I picked this up from the library on a whim, ‘how is it possible for a new Hercule Poirot to exist?!?‘ The estate approved a new title by a new author, bestselling Sophie Hannah. So money, an effort to revive interest in her existing works, perhaps. The first thing I noticed, after the shock wore off, is the sheer size of this book. Agatha Christie novels are never longer than 150, 175 pages maximum. This large book is 320 pages long. Hmmmm… We begin with […]
“Scandal and tea at four-thirty.”
Good times with Miss Marple. I wish there would have been a bit more scenes with her, though. Maybe it’s just my own expectations of the role titular detectives should play in their own series, though. There is no written rule saying that the detectives must play the largest role in their books over other characters, it’s just what we’re used to. The vicar was a good pair of eyes to see this story through, after all. I admit it would be fun to see […]
Is this the best Agatha Christie book? I’m still partial to ‘And Then There Were None.’
Up until the ending, I really did not understand why this book is widely considered to be the best (or at least the top five) of Christie’s books. Then it happened, and I was like WHAT!? Actually it was more like a double what, because not only was it a really daring ending, especially for being published in 1926, but I actually guessed the murderer! That has never happened to me before. I am THE WORST at guessing mystery endings. I am gullible and trusting […]
The first Agatha Christie.
This was fun! I was in the perfect mood when I checked this out of the library, and my library participates with one of those digital audiobook lenders, so I was able to carry it everywhere with me. I listened to it in the car, while I was cooking, doing chores, checking my emails, cleaning my fish tank, getting ready in the morning, etc. The library is enabling me. I’m not sure I’ve ever read an audiobook so fast before (of course, I usually only […]
No Marple or Poirot? Is this Agatha Christie?
This book is a little bit different from your average Christie mystery. Instead of our normal English countryside cozy with one of our usual detectives, we have spies in the Middle East. Christie had traveled to Baghdad with one of her husbands, and this is one of the stories inspired by those travels. There’s going to be a big meeting in Baghdad, and it’s supposed to be super secret. But, much like today’s super secret activities, word has gotten out. Bad guys are out to […]
Miss Marple’s Last Case?
Technically, this was Agatha Christie’s last book, even though it wasn’t the last one she wrote. According to Wikipedia, it was published after her death. Gwenda Reed comes to England to find a house for her and her husband. She buys a place called Hillside, which feels familiar to her for some reason. She starts renovations, and has a couple of flashback like incidents. She goes to London to visit with family, and meets Miss Marple. They go to see a play, which freaks Gwenda […]