Tag: Pseudonymous

Agatha Christie – Death Comes As the End | Review

August 23, 2014
Authors A-E (By Surname)Fiction

Title: Death Comes As the End

Author: Agatha Christie

Type: Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 160

Rating: 6/10

 

Agatha Christie - Death Comes As the End

Agatha Christie – Death Comes As the End

 

This novel is a little bit different, in that it’s a murder novel set in Ancient Egypt, in a period in history that Christie was passionately interested in because of her archaeologist husband and her own forays in the field. And, similarly to such classics as And Then There Were None, there’s a lot of death to keep you turning the pages, once you get past the initial, tedious introduction.

Unfortunately, it’s just not on the same level as some of her other work. Sure, it’s well-written and well-researched, and the climax at the end is the highlight of what’s otherwise a fairly standard effort, but I just felt that it paled in to comparison to all of the other Agatha Christie work that I’ve read, including her pseudonymous romance novels. It’s a shame really.

 

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie

 

Click here to buy Death Comes As the End.

Agatha Christie – The Rose and the Yew Tree | Review

August 21, 2014
Authors A-E (By Surname)Fiction

Title: The Rose and the Yew Tree

Author: Agatha Christie

Type: Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 218

Rating: 7/10

 

Agatha Christie - The Rose and the Yew Tree

Agatha Christie – The Rose and the Yew Tree

 

The Rose and the Yew Tree is one of Christie’s pseudonymous novels, originally published under the pen name of Mary Westmacott. The novels which Christie wrote as Westmacott are usually referred to as romance novels, and while there’s a healthy dose of romance involved here, it’s more of a human interest novel than anything else.

Loosely speaking, the story follows the ruthless John Gabriel in his attempt to make it as a politician in a sleepy village, a man who would happily represent any political party so long as he could gain power. It’s an interesting look back at a time that is no more, and to the types of character that you no longer get to meet – it’s also surprisingly exciting, despite the subject matter.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting great things – as usual, Agatha Christie surprised me. If you only read her because you’re in to crime novels then this isn’t for you, but if you’re a fan in general of literature from her era then you’re going to love this – it puts her on a par with Hemingway, Graham Greene and other great writers of her generation.

 

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie

 

Click here to buy The Rose and the Yew Tree.