Rating: 
Summary: Opens the Golden Age of Detective Fiction.
Review: Thirty-year old Mrs Agatha Christie turned a nice little profit with this, her first book, in 1920. It introduced Hercule Poirot. Wisely, she gave him many flamboyant, eccentric characteristics to leaven the depiction of detection work, but unwisely she created a character of advanced age that she subsequently needed to preserve for a further fifty years. What became the regular Christie recipe for a whodunit is found here. Perhaps there is a tad more reliance on the dispensing of medicines, reflecting the author's occupation during World War One. A formula that she later discarded was the use of a narrator - Hastings - who presents one of the "cases" of his friend Poirot. 1920 and the publication of this book marked the opening of the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction". Expect that there are plenty of servants, plenty of drinks at bedtime, much making and re-making of wills, and characters - including Poirot - who walk everywhere. This rates highly in the Christie collection for classic charm, readability and ingenuity. Few of her books from the 1920s excel it.
Rating:
Summary: Opens the Golden Age of Detective Fiction.
Review: Thirty-year old Mrs Agatha Christie turned a nice little profit with this, her first book, in 1920. It introduced Hercule Poirot. Wisely, she gave him many flamboyant, eccentric characteristics to leaven the depiction of detection work, but unwisely she created a character of advanced age that she subsequently needed to preserve for a further fifty years. What became the regular Christie recipe for a whodunit is found here. Perhaps there is a tad more reliance on the dispensing of medicines, reflecting the author's occupation during World War One. A formula that she later discarded was the use of a narrator - Hastings - who presents one of the "cases" of his friend Poirot. 1920 and the publication of this book marked the opening of the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction". Expect that there are plenty of servants, plenty of drinks at bedtime, much making and re-making of wills, and characters - including Poirot - who walk everywhere. This rates highly in the Christie collection for classic charm, readability and ingenuity. Few of her books from the 1920s excel it.
Rating: 
Summary: We love Agatha Christie novels
Review: This book and Mark Reed's SOMETHING DIFFERENT!!! are our special favorite books of all time.
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant first novel
Review: This book, the first of Christie's Poirot collection is truly an asset. The ending was so surprising that I'm sure it would have stumped everyone who read it..and it's not the "most unlikely one", either, as tends to be Christie's usual. A well developed plot supports the vital characters in the novel. Perhaps this lacks the sophistication of Christie's later novels, but still a thoroughly enjoyable and thrilling read from start to finish.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Debut for Poirot and Christie
Review: This is Agatha Chritie's firt novel and Hercule Poirot's first case. It's also a great read. I was first introduced to Agatha Chritie in sixth grade by my gifted teacher, and have been a Poirot fan ever since--I did a book report on a Ms. Marple book, but decided later that that funny little Belgian gent was more my type. Christie creates a wondeful and entertaining character in Hercule Poirot. He's conceited in a funny way, immaculately groomed, and brilliant in solving crimes; he also has a way of dropping subtle and interesting crumbs along the way and not revealing all he know until the end. Christie never fails to surprise, either, as to who the perpatrator is. This ending is truly the last you'd expect. The Queen of the mystery genre (says who? me, that's who) is at her most wonderful prime in this delightful first novel. It's inriguingly written, the characters are great, and it is short. A must read.
Rating:
Summary: One of her best- but pay attention!
Review: This is Christie's first book, and certainly one of her best! However, there are a LOT of characters to remember (Poiret, Alfred, etc.), so I would recommend the book to a friend who's alert, knows how to pay attention, and is open minded (you'll see what I mean). An excellent Christie, nonetheless.
Rating:
Summary: Poirot's Delightful Debut
Review: This is Poirot's first case and Christie's debut as a mystery writer. It is an auspicious start to a brilliant career for both the author and her creation. It's a bit over-ambitious; the young Christie was heavy-handed with the clues in this one, and while the ending is a surprise, the last section of the book is just a bit too long for the ending to have quite the impact that Christie would achieve in later works. This is perhaps the only Christie book about which one can say there are "too many clues;" it is nonetheless an astounding achievement for a first-time author. And, of course, any fan of Poirot will want to read the case that "started it all."
Rating:
Summary: Fine first exposition of Poirot and his "little grey cells"
Review: This is the first appearance of Christie's brilliant Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and his friend Captain Arthur Hastings. Like a good deal of Dame Agatha's work, it is as much a novel of manners as it is a mystery. The interaction of the egocentric Poirot and the highborn British residents at Styles is delightful, and the puzzle of the book is characteristically well done, and scrupulously fair. The only flaw in it lies in a purely ideosyncratic desire to have more exposition of the character of Poirot and less of the mechanics of the puzzle itself. All in all, a fine place to begin meeting Poirot and his grey cells.
Rating:
Summary: Agatha Christie's 1st Book!!!
Review: This is the first Christie and the first Hercule Poirot novel. The action opens with Hastings describing his first adventure with Poirot. They become involved in solving a death in a locked room with the most obvious suspect being the husband. Many twists and turns later Poirot prevails and justice is served. Hastings circumstances (invalid army officer alone in the world) are very like Dr. Watson. The relationship between Hastings and Poirot is similiar to Watson and Holmes in that Hastings is the bumbler, always leaping to the wrong conclusion while Poirot, like Holmes, drops little hints but by in large keeps his companion in the dark until the last minute. Christie began her pattern here of going against established mystery conventions (most obvious suspect being innocent) while playing fair, (all clues are fairly laid out for the reader). The trademark Christie twists and turns are here as well. This novel was originally published in 1920 and many of the details show its age. There are references to things that the modern reader will not be familiar and some comments are absolutely not politically correct but these do not detract from the story and in fact enforce the WWI English country house setting. This is a 'must read' for any Christie fan, and highly recommended for any fan of 'cozy' mysteries.
Rating:
Summary: Hercule and Hastings begin their adventures
Review: This is the first Christie and the first Hercule Poirot novel. The action opens with Hastings describing his first adventure with Poirot. They become involved in solving a death in a locked room with the most obvious suspect being the husband. Many twists and turns later Poirot prevails and justice is served. Hastings circumstances (invalid army officer alone in the world) are very like Dr. Watson. The relationship between Hastings and Poirot is similiar to Watson and Holmes in that Hastings is the bumbler, always leaping to the wrong conclusion while Poirot, like Holmes, drops little hints but by in large keeps his companion in the dark until the last minute. Christie began her pattern here of going against established mystery conventions (most obvious suspect being innocent) while playing fair, (all clues are fairly laid out for the reader). The trademark Christie twists and turns are here as well. This novel was originally published in 1920 and many of the details show its age. There are references to things that the modern reader will not be familiar and some comments are absolutely not politically correct but these do not detract from the story and in fact enforce the WWI English country house setting. This is a 'must read' for any Christie fan, and highly recommended for any fan of 'cozy' mysteries.
| 
