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frances_ab's review against another edition
3.0
A fun little mystery modelled entirely on a typical Agatha Christie setting complete with locked room mystery, snow-bound country house full of guests with pasts, and amateur sleuth. Light and enjoyable.
theforeverbookworm's review against another edition
2.0
This book is an interesting one. It was passed onto me because I'm a big fan of Agatha Christie's books, and this is, for want of a better word, a parody. The Act of Roger Murgatroyd is clearly a play on The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. I was intrigued to say the least, and not quite sure what to expect. I wondered at first if this was going to be the same story as in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, with the same premise and the same characters, but with twists that aren't in the original novel. It turns out this is actually an entirely new novel, with the title and a few subtle references being the only direct link to Christie's work.
I enjoyed this book, if only for those little references. It was a very straightforward story, with a range of typical characters you'd normally find in crime fiction, including a detective who is brought in spontaneously. There's also plenty of backstory to pad the plot out. However, I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this book if I wasn't a fan of Christie. I imagine I would have found it rather a dull plot, with the only excitement coming from fictional sleuth Evadne's dialogue. It was a fun book with some merits, but I can't imagine I'll ever read it again.
Read my full review here:
https://theforeverbookworm.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/the-act-of-roger-murgatroyd-gilbert.html
jrenee's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
musicalmuppet's review
1.0
Thank goodness this is just a stand alone book. Possibly one of the least enjoyable books I've read recently. The plot dragged on far too long and few developments occurred along the way until Mount suddenly recalls a key clue and solves the whole thing over the last 20 pages. That character has a rather iritating tendency to waffle and wander from the point. I'll admit the end when it switches to the murderer's thoughts at the very end was quite witty and boosted the book a bit. Pitty it was too little too late.
zefrog's review
4.0
The book is subtitled "an entertainment", and this is exactly what it is. As usual, Adair is masterful at playing with the recognised tropes of the genre he has decided to tackle (in this case the old fashioned British murder mystery). As usual he also manages to transcend the pastiche element to create an original and highly enjoyable, beautifully written and crafted piece of writing. Adair was a brilliant writer (and if my experience of meeting him once is anything to go by, a terrible flirt). It's a real shame he never got more recognition.
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