I had originally attempted to read this book as a teenager and having found it rather difficult to get into gave up (my tbr at the time was far too long a list to dawdle). I'm very glad I decided to revisit it, as I am now begining to read through authors works in full turning my attention to Agatha Christie's remarkable number of books felt like the next logical step, but I hesitated to attempt to read this first installment myself again recalling how difficult it had been. 
I was delighted to find the audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser as I remember seeing him as Hastings when my grandparents and I would watch Poirot in the evenings, and I must say that delight continued as I listened! He posses a wonderful ability to vary his voice for different roles and keep them consistent to the character each time with minimal wavering and he's capable of imparting the right emotion for the lines as necessary. I truly felt he was baffled when Hastings was and infuriated when Poirot was - it was far easier to listen to than to read I found, purely because the narration kept it so interestingly vivid. 

The book itself is fun and all together not too long, enough intrigue to keep my attention with a satisfying ending that did not feel far fetched (as some "twists" end up). The characters feel alive and of the time, the setting is easily visualised and context is given through the narration plainly and understandably. The language used may be difficult to read if one isn't used to the way people talked at the time but is easy enough to become comfortable with - especially when listening to it.

Overall a wonderful book and a lovely time. 4.75/5 ⭐

I really enjoyed this mystery! It kept me guessing and engaged. I look forward to seeing more of some of the characters in future books.

My umpteenth read of this particular Christie (for my wip retelling it from Mary Cavendish's point of view!). A rollicking read on the surface, the flaws appear upon closer inspection -- too many red herrings, too many side plots, too many coincidences and pieces of convenient timing. (The forward in my edition notes that, despite this, Christie went on to master the art of false clues, and I'm inclined to agree.) The influence of Sherlock Holmes is particularly marked as Christie tries to find her own voice in the genre; Hastings fits Dr. Watson almost to a tee, from his veteran status to his overall rather clueless demeanor. This novel also introduces archetypes which Christie continued to use in her later writing, such as "the wealthy old matriarch" and "the proud, aloof, and deeply emotional woman character." On top of that, it provides a fascinating glimpse into WWI England, a world engulfed in ration cards, spies, convalescent homes, and Red Cross charity fêtes. With all its quirks, it's a book near and dear to my heart, and a must-read for anyone interested in Christie or the cosy mystery genre.

A solid Poirot mystery. Christie’s novels are so well-written and engaging over a hundred years later. It is fun to guess along with Hastings and wait for the big reveal at the end. However, the n word is used along with some casual sexism and antisemitism.