D. Leah L. (DLeahL) - , reviewed on 8/6/2009 + 48 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Agatha Christie is a master at weaving classic mysteries. Her two main sleuths, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, are fascinating and eccentric characters who seem to become "friends" to those of us who enjoy reading her books. She is the grandmother, or original "Eve" to the multitude of women mystery writers in our present day.

Her books are generally set in time anywhere from 50-100 or so years ago. This has its advantages and drawbacks. The drawbacks are that, for readers who have whet their teeth on more modern mystery writers, her mysteries might have a "simple" feel to them. There is no violence and her sleuths are never kidnapped, followed, attacked or put in direct danger in any way.

The advantages are that they are "clean" stories, books you can enjoy and then pass on to your teens and pre-teens (or very precocious children). Further, they offer a glimpse into a glamourous and luxurious lifestyle which no longer really exists. It is no longer likely, unfortunately, that one would be invited to spend a weekend at a manor house on an island with no cable television or internet - spending one's evenings playing cribbage or bridge. Heterosexual men in their 40's or 50's - Belgian or not - no longer drink creme de cassis.

But as long as you are aware of the nature of this book, you will not feel disappointed reading it. Instead, you will feel deeply fulfilled in the way you only can when reading a true classic that will forever stand the tests of time. (Well, okay, maybe not for infinity, but give me a little leeway here!)

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