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kaislea's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Antisemitism, and Racism
hannahcstocks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Antisemitism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Murder, Drug use, Violence, and Gaslighting
karen_vandyne's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Not one of her best.
While I'm annoyed at people who put a trigger warning for murder in an Agatha Christie book, I have to say that even for her, this book's anti semitism is over the top. Plus, the causal racism seems just shoehorned in. It's like her editor said, "try the get the Mosley Crowd on board".
While the plot is clever, there are too many characters, too many red herrings, and Hastings is at his stupidest.
This isn't a re- read.
While I'm annoyed at people who put a trigger warning for murder in an Agatha Christie book, I have to say that even for her, this book's anti semitism is over the top. Plus, the causal racism seems just shoehorned in. It's like her editor said, "try the get the Mosley Crowd on board".
While the plot is clever, there are too many characters, too many red herrings, and Hastings is at his stupidest.
This isn't a re- read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Antisemitism, and Xenophobia
avera's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Antisemitism, Sexism, and Racism
_izzi_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Antisemitism
weihnachtslilie's review
mysterious
medium-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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
meekumoh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-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
1.0
Sometimes you wish Christie would put the racial stereotypes in the middle of the books and not on page 11 so you hesitate to even continue. I guessed the ending - sometimes Christie shows her hand without meaning to. Her writing has this undercurrent of tension against women who are beautiful and therefore "get away with it". There's always this nitpicking of their morals or lack thereof - either lamb to the slaughter or heartless murderess.
Other than that, Poirot's character fails to assert itself more and more in these stories. It's classic Hastings and Poirot; not really any development in their friendship. I'm not asking for a sudden role reversal or a romantic subplot (even though, where art thou Cinderella?). For all its faults, The Big 4 was so sweet to show how Poirot and Hastings missed each other. Tommy and Tuppence always had them caring for the other, being snarky, being worried, being lovestruck. Why is Hastings here? He has no unique role.
Other than that, Poirot's character fails to assert itself more and more in these stories. It's classic Hastings and Poirot; not really any development in their friendship. I'm not asking for a sudden role reversal or a romantic subplot (even though, where art thou Cinderella?). For all its faults, The Big 4 was so sweet to show how Poirot and Hastings missed each other. Tommy and Tuppence always had them caring for the other, being snarky, being worried, being lovestruck. Why is Hastings here? He has no unique role.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Minor: Misogyny
Hard to ignore, even by Christie's standards.akira_outofthegravity's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is more like a 2.5 rounded up to a three bc of the last chapters. The last few chapters really tie the whole thing together and are very tight and succinct.
My main criticism is the plot flip-flopping all over the place. I understand it’s because Poirot is being misled but it leads to a plot that is muddled and hard to keep track of. However the ending makes up for it. One of the most unique murderers in Christie novels- they remind me a little of the character Lucy in the Hollow (which I read previously). Another thing is that a lot of the book felt particularly mean, between Japp, Poirot, and Hastings. Japp is usually a fun character to read but I loathed every second of him. Similarly, Poirots dismissal of Hastings was not something I found enjoyable.
I enjoyed the motive/plot (when it was entirely finished and not flipping everywhere)/and the characters. Particularly Jenny Driver, and the final bit that seals the narrative from Donald Ross I think is particularly brilliant. Subtle, but brilliant.
Not her best work, but maybe something to read after/before all the good novels.
Also weird amount of antisemitism in this book.
My main criticism is the plot flip-flopping all over the place. I understand it’s because Poirot is being misled but it leads to a plot that is muddled and hard to keep track of. However the ending makes up for it. One of the most unique murderers in Christie novels- they remind me a little of the character Lucy in the Hollow (which I read previously). Another thing is that a lot of the book felt particularly mean, between Japp, Poirot, and Hastings. Japp is usually a fun character to read but I loathed every second of him. Similarly, Poirots dismissal of Hastings was not something I found enjoyable.
I enjoyed the motive/plot (when it was entirely finished and not flipping everywhere)/and the characters. Particularly Jenny Driver, and the final bit that seals the narrative from Donald Ross I think is particularly brilliant. Subtle, but brilliant.
Not her best work, but maybe something to read after/before all the good novels.
Also weird amount of antisemitism in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Antisemitism, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use and Ableism
nidzi_c's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism and Racial slurs
arthur_pendrgn's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
This is awful. Poirot is a contemptuous little man who spends the entire time speaking in half sentences when he's not indulging in insulting everyone in such convoluted ways as to show off his alleged superior intellect. A totally frustrating mystery in which the solution is obvious early and it takes Poirot way to many pages to resolve. He drags it out just to watch Japp squirm and laugh at him, I swear.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism and Infidelity