilst a mixed-race woman was presented as easily the most mature, likable and sympathetic character.
It had very much an old-school charm to it and I found it incredibly gripping and readable. As only my second Christie novel, it has fuelled my excitement to continue to explore her stories. It's not a perfect book, I acknowledge, but it was perfectly enjoybale to read, hence why I couldn't bring myself to give it anything less than 5 stars.
The main theme throughout the entire thing is the need for justice, but not necessarily in the traditional sense of punishing the guilty. In fact, one of the most interesting plot points is the reluctance from many characters to re-open the case at all when the original suspect is proven innocent, preferring to live in denial rather than expose and face up to the ugly truth that a killer has been living amongst them. They have enjoyed the convenience of blaming the 'problem child', but they also don't want the innocent parties involved to have to live under a cloud of suspicion themselves. As such, the justice sought is far more about freeing them than it is catching the killer, and I thought that was a really fascinating moral twist.
The dynamic between the main cast of suspects was another interesting factor, with all the usual dramas and complexities of a family, but with the added complication that the children were all in fact adopted at different stages in their lives, and as such all harbour very different temperaments, outlooks and resentments. Each of the characters was also very distinct and well developed, adding yet more interest. Browsing through reviews on here, I can see a lot of people naming different characters as their favourites, (mine was Tina, for the record) and I think the fact that there is no obvious 'hero' or 'villain', with all of them having their own appeal and flaws, is testament to how well Christie crafts her characters in general.
The intrigue is built incredibly well, and Christie is masterful in painting suspicion and forming possible motives. Though the sensibilities of the time in which she was writing often lead to raised eyebrows amongst modern readers with regards to diversity and representation, I thought it was worth note that a physically disabled character was arguably presented as the most intelligent amongst the group here (with a good sub-plot about not underestimating, patronising or mothering those with physical ailments present), whilst a mixed-race woman was presented as easily the most mature, likable and sympathetic character.
It had very much an old-school charm to it and I found it incredibly gripping and readable. As only my second Christie novel, it has fuelled my excitement to continue to explore her stories. It's not a perfect book, I acknowledge, but it was perfectly enjoybale to read, hence why I couldn't bring myself to give it anything less than 5 stars.