Book Review: Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’m a little shocked that this says I began to listen in September. I think I restarted a couple of times since then. I had a nice long drive to and from Kentucky over the weekend which gave me sustained listening time and I powered through.
I’ve almost certainly read this before – but I was probably 12 as I read all of the Poirot mysteries the Westerville Public Library had in the YA section. I didn’t care for Miss Marple, but Poirot, for some reason, I loved. I’ve also seen the David Suchet version of this story, although I don’t really keep details of shows in my head that way. Almost certainly, these past experiences are why I figured out the whodunit on this read.
I’m a touch disappointed in Poirot for one of his actions whilst -at the same time – being pleased with him for said action. I think that shows a flaw in both of us. The reader will understand. No Spoilers.
I enjoyed most of Brannaugh’s voices, although my 16yo came in for the last few chapters and expressed disdain for British actors doing American voices. Some of his female voices weren’t particularly feminine, either.
I think Christie liked a few of the characters too well and allowed them to escape punishment for their crimes in, perhaps, unjust ways. She didn’t seem to like one particularly well, but no direct punishment within the parameters of the story was due – comeuppance will come. I find it interesting how she resolved myriad plot points.
The book was well crafted with specific introductions to characters, their interactions, and, then, late in the book when you have a sense of who’s who and what they’re about, the lurking danger becomes murder. Then the unraveling. Masterfully done. Poirot noticing details and inconsistencies always shocks me – how he can find one little thread and unravel the whole from there. I think that’s why I like him so much.