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- ISBN13: 9780425129630
- Condition: New
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Product Description
At a Hallowe’en party, Hercule Poirot aids mystery writer Ariadne Oliver in an investigation into the murder of a young girl-who may have witnessed a murder herself. But unmasking the killer proves more daunting than bob… More >>
Anonymous
30. Jul, 2010
I read this book about 20 pages at a time every Sunday. Sunday’s aren’t exactly my cup of tea. It’s the day after the weekend when I’m tired and sleep most of the day. What I read of the book I didn’t really enjoy at all. British literature dosn’t exactly make much sense to me. I don’t understand some of it. Other parts are just so boring that I couldn’t even tell you what I was reading. Perfect example: “I am quite sure” said Hercule Poirot”. “When a thing arranges itself so, one realizes that it must be so, one only looks for reasons why it should be so. If one does not find the reasons why it should not be so, then one is strengthened in one’s opinion.” This didn’t make a bit of sense to me, and most of the book was like that.
Rating: 3 / 5
Anonymous
30. Jul, 2010
I am a fan of Christie’s, but found this novel a bit of a let-down. It moves at the speed of a turtle in molasses, and though, at the time of writing I have not completed reading the book, the identity of the killer seems obvious (as it did from from the beginning). This is always a bit disappointing; one prefers to be surprised in the end. I feel that her story must have been fairly thin, so she felt the need to fill it up with pointless fillabuster-like dialogue and internal monologue. I would recommend one of her earlier, faster-paced novels instead of this one.
Rating: 2 / 5
Anonymous
30. Jul, 2010
This book by Agatha Christie was ok. It started out real slow and ended real slow. It didn’t really get to the exciting parts of the book and made me fall asleep. THis is by far the worst Agatha Christie book i have ever read
Rating: 1 / 5
vesperma@hotmail.com
30. Jul, 2010
I think to the reader of Mansion Mysteries this is one of the top novels. It uses a quick wit and an excellent cunning of a killer who kills creatively. Christie is at her best, however, his town visit is long and should be read with some Coke or Barqs Root Beer on a cold winter night. Do Not Read On Halloween, you will miss her point. If you read some reviews, you know what I mean.
Rating: 5 / 5
Matt Benoit
30. Jul, 2010
Mrs. Ariadne Oliver, a mystery writer, was staying with her friend, Judith Butler, at Woodleigh Common. Mrs. Oliver and Ms. Butler went to Mrs. Rowena Drake’s house to help prepare for a Hallowe’en Party with other people. The Hallowe’en Party was for children. During the preparations, a young girl, Joyce Reynolds, spoke of witnessing a murder a couple years ago. Joyce Reynolds was known for making up bizarre stories. Someone that was helping out with the preparations heard what Joyce said and didn’t take any chances. Joyce was murdered. She drowned in a pale of water used to bob for apples in the library during the party later that night. Mrs. Oliver wasted no time. She quickly went to her former policeman friend, Hercule Poirot, and asked for his help with finding Joyce’s murderer. Mr. Poirot immediately began interrogating people that were preparing for the party. He made little progress. Mr. Poirot then went to his old police-force colleague, Superintendent Spence, who lived in Woodleigh Common. Mr. Poirot asked Mr. Spence for a list of murder cases dating back a couple years. One case was about a Mrs. Llewellyn-Smythe. Mrs. Llewellyn-Smythe was an old, rich widow, who lived in a great house surrounded by beautiful gardens. She had many assistants that helped her out with all her work in the gardens. Mrs. Llewellyn-Smythe had always had a will giving the majority of her money to her nephew and his wife. Suddenly, she died, and her will left the majority of her money to an au pair girl. The will said she was giving her money to the au pair girl because she helped out much when she was sick. Lawyers saw that Mrs. Llewellyn-Smythe’s signature on the will was forged. All of a sudden, the au pair girl disappeared. This case made Mr. Poirot curious. Mr. Poirot began questioning everyone who was preparing for the party again. He asked them if they knew anything about the Mrs. Llewellyn-Smythe case. He learned that Michael Garfield created the beautiful gardens for Mrs. Llewellyn-Smythe. He asked him some questions. He learned that Michael wanted money to buy a Greece Island and make it a beautiful garden. Mr. Poirot also learned about Miranda Butler, Judith Butler’s daughter, and that her best friend was Joyce Reynolds. Miranda loves nature and is always outside enjoying it. Miranda was looking for an old wishing well that was covered by plants, while Mr. Poirot was talking to Michael. Michael claimed he knew where the well was, but he wouldn’t tell Miranda. One of the people who were at the party was Miss Whittaker. She told Mr. Poirot that she saw Mrs. Drake coming down the stairs during the party holding a vase filled with water. She said she saw her look in the direction of the library and then suddenly dropped the vase. Mrs. Whittaker concluded that Mrs. Drake saw something that startled her, maybe the murderer. Mr. Poirot went to see Mrs. Drake. Mrs. Drake said she didn’t see anything, although Mr. Poirot did learn that Mrs. Drake’s husband was dead. A little while later, after Mrs. Drake said she didn’t see anything, Leopold Reynolds, Joyce’s younger brother, was murdered. Mrs. Drake then admitted that she saw Leopold come out of the library and that was what startled her. She said she thought Leopold killed his sister, and she didn’t want to blame a child. Mr. Poirot then understands everything that has happened and why. He solves the crime. I think this book was very exciting and suspenseful. In the beginning of the story, when Joyce Reynolds claims she witnessed a murder, I didn’t believe her. I thought she was making everything up. My initial guess as to who murdered Joyce was Ms. Butler. I thought it was logical that it was she. When Mr. Poirot learned about the Mrs. Llewellyn-Smithe case, I immediately thought that case had to do with the murder of Joyce Reynolds. At that point in the book, I was really into the story. When Mr. Poirot met Michael Garfield, I began to think he was the murderer, or had something to do with the crime. As soon as Mrs. Drake said she saw Leopold Reynolds come out of the library, I was totally confused as to whom the murderer was. I love the challenge of solving murder cases like this. When Mr. Poirot explained everything at the end, everything made sense. I realized that the plot was very well organized, and it flowed perfectly. I think Agatha Christie is a fantastic author, and I am looking forward to reading another one of her books. Ariadne Oliver is introduced as a mystery writer. She is very famous, and everyone seems to know her. We learn that she loves apples. They are her favorite things to eat. However, when Joyce is murdered in a pale full of apples and water, Mrs. Oliver can no longer eat apples. She says she will never eat another apple again. Mrs. Oliver began eating dates instead. Mrs. Oliver beginning to eat dates was very important in the story. It gave Mr. Poirot a clue to help himself solve the crime. Mrs. Oliver is a very generous, friendly lady. She willingly helped protect Ms. Butler and Miranda, and she was determined to find Joyce’s murderer. Agatha Christie described Mrs. Ariadne Oliver through a process known as indirect characterization. Mrs. Oliver is a flat, dynamic character.
Rating: 4 / 5