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Hercule Poirot #22
Smutný cyprus
Vo vynikajúcej detektívke z roku 1940 Agatha Christie prvý raz zaviedla Hercula Poirota do súdnej siene a poverila ho, aby svojím svedectvom zachránil život žene obvinenej z dvojitej vraždy. Pavučina lží, ktorú pritom bude musieť legendárny detektív rozmotať, je však mimoriadne spletitá…
Pred súdom stojí atraktívna mladá žena Elinor Carlislová. Je obvinená z vraždy svojej sokyne v láske Mary Gerrardovej a podozrievajú ju, že otrávila aj svoju tetu Lauru Welmanovú, po ktorej zdedila obrovský majetok. Všetky dôkazy a okolnosti svedčia proti Elinor a zdá sa, že len ona mala na obe vraždy motív aj príležitosť. Slučka okolo jej krku sa čoraz väčšmi sťahuje…
Verejnosť Elinor Carlislovú už vopred odsúdila a v nepriateľsky naladenej súdnej sieni iba jediný muž verí, že je nevinná – vidiecky lekár Peter Lord. Platonicky zaľúbený doktor Lord v zúfalstve požiada o pomoc Hercula Poirota. Aj slávny detektív má spočiatku vážne pochybnosti o nevine obžalovanej, ibaže dôkazy proti nej sú až príliš presvedčivé. A tak poslúchne svoj povestný neomylný inštinkt a rozhodne sa vypátrať pravdu. Bude však musieť použiť všetok dôvtip, aby mladá žena neskončila na šibenici…
Pred súdom stojí atraktívna mladá žena Elinor Carlislová. Je obvinená z vraždy svojej sokyne v láske Mary Gerrardovej a podozrievajú ju, že otrávila aj svoju tetu Lauru Welmanovú, po ktorej zdedila obrovský majetok. Všetky dôkazy a okolnosti svedčia proti Elinor a zdá sa, že len ona mala na obe vraždy motív aj príležitosť. Slučka okolo jej krku sa čoraz väčšmi sťahuje…
Verejnosť Elinor Carlislovú už vopred odsúdila a v nepriateľsky naladenej súdnej sieni iba jediný muž verí, že je nevinná – vidiecky lekár Peter Lord. Platonicky zaľúbený doktor Lord v zúfalstve požiada o pomoc Hercula Poirota. Aj slávny detektív má spočiatku vážne pochybnosti o nevine obžalovanej, ibaže dôkazy proti nej sú až príliš presvedčivé. A tak poslúchne svoj povestný neomylný inštinkt a rozhodne sa vypátrať pravdu. Bude však musieť použiť všetok dôvtip, aby mladá žena neskončila na šibenici…
208 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1940
1411 people are currently reading
25059 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,177 books75.5k followersAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,360 reviews
June 24, 2025
A courtroom drama told in flashbacks, mostly through the eyes of the accused.
Elinor Carlisle hated Mary Gerrard.
Why?
Because the love of her (entire) life, Roddy Welman, took one look at Mary's beautiful face and broke off his engagement to her.
Ouch. My goodness, that stings.
So when her aunt dies after telling her that she wanted Mary provided for, but legally leaves everything to Elinor, what's a girl to do?
If you're Elinor, you grit your teeth, give her £2,000, and hope she hits the road.
OR!
Maybe you hand her a plate of poisoned sandwiches.
I'll bet you can guess what Elinor is on trial for, right?
Fortunately, the village doctor is in love with her, and so he begs Poirot to find evidence to prove her innocence. Now, he's personally willing to lie and doesn't really care if she offed poor Mary or not.
But Poirot does.
Unfortunately, every bit of evidence Poirot uncovers seems to point right back to Elinor as the most likely killer. And as a reader, Elinor's inner monologue doesn't do much to convince you one way or the other as to whether or not she did it.
But if Elinor isn't a cold-blooded murderer, then who is?
No worries, random Goodreader.
As always, Hercule Poirot will defend the innocent and shine a light on the guilty.
Without giving spoilers, all I can say is that I did not see the bad guy coming. Another excellent, if not very well-known, story by the Queen of Mystery.
Recommended!
Elinor Carlisle hated Mary Gerrard.
Why?
Because the love of her (entire) life, Roddy Welman, took one look at Mary's beautiful face and broke off his engagement to her.
Ouch. My goodness, that stings.
So when her aunt dies after telling her that she wanted Mary provided for, but legally leaves everything to Elinor, what's a girl to do?
If you're Elinor, you grit your teeth, give her £2,000, and hope she hits the road.
OR!
Maybe you hand her a plate of poisoned sandwiches.
I'll bet you can guess what Elinor is on trial for, right?
Fortunately, the village doctor is in love with her, and so he begs Poirot to find evidence to prove her innocence. Now, he's personally willing to lie and doesn't really care if she offed poor Mary or not.
But Poirot does.
Unfortunately, every bit of evidence Poirot uncovers seems to point right back to Elinor as the most likely killer. And as a reader, Elinor's inner monologue doesn't do much to convince you one way or the other as to whether or not she did it.
But if Elinor isn't a cold-blooded murderer, then who is?
No worries, random Goodreader.
As always, Hercule Poirot will defend the innocent and shine a light on the guilty.
Without giving spoilers, all I can say is that I did not see the bad guy coming. Another excellent, if not very well-known, story by the Queen of Mystery.
Recommended!
December 22, 2025
Come away, come away, death,
And in sad cypress let me be laid;
Fly away, fly away breath;
I am slain by a fair cruel maid.
My shroud of white, stuck all with yew,
O, prepare it!
My part of death, no one so true
Did share it.
Shakespeare: Twelfth Night, Act II, Scene IV
“And suddenly, for a vivid minute, Hercule Poirot had a new conception of the dead girl. In that halting rustic voice the girl Mary lived and bloomed again. "She was like a flower."
There was suddenly a poignant sense of loss, of something exquisite destroyed. In his mind phrase after phrase succeeded each other.
Peter Lord's "She was a nice kid."
Nurse Hopkins's "She could have gone on the films any time."
Mrs. Bishop's venomous "No patience with her airs and graces."
And now last, putting to shame, laying aside those other views, the quiet, wondering, "She was like a flower.”
Sad Cypress was the first Poirot story set for quite a large part in the courtroom and depicting the legal procedure where we already have a defendant and prosecution/defense counselors presenting the (a) solution of the crime to a judge and jury. Poirot himself actually puts in an appearance only in the second half of the novel. (Perry Mason in Britain? HA-HA! Possibly.)
Later Agatha Christie admitted that he was not strictly necessary to unfold the mystery and while partly I agree with her, I love this little Belgian too much to resent/regret it and the book still has a solid place in my Agatha Christie Top 5.
Seemingly we are presented a classic love triangle, but as the story progresses it turns into a rectangle where A loves B, who gets infatuated over C, who does not care for B in return and then we get a D who falls in love with A. :)
As always, Agatha Christie offers deep insight of character and human nature in general. I love how she plays her caleidoscope-game with us, showing how her characters see each other and offering a constantly changing pattern which makes us re-evaluate our own views of them and where the solution is staring back at us among the colourful shards. Thankfully, we also have Poirot to interpret/discover the real pattern.
And in sad cypress let me be laid;
Fly away, fly away breath;
I am slain by a fair cruel maid.
My shroud of white, stuck all with yew,
O, prepare it!
My part of death, no one so true
Did share it.
Shakespeare: Twelfth Night, Act II, Scene IV
“And suddenly, for a vivid minute, Hercule Poirot had a new conception of the dead girl. In that halting rustic voice the girl Mary lived and bloomed again. "She was like a flower."
There was suddenly a poignant sense of loss, of something exquisite destroyed. In his mind phrase after phrase succeeded each other.
Peter Lord's "She was a nice kid."
Nurse Hopkins's "She could have gone on the films any time."
Mrs. Bishop's venomous "No patience with her airs and graces."
And now last, putting to shame, laying aside those other views, the quiet, wondering, "She was like a flower.”
Sad Cypress was the first Poirot story set for quite a large part in the courtroom and depicting the legal procedure where we already have a defendant and prosecution/defense counselors presenting the (a) solution of the crime to a judge and jury. Poirot himself actually puts in an appearance only in the second half of the novel. (Perry Mason in Britain? HA-HA! Possibly.)
Later Agatha Christie admitted that he was not strictly necessary to unfold the mystery and while partly I agree with her, I love this little Belgian too much to resent/regret it and the book still has a solid place in my Agatha Christie Top 5.
Seemingly we are presented a classic love triangle, but as the story progresses it turns into a rectangle where A loves B, who gets infatuated over C, who does not care for B in return and then we get a D who falls in love with A. :)
As always, Agatha Christie offers deep insight of character and human nature in general. I love how she plays her caleidoscope-game with us, showing how her characters see each other and offering a constantly changing pattern which makes us re-evaluate our own views of them and where the solution is staring back at us among the colourful shards. Thankfully, we also have Poirot to interpret/discover the real pattern.
January 8, 2022
Agatha Christie Book Reading Challenge
BOOK 26 :- JAN 2021
4 STARS
BOOK 26 :- JAN 2021
4 STARS
March 12, 2025
[4.5⭐] 𝙐𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙧𝙚́𝙨 es una novela de misterio escrita por Agatha Christie y publicada en 1940. La historia sigue a Elinor Carlisle, una joven acusada de asesinato, cuya única esperanza de salvación recae en Hércules Poirot.
Lo primero que me llamó la atención de esta novela es su estructura porque se sale de lo convencional dentro de la obra de Christie. El primer capítulo y toda la tercera parte están organizados como un juicio; con la presencia del fiscal, el abogado defensor y el juez, lo que le da un aire más teatral y lúdico al relato. A lo largo de la narración, los interrogatorios de testigos van construyendo la historia, lo que no solo mantiene el misterio, sino que también le da un dinamismo diferente a la lectura. Me encanta cuando Christie juega con la disposición de la información y aquí lo hace de una manera muy efectiva.
Además, me ha parecido fascinante la inspiración shakesperiana en la novela. Christie toma elementos de 𝙀𝙡 𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙚 𝙑𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖 para construir su historia, lo que se refleja tanto en la trama como en el título. Este detalle me pareció un acierto ya que le añade una capa de profundidad y referencias literarias que enriquecen la lectura. No es solo una historia de misterio, sino también un relato sobre las emociones humanas, los celos, el rencor y el peso de la justicia. Como amante de Shakespeare—cuyas obras leí en el monográfico que cursé en la universidad—disfruté especialmente estos guiños a su teatro, que aportan una dimensión extra a la novela.
Por otro lado, el desarrollo de los personajes me pareció muy bien logrado. Elinor es una protagonista que genera una mezcla de emociones: a veces resulta distante, otras veces vulnerable, pero en todo momento mantiene el interés del lector. La tensión en torno a su relación con Roddy y Mary Gerrard añade un componente dramático que hace que el caso se sienta más personal y no solo un simple crimen a resolver. Poirot, como siempre, es un placer de leer, aunque aquí tiene un papel más de observador que de investigador activo.
Si bien debo admitir que adiviné la identidad del asesino con bastante rapidez (era un tanto evidente)), eso no afectó que disfrutara de la novela. Más allá de la resolución del misterio, lo que realmente hace que esta historia sea memorable es la manera en que está contada. Christie logra darle un giro original a su habitual estructura de investigación y el resultado es una lectura atrapante, emotiva y diferente.
Finalmente, puedo decir que 𝙐𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙧𝙚́𝙨 es una novela que destaca por su originalidad en la construcción del relato y por la manera en que combina el misterio con el drama judicial. No será la más sorprendente en términos de giro final, pero su desarrollo, sus referencias literarias y su estructura innovadora la convierten en una lectura inolvidable.
Lo primero que me llamó la atención de esta novela es su estructura porque se sale de lo convencional dentro de la obra de Christie. El primer capítulo y toda la tercera parte están organizados como un juicio; con la presencia del fiscal, el abogado defensor y el juez, lo que le da un aire más teatral y lúdico al relato. A lo largo de la narración, los interrogatorios de testigos van construyendo la historia, lo que no solo mantiene el misterio, sino que también le da un dinamismo diferente a la lectura. Me encanta cuando Christie juega con la disposición de la información y aquí lo hace de una manera muy efectiva.
Además, me ha parecido fascinante la inspiración shakesperiana en la novela. Christie toma elementos de 𝙀𝙡 𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙚 𝙑𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖 para construir su historia, lo que se refleja tanto en la trama como en el título. Este detalle me pareció un acierto ya que le añade una capa de profundidad y referencias literarias que enriquecen la lectura. No es solo una historia de misterio, sino también un relato sobre las emociones humanas, los celos, el rencor y el peso de la justicia. Como amante de Shakespeare—cuyas obras leí en el monográfico que cursé en la universidad—disfruté especialmente estos guiños a su teatro, que aportan una dimensión extra a la novela.
Por otro lado, el desarrollo de los personajes me pareció muy bien logrado. Elinor es una protagonista que genera una mezcla de emociones: a veces resulta distante, otras veces vulnerable, pero en todo momento mantiene el interés del lector. La tensión en torno a su relación con Roddy y Mary Gerrard añade un componente dramático que hace que el caso se sienta más personal y no solo un simple crimen a resolver. Poirot, como siempre, es un placer de leer, aunque aquí tiene un papel más de observador que de investigador activo.
Si bien debo admitir que adiviné la identidad del asesino con bastante rapidez (era un tanto evidente)), eso no afectó que disfrutara de la novela. Más allá de la resolución del misterio, lo que realmente hace que esta historia sea memorable es la manera en que está contada. Christie logra darle un giro original a su habitual estructura de investigación y el resultado es una lectura atrapante, emotiva y diferente.
Finalmente, puedo decir que 𝙐𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙧𝙚́𝙨 es una novela que destaca por su originalidad en la construcción del relato y por la manera en que combina el misterio con el drama judicial. No será la más sorprendente en términos de giro final, pero su desarrollo, sus referencias literarias y su estructura innovadora la convierten en una lectura inolvidable.
May 15, 2019
Sad Cypress is the 21st book in the Hercule Poirot series written by Agatha Christie. The book was published in 1940, but this series can be read out of order. I chose this book with my friend Medhat as a buddy read this month. I've seen several film and tv adaptations of Christie's books, but I've never caught this one. I'm on a kick to read them all in the next year.
Sad Cypress is your classic tale. An elderly woman dies of seemingly natural causes. She was about to change her will, possibly naming a local girl who visited her from time to time as her beneficiary. She might have still included her niece and nephew by marriage, but we're uncertain. Then, the local girl ends up dead even if she didn't get to inherit any money because the original will was never finished. What's going on? Who wanted the money? And how does everyone fit together? Throw in two nurses, a housekeeper, a gardener, a doctor, and the niece and nephew... and those are all your suspects. Christie isn't usually someone to bring in a random at the end, so we are fairly certain it's one of these folks.
What a clever tale! I was immediately drawn into the plot from the beginning. We divided it into thirds so we could read over three days. I actually had to read it early in the morning because I wanted to get back to it quickly each day. While there was a bit of repetition during the deduction phase, Poirot always makes you laugh, so it's easily ignored. Christie makes you believe her characters are telling the truth only to shock you later with a lie and a twist. It always makes sense, and you wonder how the truth could hide in plain sight. Of course, it's a little over-the-top, but that's this style in general. I love it, so I'm not complaining -- just pointing it out for others, so they know what they're getting themselves into. It's over 75 years old!
How does Poirot figure it out! He has a few off-screen conversations and relays them to us later, which is helpful. The imagery is powerful, and the concept of the cypress is simple but strong. The dialog is strong even for being formatted differently than modern readers are used to. It's full of fantastic suspense and drama moments, urging you to keep reading until you stop. While not in her top 5 for me, it's certainly a compelling story with a lot of meandering paths that lead back to a conclusion. 4.5 stars. I think I want to read Mouse Trap next, as I've not seen the play or read the story.
Sad Cypress is your classic tale. An elderly woman dies of seemingly natural causes. She was about to change her will, possibly naming a local girl who visited her from time to time as her beneficiary. She might have still included her niece and nephew by marriage, but we're uncertain. Then, the local girl ends up dead even if she didn't get to inherit any money because the original will was never finished. What's going on? Who wanted the money? And how does everyone fit together? Throw in two nurses, a housekeeper, a gardener, a doctor, and the niece and nephew... and those are all your suspects. Christie isn't usually someone to bring in a random at the end, so we are fairly certain it's one of these folks.
What a clever tale! I was immediately drawn into the plot from the beginning. We divided it into thirds so we could read over three days. I actually had to read it early in the morning because I wanted to get back to it quickly each day. While there was a bit of repetition during the deduction phase, Poirot always makes you laugh, so it's easily ignored. Christie makes you believe her characters are telling the truth only to shock you later with a lie and a twist. It always makes sense, and you wonder how the truth could hide in plain sight. Of course, it's a little over-the-top, but that's this style in general. I love it, so I'm not complaining -- just pointing it out for others, so they know what they're getting themselves into. It's over 75 years old!
How does Poirot figure it out! He has a few off-screen conversations and relays them to us later, which is helpful. The imagery is powerful, and the concept of the cypress is simple but strong. The dialog is strong even for being formatted differently than modern readers are used to. It's full of fantastic suspense and drama moments, urging you to keep reading until you stop. While not in her top 5 for me, it's certainly a compelling story with a lot of meandering paths that lead back to a conclusion. 4.5 stars. I think I want to read Mouse Trap next, as I've not seen the play or read the story.
September 21, 2024
Murder by poison! Love or greed ... or both?
Elinor Carlisle, a sensible, well educated young woman, and her distant cousin, Roddy Welman, a somewhat less well focused amiable gentleman - perhaps even a bit of a dandy - are happily engaged. They both know they are living somewhat beyond their means but they take comfort in their expectation of the inheritance of a very sizable fortune from their elderly aunt, Laura Welman. When they receive an anonymous mean-spirited letter suggesting that someone is cozying up to their aunt and worming their way into her affections, Elinor suspects young Mary Gerrard, her aunt's lodge-keeper's daughter. Rationalizing with one another that they really ought to be making a greater effort to see their aunt more frequently, Elinor and Roddy quickly pack up for a visit to Mrs Welman with a concerned view to protecting their interests in the estate.
During the course of their visit, when Roddy's head is turned by Mary Gerrard's stunning good looks and he becomes hopelessly infatuated with her, Elinor breaks off their engagement. When Mary Gerrard is murdered by the administration of a fatal dose of morphine in a sandwich and, shortly afterward, Aunt Laura dies intestate leaving Elinor as the sole heir of the entire estate by virtue of being the only surviving blood relative, Elinor quickly finds herself in the dock for Mary's murder. As the only suspect with both the means and the motive to dispose of Mary Gerrard, her conviction is all but certain.
But SAD CYPRESS is a complex mystery with many motivational twists and turns. Roddy Welman's head wasn't the only head turned with new found love. Peter Lord, the Welman's family physician, has fallen behind over tea kettle into love with Elinor Carlisle. When she is arrested, although even he is uncertain as to her guilt, he retains Hercule Poirot and charges him with finding the evidence to acquit her at any cost.
SAD CYPRESS, a subtle, complex purely character driven mystery told virtually entirely through the device of dialogue, has an interesting three part structure. In the first part, told from Elinor Carlisle's perspective, we see the background of the entire story up to Mary Gerrard's murder. In the second part, we are witness to Poirot's subtle probing and investigation of the murder and, in the final third section, we sit in court as witness to Elinor's trial and prosecution for the murder. In a marvelous twist on the cozy mystery's usual climactic drawing room confrontation with all of the suspects, Poirot's findings are revealed to the reader by Elinor's defense lawyer during the proceedings of her trial.
While SAD CYPRESS is a marvelously entertaining mystery, I'm unwilling to accord it a full five star rating because I believe it violates what I always felt to be an unwritten set of rules governing the genre. The mystery in SAD CYPRESS is simply not solvable by an astute reader no matter how carefully one might read the story. Ultimately, the mystery is solved and revealed by virtue of information to which only Poirot is privy. The superb surprise ending is no less entertaining as a result but one does feel a little cheated.
On a historical note, I was interested to discover that this was Agatha Christie's first use of the courtroom setting in a Poirot mystery.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
Elinor Carlisle, a sensible, well educated young woman, and her distant cousin, Roddy Welman, a somewhat less well focused amiable gentleman - perhaps even a bit of a dandy - are happily engaged. They both know they are living somewhat beyond their means but they take comfort in their expectation of the inheritance of a very sizable fortune from their elderly aunt, Laura Welman. When they receive an anonymous mean-spirited letter suggesting that someone is cozying up to their aunt and worming their way into her affections, Elinor suspects young Mary Gerrard, her aunt's lodge-keeper's daughter. Rationalizing with one another that they really ought to be making a greater effort to see their aunt more frequently, Elinor and Roddy quickly pack up for a visit to Mrs Welman with a concerned view to protecting their interests in the estate.
During the course of their visit, when Roddy's head is turned by Mary Gerrard's stunning good looks and he becomes hopelessly infatuated with her, Elinor breaks off their engagement. When Mary Gerrard is murdered by the administration of a fatal dose of morphine in a sandwich and, shortly afterward, Aunt Laura dies intestate leaving Elinor as the sole heir of the entire estate by virtue of being the only surviving blood relative, Elinor quickly finds herself in the dock for Mary's murder. As the only suspect with both the means and the motive to dispose of Mary Gerrard, her conviction is all but certain.
But SAD CYPRESS is a complex mystery with many motivational twists and turns. Roddy Welman's head wasn't the only head turned with new found love. Peter Lord, the Welman's family physician, has fallen behind over tea kettle into love with Elinor Carlisle. When she is arrested, although even he is uncertain as to her guilt, he retains Hercule Poirot and charges him with finding the evidence to acquit her at any cost.
SAD CYPRESS, a subtle, complex purely character driven mystery told virtually entirely through the device of dialogue, has an interesting three part structure. In the first part, told from Elinor Carlisle's perspective, we see the background of the entire story up to Mary Gerrard's murder. In the second part, we are witness to Poirot's subtle probing and investigation of the murder and, in the final third section, we sit in court as witness to Elinor's trial and prosecution for the murder. In a marvelous twist on the cozy mystery's usual climactic drawing room confrontation with all of the suspects, Poirot's findings are revealed to the reader by Elinor's defense lawyer during the proceedings of her trial.
While SAD CYPRESS is a marvelously entertaining mystery, I'm unwilling to accord it a full five star rating because I believe it violates what I always felt to be an unwritten set of rules governing the genre. The mystery in SAD CYPRESS is simply not solvable by an astute reader no matter how carefully one might read the story. Ultimately, the mystery is solved and revealed by virtue of information to which only Poirot is privy. The superb surprise ending is no less entertaining as a result but one does feel a little cheated.
On a historical note, I was interested to discover that this was Agatha Christie's first use of the courtroom setting in a Poirot mystery.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
November 6, 2019
Another fabulous Poirot novel and an easy 4 stars
More tomorrow, hopefully 😬
Well for various reasons it has been considerably more than just a single day later, why ? well all sorts really, family visits, car MOTs, helping neighbours etc etc.
Anyway, I have this vague memory of seeing the great David Suchet's version of this story, and I therefore knew there .
So all in all this was a great novel in which Poirot appears about a third of the way through. After that though his presence is virtually full time as he applies the "lgc"s to the problem in front of him. Can he prove the accused (and charged) innocent or will he find as most people believe that she was guilty as charged.
Poirot is on top form as he cajoles, interrogates and schmoozes all the players in this drama to come to his conclusion, that is played out in the courtroom.
So why wasn't this 5 stars, erm well in all honesty I cannot put my finger on it, it just wasn't. Was it Poirot appearing late, no I don't think so, as I was enjoying the book despite Poirot; was it the twist, well again no because it is well written; I just think it wasn't quite as good as some Poirot novels. Ooh one thing that I thought was less than wonderful was .
More tomorrow, hopefully 😬
Well for various reasons it has been considerably more than just a single day later, why ? well all sorts really, family visits, car MOTs, helping neighbours etc etc.
Anyway, I have this vague memory of seeing the great David Suchet's version of this story, and I therefore knew there .
So all in all this was a great novel in which Poirot appears about a third of the way through. After that though his presence is virtually full time as he applies the "lgc"s to the problem in front of him. Can he prove the accused (and charged) innocent or will he find as most people believe that she was guilty as charged.
Poirot is on top form as he cajoles, interrogates and schmoozes all the players in this drama to come to his conclusion, that is played out in the courtroom.
So why wasn't this 5 stars, erm well in all honesty I cannot put my finger on it, it just wasn't. Was it Poirot appearing late, no I don't think so, as I was enjoying the book despite Poirot; was it the twist, well again no because it is well written; I just think it wasn't quite as good as some Poirot novels. Ooh one thing that I thought was less than wonderful was .
November 8, 2020
“A little difficult to know where you were with Elinor. She didn't reveal much of what she thought and felt about things. He liked that about her. He hated people who reeled off their thoughts and feelings to you, who took it for granted that you wanted to know all their mechanisms. Reserve was always more interesting”―Rodney
“The human face is, after all, nothing more nor less than a mask”―Christie
The title comes from a song from Act II, Scene IV of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night which is printed as an epigraph to the novel.
Come away, come away, death,
And in sad cypress let me be laid;
Fly away, fly away breath;
I am slain by a fair cruel maid.
My shroud of white, stuck all with yew,
O, prepare it!
My part of death, no one so true
Did share it.
Rodney, betrothed to Elinor, has fallen in love with Mary! A broken engagement and flashes of (understated, this IS Elinor, after all) jealous rage. Motive! The cool exterior of Elinor, what lies beneath it? The evidence against her is damning! But all may not be what it seems! (of course). Enter Poirot!
Making my steady but inexorable way through the corpus of Christie’s Poirot whodunnits, I have almost always been entertained. But then there are so many of them, you can see books that are less well-crafted than others, you get caught up in patterns and rhythms and occasionally predictable moments. This book has them, the Poirot arrogant claim of brilliance, the occasional anti-semitic remark, the poison pen letter, but the particular delights and the surprise twists in this one raise it to be one of the better ones in the series for me.
This volume is especially carefully plotted, thoughtfully written, but what’s new? Well, for one, it opens with the trial of Elinor Carlisle for the murder of Mary Gerrad, who was "like a flower." Christie never did that before, and it compels her to work in flashback to unravel the crime. That original approach (for her, for sure!) makes the telling particularly entertaining. I hadn't even heard of this one before, but I admire its ingenuity! There's not a lot of quotable lines and maybe not enough crazy characters, but it is still very good!
“The human face is, after all, nothing more nor less than a mask”―Christie
The title comes from a song from Act II, Scene IV of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night which is printed as an epigraph to the novel.
Come away, come away, death,
And in sad cypress let me be laid;
Fly away, fly away breath;
I am slain by a fair cruel maid.
My shroud of white, stuck all with yew,
O, prepare it!
My part of death, no one so true
Did share it.
Rodney, betrothed to Elinor, has fallen in love with Mary! A broken engagement and flashes of (understated, this IS Elinor, after all) jealous rage. Motive! The cool exterior of Elinor, what lies beneath it? The evidence against her is damning! But all may not be what it seems! (of course). Enter Poirot!
Making my steady but inexorable way through the corpus of Christie’s Poirot whodunnits, I have almost always been entertained. But then there are so many of them, you can see books that are less well-crafted than others, you get caught up in patterns and rhythms and occasionally predictable moments. This book has them, the Poirot arrogant claim of brilliance, the occasional anti-semitic remark, the poison pen letter, but the particular delights and the surprise twists in this one raise it to be one of the better ones in the series for me.
This volume is especially carefully plotted, thoughtfully written, but what’s new? Well, for one, it opens with the trial of Elinor Carlisle for the murder of Mary Gerrad, who was "like a flower." Christie never did that before, and it compels her to work in flashback to unravel the crime. That original approach (for her, for sure!) makes the telling particularly entertaining. I hadn't even heard of this one before, but I admire its ingenuity! There's not a lot of quotable lines and maybe not enough crazy characters, but it is still very good!
October 13, 2022
Que bien me la paso con Agatha Christie.
Este caso empieza con una primera parte narrada por Elinor Carlisle sentenciada por el asesinato de una mujer y muy posiblemente por el de su madre adoptiva también. Todas las pistas apuntan a ella ya que el primer asesinato puede tener por móvil quedarse con toda la herencia, y el segundo menos frialdad al tener por móvil los celos y la envidia. Solo con la llegada de Poirot (en la segunda parte) es que se podrá decidir si es o no culpable de los crímenes.
Si bien estaba echando en falta la presencia de Poirot me resultó muy ameno y entretenido hacer un recorderis sobre los hechos ocurridos en el pasado, rememorando todas las escenas anteriores a los asesinatos. Me sirvieron mucho para tener a dos posibles culpables en la mira. Solo cuando el detective belga aparece y veo que él también está pensando lo mismo que yo, dudé seriamente. Pero al final resultó que sí, que era uno de los que pensaba, así que, ¿para qué mentir? Últimamente me hace feliz saber apreciar los detalles y sumar 2+2 para dar con quien está detrás de todo.
Obviamente lo recomiendo. Como siempre. Eso sí, no es lo mejor de la reina del crimen pero cumple con su cuota de entretenimiento, intriga, pistas, hipótesis e intereses románticos metidos a calzador que me parecen forzados pero graciosos por ser previsibles.
Este caso empieza con una primera parte narrada por Elinor Carlisle sentenciada por el asesinato de una mujer y muy posiblemente por el de su madre adoptiva también. Todas las pistas apuntan a ella ya que el primer asesinato puede tener por móvil quedarse con toda la herencia, y el segundo menos frialdad al tener por móvil los celos y la envidia. Solo con la llegada de Poirot (en la segunda parte) es que se podrá decidir si es o no culpable de los crímenes.
Si bien estaba echando en falta la presencia de Poirot me resultó muy ameno y entretenido hacer un recorderis sobre los hechos ocurridos en el pasado, rememorando todas las escenas anteriores a los asesinatos. Me sirvieron mucho para tener a dos posibles culpables en la mira. Solo cuando el detective belga aparece y veo que él también está pensando lo mismo que yo, dudé seriamente. Pero al final resultó que sí, que era uno de los que pensaba, así que, ¿para qué mentir? Últimamente me hace feliz saber apreciar los detalles y sumar 2+2 para dar con quien está detrás de todo.
Obviamente lo recomiendo. Como siempre. Eso sí, no es lo mejor de la reina del crimen pero cumple con su cuota de entretenimiento, intriga, pistas, hipótesis e intereses románticos metidos a calzador que me parecen forzados pero graciosos por ser previsibles.
June 7, 2020
I could feel a reading slump brewing in the recesses of my brain. Over this stay at home period I have been turning to easy reading to help me navigate the hectic life of having my kids home all day everyday. Increasingly, my reading has been primarily baseball and other sports books, so, if I don’t have one on hand, I wait for the next one to be available. It is never positive for me to read one genre as I am what I would call an eclectic reader. Rather than fall into the proverbial slump, I turned to my ultimate palette cleanser- mysteries. Whenever I need to clear my head in between books, I know I can rely on a classic Agatha Christie whodunit starring the famous Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot to keep my gray cells fresh.
Elinor Carlisle is on trial for the murder of Mary Gerard. The case is straightforward- Elinor’s aunt Laura Welman had just passed away after suffering a second stroke without having the chance to make out a will. All her money went to her next of kin- Elinor Carlisle. Mary Gerard had been Mrs Welman’s devoted servant, and it appeared that the woman had taking a liking to the girl, possibly writing her into a will that never materialized. Gerard exhibited movie star looks and was encouraged to better her station in life to the point of getting in between Elinor Carlisle and her fiancé Roderick Welman ( the nephew of Mrs Welman’s late husband). No one would stand to gain from Mary Gerard’s death except for Elinor Carlisle, yet the young woman exhibited a caring disposition and did not appear poised to kill anyone. As in most Christie cases, the facts are not as straightforward as they initially seem from the beginning.
While visiting her aunt on her deathbed, Elinor meets a young doctor named Peter Lord, who is instantly smitten with her. With love clouding his judgement as he believes Elinor is innocent, Dr Lord asks Hercule Poirot to take on this case. As the twenty second case featuring Hercule Poirot, this is not classic Poirot complete with Captain Hastings or Colonel Race. There is no dialogue with an assistant urging them to use their gray cells. Poirot as a beloved fictional has at this point been around for nearly thirty years. His readers know what to expect- that Poirot is at least two steps ahead of the police and he always knows whodunit because his gray cells are a cut above the rest. With Poirot on board to take on Elinor Carlisle’s case, rest be assured that he will leave no stone unturned until he can prove her innocence. In this installment, Poirot’s skills are on full display, frustrating police and lawyers along the way, until he can bring the true murderer to justice.
As with the majority of Christie mysteries I have read, she leaves out a key piece of information until the end to allow readers to be on their toes guessing whodunit. In this case, Poirot utilizes his years of experience to employ fellow detectives behind the scenes to unravel this missing clue. Poirot knew, of course, but needed to verify his hunch. In an English countryside manor setting, I felt I was watching Poirot on A&E. Although older and using his savvy here, Sad Cypress is classic Poirot. He indeed used his gray cells to find Mary Gerard’s true murderer and allowed an innocent woman to escape the gallows. Poirot is always a fun way to spend an afternoon, and, as I normally feel after completing one of his cases, my palette has been cleansed.
4 stars
Elinor Carlisle is on trial for the murder of Mary Gerard. The case is straightforward- Elinor’s aunt Laura Welman had just passed away after suffering a second stroke without having the chance to make out a will. All her money went to her next of kin- Elinor Carlisle. Mary Gerard had been Mrs Welman’s devoted servant, and it appeared that the woman had taking a liking to the girl, possibly writing her into a will that never materialized. Gerard exhibited movie star looks and was encouraged to better her station in life to the point of getting in between Elinor Carlisle and her fiancé Roderick Welman ( the nephew of Mrs Welman’s late husband). No one would stand to gain from Mary Gerard’s death except for Elinor Carlisle, yet the young woman exhibited a caring disposition and did not appear poised to kill anyone. As in most Christie cases, the facts are not as straightforward as they initially seem from the beginning.
While visiting her aunt on her deathbed, Elinor meets a young doctor named Peter Lord, who is instantly smitten with her. With love clouding his judgement as he believes Elinor is innocent, Dr Lord asks Hercule Poirot to take on this case. As the twenty second case featuring Hercule Poirot, this is not classic Poirot complete with Captain Hastings or Colonel Race. There is no dialogue with an assistant urging them to use their gray cells. Poirot as a beloved fictional has at this point been around for nearly thirty years. His readers know what to expect- that Poirot is at least two steps ahead of the police and he always knows whodunit because his gray cells are a cut above the rest. With Poirot on board to take on Elinor Carlisle’s case, rest be assured that he will leave no stone unturned until he can prove her innocence. In this installment, Poirot’s skills are on full display, frustrating police and lawyers along the way, until he can bring the true murderer to justice.
As with the majority of Christie mysteries I have read, she leaves out a key piece of information until the end to allow readers to be on their toes guessing whodunit. In this case, Poirot utilizes his years of experience to employ fellow detectives behind the scenes to unravel this missing clue. Poirot knew, of course, but needed to verify his hunch. In an English countryside manor setting, I felt I was watching Poirot on A&E. Although older and using his savvy here, Sad Cypress is classic Poirot. He indeed used his gray cells to find Mary Gerard’s true murderer and allowed an innocent woman to escape the gallows. Poirot is always a fun way to spend an afternoon, and, as I normally feel after completing one of his cases, my palette has been cleansed.
4 stars
October 24, 2025
„Тъжният кипарис“ е много добра криминална загадка. Историята започва със съдебно дело, при което главната героиня е напът да бъде осъдена за убийство. Впоследствие Поаро се включва в събитията, за да разследва мистериозния случай и спаси несправедливо обединената Елинор...
„И тук всичко беше подредено. Стаите бяха прашни, но изглеждаха спретнати. Нямаше лични вещи. Двамата останаха вътре само няколко минути. Когато излязоха на слънце, Поаро докосна листенцата на розата, увила се върху дървената решетка. Бяха розови и ухаеха приятно.
— Знаете ли името на тази роза? — попита Поаро. — Казва се Zephyrine Drouhin, приятелю.
— И какво от това? — на свой ред попита Питър Лорд малко раздразнено.
— Когато се срещнах с Елинор Карлайл, тя ми спомена за розите. Едва тогава започна да ми просветва, не беше ярката дневна светлина, а мъждукащата, която човек съзира, когато влакът наближава изхода на тунела. Не дневната светлина, а надеждата да я видиш!“
„И тук всичко беше подредено. Стаите бяха прашни, но изглеждаха спретнати. Нямаше лични вещи. Двамата останаха вътре само няколко минути. Когато излязоха на слънце, Поаро докосна листенцата на розата, увила се върху дървената решетка. Бяха розови и ухаеха приятно.
— Знаете ли името на тази роза? — попита Поаро. — Казва се Zephyrine Drouhin, приятелю.
— И какво от това? — на свой ред попита Питър Лорд малко раздразнено.
— Когато се срещнах с Елинор Карлайл, тя ми спомена за розите. Едва тогава започна да ми просветва, не беше ярката дневна светлина, а мъждукащата, която човек съзира, когато влакът наближава изхода на тунела. Не дневната светлина, а надеждата да я видиш!“
October 10, 2020
Although I'd read this Poirot novel as a kid of perhaps 11 or 12, I didn't have any specific memories of it, except for the English setting, and the fact that the title comes from an epigraph from Shakespeare (I'm not well read enough in his work to identify the source of the quote, though), which alludes to cypress wood as material for a coffin. (It reads in part, "Come away, come away, death/ And in sad cypress let me be laid....") So when I reread it for a common read this month in one of my groups, it was essentially like a new read; I was meeting the characters with no prior memories of them, and trying to guess the solution to the various mysteries posed as much as someone new to the book would have. It proved to be a rewarding read, and reminded me anew (as other Christie books have earlier this year as well) why I liked her work even back in my childhood --though I'm sure I have a heightened appreciation of it with the benefit of adult perception and experience.
Set in 1939, and structured somewhat atypically for a Christie novel (at least compared to others I've read; which isn't all of them by a long shot!), this one begins with a short Prologue, opening the murder trial of one Elinor Carlisle, accused of the murder by poisoning of another young woman, Mary Gerrard. (Mary was 21 when she died; Elinor's age is never specifically given, but I'd suppose her to be in her early 20s.) We glimpse some of the tale's characters, mainly seen through Elinor's eyes, but she's psychologically in a bit of a daze. Her reflection that this all began with a "horrible anonymous letter" then segues us into the body of the book, with a third person recounting of all the events surrounding the death of Elinor's much-loved, elderly (and quite wealthy) aunt Laura, the widowed mistress of the country estate Hunterbury, who when Chapter 1 opens has been sidelined with a stroke, and leading up to the poisoning a few weeks later. (Mary was the daughter of Laura's lodge-keeper, and a great favorite of the old lady.) After a couple of sentences mentioning his presence in the court, Poirot doesn't enter the narrative at all until the beginning of Chapter 8, after Elinor's arrest. We then follow his investigations (though, of course, we don't read his mind! :-) ); and most of the last few chapters, leading up to the denouement, follow the course of the trial. (This part is very much an exercise in courtroom drama, such as Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason novels typically delivered, but fairly unusual for Christie.)
Although the police and Crown prosecutor think the case against Elinor is so damning as to be practically open-and-shut, readers who grasp the conventions of the mystery genre in general, and of Christie mysteries in particular, aren't apt to seriously think she's guilty --because if she is, what on earth worthwhile is there going to be for Poirot to do? After all, Christie didn't bring him on stage to confirm an already obvious solution to a crime; she entertained her fans by allowing him to deduce a hidden solution that's NOT at all obvious, and of course to invite us to exercise our little grey cells to probe the mysteries with him. I actually guessed the identity of the poisoner even before the crime occurred --but my reconstruction of the crime and the motive was very much off the mark in several respects, and then I abandoned that theory to focus all my suspicions on another character who proved to be innocent. The denouement caught me totally by surprise; but, as usual in Christie mysteries, after the reveal, I could see that all the clues were in place and the logic made perfect sense.
This is not, however, a mystery that focuses strictly on the intellectual solution to a puzzle; as in Christie's work generally, it's a story about people: well-drawn, nuanced characters (not least of them Poirot himself) in all of their relationships, with all of their feelings, hopes, secrets, and messy imperfections. One of my Goodreads friends who's reviewed this book found Elinor "unsympathetic." I didn't; I found her human, but a classy lady in spite of her human foibles, and never had any trouble rooting for her. The author, as usual, brings a lot of understanding of human nature to her tale, and a warm sympathy with her characters --at least, with the ones who deserve sympathy. That includes Mary, who (unlike some Christie murder victims) is a genuinely decent person and arouses our compassion as she goes through the opening chapters oblivious to the fact that she's doomed; our hopeless desire to save her adds to the emotional intensity here. All in all, I found this to be one of the best Poirot novels that I've read, and highly recommend it to genre fans.
Set in 1939, and structured somewhat atypically for a Christie novel (at least compared to others I've read; which isn't all of them by a long shot!), this one begins with a short Prologue, opening the murder trial of one Elinor Carlisle, accused of the murder by poisoning of another young woman, Mary Gerrard. (Mary was 21 when she died; Elinor's age is never specifically given, but I'd suppose her to be in her early 20s.) We glimpse some of the tale's characters, mainly seen through Elinor's eyes, but she's psychologically in a bit of a daze. Her reflection that this all began with a "horrible anonymous letter" then segues us into the body of the book, with a third person recounting of all the events surrounding the death of Elinor's much-loved, elderly (and quite wealthy) aunt Laura, the widowed mistress of the country estate Hunterbury, who when Chapter 1 opens has been sidelined with a stroke, and leading up to the poisoning a few weeks later. (Mary was the daughter of Laura's lodge-keeper, and a great favorite of the old lady.) After a couple of sentences mentioning his presence in the court, Poirot doesn't enter the narrative at all until the beginning of Chapter 8, after Elinor's arrest. We then follow his investigations (though, of course, we don't read his mind! :-) ); and most of the last few chapters, leading up to the denouement, follow the course of the trial. (This part is very much an exercise in courtroom drama, such as Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason novels typically delivered, but fairly unusual for Christie.)
Although the police and Crown prosecutor think the case against Elinor is so damning as to be practically open-and-shut, readers who grasp the conventions of the mystery genre in general, and of Christie mysteries in particular, aren't apt to seriously think she's guilty --because if she is, what on earth worthwhile is there going to be for Poirot to do? After all, Christie didn't bring him on stage to confirm an already obvious solution to a crime; she entertained her fans by allowing him to deduce a hidden solution that's NOT at all obvious, and of course to invite us to exercise our little grey cells to probe the mysteries with him. I actually guessed the identity of the poisoner even before the crime occurred --but my reconstruction of the crime and the motive was very much off the mark in several respects, and then I abandoned that theory to focus all my suspicions on another character who proved to be innocent. The denouement caught me totally by surprise; but, as usual in Christie mysteries, after the reveal, I could see that all the clues were in place and the logic made perfect sense.
This is not, however, a mystery that focuses strictly on the intellectual solution to a puzzle; as in Christie's work generally, it's a story about people: well-drawn, nuanced characters (not least of them Poirot himself) in all of their relationships, with all of their feelings, hopes, secrets, and messy imperfections. One of my Goodreads friends who's reviewed this book found Elinor "unsympathetic." I didn't; I found her human, but a classy lady in spite of her human foibles, and never had any trouble rooting for her. The author, as usual, brings a lot of understanding of human nature to her tale, and a warm sympathy with her characters --at least, with the ones who deserve sympathy. That includes Mary, who (unlike some Christie murder victims) is a genuinely decent person and arouses our compassion as she goes through the opening chapters oblivious to the fact that she's doomed; our hopeless desire to save her adds to the emotional intensity here. All in all, I found this to be one of the best Poirot novels that I've read, and highly recommend it to genre fans.
March 11, 2025
A really strong Agatha Christie.
March 21, 2023
This is probably my favorite Agatha Christie book so far. My only complaint is that there wasn't enough Hercule Poirot in this one - he doesn't really make an appearance until around the 40% mark. It's a solid mystery with great characters.
As an aside, I read this book up to 68% and then went to bed for the night. Being a horrible insomniac, I had a small piece of a specially-infused chocolate bar (wink wink) to help me sleep. Instead of sleeping, however, I could not stop thinking about this book. Over the course of two hours, I came up with two different conclusions as to who the murderer could be, as well as the whys and hows. I was super worried that I was going to forget these Very Deep Thoughts™ (because my mind is like Swiss cheese when edibles are involved) so I kept sending myself emails with my observations in the subject line. You know, "the butler did it in the pantry with the candlestick" and all of that. I woke up this morning to about ten of these emails and quickly finished the book ... only to realize that every single one of my late-night theories had been completely wrong. So, yeah. I'm not sure what the moral of this little vignette is, other than that edibles and Agatha Christie mysteries don't mix (in my head, at least).
Ahem, anyway. Great book, 5 stars. Hercule Poirot might just be my favorite literary detective of all time.
As an aside, I read this book up to 68% and then went to bed for the night. Being a horrible insomniac, I had a small piece of a specially-infused chocolate bar (wink wink) to help me sleep. Instead of sleeping, however, I could not stop thinking about this book. Over the course of two hours, I came up with two different conclusions as to who the murderer could be, as well as the whys and hows. I was super worried that I was going to forget these Very Deep Thoughts™ (because my mind is like Swiss cheese when edibles are involved) so I kept sending myself emails with my observations in the subject line. You know, "the butler did it in the pantry with the candlestick" and all of that. I woke up this morning to about ten of these emails and quickly finished the book ... only to realize that every single one of my late-night theories had been completely wrong. So, yeah. I'm not sure what the moral of this little vignette is, other than that edibles and Agatha Christie mysteries don't mix (in my head, at least).
Ahem, anyway. Great book, 5 stars. Hercule Poirot might just be my favorite literary detective of all time.
August 30, 2020
" قال رودي و في صوته مرارة و غيظ: لماذا تحدث للمرء مثل هذه الأمور دون أن يرغبَ بحدوثها؟ إنها تأتي عكس كل... كل توقعات المرء المنظمة عن الحياة!
-آه، و لكن هكذا هي الحياة؛ إنها لا تسمح لك بأن تخطط و ترتب و تأمرها كما تشاء، لا تسمح لك بأن تتجنّب العواطف و أن تعيش بعقلك و ذهنك فقط. لا يمكنك القول: سأشعر بهذا القدر لا أكثر. إن الحياة يا سيد ويلمان، كائنة ما كانت صفاتها الأخرى، ليست عقلانية."
..............................................................
بالتأكيد ستصبح الأقرب إلى قلبي بعد جريمة قطار الشرق السريع، الحبكة هنا صدمتني ببساطتها و منطقيتها في آنٍ واحد، و رأيت أناةً من أجاثا في معالجة الأحداث الرئيسة ثم تشابكًا في التفاصيل جعلاني أفقد ترتيبي و توقعاتي لهوية القاتل.
قد تبدو للقارئ قصة حب تسممت بالغيرة و الأنانية و الفتور، و لكن الأمر أعمق من هذا و لا يمكن أن يطرأ على البال بسهولة، و استوقفني توقيت ظهور بوارو في الأحداث ثم الطريقة التي اختارتها أجاثا-رغم وجوده- لكشف الستار عن اللغز، رواية ناضجة، لا يُرتجَى منها المتعة فقط، و لكن ستصطدم بحوار دار بين الشخصيات كشف عن تحليل الكاتب لدوافع النفوس البشرية في إطار واقعي.
إنْ كان لي أن أُبدي تعليقًا مجملًا عن سبب وَلَهي بهذا العمل، فهو دسامة الحبكة مما تمخضت عنه قصة كاملة الأطراف، ماتعة، فيها الصدق التخيلي و تفاصيل طبية دقيقة جعلت القارئ جزءًا من الأحداث، و في نهاية القصة، ستشعر بالرضا و التُّخمة الأدبية غير المتوقعة من عمل بوليسي.
تمت.
٢٩ أغسطس ٢٠٢٠
December 21, 2022
The final Appointment with Agatha book for 2022 and it's one I liked. Despite the fact that I am getting mightily tired of Poirot! He was less annoying than usual in this book, to my way of thinking.
I am rather pleased that I had worked out the identity of Mary Gerrard well before the end. However I can't be too proud of it, as Dame Agatha practically laid it out on a silver platter (or silver picture frame, maybe). I was reasonably sure that Elinor was too obvious to be the true murderess, but I also know that Christie plays with the reader's expectations and assumptions. The whole situation was quite damning and I can see why Elinor had quite given up.
As for the man in the mix, Roderick is a useless sort. I can't imagine falling in love with a man I grew up with, but it is a frequent plot point in books of this vintage (and older). I guess it was a way of keeping resources in the family? Roddy is a Barbara Pymian guy, shifty, feckless, selfish and self-dramatising. He likes his relationship with Elinor because she has pretended not to be head-over-heels in love with him. It makes it more comfortable to represent himself as a sensible man, settling for a good financial prospect, not a passionate man marrying for love. It's a pretty tepid thing on his side of the engagement.
It's the doctor who believes in Elinor's innocence and ropes in Poirot. I'm not well versed in the niceties of the English class system—is Elinor normally out of his league? I suspect so. Despite that, he is the passionate one.
At some point in the future, I may reread the book to note the placement of clues and red herrings. And perhaps to figure out the title!
I am rather pleased that I had worked out the identity of Mary Gerrard well before the end. However I can't be too proud of it, as Dame Agatha practically laid it out on a silver platter (or silver picture frame, maybe). I was reasonably sure that Elinor was too obvious to be the true murderess, but I also know that Christie plays with the reader's expectations and assumptions. The whole situation was quite damning and I can see why Elinor had quite given up.
As for the man in the mix, Roderick is a useless sort. I can't imagine falling in love with a man I grew up with, but it is a frequent plot point in books of this vintage (and older). I guess it was a way of keeping resources in the family? Roddy is a Barbara Pymian guy, shifty, feckless, selfish and self-dramatising. He likes his relationship with Elinor because she has pretended not to be head-over-heels in love with him. It makes it more comfortable to represent himself as a sensible man, settling for a good financial prospect, not a passionate man marrying for love. It's a pretty tepid thing on his side of the engagement.
It's the doctor who believes in Elinor's innocence and ropes in Poirot. I'm not well versed in the niceties of the English class system—is Elinor normally out of his league? I suspect so. Despite that, he is the passionate one.
At some point in the future, I may reread the book to note the placement of clues and red herrings. And perhaps to figure out the title!
February 6, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, which absorbed my attention.
Favorite lines, because, well, it's always time for tea:
“I’ll just pop the kettle on. You could do with a cup of tea before you go on, I’m sure, Nurse.”
"Nurse Hopkins said comfortably: “Well, dear, I can always do with a cup of tea. I always say there’s nothing like a nice cup of tea—a strong cup!”"
Then, some time later after they've enjoyed a good chin wag:
"Another cup of tea nurse?"
"Oh thank you nurse, I don't mind if I do."
"Over their steaming cups the women drew a little closer together."
Favorite lines, because, well, it's always time for tea:
“I’ll just pop the kettle on. You could do with a cup of tea before you go on, I’m sure, Nurse.”
"Nurse Hopkins said comfortably: “Well, dear, I can always do with a cup of tea. I always say there’s nothing like a nice cup of tea—a strong cup!”"
Then, some time later after they've enjoyed a good chin wag:
"Another cup of tea nurse?"
"Oh thank you nurse, I don't mind if I do."
"Over their steaming cups the women drew a little closer together."
May 3, 2023
Elinor Carlisle is accused of poisoning Mary Gerrard. She’s being accused for this crime because the man Elinor was supposed to marry, was in love with Mary. But is this case as easy to solve as it seems? That’s up to Poirot to figure out.
On one hand, a brilliant but rather complex mystery plot. The story starts with the events leading up to the murder before it transitions to Poirot’s investigation and eventually turns into a courtroom drama. On the other hand, this also has a romantic character-driven plot. This makes the story very gripping, as Elinor Carlisle is just an absolutely fantastic main character.
This book is so good. I’d honestly expect this level of quality from Agatha Christie’s best works like Murder on the Orient Express or And Then There Were None, not one I randomly picked up. This was a very pleasant surprise, making this book a very easy recommendation.
On one hand, a brilliant but rather complex mystery plot. The story starts with the events leading up to the murder before it transitions to Poirot’s investigation and eventually turns into a courtroom drama. On the other hand, this also has a romantic character-driven plot. This makes the story very gripping, as Elinor Carlisle is just an absolutely fantastic main character.
This book is so good. I’d honestly expect this level of quality from Agatha Christie’s best works like Murder on the Orient Express or And Then There Were None, not one I randomly picked up. This was a very pleasant surprise, making this book a very easy recommendation.
September 10, 2015
من غير أجاثا يمكن أن يختار هذا العنوان الرقيق "السرو الحزين" لرواية بوليسية تدور أحداثها حول جريمة قتل؟
ومن غير المترجمين الأذكياء يمكن أن يُفسد عليك الرواية إذا ما تذاكى وترجم عنوان الرواية إلى "المتهمة البريئة"؟
...
في كل مرة أدلف فيها إلى عالم أجاثا أعرف انني سأكون على موعد مع متعة خالصة، أودع فيها الملل، الإطالة، الرمزيات الغريبة، الألفاظ المشينة، كل هذا أتركه ورائي وأستعد لرواية أخرى تحبس الأنفاس وفي كثير من الأحيان تثير المشاعر
اختارت أجاثا هذه المرة عنواناً رقيقاً يتماشى مع الخط الرومانسي للرواية وفي الوقت نفسه يمثل المفتاح لمعرفة القاتل، فكما مزجت في روايتها هذه المشاعر مع أحداث جريمة القتل، فعلت الشيء نفسه عند اختيار العنوان، وهذه باختصار هي أجاثا
ورود السرو الأحمر ~~
إذا ما كنت قارئاً متمرساً لأجاثا فستدرك عند قراءتك للرواية أن تيمتها هي من التيمات المفضلة لها، وهي أن سراً دفيناً من الماضي يُلقي بظلاله على الجريمة، كما كان الحال في روايتيها: "ذاكرة الأفيال" و"الجريمة النائمة"، ولذلك ستتوصل إلى القاتل وبمعجزةٍ ما قد تصل إلى دافعه، أما الكيفية التي نفذ بها الجريمة فستظل مستغلقة عليك حتى النهاية، فهي كعادتها لن تتركك تعرف كل شيء بهذه السهولة
:)
ومن غير المترجمين الأذكياء يمكن أن يُفسد عليك الرواية إذا ما تذاكى وترجم عنوان الرواية إلى "المتهمة البريئة"؟
...
في كل مرة أدلف فيها إلى عالم أجاثا أعرف انني سأكون على موعد مع متعة خالصة، أودع فيها الملل، الإطالة، الرمزيات الغريبة، الألفاظ المشينة، كل هذا أتركه ورائي وأستعد لرواية أخرى تحبس الأنفاس وفي كثير من الأحيان تثير المشاعر
اختارت أجاثا هذه المرة عنواناً رقيقاً يتماشى مع الخط الرومانسي للرواية وفي الوقت نفسه يمثل المفتاح لمعرفة القاتل، فكما مزجت في روايتها هذه المشاعر مع أحداث جريمة القتل، فعلت الشيء نفسه عند اختيار العنوان، وهذه باختصار هي أجاثا
ورود السرو الأحمر ~~
إذا ما كنت قارئاً متمرساً لأجاثا فستدرك عند قراءتك للرواية أن تيمتها هي من التيمات المفضلة لها، وهي أن سراً دفيناً من الماضي يُلقي بظلاله على الجريمة، كما كان الحال في روايتيها: "ذاكرة الأفيال" و"الجريمة النائمة"، ولذلك ستتوصل إلى القاتل وبمعجزةٍ ما قد تصل إلى دافعه، أما الكيفية التي نفذ بها الجريمة فستظل مستغلقة عليك حتى النهاية، فهي كعادتها لن تتركك تعرف كل شيء بهذه السهولة
:)
September 3, 2015
Choose Your Own Adventure!
You are on the dock for murder most foul! The awkward thing is that the contemplation of murder is not an unusual topic for you. Your surprisingly extensive knowledge of poison is also a questionable thing. Whatever is a young lady to do? Look to Belgium for succor! A noted botanist of human nature will soon arrive to save the day, and he’ll turn that sad cypress frown upside down. Will you keep your dignity and integrity intact? Or will you admit that sometimes people truly deserve to be slain? Hold firm, young miss, class barriers will soon prove to be no obstacle at all to you – and perhaps all will see that murder is just another way of saying Goodbye!
If you would like to say Hello instead, choose this adventure.
If you would like to continue a life of contemplation amidst a company of magnificent cypress trees, choose this adventure.
You are on the dock for murder most foul! The awkward thing is that the contemplation of murder is not an unusual topic for you. Your surprisingly extensive knowledge of poison is also a questionable thing. Whatever is a young lady to do? Look to Belgium for succor! A noted botanist of human nature will soon arrive to save the day, and he’ll turn that sad cypress frown upside down. Will you keep your dignity and integrity intact? Or will you admit that sometimes people truly deserve to be slain? Hold firm, young miss, class barriers will soon prove to be no obstacle at all to you – and perhaps all will see that murder is just another way of saying Goodbye!
If you would like to say Hello instead, choose this adventure.
If you would like to continue a life of contemplation amidst a company of magnificent cypress trees, choose this adventure.
February 7, 2020
الجميل في روايات اغاثا والذي يجذبني إليها دوماً هو - رغم توحد ابطالها - التنوع في الأحداث والأفكار والمحافظة على الغموض الذي يلف رواياتاها دوما
April 1, 2021
A clever and novel plot but weakly developed is all I can say about this 22nd installment of the Poirot series. Sad Cypress should have been a promising novel in the series. I've read that it is considered to be one of her best. Granted; looking back and thinking over I see the truth of it. But while reading the story no such thoughts crossed my mind.
It was rather sad that I feel this way for a widely appreciated novel by Christie. But honestly, I wasn't impressed with the story until the very end. Its flow failed to command my attention fully and I found myself straying from the story at times.
The story was based on an original premise. It does great credit to Christie that even at the 22nd installment that she had still clever ideas stored in her to surprise the readers. But the way the story was developed was both deliberate and artificial. On top of all, this is the only Poirot story I've read thus far with an incomplete ending and the culprit of a double murder gone unpunished. All these left a very disappointed taste over the whole. And so in the end, I had to settle for a 3-star rating.
It was rather sad that I feel this way for a widely appreciated novel by Christie. But honestly, I wasn't impressed with the story until the very end. Its flow failed to command my attention fully and I found myself straying from the story at times.
The story was based on an original premise. It does great credit to Christie that even at the 22nd installment that she had still clever ideas stored in her to surprise the readers. But the way the story was developed was both deliberate and artificial. On top of all, this is the only Poirot story I've read thus far with an incomplete ending and the culprit of a double murder gone unpunished. All these left a very disappointed taste over the whole. And so in the end, I had to settle for a 3-star rating.
February 14, 2025
Eighth time reading this and it doesn’t stop being awesome! This book starts off with a young lady being accused of murder, and then journeys into the past, before bring you to Poirot and a young man who wants the girl to go free.
January 3, 2023
First book of the year and it is of course an Agatha Christie :O)
#ReadChristie2023 is this year focusing on methods and motives, and they recommended this title for January. Off I went and although I did read this years ago, I couldn’t remember a thing. Nada!
Christie does an interesting thing in this novel by focusing a large part of the narration through one character's point of view while not revealing her true thoughts, creating interest and enhancing the suspense. You are totally lead to believe Elinor is guilty, and yet. The courtroom sections were also nicely combined, seemingly widening the field. Poirot of course 'does his thing' but in a very smart way, adapting his approach and interrogation to each witness in order to get to the facts. This was surprising since his ego is usually in the way.
#ReadChristie2023 is this year focusing on methods and motives, and they recommended this title for January. Off I went and although I did read this years ago, I couldn’t remember a thing. Nada!
Christie does an interesting thing in this novel by focusing a large part of the narration through one character's point of view while not revealing her true thoughts, creating interest and enhancing the suspense. You are totally lead to believe Elinor is guilty, and yet. The courtroom sections were also nicely combined, seemingly widening the field. Poirot of course 'does his thing' but in a very smart way, adapting his approach and interrogation to each witness in order to get to the facts. This was surprising since his ego is usually in the way.
October 24, 2018
Young Elinor Carlisle is accused of murdering Mary Gerrard, Hercule Poirot is called to prove her innocence. But with such damming evidence, can he succeed?
I really liked the structure of this novel, told in three parts with the set up, Poirot investigating and back to the court room.
Even though Poirot doesn’t feature that heavily, I like he’s inclusion to the story.
I really liked the structure of this novel, told in three parts with the set up, Poirot investigating and back to the court room.
Even though Poirot doesn’t feature that heavily, I like he’s inclusion to the story.
February 20, 2015
"The human face is, after all, nothing more nor less than a mask."
"And underneath?"
"Underneath is the primitive man or woman."
Elinor Carlisle stands accused of murder. The evidence is mounted against her. The motive, the weapon, the time and place; everything points directly at the facts. And the facts state that Elinor is the one who poisoned poor Mary Gerrard. The only thing that stands between her and ruin is Hercule Poirot.
This one...might just be my favorite Agatha Christie book thus far! The story started out really strong and just seemed to grow more and more intense throughout the book, especially during the trial scene near the end. I had in my mind who I thought the killer was and I was completely wrong...as usual! :P But in any case, this was a very engaging story with a fascinating plot! Loved it!
"And underneath?"
"Underneath is the primitive man or woman."
Elinor Carlisle stands accused of murder. The evidence is mounted against her. The motive, the weapon, the time and place; everything points directly at the facts. And the facts state that Elinor is the one who poisoned poor Mary Gerrard. The only thing that stands between her and ruin is Hercule Poirot.
This one...might just be my favorite Agatha Christie book thus far! The story started out really strong and just seemed to grow more and more intense throughout the book, especially during the trial scene near the end. I had in my mind who I thought the killer was and I was completely wrong...as usual! :P But in any case, this was a very engaging story with a fascinating plot! Loved it!
October 22, 2025
"What letter?"Wow - just WOW!
So far, in my current binge of Christie novels, I have read 15 titles. That includes a few of the very well-known ones, a number of the somewhat-known ones, and a few of the-ones-not-much-talked-about.
Not only does 'Sad Cypress' belong to that last group... it's a title that, pre-binge, I had not even heard of.
And yet... out of all of the binge-books thus far, this has been my absolute favorite! Without exaggeration, I was enthralled on every... single... page. That has not happened with any other title... although, yes, a number of the books have been quite good reads.
But methinks 'Sad Cypress' is an underrated work, to say the least.
Of course, I'm just guessing... but I imagine that, as she started each new story, there may have been times when Christie was nudged with such thoughts as 'No, I've done this kind of plot before.' or 'This is too facile; my readers expect more from me than this.'
This particular Poirot entry appears to be an occasion in which the author was inspired to apply herself in an above-and-beyond manner. She starts out strong and, without missing a step along the complicated way, parcels out unexpected confusion in every possible direction.
Normally, that would be easier for Christie to accomplish - as she is fond of the 'Everyone is a suspect' format. Here, she is not afforded that luxury. From the first page - a post-murder prologue - we know there is only one suspect, who is awaiting trial. What makes things even trickier: the situation for the murder is such that no other suspect could conceivably exist. At all.
Not only that... but the single suspect is believed to have had an ironclad motive.
The novel may surprise Christie fans by the fact that much of its first section (the first of three) can seem almost (if not quite) benign - its hint of mystery notwithstanding. The effect is like that of a domestic romance... until something more sinister slowly begins to suggest itself.
Soon after, Poirot enters - about halfway through the book (although he is briefly spotted in the prologue). Hearing the events the reader already knows, he reacts with a bit of 'hiding in plain sight' pragmatism:
"That, mon ami, is one side of the question. Now we will proceed to stage two. We will dismiss all those considerations from our mind and we will approach the matter from the opposite angle."A good deal of the grist for Poirot's mill will stem from the number of lies he is told - whether told out of cultural politeness or resorted to when certain incidents are seen as not connected to the murder:
"For lies, Mademoiselle, tell a listener just as much as truth can. Sometimes they tell more."This time out, Poirot's skill is singularly diplomatic, as he senses just how lightly he must tread to get what he needs. Some of these people may be of the country, but they can be made of stern stuff.
'Sad Cypress' has a plot construction that is not only superb but is often unique in the way it's executed. The bulk of the characters (including subordinate ones) have been given a great deal of thought and creative detail. At times, the story is more than charming - and, at others, it can shift between being emotionally triggering and genuinely tragic.
This is a Christie book that - at some point - I would quite like to read a second time, just so I can pay a little closer attention to how exactly Christie pulled off this seemingly undervalued gem.
February 15, 2025
Прилична кримка, става да прекараш няколко интересни часа с нея.
Поаро късно влиза в разследването, но това не му пречи да се изяви отлично, както винаги.
Поаро късно влиза в разследването, но това не му пречи да се изяви отлично, както винаги.
April 5, 2017
This is one of those mysteries with an extremely tight plot. The human drama - the eternal love triangle - around the tragedy is gripping; there are a very limited number of suspects; and the accused seems to be indubitably guilty (in fact, the story starts with her trial). However, Poirot steps in with a last minute sleight of hand which leaves us all gasping for breath - with a perfectly plausible solution.
Here, Dame Agatha's extensive knowledge of poisons - a skill she picked up during the war years - stands her in very good stead.
Here, Dame Agatha's extensive knowledge of poisons - a skill she picked up during the war years - stands her in very good stead.
August 28, 2021
Even though it's slow paced in the beginning it becomes very intriguing when Poirot starts to investigate the case!
I had my suspicions about two characters with the same motive and I was right about one of them! A bit predictable but enjoyable read none the less!
Well plotted as was always with interesting characters that you like some more and some less depending on your own preferences and opinions! And there's always a touch of romance and ends with a hopeful note!
First time reading and loved it!
4.5/5
I had my suspicions about two characters with the same motive and I was right about one of them! A bit predictable but enjoyable read none the less!
Well plotted as was always with interesting characters that you like some more and some less depending on your own preferences and opinions! And there's always a touch of romance and ends with a hopeful note!
First time reading and loved it!
4.5/5
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