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Summary: A thriller that constantly keeps you on the edge of her seat
Review: ...for the eye glasses forgotten in the possesions of the second victim. Such a small clue would be overlooked by everyone except Hercule Poirot. Even though he refers to their impotance throughout the book,I certainly could not deduce who on earth could have left them where they did. Kudos again to Ms. Christie for yet another classic of the genre
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Summary: Outstanding Detective Story Shows the Genius of Christie
Review: Agatha Christie enters the world of the London theater in this novel, making most of the characters actors and actresses. Jane Wilkinson, a beautiful and popular actress, is in private life the wife of Lord Edgware. The marriage has never been happy, and now Jane wants to divorce Edgware and marry another man. She asks Poirot to intercede for her with her husband and get him to agree to the divorce. When Poirot meets with Lord Edgware he finds the baron very agreeable and says he has informed his wife of this previously in a letter. Jane insists she never received the letter, but is thrilled at the news.A problem arises when Lord Edgware is killed that very evening and several witnesses testify that Jane was present at the home at the time of the murder. Twelve other reliable witnesses can attest to the fact that she was with them at a dinner party that evening and could not possibly have killed her husband. Add to this plot a visiting American actress who does impersonations, a letter with a torn page, a pair of pince-nez, a chance remark by two strangers, a luncheon conversation about Paris, and Poirot solves the case in brilliant form proving his genius and why Agatha Christie is the undisputed mistress of mystery
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Summary: Classic whodunit from Master -- fun short mystery read !
Review: Also entitled "Thirteen at Dinner", this mystery novel from the early 1930's (!) is a Christie classic in her Hercule Poirot series. The plot engages the reader quickly when Lord Edgware is bumped off. All clues certainly point to actress Jane Wilkinson (Lady Edgware), who has been overheard at dinner (for 13) wishing death for her husband, from whom she wants a not forthcoming divorce. However, an airtight alibi rules out Wilkinson, and so we're off to the races as both Poirot, who the actress had hired to "persuade" the Lord for a divorce, and the cops, in the form of Inspector Japp (who interestingly does legwork for Poirot throughout the story and serves as an amusing foil), chase an overabundance of clues!
Soon a second murder, and later a third, add to both the complexities of the case as well as Poirot's chagrin -- an obvious villain is not forthcoming. We readers are probably no better off, as we have as much trouble as Poirot's perpetual sidekick (and narrator) Capt. Hastings does unraveling all the characters and their testimonies. But of course, our hero rises to the occasion in the end and spells out for us clear as a bell what might have been right in front of our eyes.
Part of the beauty of these novels is the rather straightforward movement of the plot. While Christie might be accused of "economy of words", we still get enough character description and involvement to care about the principals and the resolution of the case. While no doubt this story send us down many wrong paths with the numerous red herrings at hand, the eventual outcome, followed by an entertaining afterword by one of the characters, is most satisfying. Charming chapter titles only add to the appeal of the author's timeless writing; and the 200 pages or so pass by quite crisply. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Humdinger
Review: Christie throws so many red herrings into the plot, you won't be able to guess the outcome if you tried. Unless you're really perceptive. Jane Wilkinsin is one of her all time best creations. And the set up is great. It's always enjoyable when Hastings narrates the story, because you often feel as baffled as he does. Note: this is one of the few Hercule plots where ole Poirot himself almost can't solve the mystery...
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Summary: An Open and Shut Case -- Or Is It?
Review: I've yet to read or audit all of Christie's Poirot novels, but of the ones I've enjoyed, "Thirteen at Dinner" proved the greatest departure from Christie's tried-and-true formula for Poirot novels. Lady Edgeware is estranged from her husband and wants a divorce. If she can't have a divorce, she says she'll just drive up to her husband's house in a cab and walk in and murder him. Shortly after making this pronouncement, Lord Edgeware is murdered. Lord Edgeware's servants testify that Lady Edgeware drove up to the home in a cab, walked into Lord Edgeware's study, and left after a brief period of time in the study. Shortly afterward, the servants find Lord Edgeware dead in his study. This is as true-to-life a murder scenario as ever came from the pen of Agatha Christie. In 27 years of prosecuting and defending murder cases, I've had several that followed this plotline. But Christie isn't going to allow things to be that simple. It seems that twelve unimpeachable witnesses are all prepared to testify that Lady Edgeware was with them at a formal dinner at exactly the time of the murder. The cast of suspects is smaller than in most other Poirot novels, and the clues just cannot be made to fit together to prove guilt against any one of them. Poirot finally unravels the mystery, and in the denouement provides sudden surprises as the murderer is revealed. Unlike several of Christie's other Poirot novels, the prosecutors have a winnable case without an unlikely confession from the killer.
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Summary: Twists and Turns
Review: Lord Edgware Dies is a blunt, accurate title but that is only the beginning. Before the mystery is complete, a couple of more people will die in one of Agatha Christie's most interesting early novels. In addition to the larger than usual body count, the number of red herrings is tremondous, bordering at times on outrageous. The solution, though, is perfectly Christie. I had a good suspicion of who was responsible but never did figure out the how, although it all comes together so smoothly you will wonder why you missed the obvious. Poirot is in fine form. There is also a joy in reading of the lords and ladies mixing with actors and actresses (two sets which are favourites of Christie and with which she writes so engagingly). A fine mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Twists and Turns
Review: Lord Edgware Dies is a blunt, accurate title but that is only the beginning. Before the mystery is complete, a couple of more people will die in one of Agatha Christie's most interesting early novels. In addition to the larger than usual body count, the number of red herrings is tremondous, bordering at times on outrageous. The solution, though, is perfectly Christie. I had a good suspicion of who was responsible but never did figure out the how, although it all comes together so smoothly you will wonder why you missed the obvious. Poirot is in fine form. There is also a joy in reading of the lords and ladies mixing with actors and actresses (two sets which are favourites of Christie and with which she writes so engagingly). A fine mystery.
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Summary: ...and makes Poirot work the little grey cells very hard
Review: Poirot and Hastings are enjoying an evening at the theater, watching the newest darling of the stage and her one-woman show of impersonations. Soon afterwards Poirot is approached by another famous actress, Jane Wilkinson, for help with a small problem, she would like to be rid of her husband, Lord Edgware. If Poirot could perhaps convince the gentleman to finally consent to a divorce it would be greatly appreciated otherwise she just might have to kill Lord Edgware herself! Poirot reluctantly agrees to take on this uncharacteristic task (perhaps Hastings is not the only one with a weakness for a beautiful woman!) and finds that the gentleman is quite ready to divorce his wife. All is well until Lord Edgware is murdered. Poirot begins to ferret out the murderer and soon discovers that there were many who would like to see Lord Edgware dead. The detective is lead down many blind alleys until a chance remark leads him to the truth. This was an immensely popular book when it was first published in 1933 and has held up quite well in the intervening 70 years. It is interesting to read this book and the one following, WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK EVANS? to see how Christie could take a simple phrase and turn it into two totally different stories.
Rating:
Summary: ...and makes Poirot work the little grey cells very hard
Review: Poirot and Hastings are enjoying an evening at the theater, watching the newest darling of the stage and her one-woman show of impersonations. Soon afterwards Poirot is approached by another famous actress, Jane Wilkinson, for help with a small problem, she would like to be rid of her husband, Lord Edgware. If Poirot could perhaps convince the gentleman to finally consent to a divorce it would be greatly appreciated otherwise she just might have to kill Lord Edgware herself! Poirot reluctantly agrees to take on this uncharacteristic task (perhaps Hastings is not the only one with a weakness for a beautiful woman!) and finds that the gentleman is quite ready to divorce his wife. All is well until Lord Edgware is murdered. Poirot begins to ferret out the murderer and soon discovers that there were many who would like to see Lord Edgware dead. The detective is lead down many blind alleys until a chance remark leads him to the truth. This was an immensely popular book when it was first published in 1933 and has held up quite well in the intervening 70 years. It is interesting to read this book and the one following, WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK EVANS? to see how Christie could take a simple phrase and turn it into two totally different stories.
Rating:
Summary: Vintage Christie
Review: The epitome of an Agatha Christie mystery and one of her five finest books. Hercule Poirot is at his most brilliant, along with sidekick Arthur "Dr. Watson" Hastings and a colorful assortment of suspects. An excellent choice as a first Christie book -- or as a second, or a third....
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