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thenovelbook's review against another edition
3.0
A short story collection. Some of Agatha's very sharpest writing (see Kindle highlights), plus a lot of dark atmosphere, and occasional eeriness.
Mr. Satterthwaite, an older gentleman who is said to be merely a listener and looker-on at life, finds himself becoming strangely connected to one Mr. Harley Quin... a shadowy figure who only ever appears when there is drama on the horizon, and who disappears again as soon as it is past. In the presence of his mysterious friend, Mr. Satterthwaite finds himself stirred to new feats of understanding and deduction in the face of various tragedies or near-tragedies.
Agatha is at her most metaphysical in these stories. The mysteries or plot twists are not particularly hard to guess, but that doesn't matter. In these stories it's all about atmosphere. And spinning your own theories about who or what Mr. Quin is. Sometimes it gets real weird.
Mr. Satterthwaite, an older gentleman who is said to be merely a listener and looker-on at life, finds himself becoming strangely connected to one Mr. Harley Quin... a shadowy figure who only ever appears when there is drama on the horizon, and who disappears again as soon as it is past. In the presence of his mysterious friend, Mr. Satterthwaite finds himself stirred to new feats of understanding and deduction in the face of various tragedies or near-tragedies.
Agatha is at her most metaphysical in these stories. The mysteries or plot twists are not particularly hard to guess, but that doesn't matter. In these stories it's all about atmosphere. And spinning your own theories about who or what Mr. Quin is. Sometimes it gets real weird.
bookishb's review against another edition
sad
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? No
2.75
trudy1963's review against another edition
5.0
So far this is my favorite short story collection by Agatha Christie.
eahaynes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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? No
3.75
lacommunarde's review against another edition
4.0
This books is a series of mysteries focused around the Mr. Satterthwaite and his acquaintance Mr. Harley Quin. Mr. Satterthwaite is an observer who's fond of art and people and loves watching life's dramas, who grows on the reader. As the mysteries unfold across Satterthwaite's other acquaintances' lives, he is in the position of having to solve them, which Mr. Quin shows up to nudge him along and help him to do. Overall, a very enjoyable read.
misfitmoxie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
awesomeallie's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0