Peril at End House
Ratings116
Average rating4
This time Poirot and Hastings are down in Cornwall, investigating a murder yet to take place. This changes the dynamic as we are treated to various conversations with the would-be victim. The intrigue did not grip me as much as some other of Poirot's adventures but the ending was a highlight, especially the very last paragraph in which the final sticking point is put to rest. Definitely worth a read for anyone who has read Christie's prior works.
So . . . personally, this was more of a 3.5 for me. Not my favorite Poirot, I have to say. But it was still a very atmospheric and engaging mystery!
[slight spoilers ahead!] My big issue with the mystery is that I called the twist, partially–and I liked my explanation better, haha. (Perhaps I've read too many mysteries? xD) I had the murderer right, but was wrong on the motive. And, perhaps because I was so fixed on my version of events, the motive presented in the book didn't entirely make sense to me. It was the timing especially that gave me trouble.
In any case, I did like how the side characters' stories wrapped up, and I did very much enjoy the setting. It was worth reading, definitely, and probably my own lack of concentration that led to my concerns with the plot! ;)
It was irritating that I still remember the episode of Poirot :-D
Yeah, it was the butler. Sure, the butler did it. Yeah, yeah, Hercule, it was the butler. But of course, there's a reason, the butler did it. You know.
(No, it wasn't the butler. There isn't a butler in the book. Wasn't the maid, either. Stop trying to spoil the book for yourself. :-D)
Devious little story. Who is lying? The thing is that we are dropped hints all the time, but one doesn't see them as that, when one doesn't know the secret. I could see them so clearly, because I knew what they were revealing.
It's a good story.
okay, I didn't quite see the end coming for this one
writing these reviews is like shouting in space. but I don't mind. this is just an elaborate journal entry for stuff I have read. these flash reviews help me think about what I have just read and go beyond superficial engagement, or at least that's the hope. this one is mostly me ranting about the way Christie writes her female characters. might have some spoilers, kinda.
I bought this book because the cover looked pretty. I reallyyyy liked the blue, the font and a little yellow at the bottom. So I bought it. Thankfully, the story wasn't too bad either and I had a good time reading it. Another breeze (pre?)murder mystery ft. our fav Belgian fella who is painfully not modest. Sometimes I wonder how Poirot's characters even work out because he often caricaturises himself. Is that suppose to add to his mystic and mad genius aura?
Another burning question is, why does Christie have a general anti-woman stance? Someone let me know, am I reading too much into this? Because so far every book I have read has a massive “women are evil manipulative creatures” vibe to it. And a “good woman” is often a dull, Christian, docile lady who isn't “fun” or “attractive”. Is it a common theme for all her books?
I know a lot of judgements on women are from the men in the book and those dialogues are a product of the time it is set in but must Christie fit all her female characters in pre-decided blocks? Was the common recurring theme of female killers new in her time? Did she want to prove “it's 1920s dammit, women can also kill!”. Why couldn't she have more female characters who are smart, shrewd but also not bitchy gold-diggers?
This approach is a bit annoying for me but I am hoping to find some explanation for this trope. Perhaps the target audience for her books (white upper-class women in the war?) liked to see women kill and that was badass for them? I don't know. I just don't enjoy every thinking, empowered women to be painted as an evil vamp about to get you in every single story.
A few month ago I decided to read all of the Agatha Christie mysteries in order. This one is one of my favorites so far. Some of them are a bit ridiculous and the endings leave me frustrated, but I felt this one was well crafted and I didn't loathe Hasting's narration.
Fantastic Hercule Poirot mystery with great characters. It seems like most short reviews I write of Christie's books say the same old thing: very good mystery, kept me guessing, and good characters. Well, that sums up this book. I absolutely loved it, read it in one sitting. It, and [b:The Murder of Roger Ackroyd 569439 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Agatha Christie http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223662694s/569439.jpg 1073110] are my two favorite Christie books (so far). On to the next.
This is a good one. I remembered some of it (whether from a previous read or the adaptation, I don't know), but not enough to know where all it was going. I like the use of Poirot for other ends, the useage of names, the reveal. Very good.