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sylvanbird's review against another edition
slow-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
0.25
Wow. Heard this wasn’t good but I’ve liked some of the mysteries others didn’t like. But this was horrible. Ridiculous plot. Slight mystery of who the woman is revealed super soon, and an attempt to continue the mystery falls flat. Attempt at tension over youth movement taking over the world just not interesting. Horribly offensive discussions around Hitler, with the characters way too sympathetic to him. Nearly DNF but I wanted to get through the Christie oeuvre.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism, Ableism, and Fatphobia
bloomingpear's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Classism and Racism
Minor: Antisemitism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, War, and Drug abuse
trekkifulshay's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Antisemitism and Racism
midwifekt's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
0.25
This is Agatha Christie in her weirdest "clash of the civilizations" mode. It's a spy novel, not a mystery, and gets into some weird post-WWII conspiracy/fascism/anti-modern-movements stuff, and has some real terrible fatphobia. She seems terrified of young people and the modern age. She equates a fictional re-emerging fascist movement in Europe with Che Guevera and followers in Central America and the Civil Rights movement in the USA, which made me both 1) baffled and 2) grossed out.
It is also just a poorly written book, I'm pretty sure the happy ending is supposed to involve the reader approving of scientists permanently altering people's personalities but,I don't know, maybe that means that the bad guys won. I can't tell because it was all poorly written and very confusing.
Then there's a wedding, or rather the moments just before a wedding, because it's Agatha Christie.
And the main guy brings the not-actually-Hitler's-son actor back to his elderly aunt as an organist, even though he still has a *swastika branded on his foot.* Like... like a cat leaving a mouse on your pillow. "Here, I got you a pretend fascist heir!" Wut.
There is one well-written very classic-Christie bit with an older military man and him grumbling about getting his clothes brushed that made me laugh. Best part of the book.
It is also just a poorly written book,
Then there's a wedding, or rather the moments just before a wedding, because it's Agatha Christie.
And the main guy brings the not-actually-Hitler's-son actor back to his elderly aunt as an organist, even though he still has a *swastika branded on his foot.* Like... like a cat leaving a mouse on your pillow. "Here, I got you a pretend fascist heir!" Wut.
There is one well-written very classic-Christie bit with an older military man and him grumbling about getting his clothes brushed that made me laugh. Best part of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Antisemitism, Fatphobia, and Mental illness
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
mrkdk's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Moderate: Xenophobia and Misogyny
Minor: Antisemitism, Ableism, Addiction, and Drug use
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