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chelseatm's review
3.0
I agree with the other reviews in that this did feel like a bumpy road where there were lots of climaxes but none of the satisfaction of the final reveal. Hercule Poirot is still fun and I enjoyed watching him work but this isn't my favourite Agatha Christie.
chrisscorkscrew's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
One of my favourite comfort-read Christie’s. It’s not a classic murder mystery meant to be taken seriously, but instead it is one of Christie’s lurid thrillers.
It has an overblown plot about world domination, a cliffhanger in every chapter and is not meant to be taken seriously. It is just a fun ride, particularly if you seek out the audio version read by Hugh Fraser who wrings every last drop of indignation and horror out of the narrator, Captain Hastings.
It has an overblown plot about world domination, a cliffhanger in every chapter and is not meant to be taken seriously. It is just a fun ride, particularly if you seek out the audio version read by Hugh Fraser who wrings every last drop of indignation and horror out of the narrator, Captain Hastings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
Minor: Murder and Violence
This book is of its time. It was written by British author during a period of imperialism and some cultures are displayed stereotypically or inaccurately which modern readers may find offensive.bielders's review against another edition
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? No
2.0
anawalt's review
3.0
More of a supervillain theme than the beloved country/ville mystery, and it lacked the intricate puzzles the others have had, but I still enjoyed it overall.
novaturient_bibliophile's review
4.5
(Note: this is only the second Agatha Christie book that I have read, and the first one featuring Poirot, which has likely skewed my opinion somewhat compared to that of those more familiar with her works.)
The main downfall of this book was that so many explanations were seemingly pulled from nowhere. I didn’t look back and go “Oh, that makes sense”; instead I was like Hastings and was still completely baffled. Despite that, though, the book was kept interesting through smaller cases within the overall case of the Big Four. While the stakes did seem a bit absurdly high without much to back them up, Poirot and Hastings’ camaraderie, genius, and likable characters provided the reader with heroes that were all too easy to root for. I am officially the newest member of the Poirot and Hastings fan-club. Also, I just absolutely adore Christie’s writing; it’s simple to read and yet filled with immense amounts of intellect and charisma.
The main downfall of this book was that so many explanations were seemingly pulled from nowhere. I didn’t look back and go “Oh, that makes sense”; instead I was like Hastings and was still completely baffled. Despite that, though, the book was kept interesting through smaller cases within the overall case of the Big Four. While the stakes did seem a bit absurdly high without much to back them up, Poirot and Hastings’ camaraderie, genius, and likable characters provided the reader with heroes that were all too easy to root for. I am officially the newest member of the Poirot and Hastings fan-club. Also, I just absolutely adore Christie’s writing; it’s simple to read and yet filled with immense amounts of intellect and charisma.
lasbrumas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I didn't hate it? But I didn't love it either. It certainly was interesting, at least, and you can see real world influences on the text. In that way, I enjoyed it, but as for the mystery, it just felt eh. Also, do be aware this is a product of its time. Racism, ableism, etc abound.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
yodisborg's review
adventurous
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? No
2.25
r89b's review against another edition
2.0
Overall I found the story to be quite flat with a really disappointing conclusion.