A tragedy as well as a murder story. It's a long time since I read this one and the poinancy of the murderers revalation is hard to beat. Comes once again with the theme of the need for the truth to enable the innocent to move on. Great story. ( )

There is a forward in which Christie describes this as one of her favourite novels and a joy to write. It is certainly fun to read and is interesting because its not a Poirot or Miss Marple but personally I prefer some of her other books. ( )

April 11, 1999
Crooked House
Agatha Christie

Not a Ms. Marple or Poirot mystery, but an “independent”, about a young man whose fiancé-to-be asks him to help her figure out who murdered her rich old grandfather (with a little help from the young man’s father, an Inspector or something). There’s a house brimming with suspicious characters, like the very young widow and the old man’s grown children who shared the house with him. The murderer is someone you’d never expect, though!

I love the title, and only wish I’d thought of it first. ( )

This is another book by Agatha Christie and the sleuth is not one of her famous recurring detective's. A kindly old rich man is murdered in his home surrounded by his family and loved ones. All of the suspects of course proclaim their innocence and devotion to the old man and can't think of any reason why someone would want to murder him, except for...

This one did have a neat twist at the end, I might have seen it if I wasn't distracted by an accidental phrase I saw at the end of the book and made me think of the wrong person all the way through the book. It wasn't a very deep or tricky book but a fun short read. ( )

I agree with Christie that this is one of her best books. The plot is psychologically satisfying, not convoluted or marred by a deus ex machina as many of her books are (though all are enjoyable on a pure entertainment level). No Poirot or Marple - instead we have Charles Hayward as narrator, who becomes involved in the murder of Aristide Leonides via his love for his granddaughter, Sophia. [Sept 2004]