Rating: 
Summary: A novel that delivers.
Review: This story is true to Agatha Christie's style. A man is murdered and there are plenty of people with opportunity to commit the crime.Most of the action takes place in the library - the only thing that screams "We staged this and cannot change the scenery!" Besides that, the book works marvelously. The only thing that let me down is the rush to reveal the killer. It seemed hurried, and not very fulfilling. A motive was revealed, but it was so easy. The crime could easily have been pinned on anyone. Overall, the book is worth reading, and hard to put down. Easy to enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Description
Review: Agatha Christie is the most widely published author of all time, in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. She is regarded by generations of fans as the greatest mystery writer of all time, and her novels are read and cherished the world over. Now, in the first novel to appear in over twenty years, perhaps Christie's most famous and beloved detective, Hercule Poirot, returns to bring his "little grey cells" to bear on one more case. In the spring of 1934, Poirot is summoned to Surrey by England's most prominent physicist, Sir Cloud Amory. Amory fears that someone in his household is attempting to steal his latest discovery, a formula critical to England's defense. Poirot, with Captain Hastings at his side, rushes to Surrey but arrives too late. Amory has died, his formula is missing, and anyone in this country house, full of relatives and guests, could have been responsible. Originally written by Agatha Christie in 1930 as a three-act play, now adapted as a novel by Charles Osborne (an expert on Christie's life and work as well as a world-renowned theater and opera critic), BLACK COFFEE is classic Christie at its finest, sure to delight newcomers and devotees alike.
Rating: 
Summary: Christie fans will love this
Review: Early in the 1930's, scientist Sir Claud Amory asks Hercule Poirot to come out to his estate that lies twenty-five miles to the southeast of London in order to protect a new atomic explosive. However, before Hercule arrives, Claud realizes that someone has stolen the formula. Claud tells everyone that if the guilty party would anonymously return the missing paper, no prosecution will occur. Claud turns off the lights. When they come back on, Claud lies dead and Hercule, on cue, makes his appearance. Hercule begins his investigation, suspecting everyone because all of the people present had a motive and an opportunity. Could the deceased's son do it in order to pay off a debt? Or did the daughter-in-law, the secretary or his sister kill him? Hercule realizes that anyone of them could have done the act, but it is up to him to determine who actually did it. Surprisingly, Charles Osborne's adaptation of a Christie play is a brilliant rendition of on! e of the world's most beloved detectives. The story line is classic Christie with its "someone in this room is the murdererer". All of the individuals present having strong motives and opportunity, a classic Chritie trademark . Readers will not be able to separate Osborne's rendition of Poirot from Christie's as the adaptation strictly adheres to the original character. Fans of Christie, especially Poirot, will want to read this wonderful addition. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: A PLAY THAT IS AS DELIGHTFUL AS A BOOK
Review: Black Coffee is a play that is as delightfully sinister and ingenious as any of Dame Christie's books. The plot revolves around a gruff and unfriendly man who dies quite suddenly--during the convenience of a black-out. When traces of poison are found in the cup of pure "black coffee" the english gent was drinking, none other than Hercule Poirot, hero and mastermind of many of Christie's mysteries, is called in to assist. Poirot has a houseful of suspects and little time to pinpoint the true killer and motive in a sea of possibilities. What seems like an impossible case turns out to be, as usual, a simple thread in a tangle of lies which is unravelled with a little common sense and sheer logic. While not quite as complex and complicated as some of Christie's books, Black Coffee serves up a quintessential english atmosphere alongside a flawless murder/mystery--with none other than the self-satisfied (and of course amusing) Poirot busy excersising his "little grey cells". This is a fantastic and extremely enjoyable play, which, whether you choose to read it or go see it performed, will ignite or even reignite a passion of Agatha Christie.
Rating: 
Summary: 1st of the 3 Osborne adaptations
Review: This is the 1st book of the 3 Osborne adaptations of Agatha Christie plays into novel form. I think it's the lowest of the 3 in quality. The 2nd was "The Unexpected Guest," and the 3rd was "Spider's Web." All 3 read more like plays than novels--so if you are expecting the normal Christie novel, you may very well be disappointed. However, if you have read the novels, this is a nice addition to your list of Christie's and a rare opportunity to envision her plays. True, the plays could just as easily have been bound and published. But, Osborne has apparently done little, if anything, to detract from the plays themselves. So, IMHO, he has done a service both to Christie and to the mystery reading public by publishing these works. As for the content, this particular work is rather straight-forward, lacking some of Christie's usual twists and turns, cleverness, etc. It is the only one of the 3 plays that includes one of her 3 usual "detectives" (Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Tommy & Tuppence). This play is a Poirot adventure, but it's not anywhere near one of the best. It is, however, a Christie. If you've read all the others, it's one more to read. So, do your best to enjoy what may be your final opportunity.
Rating: 
Summary: Grave Robbing
Review: Charles Osborne writes the novel "Black Coffee" as an adaptation of Agatha Christie's original play. This is a typical Hercule Poirot mystery with Poirot being called to the home of Sir Claud Amory, a scientist who suspects that someone in his household is trying to steal his secret formula. Poirot arrives just after Sir Claud is poisoned. He knows that the killer had to be someone in the room so he begins his investiation of the the four family members and two others who might be involved. The usual red herrings are thrown out before Poirot reveals the real culprit. This is an average Christie story and doesn't contain any of the clever twists that distinguish her best work.
Rating:
Summary: Completely Shocked!
Review: The mystery was excellent, a classic Agatha Christie plot. A mystery where even the least likely person is suspicious and you really don't have ANY idea whom to suspect. It could be him, or her...or him, but it's probably her, no HER... The only downfall? It's not written in Christie's style. It has some classic Poirot references like "the little gray cells" and what not, but the writing style is obviously not hers. It's more adjectival almost...if that makes sense. But an altogether fantastic mystery.
| 
