Agatha Christie Lovers discussion

Originally published in 1968. Features Tommy and Tuppence (#4).

While visiting Tommy's Aunt Ada at Sunny Ridge Nursing Home, Tuppence encounters some odd residents including Mrs. Lancaster who mystifies her with talk about "your poor child" and "something behind the fireplace".

When Aunt Ada dies a few weeks later, she leaves Tommy and Tuppence a painting featuring a house, which Tuppence is sure she has seen before. This realization leads her on a dangerous adventure involving a missing tombstone, diamond smuggling and a horrible discovery of what Mrs. Lancaster was talking about.

After a long hiatus, I am finally joining the Book of the Month Reads again. I have started to read a Lithuanian edition of the book yesterday during my commute and now I am almost half-way in. Previously I have read only one Tommy and Tuppence book - "Postern of Fate" - and I didn't particularly enjoy it. But "By the Pricking of My Thumbs" so far seems to be better.

Aušrinė wrote: "Previously I have read only one Tommy and Tuppence book - "Postern of Fate" - and I didn't particularly enjoy it." I agree that "Postern" is pretty awful. It was the last one she wrote and some folks say it's obvious that she was losing the battle with Alzheimer's. I wish her editors had exerted more control. Especially in cleaning up all the repetitive, chatty descriptions.

Just received my copy today!

I finally finished late Monday night. I don’t know why I had such a difficult time getting through this one, but the middle part especially seemed to lag a bit.

Heather L wrote: "I finally finished late Monday night. I don’t know why I had such a difficult time getting through this one, but the middle part especially seemed to lag a bit."

This is one of her not so good books.