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silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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? No
4.0
2024 re-read: Book twenty-six of my personal read through of Agatha Christie in (American) publication order. I let this review go to long after I read it, so all I can give you is a general impression of this as a pleasant read, not the most thrilling, but peak experience of Agatha-Christie-ness.
Original review:
I realized reading through this book that even though Agatha Christie is no longer one of my go-to authors, reading one of her books is reliably an enjoyable experience.
Original review:
I realized reading through this book that even though Agatha Christie is no longer one of my go-to authors, reading one of her books is reliably an enjoyable experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Murder
Minor: Grief, Infertility, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness
deebee223's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Grief, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, and War
jdcorley's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Three out of four ain't bad - the first three Poirot stories are each a delight, from thefts to murder. They're short - Poirot sometimes barely has anything to go on at all when he makes his deductions, but each of them addresses a very particularlized view of Englishness, which is Christie's forte. The last one is a bit of a dud - not much happens and Poirot certainly does little enough. The quality of the previous ones are among the best of the best, however.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
kloughlin's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Infidelity
Minor: Child death and Physical abuse
cozylifewithabby's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Solid short story collection
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Infidelity
exlibrissum's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Suicide, Infidelity, Xenophobia, and Gun violence
mal_eficent's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I didn't realise this was a collection of four short stories/novellas (at least the edition I have contains four, though only three are mentioned on the blurb): Murder in the Mews, The Incredible Theft, Dead Man's Mirror, and Triangle at Rhodes. All of them are Poirot cases, and all of them were perfect little bites of crime.
They were really engaging, and Poirot was a delight in all of them. Whether you'd just making your way through Christie's work or looking to try and Golden Age Detective stories, I'd highly recommend them – though I would recommend at least knowing who Poirot is before reading them.
I recognised most of the stories from the ITV series but it didn't make them any less enjoyable. Christie's writing style is a bit more cut and dry, with a lot more focus on the facts of the case and the method of solving them than the very character focussed TV show. Plus, the set up isn't exactly the same. Japp or Hasting tend to absorb the named policemen in the stories, and the show solidifies the timeline in a way the stories don't. Poirot's 'getting on a bit' and 'gone...gaga' in Murder in the Mews, which obviously wouldn't work in the series as it's a very early episode.
They were really engaging, and Poirot was a delight in all of them. Whether you'd just making your way through Christie's work or looking to try and Golden Age Detective stories, I'd highly recommend them – though I would recommend at least knowing who Poirot is before reading them.
I recognised most of the stories from the ITV series but it didn't make them any less enjoyable. Christie's writing style is a bit more cut and dry, with a lot more focus on the facts of the case and the method of solving them than the very character focussed TV show. Plus, the set up isn't exactly the same. Japp or Hasting tend to absorb the named policemen in the stories, and the show solidifies the timeline in a way the stories don't. Poirot's 'getting on a bit' and 'gone...gaga' in Murder in the Mews, which obviously wouldn't work in the series as it's a very early episode.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Bullying and Suicide
Minor: Infidelity
rbacon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I think I'm a crime fiction convert.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Suicide
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