Appointment With Agatha discussion

Let the commenting begin!

A very untypical Christie. Yes there were some twists but it’s more of a spy novel than mystery

Dame Agatha had an affection for the espionage novel, like her Tommy & Tuppence novels.

Wanda wrote: "Dame Agatha had an affection for the espionage novel, like her Tommy & Tuppence novels."

I have to wonder if it’s connected to her war service

Thanks for getting us started, Wanda! This is a weird one, for sure...

Thanks Wanda for providing us with this thread. I was wondering if the read was going ahead or not this month. I haven't started yet but I always fly through the Christie's once I start.

I loved it. It felt like a stage show or a Saturday movie matinee. The actors were serious about their roles but the writer was out to entertain. It was melodramatic and fun to read. But still, it was a complex plot that kept me guessing, as always.

My thanks also, Wanda. I'm in the middle of reading but I'm liking this one so far. The beginning is quite dark, given the main character's state of mind.

This is my absolute favorite Christie of them *all!

*”all” being of the like ten or so titles of hers that I have read. 😅

I am really looking forward to the discussion on this one.

I just finished this! I had my doubts in the first chapter or so, because of the shadows hanging over Hillary. Once the actual drama began, I was hooked. The intricacies of the preplanned clues, identifiers, and signals were enthralling to me. I didn’t expect to enjoy this anomalous Christie, but her characters’ ability to maintain their cover stories impressed me.

Peregrina651 wrote: "I loved it. It felt like a stage show or a Saturday movie matinee. The actors were serious about their roles but the writer was out to entertain. It was melodramatic and fun to read. But still, it ..."

Such an apt comparison! The staged feeling really suited this story!

Very enjoyable. Took me a while to get into it, but when I did, I was hooked!

I enjoyed this too! I liked having no murders for once. (view spoiler)[(Well, except for Elsa's.) (hide spoiler)]

I am enjoying this more than I did the first time through - I read about the first 1/3 last night. I previously gave it 2 stars, but I think I'm going to end up around 3 this time.

I also did not know that an alternative title for it was "So Many Steps To Death" until I created the masthead for the group this morning!

I started this morning. I'm not really into spy stories but I'm definitely enjoying this!

For me, this is Christie's best espionage story. I felt that Hillary became a strong character, giving her the will to live. While most of the other characters were bland, the rich man, Aristedes, was interesting as the force behind global governments, banks, and corporations. Some things never change, I guess, because I saw this as a recognizable situation in today's world.

I also enjoyed Christie's exploration of some sophisticated topics, such as how to make a population docile and compliant. She touched on mass psychosis, psychotic drugs, and propaganda as useful tools toward this end. Definitely not a cozy mystery.

I've made it to chapter 5. It's very cloak & dagger, isn't it?

Hillary reminds me of Victoria Jones in They Came to Baghdad. In a place where she knows it's dangerous, but determined to find a way out.

Ah, Morocco in the 1950s being 'too modern'!

Wanda wrote: "Hillary reminds me of Victoria Jones in They Came to Baghdad. In a place where she knows it's dangerous, but determined to find a way out."

I know what you mean. I really liked Hilary.

I finished it this morning. I really enjoyed it! Christie had a fantastic imagination. I felt a little let down by the end. Thought it would be more dramatic. Otherwise I enjoyed all the mystery.

I set this aside at the halfway mark today. That wasn't the outcome I'd expected.

My review is here:
https://mikefinnsfiction.com/2024/07/...

Honest review Mike!

Finished today. I agree there is nothing cozy about this mystery!

My favorite part is when Hilary finally meets up with Tom. I had been anticipating this scene and it did not disappoint. Did anyone think this scene would go a different way?

I just need to read this one day. I think it may be part of a collection I already have.