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katy_bee's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A decent enough murder mystery, with some political intrigue mixed in. I guessed bits of the mystery but there were some twists and turns along the way as well.
Battle isn't as character as Poirot or Marple but the bones of the plot hold up well enough.
A lot of colonial era racism which made for an uncomfortable read.
Battle isn't as character as Poirot or Marple but the bones of the plot hold up well enough.
A lot of colonial era racism which made for an uncomfortable read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, and Colonisation
sapphic_book_dragon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
briel_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I read this while in Spain, and very much enjoyed the story. While a satire, it still rang true to so many things today. Seemed much more political than Christie is typically. A jolly good read.
gwenoliver's review against another edition
4.0
This book was good, but a bit political. It had many interesting aspects. Things I didn't like: there were so many plot twists that it was difficult to keep track of sometimes. There were some characters that I really couldn't keep track of. It was a little bit predictable (comparitively). Things I did like: I liked a lot of the main characters. It offered an interesting perspective. I never saw several parts of the ending coming. I would suggest this book to fans of Agatha Christie and mystery.
isualum12's review against another edition
4.0
My first AC book….
I thought it was slow to start but really got me hooked. I am in and glad to be.
I thought it was slow to start but really got me hooked. I am in and glad to be.
jessicasshelfies's review against another edition
4.0
Det är inte min favorit Poirot, utan Superintendent Battle som har huvudrollen. Eller - som borde ha huvudrollen, konstigt nog är det en annan av karaktärerna som tar ledningen och Battle är bara polisen som leder utredningen.
Det börjar med att Anthony Cade blir anlitad för att leverera ett biografimanus till en förläggare och även leta reda på vem som har skrivit en packe kärleksbrev som använts för utpressning. Plötsligt är han indragen i en värld av mördade kungligheter, revolutioner och oljekontrakt.
Många twister, och det är skrivet med humor. Bra story och bra karaktärer.
Det är också alltid kul att läsa lite äldre böcker. Som det här, känns det igen fast det är 1925?
”My belief in the brotherhood of man died the day I arrived in London last week, when I observed people standing in a Tube train resolutely refused to move up and make room for those who entered.”
Det börjar med att Anthony Cade blir anlitad för att leverera ett biografimanus till en förläggare och även leta reda på vem som har skrivit en packe kärleksbrev som använts för utpressning. Plötsligt är han indragen i en värld av mördade kungligheter, revolutioner och oljekontrakt.
Många twister, och det är skrivet med humor. Bra story och bra karaktärer.
Det är också alltid kul att läsa lite äldre böcker. Som det här, känns det igen fast det är 1925?
”My belief in the brotherhood of man died the day I arrived in London last week, when I observed people standing in a Tube train resolutely refused to move up and make room for those who entered.”
christellereadsalot's review against another edition
4.0
When reading Agatha Christie's books, you have to be aware of when they were published to fully appreciate Christie's enourmous writing and plotting talent. This one was published in 1925 and therefore one of her first ones. It is the author's first novel featuring Superintendent Battle, of Scotland Yard.
This book has all the traits of a Christie's book: aliases, Royalty, blackmail, jewel theft, murder, colourful (and not so colourful) characters, intrigue, confusion... You end up wondering whether everyone is indeed who they say they are! The intrigue has quite a few complicated plots, which are all intertwined, with a surprise twist at the end.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, which got me guessing till the end.
This book has all the traits of a Christie's book: aliases, Royalty, blackmail, jewel theft, murder, colourful (and not so colourful) characters, intrigue, confusion... You end up wondering whether everyone is indeed who they say they are! The intrigue has quite a few complicated plots, which are all intertwined, with a surprise twist at the end.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, which got me guessing till the end.
laurenjoy's review against another edition
1.0
Well- they say some things don't age well. British racism is definitely one of them. There are multiple times when foreign employees are called dogs and other racial slurs. Furthermore- there was no chance for the reader to follow the mystery as no real clues were laid out for the reader. Most of the twists had to be explained quite heavily to the reader and there was a strong colonialist tone that doesn't sit well in the modern world.
woobaby's review against another edition
5.0
Mistaken identities, lost royalty and infamous thieves... the light-hearted mysteries are always my favorites.