I was obsessed with Agatha Christie when I was in 9th-10th grade. I haven't read one in decades, so thought it would be fun to see if they stood the test of time. This was a great mystery with an ending I did not see coming, but I definitely picked up on more racism and sexism than I did in my early readings.

All the stars in the world for novelist Ariadne Oliver's hilarious synopsis of her own mystery! She has been hired to organize a mystery party but has a premonition that real murder is coming, so she calls Poirot. But they both get so caught up in the festivities that they forget to protect the participants. In the end, Poirot pulls some convoluted theories out of thin air to explain the situation.

I read somewhere that detective novels, particularly the ones from the Golden Age, can in fact be considered 'fantasies' since the culprit(s) is always found out and the 'order' restored. I can see that, but they are also more than just that - the result being more than the sum of its parts.

Once more Christie delivers a great mystery featuring not only the great Poirot but also the indomitable Ariadne Oliver, who I personally adore. The author is not exactly kind to her, especially in her descriptions, some downright hilarious (a blancmange!), and yet this character wins us over with her eccentricities! Her discussion with the policeman had me in stitches. As for the Belgian detective, he behaved in a much more reserved manner (to his usual arrogance), which suited him best. An entertaining read to restore myself, which was just what I needed :0)

P.S. listened to the audiobook, beautifully voiced by David Suchet, who will always be The Poirot for me ;0)