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naomisbookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
4.0
rfelt's review
2.0
A much better read than Witness for the Prosecution, but also a tad forgettable...as in, I can never remember what it was about. It was a classic Christie plot with ins and outs and nuances, but not one of my favorites
lexigoyette's review
3.0
The ending was a little disappointing, and I don't know why Christie always feels the need to end her plays with a romantic, happy(ish) ending. Overall, though, I enjoyed this! Act one dragged a bit for me but act two was quick. I would love to see act two in performance.
kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
5.0
Carla has just come of age, and is told of the true dark past of her family. Her mother was convicted of poisoning her father and died in prison when Carla was only five years old. But before she died, Carla's mother wrote a letter to her daughter, to be opened on her 21st birthday, explaining that she was innocent and had not poisoned her husband. Now Carla is interviewing all the people who were present when her father was poisoned, trying to find out the truth. Who really poisoned her father, and why did her mother seem content to take the blame?
I loved this murder mystery, especially the cold case aspect of it! There are various clues which may or may not be accurate, because it all hinges on testimony from witnesses' memories of 16 years ago. The plot really kept my attention and had me guessing right up until the end. I had a pretty good guess about one part of the mystery which turned out to be partly true, but the rest of the reveal was a surprise to me.
One thing I enjoyed about this play was that Carla really had to follow the clues to find out what happened. The puzzle aspect of the plot was what I enjoyed the most. Instead of the true murderer just randomly confessing like happens in some of Christie's plays, the murderer was exposed by someone else.
The characters have really interesting personalities. They are all so different, and it was fascinating to see how they interacted. Carla herself is a powerful main character. It was amazing seeing how everyone around her reacted to her presence. She is a complex person with a fierce determination to know the truth.
The dialogue is excellent and really pulls you into every conversation. There is an emotional appeal in every sentence that makes you care what happens to the characters.
I liked the setting and the atmosphere in every scene. It creates a lot of tension in the story. It would be fascinating to watch in a theater!
I loved this murder mystery, especially the cold case aspect of it! There are various clues which may or may not be accurate, because it all hinges on testimony from witnesses' memories of 16 years ago. The plot really kept my attention and had me guessing right up until the end. I had a pretty good guess about one part of the mystery which turned out to be partly true, but the rest of the reveal was a surprise to me.
One thing I enjoyed about this play was that Carla really had to follow the clues to find out what happened. The puzzle aspect of the plot was what I enjoyed the most. Instead of the true murderer just randomly confessing like happens in some of Christie's plays, the murderer was exposed by someone else.
The characters have really interesting personalities. They are all so different, and it was fascinating to see how they interacted. Carla herself is a powerful main character. It was amazing seeing how everyone around her reacted to her presence. She is a complex person with a fierce determination to know the truth.
The dialogue is excellent and really pulls you into every conversation. There is an emotional appeal in every sentence that makes you care what happens to the characters.
I liked the setting and the atmosphere in every scene. It creates a lot of tension in the story. It would be fascinating to watch in a theater!
birdmanseven's review against another edition
4.0
I came across by accident, but decided to read it anyway. I thought it was one of the better thriller/mystery scripts I've read. The story deals with Carla Crale trying to prove her mother innocent of poisoning her father. The format is very unique. Carla goes around to each of the witnesses and gets their version of events. The bulk of Act II is presented as a flashback to the day of the murder where we see the different stories come together to form a narrative that lets the audience in on what really happened. Very good. I would love to stage this someday.
inspiraticn's review against another edition
5.0
Agatha Christie's done it again. Just when I thought I knew the murderer, she added a twist I never would have seen. I was guessing the entire time. Love her writing.
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