• Author: Agatha Christie
• Series: Hercule Poirot #11
• Genre: Classic Murder Mystery
• No. of pages: 300
• Dates read: 27.05.2022 – 01.06.2022
• Star Rating: 3 stars

Plot: When a vicar chokes to death on a cocktail while attending a party held by actor Sir Charles Cartwright, Poirot initially dismisses the idea of murder but reconsiders when another guest dies…

Now I don’t normally review Christie books as to be honest I tend to say the same things over and over again. But this book left me with a lot to say…

So, first of all, I do think that this book was good but it just missed the mark and I know exactly why. First of all the characters apart from Mr Satterthwaite and Poirot were just flat which normally isn’t an issue if the plot is really good. But, you go 150 pages without Poirot properly entering the fray. For those 150 pages you watch brand new characters try and solve the murder themselves and I was just screaming for Poirot to get involved.

It felt like such a wasted opportunity watching the characters stumble around trying to figure out what happened. It needed the structure that Poirot brings to the story. It was just lacking.

Then my other note was the big reveal at the end. While I liked the identity and how everything happened etc. I felt that it was all set up and foreshadowed really well. The motive on the other hand I did not feel the same. Part of the motive made a lot of sense but the second part literally came out of the blue. I legit did not expect it at all. And not in an enjoyable shocked way!

I just felt that this book was just lacking. I probably would have enjoyed it more if we saw more of the reason for picking up the book, Poirot.