Rating: Summary: An Unexpectedly Creepy Murder Mystery Review: A priest is murdered immediately after hearing a dying woman's confession--and investigators soon discover a list of names concealed in his shoe. The people on that list all have something very, very unpleasant in common: they are dead.From this beginning, Agatha Christie weaves an unusual tale that mixes murder-for-hire and black magic in a most unexpected way. The result is a novel with a good vs. evil edge so powerful that many readers will find it more than a little creepy. THE PALE HORSE is also memorable for its unusual characterizations, most particularly in the opposing figures of Mrs. Dane-Calthrop, a vicar's wife who fights on the side of angels, and Thyzra Grey, a woman who claims to possess dangerous mystical powers. As usual, Christie works her story toward a surprising conclusion--but on this occasion she offers a few shudders as well. Unique in the Christie cannon and strongly recommended.
Rating: Summary: An Unexpectedly Creepy Murder Mystery Review: A priest is murdered immediately after hearing a dying woman's confession--and investigators soon discover a list of names concealed in his shoe. The people on that list all have something very, very unpleasant in common: they are dead. From this beginning, Agatha Christie weaves an unusual tale that mixes murder-for-hire and black magic in a most unexpected way. The result is a novel with a good vs. evil edge so powerful that many readers will find it more than a little creepy. THE PALE HORSE is also memorable for its unusual characterizations, most particularly in the opposing figures of Mrs. Dane-Calthrop, a vicar's wife who fights on the side of angels, and Thyzra Grey, a woman who claims to possess dangerous mystical powers. As usual, Christie works her story toward a surprising conclusion--but on this occasion she offers a few shudders as well. Unique in the Christie cannon and strongly recommended.
Rating: Summary: diverting fun Review: Another of Christie's romantic adventures pairing 2 people in a murder mystery who end up falling in love. Hints of black magic, some elderly women who may be witches and talks of death thru telepathy, may remind the reader of an old Scooby Doo episode, but this one has no meddling kids or a talking dog. One of Agatha's more entertaining cast of characters, however, includes the daffy novelist Adrien Oliver, who's been in several other stories, as well. She provides the amateur sleuths with a rather significant clue involving hair loss. Told in both first and third person narration to present an overall treatment of the mystery, the big twist is typical A.C., tho' if you've read enough of her stories, you might be able to guess the identity of the killer. It doesn't happen too often.
Rating: Summary: ... Review: Christie has, in the past, used occultic themes in some short stories, or as a side element in a full length. This time, however, she chose to flesh that out and use it at the heart of one of her mysteries.
"The Pale Horse" is a good read for several reasons. She uses several characters that have appeared in other novels, but none of them are named Poirot or Marple. This forces her to flesh out other characters since she can't rely on either of them to carry the story. While one doesn't read Christie to get intimate with characters (as opposed to Martha Grimes), it's nice to get a better look at some characters.
The story revolves around a society where people mysteriously kill people without leaving a trace. It is "advertised" as killing through supernatural powers controled by three witches. As a result it seems impossible to prove... and even more possible to convict without getting laughed out of court.
The solution is good (and I only guessed the mastermind through a semi-lucky guess), however, the best part is the explaination mid-way through the book about how the payment for the murder happens. That was bloody ingenious. The solicitor and the person wanting to hire the murder make a bet. If the person to be killed dies before a certain date, the person wanting the murder pays X amount of money. If the person to be killed doesn't, then the solicitor pays up the money.
It's all in all a satisfying read and will probably keep you guessing throughout the book.
Rating: Summary: A Chilling mystery! Review: First of all, I have to say that this was not like Agatha Christie's usual writing style, but, never the less, it was fantastic!! I won't make this review very long because I don't want to give away the plot, but any true Christie fan should read this. and also, moe811, Mrs. Oliver appears as a main character in Cards on the Table, which I'm currently reading.
Rating: Summary: A flop Review: I am a big A.C.fan,but I am sorry to say that this was not up to her usual standards.The plot is far too vague and fanciful.If you want to read Christie,read her classic whodunits(Poirot,Miss Marple),don't read this rubbish.
Rating: Summary: admirable! Review: i am a great agatha christie fan and have read quite a lot of her mysteries. and i daresay this is one of her finest, true Agatha-style pieces. It was certainly hard to put down and it ended with her usual "unexpected person" ...but it was hard to guess along the way, partly because you only see as far as the "trappings".... Very admirable work, indeed.
Rating: Summary: A sure winner Review: i being an avid fan of Agatha Christie really enjoyed this book the first time I read it.According to me it his her finest up-to-date With this book she has proved that she is truly Queen of crime.
Rating: Summary: A nice diversion Review: I have been a Christie fan for over two years, since I was twelve, and I found this to be a nice little diversion from Hercule Poirot's little gray cells and Miss Marple's village parallels. I must say that though I was able to guess the mastermind behind it all, I was not able to guess the method. This is easily one of Dame Agatha's most original plots (including THE MOVING FINGER, also featuring the Dane Calthrops), a story of two young people, who, in setting out to identify the murderer of a well-liked Catholic priest who learned something from a dying woman, find much more than they bargained for...and each other. I wonder why it's never been made into a movie??... ;-)
Rating: Summary: A nice diversion Review: I have been a Christie fan for over two years, since I was twelve, and I found this to be a nice little diversion from Hercule Poirot's little gray cells and Miss Marple's village parallels. I must say that though I was able to guess the mastermind behind it all, I was not able to guess the method. This is easily one of Dame Agatha's most original plots (including THE MOVING FINGER, also featuring the Dane Calthrops), a story of two young people, who, in setting out to identify the murderer of a well-liked Catholic priest who learned something from a dying woman, find much more than they bargained for...and each other. I wonder why it's never been made into a movie??... ;-)
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