![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lonemagpieTHE ABC MURDERS by Agatha Christie
Back to a favourite Poirot. It’s interesting to note that about six pages in, Hastings describes his ideal choice of murder case, which covers several elements from Poirot stories, and indeed (as Poirot retorts) most of then-current detective fiction. Poirot then goes on to describe the case he’s order if he could, and gives the setup for Cards On The Table, which would be published 11 months after this book (Murder In Mesopotamia came in between- that’s prolific!). Which makes me wonder whether she was already writing that one and decided to tease it ahead of time, or just thought “hey actually that’s not a bad idea, I’ll just fucking do it”
Otherwise, yeah classic Poirot, though the larger scope and number of chracters doesn’t quite fit with Agatha’s writing style, so there are a number of instances where you’re left to wonder exactly where a scene is taking place, some underwritten cyphers as characters (but, ah, we’ve all done that), and Poirot’s new handy valet who makes such a vital moment isbasically glossed over. Still a favourite, though, with the complicated plot hanging together well, and Poirot being on top form.
Back to a favourite Poirot. It’s interesting to note that about six pages in, Hastings describes his ideal choice of murder case, which covers several elements from Poirot stories, and indeed (as Poirot retorts) most of then-current detective fiction. Poirot then goes on to describe the case he’s order if he could, and gives the setup for Cards On The Table, which would be published 11 months after this book (Murder In Mesopotamia came in between- that’s prolific!). Which makes me wonder whether she was already writing that one and decided to tease it ahead of time, or just thought “hey actually that’s not a bad idea, I’ll just fucking do it”
Otherwise, yeah classic Poirot, though the larger scope and number of chracters doesn’t quite fit with Agatha’s writing style, so there are a number of instances where you’re left to wonder exactly where a scene is taking place, some underwritten cyphers as characters (but, ah, we’ve all done that), and Poirot’s new handy valet who makes such a vital moment isbasically glossed over. Still a favourite, though, with the complicated plot hanging together well, and Poirot being on top form.