Unfortunately I knew the twist prior to reading, still a great who done it ( )

I didn't want to read what I was supposed to read, and Jim suggested escaping with this old chestnut, which was a good idea. All the usual tropes are there, and it was pretty evident who the murderer was, but it was still nice to visit with Poirot and Hastings (who now seems to own a ranch and have a wife in South America - really?). ( )

3,5 ( )

Once again this is a novel I am reading with my U3A Agatha Christie Reading Group, and it is a re-read for me. Once again I have used the note-making facility on my Kindle to make a big list of the things that I want to talk about. (I actually started off using a printed copy, and then thought this note-making ability would be very useful).

Here are some of the things we are going to talk about - please leave a comment if you'd like to contribute to our discussion

The disclosure right at the beginning by Captain Hastings that he has departed from his usual practice of using only his own account, and has included third person accounts by someone else. So who wrote these extra chapters?
this novel was originally published in 1936, but the setting is only a year before?
How old is Poirot at this stage - Let's say he was about 60 when he arrived as a Belgian refugee during World War 1. Is he getting past it? Is Agatha Christie ageing him in "real time"?
Poirot and Hastings trying to prevent aging. Poirot with his black hair dye, Hastings with his comb-over
I think it is Agatha Christie's only novel with a plot about a serial killer. But am I right? Aren't there some novels where the killer strikes more than once?
How did Hercule Poirot tackle solving the puzzle. Why does Hastings get annoyed by his method? How do his methods differ from those of the other detectives?
the fact that Hercule Poirot has now retired several times, and now tackles only "the cream of crime"
The way Poirot is regarded (or not) by the other detectives trying to solve the crime
What is ABC trying to do with his letters to Poirot?
What are the questions Poirot asks himself in reference to the case? (Why has ABC contacted him rather than going straight to the police?)
Why does Poirot get the "vigilante" group together - the victims of crime group. What is he trying to achieve?
When does Poirot get his first idea about who is really behind the murders?
What is the final solution?

What other questions do YOU think I should put on my list? ( )

Pretty riveting! The build-up on this one is fantastic and suspenseful and scary! So much so that the denouement feels a bit inferior. Guess it just goes to show that things are always more compelling as long as you’re kept in the dark. ( )