Tag: Three Act Tragedy

Agatha Christie – Three Act Tragedy | Review

Title: Three Act Tragedy

Author: Agatha Christie

Type: Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 252

Rating: 9/10

 

Agatha Christie - Three Act Tragedy

Agatha Christie – Three Act Tragedy

 

Three Act Tragedy is yet another of Agatha Christie’s early novels, and all of them have one thing in common – they’re excellent. Christie was at her best during the 1930s in my opinion, and it’s certainly the decade that produced the majority of her most widely-adored novels.

It’s also one of her most widely-imitated books – it pioneered a plot device that has since been used across many genres, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise. It’s a fantastic book that’s well worth reading, so it’s better to discover it yourself at your own time.

Since it features Poirot, Christie’s unendingly enduring detective, one’s forced to expect a certain standard of quality in Christie’s writing, and she doesn’t disappoint – Poirot is at his best, and the story-line will keep you guessing until the end, whichever edition you’re reading.

 

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie

 

As always, Christie is also self-referential, hinting at cases from The Mysterious Affair at Styles and At the “Bells and Motley”; likewise, she refers back to Three Act Tragedy in Hercule Poirot’s Christmas and in The A.B.C. Murders, another of her finest works.

While this is far from Christie’s greatest novel, it’s still an excellent starting point for a new reader and widely recommended from me – as a general rule, read anything she released in the 1930s. And don’t miss Death On the Nile, The A.B.C. Murders and And Then There Was None.

 

Agatha Christie Quote

Agatha Christie Quote

 

Click here to buy Three Act Tragedy.

 


Agatha Christie – The A.B.C. Murders | Review

Title: The A.B.C. Murders

Author: Agatha Christie

Type: Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 252

Rating: 9/10

 

Agatha Christie - The A.B.C. Murders

Agatha Christie – The A.B.C. Murders

 

This is Christie at her best, published first in her glory period in the 1930s when she also released Murder on the Orient Express, Three Act Tragedy, Death on the Nile and And Then There Were None. I promise, you’ll enjoy this one – it’s up there with my favourites.

Picture the scene – Alice Ascher is killed in AndoverBetty Barnard dies in Bexhill, and Sir Carmichael Clarke is found dead in Churston. Hercule Poirot receives a letter in advance of each murder, telling him where to expect the crime to take place. The great detective must unravel the clues and try to stop the killer before further lives are claimed.

The inspector unravels the clues in his usual inimitable style, and it’s great fun to watch and learn as Hercule Poirot’s faultless logic helps to track the perpetrator down. This is a great book to start with if you’re new to Poirot or Christie, and seasoned readers are likely to have read it already.

Good luck solving why the killer always leaves a copy of the ABC railway guide beside his victims – that’s been one of my favourite riddles in any of the Agatha Christie books that I’ve read. As always, her mastery of the mystery genre is supreme, and you’ll be kicking yourself at the end when all is revealed. The sign of any good mystery book, encapsulated by Christie.

 

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie

 

Click here to buy The A.B.C. Murders.