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bessadams's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Murder, Blood, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
helena_chris's review against another edition
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A great study of characters, though a bit bizarre. I do understand why Agatha Christie feels like this story was ruined by introducing Poirot but I loved it and think the ending would not have been credible without him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Cancer, Classism, and Grief
viireads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Infidelity
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Racial slurs
odrib's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Racism, Gun violence, Blood, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Medical content, Fatphobia, and Classism
norwegianforestreader's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Death
backpackfullofbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
“What does one say to a women who has just killed her husband?”
“What alchemy their was in human beings.”
“I love autumn. It’s so much richer than spring.”
~
When a small group of people congregate at The Hollow, a country house with a strange feeling connected to it, no one expects one of the party to end up dead. Never the less the body is found by the pool, the spilt blood turning the pool water pink.
The entire party discover the body at the same time, a surprising extra member of this party is the world famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, who happens to be a neighbour of The Hollow.
Poirot gets to work trying to route out the murderer while the inhabitants of The Hollow try and adapt to this turn of events and manage their complex personal connections.
~
This was a really strong one, the suspense was excellently crafted the characters where complex and interesting and their relationships with each other where such a messy web you are never entirely sure what they are going to do next.
I think I particularly enjoyed it as we spent some time in the heads of the suspect’s which lead to a better understanding of their motives and more investment in their welfare.
~
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys Christie’s more dramatic works. Also good for anyone who enjoys complex side characters and unusual social dynamics.
“What alchemy their was in human beings.”
“I love autumn. It’s so much richer than spring.”
~
When a small group of people congregate at The Hollow, a country house with a strange feeling connected to it, no one expects one of the party to end up dead. Never the less the body is found by the pool, the spilt blood turning the pool water pink.
The entire party discover the body at the same time, a surprising extra member of this party is the world famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, who happens to be a neighbour of The Hollow.
Poirot gets to work trying to route out the murderer while the inhabitants of The Hollow try and adapt to this turn of events and manage their complex personal connections.
~
This was a really strong one, the suspense was excellently crafted the characters where complex and interesting and their relationships with each other where such a messy web you are never entirely sure what they are going to do next.
I think I particularly enjoyed it as we spent some time in the heads of the suspect’s which lead to a better understanding of their motives and more investment in their welfare.
~
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys Christie’s more dramatic works. Also good for anyone who enjoys complex side characters and unusual social dynamics.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Chronic illness, Grief, and Medical content
sheryl_reads's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was my first Agatha Christie novel - I went in expecting a detective mystery and I wasn’t disappointed!
The Hollow is fairly short, so it’s a good place to start I think. It’s a Hercule Poirot story, but he doesn’t appear til quite far in! It’s a murder mystery and, of course, Poirot gets to the bottom of it!
The end was definitely unexpected, it kept me guessing the whole way through, and the pacing and writing were very good.
As I expected, the story was a little ‘jolly hockey sticks’ - full of upper class British people who don’t have jobs, and who inherit estates and don’t know what to do with themselves. However, unlike some older stories like that, the characters weren’t boring and I didn’t find myself getting frustrated by them.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I’ll be reading more Christie over the year. I give it 3 ⭐️ - a very enjoyable read.
I will put a caveat on this however. There is language and descriptions within the book that are offensive. The books are older and I’ve no doubt it’s in keeping with other books of the period, but it does warrant mentioning it. I found it very jarring and it’s definitely something to be aware of before reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
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