Nellie
New Member
My Agatha Christie challenge continues and we are back on familiar territory here, with Poirot and Hastings teaming up once again to solve a murder. The two friends receive a letter from Paul Reynaud a wealthy businessman living in France. By the time Poirot and Hastings reach the Reynaud's villa, Paul Reynaud has been murdered, stabbed in the back and his body left on a local golf course. There are the usual range of suspects including, Mrs Reynauld, the next door neighbour and her daughter and a son who stands to inherit a huge fortune. The local police are called in and Poirot meets an investigator who is as arrogant as he is. The exchanges between the two detectives are very funny as both recognises each other's faults, but cannot see those same faults in themselves, although towards the end, the rivalry becomes quite vicious and Poirot shows that he has a very unpleasant streak in him.
As with all Christie novels, the clues are there, but in this story they are thrust into the readers face with none of the sleight of hand I am used to. What was more irritating is that I don't think it is possible to put the clues together to get some idea of what might be going on until quite late into the book. Although Christie's plots are highly improbable, I do always feel that I could have solved it myself had I been alert enough to pick up all the subtle clues.
This book feel less well crafted that the previous two, there are far too many characters on the French investigation team, although this may reflect the reality of French Law Enforcement at the time. The problem with having so many detectives and magistrates is that it becomes hard to remember who has seen what. There is also a ridiculous subplot of Hastings falling in love, which is poorly written and made me cringe.
As a great Christie fan, I am sad to say that this story is not on of her best, and you would be better reading one of her other books.
As with all Christie novels, the clues are there, but in this story they are thrust into the readers face with none of the sleight of hand I am used to. What was more irritating is that I don't think it is possible to put the clues together to get some idea of what might be going on until quite late into the book. Although Christie's plots are highly improbable, I do always feel that I could have solved it myself had I been alert enough to pick up all the subtle clues.
This book feel less well crafted that the previous two, there are far too many characters on the French investigation team, although this may reflect the reality of French Law Enforcement at the time. The problem with having so many detectives and magistrates is that it becomes hard to remember who has seen what. There is also a ridiculous subplot of Hastings falling in love, which is poorly written and made me cringe.
As a great Christie fan, I am sad to say that this story is not on of her best, and you would be better reading one of her other books.
