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Agatha Christie #2
A Different Kind of Evil
Crime writer Agatha Christie turns sleuth aboard a liner to Tenerife, instructed by the Secret Service to investigate an agentâ€s mysterious death. After a troubled heiress falls overboard, the novelist must use her intuition to outwit a deadly enemy.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published March 13, 2018
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May 18, 2018
1927 and Agatha Christie had been advised by her doctor to have rest and recuperation after the harrowing experiences of the previous few months. Embarking on a cruise to the Canary Islands was a health benefit and to be accompanied by her daughter and the nanny made her cover complete. Mrs Christie was on the hunt for a killer, and she was under the protection of the British Secret Intelligence Service, along with an agent by the name of John Davison.
But the suicide of a young woman on board within the first day of the journey which Mrs Christie witnessed and was unable to prevent, along with strange and suspicious circumstances once they had arrived in the Orotava Valley, had Mrs Christie sure she knew who the killer was. Not knowing who she could trust, her unearthing of secrets had her realizing the evil on the island was dark and dangerous. Would she be able to uncover the killer before it was too late?
A Different Kind of Evil is #2 in the Agatha Christie series after A Talent for Murder, which I enjoyed by author Andrew Wilson. A mildly intriguing plot, it was unfortunately long-winded and rambling in places and I didn’t take to this one as much as the first. Far-fetched and melodramatic, I nevertheless enjoyed Agatha Christie’s character, and that of her daughter and nanny. Recommended to fans of historical mystery.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.
But the suicide of a young woman on board within the first day of the journey which Mrs Christie witnessed and was unable to prevent, along with strange and suspicious circumstances once they had arrived in the Orotava Valley, had Mrs Christie sure she knew who the killer was. Not knowing who she could trust, her unearthing of secrets had her realizing the evil on the island was dark and dangerous. Would she be able to uncover the killer before it was too late?
A Different Kind of Evil is #2 in the Agatha Christie series after A Talent for Murder, which I enjoyed by author Andrew Wilson. A mildly intriguing plot, it was unfortunately long-winded and rambling in places and I didn’t take to this one as much as the first. Far-fetched and melodramatic, I nevertheless enjoyed Agatha Christie’s character, and that of her daughter and nanny. Recommended to fans of historical mystery.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.
August 18, 2018
After thoroughly enjoying the previous book, A Talent for Murder, I couldn’t wait to pick up this next one.
A Different Kind of Evil picks up quite shortly after events from the first book. Agatha Christie has caught the eye of the British Secret Intelligence Service and for her first mission, she is sent to Tenerife to help solve the murder of an agent whose body has been found mummified and drained of blood in a remote cave.
Events already kick off on board the ship that will take Agatha to Tenerife, when she witnesses a young woman jump overboard in what looks to be a tragic suicide. This is only the start though as Agatha finds herself deeply involved in the odd occult world of one of the island’s residents. Will Agatha be able to stop another murder from happening?
Being a crime fiction writer obviously doesn’t mean you have a knack at solving murders, although that is what’s expected from Agatha here. And so the whole story has that delightful Murder, She Wrote feeling to it, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Just as in the previous book, Agatha comes across as an intelligent and perceptive woman. On top of trying to solve this gruesome murder, she’s also struggling to finish her latest book and doubting her abilities as a mother.
Once again, Andrew Wilson takes a few facts from Agatha Christie’s life and turns them into the most delicious murder mystery. While I had some inkling as to what was going on, I couldn’t quite put the various pieces of the puzzle together and there were a few surprises left for me to discover.
Agatha Christie makes a formidable main character and even though I feel I enjoyed the previous book just that little bit more, A Different Kind of Evil was hugely entertaining and I very much look forward to the next one in the series.
A Different Kind of Evil picks up quite shortly after events from the first book. Agatha Christie has caught the eye of the British Secret Intelligence Service and for her first mission, she is sent to Tenerife to help solve the murder of an agent whose body has been found mummified and drained of blood in a remote cave.
Events already kick off on board the ship that will take Agatha to Tenerife, when she witnesses a young woman jump overboard in what looks to be a tragic suicide. This is only the start though as Agatha finds herself deeply involved in the odd occult world of one of the island’s residents. Will Agatha be able to stop another murder from happening?
Being a crime fiction writer obviously doesn’t mean you have a knack at solving murders, although that is what’s expected from Agatha here. And so the whole story has that delightful Murder, She Wrote feeling to it, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Just as in the previous book, Agatha comes across as an intelligent and perceptive woman. On top of trying to solve this gruesome murder, she’s also struggling to finish her latest book and doubting her abilities as a mother.
Once again, Andrew Wilson takes a few facts from Agatha Christie’s life and turns them into the most delicious murder mystery. While I had some inkling as to what was going on, I couldn’t quite put the various pieces of the puzzle together and there were a few surprises left for me to discover.
Agatha Christie makes a formidable main character and even though I feel I enjoyed the previous book just that little bit more, A Different Kind of Evil was hugely entertaining and I very much look forward to the next one in the series.
September 7, 2019
I'm so glad I found this series. It is light and entertaining, but at the same time, intelligent and well-crafted. The plot was good (although there was a hole left somewhere, but I'm not sure everyone would notice so I don't want to spoil things for you), and made me flip through the pages as fast as I could to get to the solution of the mystery. Agatha Christie's character is well done, and so are the other major characters, and the minor ones are interesting and unique. It helps to know that everything is based on facts from Christie's real life, as is explained at the end of the novel. Moved on to the next one.
May 31, 2018
Visit the locations in the novel
This is turning into a really fun series. Book one was good and this second one goes that bit further. Agatha Christie herself of course is the star of the show and this time she's on a cruise when she gets asked to help out regarding a crime. She's writing one of her famous novels at the time and this is a really nice touch to the story when she mentions her book and marriage struggles in the course of this story.
Yes Mr Wilson I do like these novels - entertaining, mysterious and with the best crime writer of all time at its heart. Full review nearer the time but keep an eye out for this cruise and island set novel!
April 13, 2018
How about a MINUS One ★, and that is being generous
KIRKUS REVIEW:
"Free at last of the scandal of her notorious 1926 disappearance—though not quite yet of her adulterous spouse—Agatha Christie sails for the Canary Islands at the behest of the secret agent who helped rescue her from those complications (A Talent for Murder, 2017).
The first death, that of Secret Intelligence Service agent Douglas Greene, precedes Christie’s passage. In fact, it’s what makes John Davison press her to go to Tenerife in the first place. Nor does the second wait for her arrival. As Christie looks on in horror, Gina Trevelyan, a wronged wife who’s stowed away aboard the Gelria, launches herself over the side of the ship in a frenzy of grief, her body lost forever. Sculptor Helen Hart, the other woman whose affair with Guy Trevelyan has brought her to the ship as well, baffles Christie by taking moral responsibility for Gina’s death shortly after announcing, “I’m pleased the bitch is dead.” The Canaries themselves, home to sinister occultist Gerard Grenville, are equally dangerous for two of Christie’s fellow passengers from the Gelria and indeed for the celebrated novelist herself, who ends up hiding in a closet from which she watches as another passenger’s pearls are stolen by someone she can readily identify but declines to do so, even when Inspector Artemi Narciso Núñez arrests Christie herself for the theft and throws her in jail. The only way she’ll be able to help in solving Douglas Greene’s murder, it seems, will be if Wilson abates his fondness for local color long enough to allow His Majesty’s most unlikely secret agent to decide that it’s high time to link all the felonies that clutter this tangled tale.
The problem with casting a famous real-life mystery writer as your detective is that you can’t help inviting comparisons between your work and hers. It’s no shame to say that Wilson can’t stand up to such a comparison, but it’s no recommendation either."
This book was gawd-awful....
This male author used the voice of a happy-go-lucky younger woman of a much later era. There is Not-One-Iota of any similarity between the writing of Agatha Christie and this author, nor does his character resemble in any-way-shape-or-form the real Dame Agatha....
I couldn't stand this book, it was weak and over-the-top unrealistic...
I give it a pass..... as in Pass This One By
KIRKUS REVIEW:
"Free at last of the scandal of her notorious 1926 disappearance—though not quite yet of her adulterous spouse—Agatha Christie sails for the Canary Islands at the behest of the secret agent who helped rescue her from those complications (A Talent for Murder, 2017).
The first death, that of Secret Intelligence Service agent Douglas Greene, precedes Christie’s passage. In fact, it’s what makes John Davison press her to go to Tenerife in the first place. Nor does the second wait for her arrival. As Christie looks on in horror, Gina Trevelyan, a wronged wife who’s stowed away aboard the Gelria, launches herself over the side of the ship in a frenzy of grief, her body lost forever. Sculptor Helen Hart, the other woman whose affair with Guy Trevelyan has brought her to the ship as well, baffles Christie by taking moral responsibility for Gina’s death shortly after announcing, “I’m pleased the bitch is dead.” The Canaries themselves, home to sinister occultist Gerard Grenville, are equally dangerous for two of Christie’s fellow passengers from the Gelria and indeed for the celebrated novelist herself, who ends up hiding in a closet from which she watches as another passenger’s pearls are stolen by someone she can readily identify but declines to do so, even when Inspector Artemi Narciso Núñez arrests Christie herself for the theft and throws her in jail. The only way she’ll be able to help in solving Douglas Greene’s murder, it seems, will be if Wilson abates his fondness for local color long enough to allow His Majesty’s most unlikely secret agent to decide that it’s high time to link all the felonies that clutter this tangled tale.
The problem with casting a famous real-life mystery writer as your detective is that you can’t help inviting comparisons between your work and hers. It’s no shame to say that Wilson can’t stand up to such a comparison, but it’s no recommendation either."
This book was gawd-awful....
This male author used the voice of a happy-go-lucky younger woman of a much later era. There is Not-One-Iota of any similarity between the writing of Agatha Christie and this author, nor does his character resemble in any-way-shape-or-form the real Dame Agatha....
I couldn't stand this book, it was weak and over-the-top unrealistic...
I give it a pass..... as in Pass This One By
October 14, 2019
I think I got more out of it reading it so quickly after 'A Talent for Murder', they do act as companion books. I did enjoy this read as it does plug in to my choice of period, genre and the like but it doesn't really work for me. I'm not sure why. Maybe my cynical self isn't that keen on someone writing as the character of Agatha Christie. Although AW is at pains to state he is nothing to do with Agatha Christie or her Estate and it is a work of fiction. Maybe I expect more because of that moniker. I don't know. But like I said, I did read it, it is very readable but ultimately as a story, its not good enough for me.
Toast
Toast
March 28, 2018
Following the death of her mother, the collapse of her marriage to Archie Christie, and her sensational disappearance for two weeks, Agatha Christie is now on a trip to Tenerife, officially for rest and recovery, and to finish her latest book. The Mystery of the Blue Train.
Unofficially, she is travelling at the behest of British Special Agent Davison, to investigate the death of another intelligence officer, Douglas Greene. Greene was found dead in a cave, drained of his blood and partially mummified. She is not to take any risks. She is only gathering information. Davison will also be there, under an assumed name.
What could possibly go wrong?
Things start going wrong while she's still on the ship carrying her there. A young woman, apparently the wife of another passenger, flees from her husband's mistress, goes to the stern of the liner, and leaps over the side, while Agatha and the husband's mistress, sculptor Helen Harte, watch, unable to stop her. Less catastrophically, there are also two absolute bores among the passengers, a woman who can't stop talking about her experiences on the Titanic, and a man who is going to revolutionize literature by writing down every single thing he sees and hears.
Once in Tenerife, she soon encounters George Grenville, an rather sinister-seeming occultist along the lines of Aleister Crowley; his very subdued daughter, Violet; Violet's beloved, but unfortunately dying of tuberculosis, Edward Ffosse; and other hotel guests and local English residents.
She also discovers that no one and nothing is as it seems, starting with Davison, who has his own huge secret connected to Douglas Greene. Her knowledge of poisons becomes highly relevant, when tiresome would-be literary giant Howard Winniatt is found dead. Grenville has extensive garden of poisonous plants, and library well-stocked with tomes on the subject, and...there's something about Winniatt's death that is disturbingly similar to the suicide of Gina Trevalyan, on the ship to Tenerife.
As she struggles to put together all the facts, and figure out what vital clues she's overlooking, her fellow guests on the island seem stranger and stranger--and she herself becomes both a target and a suspect.
It's nicely intriguing, and this is a "playing fair" mystery, where the reader does have all the clues.
An enjoyable read. Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, and I am reviewing it voluntarily.
Unofficially, she is travelling at the behest of British Special Agent Davison, to investigate the death of another intelligence officer, Douglas Greene. Greene was found dead in a cave, drained of his blood and partially mummified. She is not to take any risks. She is only gathering information. Davison will also be there, under an assumed name.
What could possibly go wrong?
Things start going wrong while she's still on the ship carrying her there. A young woman, apparently the wife of another passenger, flees from her husband's mistress, goes to the stern of the liner, and leaps over the side, while Agatha and the husband's mistress, sculptor Helen Harte, watch, unable to stop her. Less catastrophically, there are also two absolute bores among the passengers, a woman who can't stop talking about her experiences on the Titanic, and a man who is going to revolutionize literature by writing down every single thing he sees and hears.
Once in Tenerife, she soon encounters George Grenville, an rather sinister-seeming occultist along the lines of Aleister Crowley; his very subdued daughter, Violet; Violet's beloved, but unfortunately dying of tuberculosis, Edward Ffosse; and other hotel guests and local English residents.
She also discovers that no one and nothing is as it seems, starting with Davison, who has his own huge secret connected to Douglas Greene. Her knowledge of poisons becomes highly relevant, when tiresome would-be literary giant Howard Winniatt is found dead. Grenville has extensive garden of poisonous plants, and library well-stocked with tomes on the subject, and...there's something about Winniatt's death that is disturbingly similar to the suicide of Gina Trevalyan, on the ship to Tenerife.
As she struggles to put together all the facts, and figure out what vital clues she's overlooking, her fellow guests on the island seem stranger and stranger--and she herself becomes both a target and a suspect.
It's nicely intriguing, and this is a "playing fair" mystery, where the reader does have all the clues.
An enjoyable read. Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, and I am reviewing it voluntarily.
August 26, 2019
This is book 2 in a fictional mystery series based on real events from Agatha Christie's life. A little slow in the beginning and middle, but an exciting reveal at the end. I appreciate how the author notes the actual events from Agatha's life at the end of the book. Excited to get started on book #3.
"Two months after the events of A Talent for Murder, during which Agatha Christie “disappeared,” the famed mystery writer’s remarkable talent for detection has captured the attention of British Special Agent Davison. Now, at his behest, she is traveling to the beautiful Canary Islands to investigate the strange and gruesome death of Douglas Greene, an agent of the British Secret Intelligence Service. As she embarks on a glamorous cruise ship to her destination, she suddenly hears a scream. Rushing over to the stern of the liner, she witnesses a woman fling herself over the side of the ship to her death. After this shocking experience, she makes it to the Grand Hotel in a lush valley on the islands. There, she meets a diverse and fascinating cast of characters, including two men who are suspected to be involved in the murder of Douglas Greene: an occultist similar to Aleister Crowley; and the secretary to a prominent scholar, who may also be a Communist spy. But Agatha soon realizes that nothing is what it seems here and she is surprised to learn that the apparent suicide of the young woman on the ocean liner is related to the murder of Douglas Greene. Now she has to unmask a different kind of evil in this sinister and thrilling mystery."
"Two months after the events of A Talent for Murder, during which Agatha Christie “disappeared,” the famed mystery writer’s remarkable talent for detection has captured the attention of British Special Agent Davison. Now, at his behest, she is traveling to the beautiful Canary Islands to investigate the strange and gruesome death of Douglas Greene, an agent of the British Secret Intelligence Service. As she embarks on a glamorous cruise ship to her destination, she suddenly hears a scream. Rushing over to the stern of the liner, she witnesses a woman fling herself over the side of the ship to her death. After this shocking experience, she makes it to the Grand Hotel in a lush valley on the islands. There, she meets a diverse and fascinating cast of characters, including two men who are suspected to be involved in the murder of Douglas Greene: an occultist similar to Aleister Crowley; and the secretary to a prominent scholar, who may also be a Communist spy. But Agatha soon realizes that nothing is what it seems here and she is surprised to learn that the apparent suicide of the young woman on the ocean liner is related to the murder of Douglas Greene. Now she has to unmask a different kind of evil in this sinister and thrilling mystery."
November 23, 2020
This was a very strong follow up to A Talent for Murder featuring Agatha Christie as detective! I really enjoyed it, great atmosphere, interesting characters, fun and interesting tie-ins to Christie's own real life and biography. Very different story from the first one but also in keeping with similar themes!
I will say this one also had some very dark aspects to it, not often seen in Christie's own writing. While certainly she did seem concerned with the idea of evil and there was a darkness or evilness in some of the characters, her books weren't dark themselves, at least not to me. So I find this take on her as an author/pseudo-detective very interesting!
The end reveal was very well done! Really enjoy the character of Davison and Mme Giroux who was newly introduced!
The first part had some Death on the Nile vibes!
I will say this one also had some very dark aspects to it, not often seen in Christie's own writing. While certainly she did seem concerned with the idea of evil and there was a darkness or evilness in some of the characters, her books weren't dark themselves, at least not to me. So I find this take on her as an author/pseudo-detective very interesting!
The end reveal was very well done! Really enjoy the character of Davison and Mme Giroux who was newly introduced!
The first part had some Death on the Nile vibes!
May 3, 2021
I have read A Talent for Murder and this book in close succession. Whilst the former did spark some interest in providing a reason for Christie's disappearance this one was particularly plodding and pedestrian in its portrayal of a series of murders at home and abroad. I found it hard going at times and I am not sure I will be looking for any more in the series
March 6, 2018
It is now 1927 and Agatha Christie is on her way to the Canary Islands ostensibly to have a holiday, but on an assignment from the Secret Intelligence Service to investigate the death of one of their agents, Douglas Greene. But not is all rest as a suicide on the outgoing ship disturbs her peace.
An enjoyable mystery, well-written, though Christie does seem a bit naive to think that any theories she has about events should automatically be believed by the police.
A NetGalley Book
An enjoyable mystery, well-written, though Christie does seem a bit naive to think that any theories she has about events should automatically be believed by the police.
A NetGalley Book
April 4, 2020
WARNING: incest, rape.
This series turns Agatha Christie into a crime solver herself. In the first book, her disappearance in 1926 is explained by blackmail and a truly horrid series of event. I thought it was a really good book, with a great plot and a very well written bad guy. I didn’t notice as much the flaws, or they didn’t bother me as much. However, this opus in the series was a lot more annoying and anger inducing. She goes on a trip to Tenerife to investigate a murder (as she has joined the Secret Service (don’t ask)) and on her way there, a woman jumps off the boat. Then when she gets there two more people get murdered, raising the body count to a whooping four.
The actual plot of this book was great in my opinion. It was convoluted, gripping, kind of horrifying and gives the reader multiple moments of Ah ha! which is really very satisfying, as is the ending. It’s really a shame that this plot is wasted on a book that is just terrible.
However, the character of Agatha Christie was just annoying. She is incredibly mild-mannered and submissive in my opinion. It would have been nice for her not to feel sick at every single mention of anything a bit uncomfortable, especially with her being a crime writer and all, although it is understandable when she sees the dead body. Reading her narrative feels like reading what a man would think a woman thinks, which it is but doesn’t make it less annoying. Also, along the same line, you cannot just say that every single slightly emotional outburst from a woman is just nerves. This book has made me fucking hate the word nerves, just because the amount of times it is said just feels lazy by the end. Find another fucking excuse for god’s sake!
Another problem with this book is that the author doesn’t seem to realize that some of the things he writes is just sexist and not okay. Yes, one could say that this is due to “historical accuracy” but 1. there are plenty of historical novels that aren’t sexist and 2. he doesn’t even address it or point out that it’s not okay. I have plenty of examples. To name a few: “First, I wanted to try and engage some of my feminine wiles: distress, charm and flattery.” This is an overused cliché, it works on a doctor who is on duty which is completely unprofessional and why would any of this be particularly “feminine”? A man could also flatter someone in order to get information. Why would that be feminine? Because women are mischievous witches who use their influence over men (who can only think about sex and their own ego of course) in order to subdue them. FUCK NO. Another quote is when she sees a house in which two men live which isn’t clean: “If nothing else, the two men were in desperate need of a woman’s touch. Part of me wanted to roll up my sleeves, get ahold of a brush and some soap and hot water and give the place a thorough clean.” Right because of course it is an inherent primitive desire for women to clean when they see anything grimy, and men are disgusting pigs who don’t do the washing up. She doesn’t want to clean the stuff because she is a human being who is grossed out by grimy washing, no. It’s because she is a woman and it’s natural for her to want to clean. NO. He writes little things like this all throughout the book that really ruined the reading experience for me.
However, by far the worst thing about this book actually happens about halfway through the book. Agatha wants some information about the main suspect. To do that she gets friendly with him and his daughter, stays over at their place and talks to his daughter. She tells Agatha to come to her room at 2 am, which Agatha does. What she sees is, and I really wish this were some horrid joke, the dad raping his daughter, who is crying and who motions to Agatha not to do anything and to leave. She then pretends the whole thing never happened, which really confuses Agatha. It is said that she did this because it was too horrible to say out loud so she invited Agatha up there to show her. Okay but no. Just no. What’s worse is that the only personality this girl has revolves around men, the fact that she’s in love with one who is about to die, that her dad rapes her and that the inspector loves her. Like give her some kind of fleshing out, please. What’s even worse, and I can’t even express how absolutely horrifying and disgusting this is to me, at the end of the book the dad dies saving his daughter’s life. His last words are “I’m sorry. […] Violet – please forgive me.” FUCK NO. You do not give a rapist and incestuous father redeeming last words. He does not deserve that. He is not a good man and this is in no way okay. This whole situation just made me want to retch. Giving him redeeming last words makes it seem like what he did is okay and that he is could be a good guy because he expresses a bit of guilt, and I really don’t think that is a good message to convey.
Anyways, this was a very long rant, to ultimately say that I hated this book.
1/5 stars.
This series turns Agatha Christie into a crime solver herself. In the first book, her disappearance in 1926 is explained by blackmail and a truly horrid series of event. I thought it was a really good book, with a great plot and a very well written bad guy. I didn’t notice as much the flaws, or they didn’t bother me as much. However, this opus in the series was a lot more annoying and anger inducing. She goes on a trip to Tenerife to investigate a murder (as she has joined the Secret Service (don’t ask)) and on her way there, a woman jumps off the boat. Then when she gets there two more people get murdered, raising the body count to a whooping four.
The actual plot of this book was great in my opinion. It was convoluted, gripping, kind of horrifying and gives the reader multiple moments of Ah ha! which is really very satisfying, as is the ending. It’s really a shame that this plot is wasted on a book that is just terrible.
However, the character of Agatha Christie was just annoying. She is incredibly mild-mannered and submissive in my opinion. It would have been nice for her not to feel sick at every single mention of anything a bit uncomfortable, especially with her being a crime writer and all, although it is understandable when she sees the dead body. Reading her narrative feels like reading what a man would think a woman thinks, which it is but doesn’t make it less annoying. Also, along the same line, you cannot just say that every single slightly emotional outburst from a woman is just nerves. This book has made me fucking hate the word nerves, just because the amount of times it is said just feels lazy by the end. Find another fucking excuse for god’s sake!
Another problem with this book is that the author doesn’t seem to realize that some of the things he writes is just sexist and not okay. Yes, one could say that this is due to “historical accuracy” but 1. there are plenty of historical novels that aren’t sexist and 2. he doesn’t even address it or point out that it’s not okay. I have plenty of examples. To name a few: “First, I wanted to try and engage some of my feminine wiles: distress, charm and flattery.” This is an overused cliché, it works on a doctor who is on duty which is completely unprofessional and why would any of this be particularly “feminine”? A man could also flatter someone in order to get information. Why would that be feminine? Because women are mischievous witches who use their influence over men (who can only think about sex and their own ego of course) in order to subdue them. FUCK NO. Another quote is when she sees a house in which two men live which isn’t clean: “If nothing else, the two men were in desperate need of a woman’s touch. Part of me wanted to roll up my sleeves, get ahold of a brush and some soap and hot water and give the place a thorough clean.” Right because of course it is an inherent primitive desire for women to clean when they see anything grimy, and men are disgusting pigs who don’t do the washing up. She doesn’t want to clean the stuff because she is a human being who is grossed out by grimy washing, no. It’s because she is a woman and it’s natural for her to want to clean. NO. He writes little things like this all throughout the book that really ruined the reading experience for me.
However, by far the worst thing about this book actually happens about halfway through the book. Agatha wants some information about the main suspect. To do that she gets friendly with him and his daughter, stays over at their place and talks to his daughter. She tells Agatha to come to her room at 2 am, which Agatha does. What she sees is, and I really wish this were some horrid joke, the dad raping his daughter, who is crying and who motions to Agatha not to do anything and to leave. She then pretends the whole thing never happened, which really confuses Agatha. It is said that she did this because it was too horrible to say out loud so she invited Agatha up there to show her. Okay but no. Just no. What’s worse is that the only personality this girl has revolves around men, the fact that she’s in love with one who is about to die, that her dad rapes her and that the inspector loves her. Like give her some kind of fleshing out, please. What’s even worse, and I can’t even express how absolutely horrifying and disgusting this is to me, at the end of the book the dad dies saving his daughter’s life. His last words are “I’m sorry. […] Violet – please forgive me.” FUCK NO. You do not give a rapist and incestuous father redeeming last words. He does not deserve that. He is not a good man and this is in no way okay. This whole situation just made me want to retch. Giving him redeeming last words makes it seem like what he did is okay and that he is could be a good guy because he expresses a bit of guilt, and I really don’t think that is a good message to convey.
Anyways, this was a very long rant, to ultimately say that I hated this book.
1/5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2018
**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
What fun I had reading A Different Kind of Evil by Andrew Wilson! This is the second book in the Agatha Christie Series. The series is a fictional account of Ms. Christie herself, built around true facts of her life, which I was pleased to find were listed at the end of the book. What fun! Such an amazing premise that follows an intriguing woman and her adventures. I did not read the first book before delving into this beauty. I think there would have been a huge advantage to read it, as there were many references throughout. While I was able to follow the story, I think I would have been more informed for having read the original book beforehand. It was like stepping into a book fifty pages in. I was able to catch up, but felt like I had missed a little something.
Agatha Christie, who is recently separated from her husband and recovering from her late mother’s passing has ventured out on cruise ship to the Canary Islands under the pretense of a vacation. In reality, she has been asked to assist the British Secret Intelligence Service in solving the murder of one of their agents, Douglas Greene. No sooner has she set out on the cruise, and she witnesses a woman throw herself from the ship.
Upon arriving on the islands, she meets an array of characters, including an occultist, Mr. Grenville and his daughter Violet, a suspected Communist spy, and a sweet old lady, Mrs. Brendel, who survived the sinking of the Titanic and makes sure everyone has heard her story a time or ten. Agatha Christie finds herself in over her head as she discovers the murder on the island and the woman who tossed herself overboard may be connected and the murderer will do anything to remain undiscovered. Wrongfully accused, and unwilling to tell her secrets, she finds herself on the opposite side of the law, but refuses to give up.
I absolutely loved this story! It was well written and so much fun. Near the end I thought the unraveling became a bit repetitive, but, it did not thwart my overall enjoyment. While I had my suspicions, I was never certain until the whodunit came to pass. This story will keep you flipping pages late into the night. I am so fortunate to have had an opportunity to read this book. I intend to follow this series as new books are released. A high four stars for this gem!
What fun I had reading A Different Kind of Evil by Andrew Wilson! This is the second book in the Agatha Christie Series. The series is a fictional account of Ms. Christie herself, built around true facts of her life, which I was pleased to find were listed at the end of the book. What fun! Such an amazing premise that follows an intriguing woman and her adventures. I did not read the first book before delving into this beauty. I think there would have been a huge advantage to read it, as there were many references throughout. While I was able to follow the story, I think I would have been more informed for having read the original book beforehand. It was like stepping into a book fifty pages in. I was able to catch up, but felt like I had missed a little something.
Agatha Christie, who is recently separated from her husband and recovering from her late mother’s passing has ventured out on cruise ship to the Canary Islands under the pretense of a vacation. In reality, she has been asked to assist the British Secret Intelligence Service in solving the murder of one of their agents, Douglas Greene. No sooner has she set out on the cruise, and she witnesses a woman throw herself from the ship.
Upon arriving on the islands, she meets an array of characters, including an occultist, Mr. Grenville and his daughter Violet, a suspected Communist spy, and a sweet old lady, Mrs. Brendel, who survived the sinking of the Titanic and makes sure everyone has heard her story a time or ten. Agatha Christie finds herself in over her head as she discovers the murder on the island and the woman who tossed herself overboard may be connected and the murderer will do anything to remain undiscovered. Wrongfully accused, and unwilling to tell her secrets, she finds herself on the opposite side of the law, but refuses to give up.
I absolutely loved this story! It was well written and so much fun. Near the end I thought the unraveling became a bit repetitive, but, it did not thwart my overall enjoyment. While I had my suspicions, I was never certain until the whodunit came to pass. This story will keep you flipping pages late into the night. I am so fortunate to have had an opportunity to read this book. I intend to follow this series as new books are released. A high four stars for this gem!
November 23, 2020
Following on from the first book Agatha is now in the employment of the Secret Intelligence Service and is on her way to the Canary Islands to investigate the death of one of their agents. But on the crossing she witnesses a young lady jumping to her death from the ship, and Agatha being Agatha is now really intrigued by this mystery. But this is dangerous ground and darkness surrounds these events and Agatha is getting drawn into it.
Another cracker of the fictional tales of Agatha Christie solving crimes, based on events in her life that did actually happen, not the murder but the trip to the Canary Islands. You really do get drawn in that Agatha, with all her knowledge and skills of writing crime, could actually do this in her real life. I look forward to book three.
Another cracker of the fictional tales of Agatha Christie solving crimes, based on events in her life that did actually happen, not the murder but the trip to the Canary Islands. You really do get drawn in that Agatha, with all her knowledge and skills of writing crime, could actually do this in her real life. I look forward to book three.
September 8, 2019
“A Different Kind Of Evil”. It is January 1927 and we find Agatha Christie aboard the SS Gelria a luxury liner headed for the Canary Islands. She is there to help John Davison, of the British Intelligence Service, investigate the murder of one of their agents. While walking on the deck she hears a scream and in time witnesses a passenger Gina Trevelyan climb over the ships railing and jumps. Other murders occur while on the Canary Islands. Is the murderer one of her fellow passengers or is it someone on the Island? This is the second of the series by Andrew Wilson which follows ‘A Talent for Murder’.
June 8, 2021
A very interesting idea, make Agatha Christie the detective. The first part of the book dragged a bit and was not very Christie-like, but the second was much better. That said the resolution and the conspiracy behind was a bit TOO convoluted for my taste and I didn't really enjoy how it was solved. Some threads also felt as if they were dropped off. On the plus side it was written quite well, clearly really well-researched and the protagonist was interesting enough.
I didn't love it and it only partially scratched my Christie-itch but I'll gladly read more volumes.
I didn't love it and it only partially scratched my Christie-itch but I'll gladly read more volumes.
May 8, 2018
The follow up to A Talent for Murder, Agatha Christie sails to the Canaries, (in the employ of the secret service) to investigate a murder, under the guise of a holiday with her daughter and secretary Carlo. As the murders pile up Christie finds herself caught up in a dangerous situation.
Again based on some fact, this was a really entertaining read, I powered through the first 3 quarters, however the final 2 chapters were a bit weak (the reveal).
Again based on some fact, this was a really entertaining read, I powered through the first 3 quarters, however the final 2 chapters were a bit weak (the reveal).
July 25, 2021
The idea of an amatour detective doesn't sound right for the character of Agatha Christie. She is presented as emotionally unstable, fragile, burden by the past, unable to take care of her daughter, even sometimes hiding from her and doing everything to avoid her. The first half of the book is rather boring, the actual action develops later with a quick ending and the killers turn out to be crazy people doing crazy things. Not my type of thing.
Read
July 17, 2018Abandoned at 50 pages - the style is not for me.
March 22, 2020
Excellent! Finally gotten round to reading this birthday gift from 2 years ago. Loving the concept of Agatha Christie as the detective. Fiction mixed with odd actual events from Christies life lovin it!
March 22, 2021
Finished this book, it was a nice read, a good old murder mystery and i was really enjoying the last 80 pages :)
June 13, 2021
A really enjoyable read. The vibe of a Christie mystery.
August 17, 2021
Second in a series where Agatha Christie is the amateur detective. This had a strong sense of place set in the 1920s Canary Islands. A good mystery with a cast of interesting characters.
May 8, 2023
I really enjoy this series!
January 1, 2019
2.5 ale tylko dlatego, ze mi zal Agaty
March 19, 2018
I've always been a huge fan of Agatha Christie, so when I was given the opportunity to read A Different Kind of Evil, I immediately agreed. I was very intrigued by the idea of reading a murder mystery written about the Queen of Mystery herself! This novel is the second in a series, and although I would have loved to have read the first book in the series, I didn't find that I was missing much necessary information.
The reader follows along as Agatha, her daughter, and her nanny travel to the Canary Islands in order to assist in solving a murder. While aboard the cruise ship to her destination, Agatha witnesses a suicide and begins to slowly meet each of the characters who play vital roles in her time on the Canary Islands.
I truly loved this novel and enjoyed the different characters who each had so much to add to the story. The writing was fun and fast paced, and with each turn of the page, a little more of the mystery was unraveled. I kept thinking I knew how it would end but with every page came a new clue or a new suspicion. I would highly recommend this novel to readers who love crime and suspense novels! It was such a fun read and I look forward to more from Wilson! Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for offering this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Rating 4/5
The reader follows along as Agatha, her daughter, and her nanny travel to the Canary Islands in order to assist in solving a murder. While aboard the cruise ship to her destination, Agatha witnesses a suicide and begins to slowly meet each of the characters who play vital roles in her time on the Canary Islands.
I truly loved this novel and enjoyed the different characters who each had so much to add to the story. The writing was fun and fast paced, and with each turn of the page, a little more of the mystery was unraveled. I kept thinking I knew how it would end but with every page came a new clue or a new suspicion. I would highly recommend this novel to readers who love crime and suspense novels! It was such a fun read and I look forward to more from Wilson! Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for offering this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Rating 4/5
January 17, 2025
Тази книга я отлагам от 2020 година. И явно е имало защо.
Когато си решил да напишеш в книга, в която главата героиня да е най-добрата авторка на криминални романи в света, трябва да си сигурен, че ще я изобразиш поне на половината толкова добре, колкото са добри книгите ѝ.
Андрю Уилсън изобщо не се е справил със задачата.
Когато си решил да напишеш в книга, в която главата героиня да е най-добрата авторка на криминални романи в света, трябва да си сигурен, че ще я изобразиш поне на половината толкова добре, колкото са добри книгите ѝ.
Андрю Уилсън изобщо не се е справил със задачата.
July 13, 2024
„Друг вид зло“ е втората книга от общо четири романа в поредицата на Андрю Уилсън за Агата Кристи (имайте предвид, че в България са издадени само първите два). Авторът започва да пише книгите с интересната идея да разкаже какво потенциално се е случило с авторката през декември 1926, когато тя изчезва мистериозно за 11 дни. Първата книга, „Талант за убийство“, е базирана именно на този реален случай и е доста заплетена. Но за тази книга ще ви разкажа друг път – сега сме на лятна вълна, а и смятам, че втората е доста по-интригуваща.
В „Друг вид зло“ Агата отива на пътешествие до Канарските острови (отново реално събитие от живота ѝ), където е наета да разкрие мистериозен случай с изчезнал британски таен агент. За нейна изненада, необичайностите започват още на борда на кораба по пътя натам, когато една жена се хвърля в студените води на океана. Резултатът е доста заплетена мистерия, която не се страхува да бъде дръзка в описанията си и "злините", които са в основата на действието (няма да издавам повече). Героите са добре изградени през погледа и преживяванията на Агата и четящия лесно може да си изгради теория кой е заподозрения. Типично в стила на книгите на Агата Кристи, разбира се, накрая виновникът е съвсем друг – неочакван, но блестящо логически издържан.
Личи си че Андрю Уилсън пише с любов към творбите на Агата Кристи и това е опитът му да създаде история подобна на нейните. Книгата е много приятна за четене, кратка, перфектна за плажа. Четох я миналата година по това време и ако ви се иска да се докоснете до история, вдъхновена от реалния живот на известната писателка, вероятно тази книга ще ви се хареса.
Бих споделила една единствена критика - че дамите в книгата са описани на моменти прекалено сладникави, вероятно заради историческият контекст и периода, в който се развива действието. През 20-те години на XX век, маниерите и обноските на жените са били доста различни и вероятно от там идва тази тяхна черта. Въпреки това, на моменти ме изкарваше от сюжета и ми действаше някак разсейващо. Но това е доста дребна забележка.
В „Друг вид зло“ Агата отива на пътешествие до Канарските острови (отново реално събитие от живота ѝ), където е наета да разкрие мистериозен случай с изчезнал британски таен агент. За нейна изненада, необичайностите започват още на борда на кораба по пътя натам, когато една жена се хвърля в студените води на океана. Резултатът е доста заплетена мистерия, която не се страхува да бъде дръзка в описанията си и "злините", които са в основата на действието (няма да издавам повече). Героите са добре изградени през погледа и преживяванията на Агата и четящия лесно може да си изгради теория кой е заподозрения. Типично в стила на книгите на Агата Кристи, разбира се, накрая виновникът е съвсем друг – неочакван, но блестящо логически издържан.
Личи си че Андрю Уилсън пише с любов към творбите на Агата Кристи и това е опитът му да създаде история подобна на нейните. Книгата е много приятна за четене, кратка, перфектна за плажа. Четох я миналата година по това време и ако ви се иска да се докоснете до история, вдъхновена от реалния живот на известната писателка, вероятно тази книга ще ви се хареса.
Бих споделила една единствена критика - че дамите в книгата са описани на моменти прекалено сладникави, вероятно заради историческият контекст и периода, в който се развива действието. През 20-те години на XX век, маниерите и обноските на жените са били доста различни и вероятно от там идва тази тяхна черта. Въпреки това, на моменти ме изкарваше от сюжета и ми действаше някак разсейващо. Но това е доста дребна забележка.
April 23, 2018
fter reading A Talent for Murder, I was eager to get back into the trenches with Mrs. Christie. A Different kind of evil takes place just two months after the end of the first novel. I do recommend you reading it first. You may read this novel as a standalone, but I think it would increase your enjoyment of the story to read this series from the beginning.
Mrs. Christie is working with Special Agent Davidson to solve the murder of his colleague, Douglas Greene, whose death was peculiar. She boards a ship heading to the beautiful Canary Islands, where Greene's body was discovered, only to find that what should be a relaxing experience is anything but relaxing.
Christie is surround by a cast of interesting characters that all seem to be a bit shady at times, not to mention the suicide she witnessed a few days into her trip. Once she gets to the island, things become trickier than she thought it would be. Bodies start piling up, secrets are revealed, and even worse than that, Christie is having a hard time writing her latest novel.
Andrew Wilson has created a wonderful series with one of the most beloved authors of all time. I love that he made the Queen of Mystery a character in a mystery of his own. It kind of makes you wonder where she got all her fantastic ideas for the novels she wrote. This is a great series that mystery lovers will enjoy!
Read more at http://www.toreadornottoread.net/2018...
Mrs. Christie is working with Special Agent Davidson to solve the murder of his colleague, Douglas Greene, whose death was peculiar. She boards a ship heading to the beautiful Canary Islands, where Greene's body was discovered, only to find that what should be a relaxing experience is anything but relaxing.
Christie is surround by a cast of interesting characters that all seem to be a bit shady at times, not to mention the suicide she witnessed a few days into her trip. Once she gets to the island, things become trickier than she thought it would be. Bodies start piling up, secrets are revealed, and even worse than that, Christie is having a hard time writing her latest novel.
Andrew Wilson has created a wonderful series with one of the most beloved authors of all time. I love that he made the Queen of Mystery a character in a mystery of his own. It kind of makes you wonder where she got all her fantastic ideas for the novels she wrote. This is a great series that mystery lovers will enjoy!
Read more at http://www.toreadornottoread.net/2018...
August 13, 2018
I am a huge, huge Agatha Christie fan and these books by Andrew Wilson are pieces of sheer, unadulterated enjoyment for me. 'A Different Kind of Evil' follows on directly from events in 'A Talent for Murder'. Although you don't need to have read that to enjoy 'A Different Kind of Evil' I recommend that you still read it first. Especially as in my opinion it is the better of the two.
This tale sees Agatha travel via cruise liner to the Canary Islands with the intent of helping the British Secret Intelligence Service. But things are rarely that simple for our mystery writing heroine and she is soon trapped in a sticky and dangerous web. I love the thought of Agatha Christie becoming embroiled in real-life crime, it's very Murder, She Wrote-esq!
I loved the setting of this novel, I am a sucker for an exotic location and Andrew Wilson delivered on that. There are some truly beautiful descriptions of the Canaries, I could feel that salty island breeze and the warmth of early morning sunshine. I also loved the portion of the book that was set on the cruise liner, I personally wanted more of that, but that's just because they make such a good mystery setting.
Although, I felt this book didn't flow as well as the previous one it was still an enjoyable read for me. It's a good old mystery with shocks along the way and a wonderful leading lady.
This tale sees Agatha travel via cruise liner to the Canary Islands with the intent of helping the British Secret Intelligence Service. But things are rarely that simple for our mystery writing heroine and she is soon trapped in a sticky and dangerous web. I love the thought of Agatha Christie becoming embroiled in real-life crime, it's very Murder, She Wrote-esq!
I loved the setting of this novel, I am a sucker for an exotic location and Andrew Wilson delivered on that. There are some truly beautiful descriptions of the Canaries, I could feel that salty island breeze and the warmth of early morning sunshine. I also loved the portion of the book that was set on the cruise liner, I personally wanted more of that, but that's just because they make such a good mystery setting.
Although, I felt this book didn't flow as well as the previous one it was still an enjoyable read for me. It's a good old mystery with shocks along the way and a wonderful leading lady.
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