Scan barcode
bookwormbev17's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
graciado's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
meganreads33's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
jennasbooks's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lauraborkpower's review against another edition
4.0
*Update on October 25, 2014*
I re-read this with my book club, and many of the ladies were thoroughly unimpressed. Yes, perhaps a by-the-numbers mystery with a staged "reveal" isn't everyone's cup of tea. It's a bit old fashioned, as is my favorite little Belgium with the egg-shaped head. But that's okay. He's my cup of tea. Or, rather, my cup of chocolate.
*Original Review: August 10, 2008*
It's been a few months since I read an Agatha Christie, and this was a nice return to my old friend Hercule Poirot. It's a first person narration, as told from the p.o.v. of Dr. Shepard, a general physician in a town Poirot has retired to.
It's reminiscent of the Hastings books, and Poirot mentions his dim-witted friend a number of times. I had an odd feeling about good old Dr. Shepard early on, and wondered whether he might not be an unreliable narrator (one of the most fun kinds, really). I pushed down my suspicions, but was eventually proved correct by the end of the book, which was thrilling because the 'murder reveal' by Poirot at the end of the story usually comes as a complete shock to me.
Maybe I'm getting better at solving these; the next one I read I might know the murderer before even Poirot himself does! (highly unlikely, but I'll keep up hope.)
I re-read this with my book club, and many of the ladies were thoroughly unimpressed. Yes, perhaps a by-the-numbers mystery with a staged "reveal" isn't everyone's cup of tea. It's a bit old fashioned, as is my favorite little Belgium with the egg-shaped head. But that's okay. He's my cup of tea. Or, rather, my cup of chocolate.
*Original Review: August 10, 2008*
It's been a few months since I read an Agatha Christie, and this was a nice return to my old friend Hercule Poirot. It's a first person narration, as told from the p.o.v. of Dr. Shepard, a general physician in a town Poirot has retired to.
It's reminiscent of the Hastings books, and Poirot mentions his dim-witted friend a number of times. I had an odd feeling about good old Dr. Shepard early on, and wondered whether he might not be an unreliable narrator (one of the most fun kinds, really). I pushed down my suspicions, but was eventually proved correct by the end of the book, which was thrilling because the 'murder reveal' by Poirot at the end of the story usually comes as a complete shock to me.
Maybe I'm getting better at solving these; the next one I read I might know the murderer before even Poirot himself does! (highly unlikely, but I'll keep up hope.)
luckyluc27's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
alexhaydon's review against another edition
Initially engaging. Eventually predictable. Uneven pacing and anticlimactic ending. Overall mid feelings toward this story.