Rating: 
Summary: Crooked House
Review: In this stock account of the poisoning of a Greek tycoon by a close family member, there is far more conversation than deduction, far more discovery of possible motive than ratiocination. Indeed, the identity of the psychologically abnormal murderer dawns on the narrator-hero only after the murderer's diary falls into his hands. Not one of Christie's best.
Rating: 
Summary: A Pleasing Non-Series Christie Murder
Review: Just as Christie's Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot so often uses psychology to solve murders, the solution to this mystery lies in the mental nature of the characters. There are no logistical considerations to take into account, for all the suspects have ample opportunity to commit the deed. Instead, it's motive and personality that are examined. Up until the solution is revealed, the novel is very typical Agatha Christie (which is certainly no bad thing). However, the conclusion is quite surprising in my opinion, and it makes the book above average.Others have summarized the plot, so I'll simply say that the characters are all very vividly painted and are interesting, though possibly a little caricatured for some tastes. Charles Hayward is a perfectly adequate narrator, but I was left wanting a little more zest, such as in the dry humor of Leonard Clement in The Murder at the Vicarage. Christie herself wrote in her autobiography that Crooked House, along with Ordeal by Innocence, was one of the two mysteries she was most satisfied by. I don't quite feel that strongly about it, but while certainly not a gem like The Murder of Roger Ackroyd or And Then There Were None, Crooked House is nevertheless an intriguing non-series Christie mystery. Recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: A Real Jaw-Dropper
Review: Most of Christie's mysteries offer startling solutions, but few are such complete jaw-droppers as the solution found in CROOKED HOUSE, which is as unexpected as it is inevitable. The story of an eccentric family smothered by a rich and wiley patriarch who meets with unexpected death, CROOKED HOUSE relies largely on character and atmosphere for effect. These are not elements one normally expects from a Christie mystery--but not only does Christie deliver them here, she does so without allowing them to overshadow one of the craftiest puzzles in her career. Prepare to read the novel in one sitting: you won't be able to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: A Real Jaw-Dropper
Review: Most of Christie's mysteries offer startling solutions, but few are such complete jaw-droppers as the solution found in CROOKED HOUSE, which is as unexpected as it is inevitable. The story of an eccentric family smothered by a rich and wiley patriarch who meets with unexpected death, CROOKED HOUSE relies largely on character and atmosphere for effect. These are not elements one normally expects from a Christie mystery--but not only does Christie deliver them here, she does so without allowing them to overshadow one of the craftiest puzzles in her career. Prepare to read the novel in one sitting: you won't be able to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: The Crooked Mile
Review: Most of Christies books are rather similar up until the ending, where they all branch out and either become a good Christie, or an excellent Christie. It is often the final solution of an Agatha Christie book which makes or breaks it. Up until the solution, there is little new to be had here. It is the typical Christie dysfunctional family haunted by the shadow of murder. Into the fray steps a detective, sleuthing around and discovering all sorts of misdemenours. Nothing wrong with that at all. Provides excellent enjoyment. However, it is with the ending that an Agatha Christie book can really provide more than enjoyment, and can inspire wonderment. This is one which does just that. It's really rather run-of-the-mill until the solution is propounded, whereupon the book explodes in an unexpected horror in the fact of almost pure, yet very simple, evil. You will never guess the solution. But when it comes, it is one of the most surprising she concocted. And shocking. No one can ever underestimate her contribution to the genre. It is with books like this that she really redefined the nature of the crime novel. And she has far more literary worth than most critics would have you believe. (Rather like critics of the excellent Stephen King.) Her writing is good, her characters well formed, and her psychology spot on. (Her adept hand at psychological acuteness is often overlooked, but all her books are truly excellent psychological thrillers, as well as classic detective stories.)
Rating:
Summary: A BOOK YOU SHOULD READ
Review: My review is going to need a little explaining. First of all, I say you SHOULD read this book because, well, you should. It's not a matter of wanting to, it's just something that, if you're a Christie reader (even a little bit), you should force yourself to read this. (Kinda' like the obligation you have as a human being to read The Catcher in the Rye before you die.) The reason I recommend this so strongly is because while I don't think this is exactly her BEST book, it probably has the best ending, psychologically speaking. This truly exemplifies pure evil. Crooked House falls in the catagory that Endless Night and a few others inhabit--those books you wouldn't call superb, but have the acute awareness of human nature and the human pysche that all of her other books lack in somewhat. So, in short, I would read this. The end will perhaps horrify you, but you must nontheless give in to it. It might remind you that evil inhabits all of us, no matter who we are. Holly Burke, PhD. Clinical Psychologist, Johns Hopkins Inst.
Rating:
Summary: Shocking and rewarding
Review: One of Christie's shorter pieces is also one of her greatest successes. Hey, if you've never read Ellery Queen, it won't seem like plagarism. Blunt outcome is so well hidden you'll never see it coming. And yet after you do, it seems obvious from the beginning. Certainly one you should add to your Agatha collection. It's chilling and unforgettable...
Rating:
Summary: Memorable shocker
Review: One of Christie's strongest. Although the plot is neither intricate nor clue-laden, the ending is powerful and immediately convincing. Christie's climatic explanatory chapters are usually lengthy; this one is barely two or three pages. This is due to the soundness and deceptive simplicity of the solution. Christie's publishers wanted her to change the unconventional ending, but she wisely refused. A classic murder mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Do not read the other reviews please.
Review: Sorry but reading the other reviews slightly ruined this book for me. They give too many hints (they seem subtle but once you get your hands on the book the answer is obvious). Anyway, I was nonetheless satisfied with this book and agree that is one of Dame Christie's must-reads. Read it.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent murder mystery, well worth reading
Review: The edition I have of this book quoted Agatha Christie as saying "I feel I am justified in saying [this book] is among my best". It is definitely the best of the dozen or so Christie books I have read. A breezy 160-pages, unfortunately. Pick it up anyway. Read it in a day :)
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