Rating: 
Summary: I wish I had not read it
Review: I was truly disappointed by this book. I love Agatha Christie, and have always considered her not only a great mystery writer, but also a marvelous novelist as well. Yet this book probably is the worst of all her writings. (I've read close to 30 of her full-length novel and some short stories so far). So don't ever read this book if you don't want to feel sorry for Agatha or yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: A reader who strongly disagrees
Review: I'm sorry, but all of the reviews written before are, in my opinon, wrong. I'm not saying that this is the best book Agatha Christie wrote, but it's certainly not the worst! There is a plot. The plot is Tommy and Tuppence are trying to find out why there are the words that clearly spell out- "Mary Jordan did not die naturally." in the book The Black Arrow. Certainly this book is intriguing.
Rating: 
Summary: Suddenly, years ago
Review: In this final book of the Beresford series, Tommy and Tuppence move into a small town for their final years together, and happen upon a hidden message in a children's book: "Mary Jordan did not die naturally..." Intrigued, they each investigate the mystery from differing angles, finding that the actual mystery dates back decades to before World War II. Yes, the story has a few slow moments, but that's because we're investigating along with the Beresfords instead of appearing at the finale when all's revealed. Dame Agatha delivers a sharp, intellectual mystery, finally showing her fans the actual process of investigating. It might not become my favorite, but I disagree with previous reviewers who called it boring. I was intrigued by the methodologies used by Tommy and Tuppence in investigating this stale crime aeons after it happened.
Rating:
Summary: Atrocious
Review: Listen to this advice from an hardcore Christie fan: don't read this book. It's such a painful experience to see one of the greatest mystery writers ever getting into - I can't use another word - complete senility. The story (I can't call it a plot) goes nowhere. Characters are wooden, and some excerpts are merely ludicrous. If you really like Christie, be charitable and forget about that sad final opus. She wrote so many excellent things in her earlier years.
Rating:
Summary: Cold War is a bad inspirer
Review: One of the most surprising novel by Agatha Christie I have ever read. No Poirot, no Marple, but Tommy and Tuppence. This book is a soft thriller but it deals with a very special type of crime : politically minded organizations that do not hesitate to commit crime to conquer power. Clearly connected and affiliated to the fascist or nazi movement and ideology, this crime is also linked, marginally it is true, to communism. It reveals how a democratic society like Britain is using secret services and special services to infiltrate and explore those organizations in order to contain them or destroy them. What is strange is that there is no real exploration of the motivations of either side. Why do some people want to change the world and can come to criminal means if necessary ? Why does an established social order spend so much energy and time destroying those who could represent a « menace » to this establishment, hence containing any group or organization that may represent change in this established society ? In other words the approach is very conservative. It captures the sympathy of the reader by evoking fascism, nazism or even communism, but no real assessment of the established social order is really given. After all, maybe this established social order should change or be changed ? How can change occur in a society where secret services and special services do all they can to prevent any change ? Isn't it dangerous to block change in a society ? These questions are at the back of the mind of any conscious reader, but no answer is given, no opening is provided, no reflexion is proposed. The book is thus slightly disappointing. It is the typical result of the Cold War ideology and atmosphere but Agatha Christie is a lot better inspired when she deals with real crime outside the sphere of politics.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
Rating:
Summary: PLEASE, EXCUSE THIS ERROR FROM DAME AGATHA
Review: Perhaps I can shed some light on a hazy subject. Flip on the lights, take a quick, furtive glance around, and set about storing this major bummer away...just so no innocent victims get in the way. First of all the problem with the book (a big one it is, as well) is that it has no mystery. Considering it is a mystery book, you would think Agatha would remember that point. Well, when Tommy & Tuppence fall upon an inscription in a book that slightly resembles a fuzzy scandal-murder, they chase after a hare's nest like wildfire. It turns out this gigantic goose chase is virtually the novel you see before your eyes. You go through red tape, pointless discussions, and the tracking down of something that--get this--doesn't exsist (anymore, at least)! Well, after a long and tedious journey, you've reached virgin territory--the end. You find yourself praying for a fulfilling ending...but like the plot, there is none. Instead you get a hazy, boring, confusing resolution that looks more like a cleverly put trap of beloved de ja vu. So, in short, DON'T READ IT!
Rating:
Summary: Terrible
Review: Picture perfect example of how a completely inane story gets published and read because it's written by a well known author. The plot is meaningless. As with Elephants Can Remember, I strongly advise you to read the last chapter and be done with it.
Rating:
Summary: SHOCK HORROR
Review: Please, excuse Ms. Christie. This is a terrible book. I was shocked. It should never have been published. This is by far her worst ever. It has no plot and the only reason I kept reading was because I kept expecting some at least half decent ending. No such luck. What really annoyed me was, though, that they kept asking each other where they had been, and assuming that it had nothing to do with the hazy crime.
Rating:
Summary: The final Christie
Review: POSTERN OF FATE is the last novel Christie actually wrote (those published later were in fact written before but had been kept in reserve). It is fitting that Christie chose to close her writing career with Tommy and Tuppence. In many ways Tuppence mirrored Christie herself. In the early books Tuppence is a young woman fresh from her wartime adventures (much like Christie herself), in later books she is a mother coping with another war, and here is dealing with downsizing to a smaller home, the physical challenges of growing older and memories of the past. Many of the adventures that Tuppence has in this book are mentioned in Christie's own autobiography.
The Beresfords have recently moved to a new house and discovered that previous owners had left behind various things, including books. In one of the books they discover a clue left by a young boy of a long ago murder. In their typical Beresford style Tommy and Tuppence try to uncover the truth and find that murder does not rest quietly even with the passage of so many years.
This novel is not one of Christie's best and the madcap adventure style of previous Tommy and Tuppence novels does not work as well with two eldery heroes. Still if you are a Christie fan and espeically if you have a fondness for Tommy and Tuppence this one is not to be missed.
Rating: 
Summary: Christie's second worst book
Review: Postern of Fate, published in 1973, was the last book ever written by the incomparable Agatha Christie. My vote for her worst book ever was Passenger to Frankfurt.Christie's health was in sharp decline when writing Postern of Fate and unfortunately it shows. The plot involves Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, now in their retirement, investigating a murder in retrospect. The story is very unfocused and many elements of the story just don't make sense. Considering all the great books she wrote over her career and the countless hours of pleasure she provided to readers all over the world for several generations, Christie can certainly be forgiven for a few clunkers later in the life. I's actually give her two stars for execution, three stars for effort
|
