Renaissancecat22’s Reviews > The Thirteen Problems > Status Update

Ch 13: Story where every character who comes up (father, Rex Sandford, Joe Ellis, Mrs. Bartlett) seems suspicious but knowing Christie's misogyny, it's pretty obviously Bartlett as soon as you meet her in the story. In a short story, it also helps to keep circling her character. Surprised to hear Clithering say "slut." Kind of picking an unusual minor character but also very much fits into "human nature" so fair.

Ch 12: Interesting way of relating this mystery as a plan of Jane Helier's she has yet to put into action. Impossible to guess because Jane is the missing piece (both alibi and motive). Brief mention of actress being married but never would have suspected actress' husband's ex-wife. Convenience of playwright but still seems shaky and mean to pin it on him. Misogyny about not trusting other women. Unreliable narrator

Ch 11: Really impossible to puzzle this one out, led astray by other suspects. Maud and Mrs. Carpenter did make a lot more sense. Sure, the argument for Sir Ambrose works at the end but it doesn't feel satisfying. Short story problem. Did enjoy Clithering and the switch of asking questions of the storyteller.

Story 10: One of the most entertaining so far. Lots of drama and suspense. Characters with personality. Definitely clear the husband was establishing an alibi but did not figure out the body switch, suspected the husband's friends instead. Works out once you know it but such a convoluted plan. Entertaining read, less satisfying mystery.

Sir Henry stories and Miss Marple stories seem to be the most interesting because you get more of Miss Marple's personality. But also written differently. better paced. Having them recounted is still a bit dry. Doctor story wasn't bad either

Story 9: Found letter suspicious because it was so weird. Didn't catch DEATH spelled out. Gardening catalogue and visit to Sir Henry didn't register as clues. Basically no motive. Any of the characters would have had the same motive i they were part of the Schwartze Hand.

Story 8: guessed by pg 14/30 that they switched places. Once it was revealed there was no body, knew she wasn't dead. Only didn't guess she was a poor relation

Story 7: Lots of hints to be suspicious of the Nurse. Her motive was not well fleshed out. The smelling salts were only a clue when they were mentioned at the end. The litmus paper and cyanide were impossible to guess. Not fair play except for the killer.

Story 6: More personality because there's the energy of Miss Marple. But still not as good as a full story. And kind of wacky at the end with the "crazy" killer. Was suspicious at the repeated mentions of his caretaker not being there that night but no way to guess "poison" eyedrops.

Story 5: Took a while to find the mystery. Once I read "blank paper" I wrote down my guess and was right. "Chemist/disappearing ink." I don't know if it was too easy or just very straightforward. I didn't feel so much obfuscation of the clues. It was very fairplay in what was suspicious (the pen) and what was unsolved (blank paper). Not a thrilling read but a good puzzle.