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Adrian's Reviews > The ABC Murders
The ABC Murders (Hercule Poirot, #13)
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Adrian's review
bookshelves: det-agatha-christie, detectives-challenge-hp-2018-20, zz-owned-books
Feb 27, 2019
bookshelves: det-agatha-christie, detectives-challenge-hp-2018-20, zz-owned-books
My musings to follow later, but a great detective story.
At Christmas 2018 I watched the latest televised version of this wonderful story starring John Malkovich as Hercule Poirot. Now in my opinion if I hadn't known it was meant to be Poirot I wouldn't have guessed. It was a good and enjoyable tv detective story but in my view it was way too dark and brooding to be a Poirot. And having just finished this book for the first time, I think that my view of the TV show has been reinforced, it was enjoyable, but it was far too dark to be a Poirot and there were far too many changes versus the book for it to be a Poirot. And lets be honest John Malkovich as Hercules Poirot, NO .
Ok and on to the book, This was a really enjoyable Poirot mystery, with him involved right from the start as the recipient of a poison letter foretelling murder. He and Hastings (back home briefly from his ranch) are intrinsic to the investigation. Japp appears occasionally but the police presence is many filled through the book by a young "superior" Police Inspector from Scotland Yard.
As anyone who knows the story will know, it dashes around England, with Poirot doing the minimum of travelling but mostly using his little grey cells in London.
It is wonderfully crafted with just the right amount of mystery and intrigue, in short it a fabulous example of a murder mystery, and a solid 4.5 stars rounded down to 4. (well at the moment it is, I might round it up if I feel so moved.
At Christmas 2018 I watched the latest televised version of this wonderful story starring John Malkovich as Hercule Poirot. Now in my opinion if I hadn't known it was meant to be Poirot I wouldn't have guessed. It was a good and enjoyable tv detective story but in my view it was way too dark and brooding to be a Poirot. And having just finished this book for the first time, I think that my view of the TV show has been reinforced, it was enjoyable, but it was far too dark to be a Poirot and there were far too many changes versus the book for it to be a Poirot. And lets be honest John Malkovich as Hercules Poirot, NO .
Ok and on to the book, This was a really enjoyable Poirot mystery, with him involved right from the start as the recipient of a poison letter foretelling murder. He and Hastings (back home briefly from his ranch) are intrinsic to the investigation. Japp appears occasionally but the police presence is many filled through the book by a young "superior" Police Inspector from Scotland Yard.
As anyone who knows the story will know, it dashes around England, with Poirot doing the minimum of travelling but mostly using his little grey cells in London.
It is wonderfully crafted with just the right amount of mystery and intrigue, in short it a fabulous example of a murder mystery, and a solid 4.5 stars rounded down to 4. (well at the moment it is, I might round it up if I feel so moved.
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Reading Progress
January 6, 2019
– Shelved
January 6, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
January 6, 2019
– Shelved as:
det-agatha-christie
January 6, 2019
– Shelved as:
detectives-challenge-hp-2018-20
January 6, 2019
– Shelved as:
zz-owned-books
February 25, 2019
–
Started Reading
February 27, 2019
–
Finished Reading
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Elizabeth
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Feb 27, 2019 10:13PM
I’m pretty sure I read this in past. But am rereading all the series gradually. Watched the 1st episode of the tv series and did not enjoy.
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Elizabeth wrote: "I’m pretty sure I read this in past. But am rereading all the series gradually. Watched the 1st episode of the tv series and did not enjoy."I must admit I did not remember reading before, but it was good, far far better than the Malkovich tv special.
I hope you enjoy the book when you get to it Elizabeth.
You're right about Malkovich, Adrian :)) ABC is one of my ever fav with Poirot, but the series kind of strange with added plots outside the novel .... The series is a good production, but still .......
Beata wrote: "You're right about Malkovich, Adrian :)) ABC is one of my ever fav with Poirot, but the series kind of strange with added plots outside the novel .... The series is a good production, but still ......"Exactly Beata, it was almost as if they felt they needed to add more to the story, when it certainly doesn't need it
Re: the Malkovich production, I am about 15 minutes in, and already not particularly enjoying it, especially as a Poirot mystery. There is a modern compulsion to make both the killer and detective psychologically damaged, perhaps in an attempt to "humanize" them. For the most part I find that trope to be annoying, but it is especially ill-fitting in this context. I have long appreciated Suchet as being meticulous in his reading and portrayal of the character, which is why he is impossible to beat.
Tara wrote: "Re: the Malkovich production, I am about 15 minutes in, and already not particularly enjoying it, especially as a Poirot mystery. ..."If I'm honest, it is just about ok, BUT not a Poirot, so I agree entirely.
Tara wrote: "There is a modern compulsion to make both the killer and detective psychologically damaged, perhaps in an attempt to "humanize" them. For the most part I find that trope to be annoying, but it is especially ill-fitting in this context. ..."
Agreed again Tara, again it is NOT Poirot
Tara wrote: " I have long appreciated Suchet as being meticulous in his reading and portrayal of the character, which is why he is impossible to beat. ..."
And finally I agree entirely. He is Poirot !!
Fab review for a fab book!! And I agree, John Malkovich just can't pull it off in this case!
Nadia wrote: "Fab review for a fab book!! And I agree, John Malkovich just can't pull it off in this case!"
Thanks Nadia
Nice review Adrian. You do like a good murder mystery...so many of your titles have the word murder in them. 😁
marilyn wrote: "Nice review Adrian. You do like a good murder mystery...so many of your titles have the word murder in them. 😁"Ooh I never realised that 😳
But it is true. I suppose I get it from my mum having all the Christie and Sayers books as I grew up, as well as making me watch any murder mystery on TV.
