3.5
Historia de lo que podríamos llamar asesino en serie en la que un policía se traslada a investigar unos crímenes que están asolando una pequeña localidad.
Entretenido pero sin más pretensiones.
Me esperaba más.

I loved the plot but somehow the dated style annoyed me. It doesn’t usually do that in Agatha Christie novels, but here some of the narrative grated on me!

Had seen the most recent adaptation of this in which they shoehorned Miss Marple into it and basically changed the entire plot. I wasn't a huge fan of the adaptation, so I figured I would try the book. The only character that was the same was the main character, who was played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the adaptation. I liked this so much better than the adaptation - plus it is a quick, fun read. And bonus points for getting to picture BC through the entire thing.

3.5 - The TV Marple was more fascinating, but I enjoyed the ride, and I'm excited to see the new adaptation, I enjoy the variation

(Audio) I was surprised to find I enjoy these "stand-alone" Christie novels (i.e. without a leading star detective) as much but this was another good one. Granted, not so good as some of the others as I don't think writing about young people is the author's forte. You can only keep a straight face for the first couple of times when a character calls an old woman "an old pussy" - after that, it's all downhill from there.
I have to say I didn't particularly enjoy the cool young main characters either, I much prefer the antiquated, dainty, eccentric old boys of her other novels. Still, an interesting read and I guessed who the murderer is for the first time ever!

I think I'm getting better at guessing the killer. I had a suspect in mind, & a motive, & was sure they were the killer just moments before they were revealed as such. It didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book at all.

A standalone story, a retired police detective has a chance meeting with a woman intent on reporting a crime to Scotland Yard, only to find out later the woman was killed in an accident. Fitzwilliam isn't so sure it was accidental, & travels to the woman's village to ask a few questions about some suspicious deaths.

This was was a bit different, which I liked. While I enjoy Poirot, he isn't my favorite, so it was nice to read one of her less popular stories. This one also has a hint of spookiness in it. The village feels evil according to some characters, & villagers are rumored to conduct strange rituals in the forest on certain nights. There's a sense of foreboding & gloom in the story. That was really fun.

Continuing on with the #ReadingAllOfAgatha read along hosted by an Instagram friend, Murder Is Easy was the May selection. This book takes place in the small English village of Wychwood, where a serial killer is on the loose.

Retired police officer Luke Fitzwilliam is on a train to London when he meets a very loquacious elderly woman. Claiming there is a serial killer in her village, and that the killer has already murdered three people and is about to claim a fourth victim, she is on her way to Scotland Yard to tell the police. Luke dismisses her claims as the chatty ramblings of an old woman, but when she is found dead within hours, and suddenly there is a fourth murder victim in the village, Luke decides to do a bit of private detective work.

After reading Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? this one was just the tiniest bit of a letdown for me, therefore, I am giving it three stars. (Take that for what you will, mind you.) And to be honest, I’m not sure why this is part of the Superintendent Battle series when he makes only the briefest of appearances near the end of the book.

But still, I did enjoy the story. I thought I knew who the murderer was. Twice. So yeah, Dame Agatha always gets points for keeping me guessing! I wasn’t very impressed with the protagonist in this one. But the cast of supporting characters added to the drama, and in true Agatha Christie fashion, kept me interested throughout the whole of the story.

So, in my opinion, it’s not her finest work, but not her worst either. Then again, it might just be me, still being salty that my favorite Belgian detective isn’t in these last selections of her books that I’m reading.

This is the April selection for the #readchristie2021 challenge, and I think my favorite book of the challenge so far this year. The premise is intriguing right from the start - there's been a string of deaths in the village of Wychwood, and they may not be accidental. Full of interesting characters, there are a long list of suspects that Luke Fitzwilliam is trying to sort out and find whodunit. Even though it doesn't feature Poirot or Miss Marple, the mystery is classic Christie and very enjoyable.