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streberkatze's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Racism and sexism are fairly common in books from the GAD era, but I feel like the setting of this one in a colonial context took this to a whole new level. I’m not familiar enough with Christie and her work to know if these views reflect her ideas or are part of the character development (or both). Regardless, I chose to read those passages the way I read historical documents, and that made it slightly more bearable. (I’m a historian, so I have some practice with the distancing part, haha.). In that sense, it was interesting to read how the South African colonial project was perceived by the colonizers at the time, which at the time of the book’s writing was likely just read as the mainstream perspective by European readers. I really wanted to like Anne Beddingfield and read her as a "modern woman" and unconventional heroine. But of course, the ending was the usual, and her racism, internalized, sexism, fatphobia (What was that jab at Suzanne putting on weight?!), and the way she threw all of that at other people were just a bit much, characteristic of the times or not. On the upside, I thought the mystery was really well done, especially because I love mysteries set on ships and mysteries involving disguises. And coincidentally, I read Midnight by Amy McCulloch, a murder mystery that just came out and is set on board a ship (albeit in Antarctica) as well, at the same time. Highly recommend that combination!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, and Colonisation
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
sunny_not's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The book started off so fun, it was almost like watching an action movie. However due to its racism and misogyny and the weird Tarzan-Jane like dynamic between the main couple I couldn't enjoy this fully. Also Anne saying that the killer is nice???? What???? She had some serious issues. I also felt like the whole "I'm not Lucas I'm Harry" thing was pointless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Stalking, and Violence
blinicat's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, Sexism, Death, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Colonisation, War, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death of parent, Violence, Gun violence, and Sexual violence
bhu's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Violence, and War
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