Sad Cypress

Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie
4/5 stars
Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers, 1939
271 pages
Adult Mystery

Source: Bought

I realized that it had been ages since I'd read an Agatha Christie and that I just happened to own one that had been left unread. Thus I set about to rectify the situation. The title meant nothing to me but it's apparently a quote from Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" (which I am planning to read later this year!)

The book is divided into three parts.
I. This introduces all of the characters, including the setup for the story as flashing back from a trial, and concludes with someone dying, under suspicion of poison.
II. In this part, Hercule Poirot is brought in to investigate and we go over some evidence although nothing is revealed yet.
III. And in conclusion, we return to the trial where Poirot reveals what really happened. Did the police put the right person on trial? You'll have to read to find out!

As is usually the case in these Christie mysteries, the characters aren't particularly deep or memorable beyond Poirot's usual mannerisms (and his stupid egg-shaped head).

Did I solve the mystery? Well, I am utter crap at that so it will not be surprising to hear that I did not figure out the murderer or specific motive (although it's usually love or money and that was the case here). But I did feel a prickle of suspicion about one point that was crucial to Poirot's deductions. I couldn't manage to put everything together but at least I caught something.

Overall: I would not recommend this as your first introduction to Christie or Poirot but certainly worth a read for the die-hard fan.

Cover: I love, love, love these covers-I am collecting all of them!

At Bertram's Hotel

At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie
Black Dog & Leventhal, 1965
270 pages
Miss Marple Mystery
4/5 stars

Source: Bought

Summary: Bertram's Hotel seems like a nice old-fashioned hotel, hearkening back to Edwardian England.  But something is off with a canon going missing, wild celebrities hanging around, and finally a shocking murder and a near miss.  Luckily Miss Marple is there to aid the police in their investigation.

Thoughts: At first I wasn't sure what was going on as no crimes seemed to be happening.  It was just a leisurely trip to and around London.  However Miss Marple is ever curious and it is through her that we get the first idea that something is going on.  The problem is that everything seems too perfect.  Hard to believe that's a problem but it is.  And because of that, a major crime syndicate (I think they can be called that) is unmasked and will be brought to justice.

We meet two new policemen, one is affectionately called Father who is a very good policeman despite his appearance which causes many people to underestimate.  Other characters are wild Bess Sedgwick and her estranged daughter Elvira, neither of whom I really liked although I was interested to find out what role they played.  Canon Pennyfather is the man who goes missing partly due to his own absentmindedness-he was sweetly endearing.

I did not figure out the mystery or the murderer but I was pleased with the end.  At first it seems like the murder will not be prosecuted (like Poirot does in Murder on the Orient Express) but then the policeman says he will go after that person and have him/her arrested.  I was very pleased.

Overall: The best Christie I read this week with an interesting cast of characters.

Cover: I quite like the green and the doorman.

Cat Among the Pigeons

Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie
Black Dog & Leventhal, 1959
297 pages
Hercule Poirot Mystery
4/5 stars

Source: Bought (it was on sale)

Summary: Meadowbank School is an outstanding school for young girls which is suddenly rocked by the murder of the new games mistress.  Was she too curious for her own good?  Does it have some connection to the recent revolution in a Near East country? (Hint: yes)  Never fear: Hercule Poirot and his little grey cells are on the case.

Thoughts: The book opens with a four page list of the characters, which I read hoping to get set for reading this.  Instead it overwhelmed me and I had to just keep reading in order to be able to follow it.  There are a lot of characters, mostly female because the actions takes place at a fine girls' school.  The opening is very confusing as it shifts from Meadowbank to that Near East country to two females who connect both places. Headmistress Miss Bulstrode of course made me think of Millicent Bulstrode of Slytherin but luckily she's a much nicer person and Eileen Rich is consistently described as ugly although I cannot fathom why that's relevant to the story. 


There seem to be long passages where nothing is really happening.  I found it easy to read and I was motivated to finish it.  Interestingly Poirot doesn't show up until basically two-thirds of the way through the book.  Yet he solves it fairly easily by picking up on a few strands.  I didn't solve the murder (er murders) but I don't mind.  I should have noticed something was up about that person but I didn't connect it fast enough. I also thought there was going to be a romance (I like the little romances Christie throws in) but I was wrong.


Overall: A fine outing although somewhat confusing and less engaging than Christie's best.  Do not begin your exploration of Christie with this.


Cover: Pretty pink although not as pretty as the purple yesterday.  The rackets are also quite important.

A Caribbean Mystery

A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie
Black Dog & Leventhal, 1964
221 pages
Miss Marple Mystery
4/5 stars

Source: Bought

Summary: Major Palgrave is a typical retired army Britisher who know spends his time sharing the stories of his life.  One day in the Caribbean, he is about to share a photo of a murderer with Miss Marple but he suddenly hides it.  The next day he is dead.  She realizes that something is going on and that she may be the perfect person to solve who did it.

Thoughts: I thought this was a pretty good Marple.  Again she is underestimated by most of the people around her because she is an elderly woman who blathers.  But they are wrong of course and she does figure it all out.  It was very interesting to see the part that rumors played in this novel as they serve to confuse the characters and the reader.

The characters are very colorful: Major Palgrave, Mr Rafiel, the Kendalls, the Prescotts, the Dysons, and the Hillingdons, among others.  Rafiel proves to be an important ally to Miss Marple as they are both on the ball in hunting down the killer before s/he can strike again.  Molly Kendall seemed like such a sweet lady and she was probably one of my favorites.

I did not figure out the murderer but I did figure out part of the mystery (I also did not like that that person was the murderer because I liked him/her).  SPOILER (highlight to read) I guessed that Molly was being gaslighted and she was! END SPOILER

Overall: Fun story although not her best.

Cover: I love the purple!

Appointment with Death

Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie

Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 1937

255 pages

Mystery; Hercule Poirot

Source: Library

Summary: "You do see, don't you, that she's got to be killed?" is the dramatic first line of this book. This appears to Belgian detective Hercule Poirot like an impassioned writer discussing his work. But shortly after, the terrifying matriarch of the Boynton family is found dead amid suspicious circumstances.

Thoughts: It took forever for the woman to be killed. Almost half of the book is setting the scene, showing how each member of the family revolves his or her life around Mrs. Boynton and is terrified of her, excepting her daughter-in-law who is planning to leave her husband due to his cowardice in standing up to the mother. I was particularly interested in the psychology Poirot undertakes in order to understand their frames of minds during the period leading up to her death. I also liked that there are references to some of Poirot's other cases, including two that I have read.

I loved Lady Westholme-she was funny and briskly efficient. I would have liked to see more of her. I did not like the romances in this book. Sarah and Raymond were lame, lame, lame, separately and together.

SPOILER (highlight to read)

While I didn't expect to figure out the murderer, I hated that it was Lady Westholme, who was awesome. I wanted it to be Raymond (total loser), Sarah King (also a loser as evidenced by her interested in Raymond), or Carol (sister to Raymond and similar in appearance).

END SPOILER

Overall: 4/5. Gripping but disappointing end.

Cover: I keep saying this but I really do love these covers.

The Moving Finger

The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie

Black Dog & Leventhal Publishing, 1942

201 pages

Mystery; Miss Marple

Source: Library

Summary: Jerry Burton and his sister Joanna have moved to a small, quiet, and peaceful town in England to ease his convalescence. What they get though is a small town rife with secrets. A mysterious writer is sending nasty anonymous letters to people which culminates in a local lady committing suicide. The next week, a maid is killed. Are they connected? Did that maid know something about the killer? Christie weaves another fine tale.

Thoughts: Despite this being a Miss Marple, she doesn't appear until more than half way through the book, meaning we hardly get to spend any time with her. She is called in as an expert on humans by the vicar's wife. She figures it out and sets up a trap to nab the murderer.

It was interesting to me how the narrator Jerry Burton drops explicit hints to the reader, saying that certain things turn out to be important and how he could have solved the mystery earlier had he paid more attention. I did take notice and I still didn't figure it out; I read Miss Marple's explanation and it still didn't help me very much. But I liked this and I enjoyed the little romance. I know Christie is a mystery writer and she frequently writes the most awful things about women as if they were facts that apply to all women but she writes cute romances. She couldn't sustain an entire book with them but as a garnishing to the mystery, they work well.

Overall: 4/5. Could have been higher if there had been more Miss Marple

Cover: My cover is the same cover but the picture is of a door rather than a town.

Evil Under the Sun

Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie

Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 1940

220 pages

Mystery; Hercule Poirot

Source: Library

Summary: Arlena Stuart-Marshall is found strangled at a seaside resort. Who did it-her possibly cuckolded husband; smitten Patrick Redfern; the displeased Mrs. Redfern; or someone else? Luckily Hercule Poirot is on the case.

*No spoilers*

Thoughts: Poirot was not annoying in this book! I think it's because she'd been writing him for a while and then the involvement of the English police diluted his presence, which made me very grateful.

I did not figure out the murder and to be honest I think one of the clues the reader would be unable to use because it was based on physical description and there is a lack of it. I wonder if for my next AC I should make up a table and just input all of the information I receive. For example, physical description, likes/dislikes, alibi, possible motive, etc. Yet I still don't think I'd solve it. I did think the murder was committed in a very clever way and I would love to talk about it with you if you've read it/don't care about spoilers. I was afraid this was going to end, like another one of Christies, in a manner which irked me the first time I read it but it's doesn't! I realize that doesn't mean much to you because of course I'm writing around the plot point which references the murder but I was very happy!

I loved the Gardeners; Mrs. Gardener talks and talks and talks while Mr. Gardener nods his head and obeys. They were good comic characters to include in a murder mystery which is rather dark by nature.

Overall: 4/5. Another good entry in the Poriot category.

Cover: I love these covers-the bright colors are very attractive to me. I hope they publish all of the Christies like this!

Murder on the Orient Express

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Black Dog & Leventhal, 1934

266 pages

Mystery; Hercule Poirot

Source: The library

Summary: While traveling on the Orient Express, a murder is committed. As they are stuck in snow, the murderer must be one of the remaining passengers. Can Hercule Poirot use his little grey cells to deduce the murderer?

Thoughts: As you may know, I've been trying to read every AC novel and this is a better known one. And I thought it was pretty great! There are many many people to keep track of but I was able to form mental pictures of most of them which helped. I found Poirot less annoying in this book than in some of his others although I'm not sure why.

Originally I thought it was dragging on a bit as there is a chapter devoted to interviewing each suspect but the final (third) part unravels everything very quickly and lays out exactly how the murder was carried out. I was on the edge of my seat (okay, not literally), wondering who it could be. I had absolutely no idea but I loved the answer.

Overall: 4.5/5. Highly recommend it!

Cover: I think this is a really pretty blue.

Film: I haven't seen the film but I'm putting it toward the top of my list in the hopes that I can see it soon.

The Body in the Library

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers, 1941

191 pages

Mystery

Miss Marple

Summary: A woman's body is found in the library of Miss Marple's neighbors. Can she solve this mix of hotel workers, show business, and simple country folk and clear the neighbors's good name?

Thoughts: I actually figured out part of the murder! Not who and not why but part of the how! I'm so excited and that accounts partly for my enjoyment of this book in preference to yesterday's Murder at the Vicarage. Another part is its shorter length which meant there was less time for boring village conversations and getting to the point much faster. I would definitely recommend this mystery as an introduction to Miss Marple and I love the pink cover of the new edition.

Overall: 4 out of 5-largely because I figured out part of the murder.

Have finished 18 AC out of 81 in my personal AC challenge!