Hi folks! It’s been a hot minute since I shared my last Project Poirot episode. I’ve been reading the books, but I haven’t been documenting my progress. In case you’ve missed my previous episodes in this series, Project Poirot is a project I’ve undertaken where I’m reading all of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot novels in the order they were published. What do I achieve from this exercise? The pleasure of re-reading some of my favourite novels, a look at the growth of one of my favourite characters of all time, and the chance to analyse the craft of my absolute favourite writer.
So far, I have reached mid-way through the list. It’s taken me a while to get here but I’m savouring the books, which is why I’m in no rush to get through them. When I began the project, I did an Instagram live to discuss three books at a time. Then I would share that live session along with my reviews of the books on my blog for wider reach. This time, however, I chose a different route. Instead of a live session, I recorded an Instagram reel that came in just under three minutes. I’m not sure which format is better but perhaps the shorter format will have a wider reach? I’m sharing the video below – let me know which one you prefer for the next episode – a longer Instagram Live or a shorter reel. Till then, here are my reviews of books 17, 18 and 19.
Check out the previous Project Poirot episodes here.
Project Poirot Episode 7:
Death on the Nile:
Goodreads Blurb:
The tranquillity of a lovely cruise along the Nile is shattered by the discovery that Linnet Ridgeway has been shot. She was young, stylish and beautiful, a girl who had everything – until she lost her life.
Who is also on board? Christie’s great detective Hercule Poirot is on holiday. He recalls an earlier outburst by a fellow passenger: ‘I’d like to put my dear little pistol against her head and just press the trigger.’ Despite the exotic setting, nothing is ever quite what it seems…
My Review:
Christie’s books make for comfort reading – there’s really no other way to describe the pleasure one receives from reading her works.
Once you’ve read a few, it also becomes easy to predict the endings – which was definitely the case with this one.
Despite that, the book was superbly entertaining and well laid-out. Full of criminals, lovers and loads of entertainment!
Rating: 4/5
Link to Buy: https://amzn.to/43ytBI0
Murder in the Mews:
Goodreads Blurb:
How did a woman holding a pistol in her right hand manage to shoot herself in the left temple? What was the link between a ghost sighting and the disappearance of top-secret military plans? How did the bullet that killed Sir Gervase shatter a mirror in another part of the room? And who destroyed the “eternal triangle” of love involving renowned beauty, Valentine Chantry?
Hercule Poirot is faced with four mystifying cases: 1. Murder in the Mews 2. The Incredible Theft 3. Dead Man’s Mirror and 4. Triangle at Rhodes. Each of them is a miniature classic of characterization, incident and suspense.
My Review:
A collection of a few choice Poirot nuggets. The perfect book to curl up with when taking a break from one’s stressful life. I re-read it after a few years and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Rating: 4/5
Link to Buy: https://amzn.to/45dgbCl
Appointment with Death:
Goodreads Blurb:
Among the towering red cliffs of Petra, like some monstrous swollen Buddha, sat the corpse of Mrs Boynton. A tiny puncture mark on her wrist was the only sign of the fatal injection that had killed her.
With only 24 hours available to solve the mystery, Hercule Poirot recalled a chance remark he’d overheard back in Jerusalem: ‘You see, don’t you, that she’s got to be killed?’ Mrs Boynton was, indeed, the most detestable woman he’d ever met.
My Review:
This is a rare Hercule Poirot that I hadn’t read in my teens and twenties. Apart from the highly improbable and dramatic story, I also figured out the killer and a likely motive fairly easily. I did however enjoy the setting in Petra. It’s definitely not her best work, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Rating: 3/5
Link to Buy:https://amzn.to/4jA57Tj
Watch my Project Poirot Episode 7 here:
Have you read any of these Poirot novels, or watched the movies based on them? Which is your favourite one? Tell me in the comments below!
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This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Mister Tikku.
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