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Cat Among the Pigeons
(Hercule Poirot Mysteries #34)
by
When what looks like an amorous assignation turns out to be an assignation of quite a different sort, a globetrotting murderer leads Hercule Poirot on a breathless chase from a revolution-torn Arab sheikdom to a very respectable English school for young ladies.
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Paperback, 352 pages
Published
July 5th 2005
by Berkley
(first published November 2nd 1959)
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Start your review of Cat Among the Pigeons (Hercule Poirot, #34)
3 stars for this slow moving triple homicide mystery which I didn't like as much as others. When I first began this challenge a fellow Goodreads member, paulie, predicted that I would probably solve a case by August! But I was bowled over that I actually had both of the suspects figured out early on the book. Strangely neither of the feline occupants of my couch much cared for my excitement. That's why I feel myself only giving it a 3 star review because A.C. made it too easy and took too long
...more
3.5
“Everybody always knows something," said Adam, "even if it's something they don't know they know.”
Of course, there is a crime (actually, more than one -yay) but there is also espionage and international conspiracies and I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would. Cat Among Pigeons definitely is a quite peculiar adventure for Poirot, but nonetheless our Belgian detective solves it as brilliantly as ever.
Besides, I simply adored the epilogue. So cute and poignant.
“Everybody always knows something," said Adam, "even if it's something they don't know they know.”
Of course, there is a crime (actually, more than one -yay) but there is also espionage and international conspiracies and I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would. Cat Among Pigeons definitely is a quite peculiar adventure for Poirot, but nonetheless our Belgian detective solves it as brilliantly as ever.
Besides, I simply adored the epilogue. So cute and poignant.
Another entertaining Agatha Christie!
This one, although labelled a Poirot case, only features our favourite Belgian sleuth at the end of the story, taking on the mantle of the 'deus ex machina' to sort it all.
Instead we get a novel that goes from the exoticism of a tale of international conspiracies to the banality of a private girls’ school in England. The author plays with different strands, focusing on a variety of characters, all with a good dose of humour. I personally rather enjoyed ...more
This one, although labelled a Poirot case, only features our favourite Belgian sleuth at the end of the story, taking on the mantle of the 'deus ex machina' to sort it all.
Instead we get a novel that goes from the exoticism of a tale of international conspiracies to the banality of a private girls’ school in England. The author plays with different strands, focusing on a variety of characters, all with a good dose of humour. I personally rather enjoyed ...more
This is the first Agatha Christie I have tried and I highly enjoyed the dialogue between the characters. She really knows how to make people real. The murder mystery was equally complicated. She has great storytelling skills.
Now the whole shabang! While the mystery was complicated the storyline itself was just okay. The killer was obvious if you pay close attention to the clues. Hercule Poirot shows up for a brief 15 minutes and solves it! He is freaking talented. Other than his appearance here ...more
Now the whole shabang! While the mystery was complicated the storyline itself was just okay. The killer was obvious if you pay close attention to the clues. Hercule Poirot shows up for a brief 15 minutes and solves it! He is freaking talented. Other than his appearance here ...more
Cat Among The Pigeons is Hercule Poirot novel #32. What was odd to me was that Poirot didn't show up until the last third of the novel. He wasn't a prominent figure except, of course, he figured out whodunnit.
The novel starts at the beginning of the summer term when the students are returning to the prestigious Meadowbank girls school. The next chapter takes the reader to two months earlier when there is a coup in the fictional kingdom of Ramat. The Amir trusted his valuable jewels to his ...more
The novel starts at the beginning of the summer term when the students are returning to the prestigious Meadowbank girls school. The next chapter takes the reader to two months earlier when there is a coup in the fictional kingdom of Ramat. The Amir trusted his valuable jewels to his ...more
I loved all the detail about the school in this novel, which is why I gave it four stars. The plot is not one of Agatha's best, though it's not bad. But, as in Hickory Dickory Dock, Poirot presents much of the solution without telling us how he came to work it out, and Agatha novels work best when we are able to follow the workings of Poirot's mind more closely. However, all the school stuff makes this novel enjoyable and atmospheric.
“No sign, so far, of anything sinister—but I live in hope.”—Adam, in Christie
Christie’s Poirot #32, just a few more to go. After a couple of books where (the rich) Christie seems to defer to the poor and minorities in ways not typical for her, she returns for her story to a fairly typical setting, a stunning place filled with rich people! (After reading all these in the gutter noir novels by Cain and Thompson, it is quite a contrast, let me tell ya!). This time it’s Meadowbank, one of the most ...more
Christie’s Poirot #32, just a few more to go. After a couple of books where (the rich) Christie seems to defer to the poor and minorities in ways not typical for her, she returns for her story to a fairly typical setting, a stunning place filled with rich people! (After reading all these in the gutter noir novels by Cain and Thompson, it is quite a contrast, let me tell ya!). This time it’s Meadowbank, one of the most ...more
I didn't like this one quite as much as the other two I've read so far, and I'm not sure why. If Mrs. Upjohn recognized someone at the school who she knew from her previous life in intelligence work and knew this person was a trained killer, why would she leave her daughter in the same school and then travel the world? I hate to say that it's a plot hole, but it bothered me slightly.
I was entertained by this novel with touches of espionage along with lots of murder. I was amused when Poirot sails in only near the end of the story and tells everyone what’s been going on at a respected girls’ school where everyone seems to be after a bunch of jewels. Thank goodness one of the schoolgirls, Julia, is smart, observant and sensible enough to figure enough out of what’s going on to engage Poirot.
The book is labeled as a Hercule Poirot story but our favorite detective does not make an appearance until more than two thirds of the way into the story. It is not a bad story but it is far from Agatha Christie's best. A revolution in a Middle Eastern country, a fortune in jewels, and a prestigious English girls school are the ties that bind.
Revolution is about to happen in Ramat and Prince Ali Yusef prepares to flee with the help of his friend and pilot, Bob Rawlinson. Before they leave the ...more
Revolution is about to happen in Ramat and Prince Ali Yusef prepares to flee with the help of his friend and pilot, Bob Rawlinson. Before they leave the ...more
Poirot fans will be disappointed that the diminutive Belgian does not come into this one until very late in this story about murders and mayhem at a prestigious all-girls school. This is not a bad A.C. as things go though. Nice set up and an interest international plot. However, I'd just read Dorothy Sayers Gaudy Night and it handles the almost exact same scenario with more finesse.
The main problem with the Hercule Poirot novel, CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS – and I know this is not a criticism that Dame Agatha Christie would have welcomed at all – is that there just isn’t enough Hercule Poirot in it. It’s probably more than three quarters of the way through before the great Belgian detective shows up, but once he does it’s like the elixir of life has been injected intravenously into the page. He’s such a wonderful character that he immediately invigorates the whole book. And a
...more
Dec 09, 2010
Kaethe Douglas
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery,
fiction,
feminism,
middle-grade,
strong-smart-female-protagonist,
p-o-c,
politics,
boarding-school,
uk,
sex-positive
When this was published Christie had already been a best-selling author for more than three decades. She's got it down. Certainly she has fun with the format. Hercule Poirot doesn't appear, isn't even mentioned, until the final act. The girl's school setting is fun: it gives her rein to use all the stereotypes and to demolish them.
This particular book was on Natasha's shelf, which is why I didn't get to it during my Christie run. Saturday night she comes to tell me goodnight and to ask if I know ...more
This particular book was on Natasha's shelf, which is why I didn't get to it during my Christie run. Saturday night she comes to tell me goodnight and to ask if I know ...more
Another well written, finely crafted classic. Agatha Christie’s books are so timeless. This could have been written 60 days ago, but it was actually written 60 years ago!
Poirot doesn’t actually appear until about 60% of the way in - which was fine by me as for some reason I thought this was a stand-alone. Not sure how, but I failed to notice / realise that this was actually a Poirot, so his appearance was a pleasant surprise.
Poirot doesn’t actually appear until about 60% of the way in - which was fine by me as for some reason I thought this was a stand-alone. Not sure how, but I failed to notice / realise that this was actually a Poirot, so his appearance was a pleasant surprise.
Cat Among the Pigeons is an atypical Agatha with a number of strengths but a couple of odd weaknesses. I really enjoyed the fact that the first 100 pages are more of a novel of manners than a mystery, focusing on the development of interesting characters at a girls' boarding school. I admit, I picture Waverly Academy from Nancy Drew! When murder finally occurs, the motivation thus has more depth. This would be one of her best but for two detractions: first, it is very odd to bring in Poirot 200
...more
I love the historical and social insight that comes ‘as standard’ with an Agatha Christie – presented, of course, through the prism of the author’s own life experience and privileged background. This novel was published in 1959 – the war and rationing had been left behind, a new world order was emerging, and the Middle East was beginning to flex its muscles.
That said – there were certain idiosyncrasies that left me a little bamboozled.
In particular, this is billed as a Poirot mystery. But the ...more
That said – there were certain idiosyncrasies that left me a little bamboozled.
In particular, this is billed as a Poirot mystery. But the ...more
Sep 03, 2007
Mark
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
practically everyone !
Shelves:
all-time-favorites
the very first - from such a long list of - agatha christie's detective novels i've read.
quite a 'right' choice because the story reminds me of the more familiar enid blyton's boarding schools' series (i.e. mallory towers), but with such expanded plots that includes romance, theft and murder. very juicy indeed.
i could even remember that i skipped sleeping that night just to finish this novel, and succeeded doing so in less than 48 hours.
this novel was probably the one that triggered my crave ...more
quite a 'right' choice because the story reminds me of the more familiar enid blyton's boarding schools' series (i.e. mallory towers), but with such expanded plots that includes romance, theft and murder. very juicy indeed.
i could even remember that i skipped sleeping that night just to finish this novel, and succeeded doing so in less than 48 hours.
this novel was probably the one that triggered my crave ...more
I was so in the mood for this. Murder at a posh all girls boarding school. Lucky that I found a copy in the library of my hotel for a beach read.
4 Stars. Poirot doesn't appear until 2/3rds of the way into the book, but it's one of his masterworks when he finally intervenes. He gets the call because he was extolled by Maureen Summerhayes, an earlier Christie character from "Mrs. McGuinty's Dead." We meet Prince Ali Yusef, Sheik of Ramat in the Middle East, and his close friend and personal pilot Bob Rawlinson, as a revolution to unseat the Prince is about to happen. To remain alive they must flee the country and ensure a fortune in jewels
...more
This isn't a Christie classic, certainly. I did enjoy the way jewels are smuggled out of a Mid-Eastern country in chaos, and I enjoyed that an English Girl's School is the location for most of the mystery, an unusual locale for Dame Agatha. There are the usual red herrings, the expected plot twists. But for no real reason, the author brings in Poirot about 4/5ths of the way through, while any local inspector/police officer would have served just fine. It feels as if the publisher sent a draft
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3.5 stars
Wow. This story took several hundred pages to even get going. I figured out a ton of things before anyone else did.
We once again get Poirot in this novel at around the 80 percent mark. I have seen it before, and will say it again. The Poirot books are boring when we focus too much on other people.
I wish that we had Poirot involved from the beginning so at least he didn't come in as a side character. The main character in this book from beginning to end was Julia Upjohn. Since this book was ...more
We once again get Poirot in this novel at around the 80 percent mark. I have seen it before, and will say it again. The Poirot books are boring when we focus too much on other people.
I wish that we had Poirot involved from the beginning so at least he didn't come in as a side character. The main character in this book from beginning to end was Julia Upjohn. Since this book was ...more
I many ways this book is a let down. The plot is weak and there are just too many coincidences. The story to an extent is based on the schooling pattern popular amongst the elite during Christie's time. Halfway through the novel, i started losing interest and it was only the drive to finish it, that i ended up reading the last page. Quite a bore
Classic Agatha Christie... regardless of how old her books are, they remain great mysteries! This was a great read, I was just a bit disappointed that Hercule Poirot didn't have much face time in the story...
Such a good one! Jewel thieves, boarding school, corruption, and murder. Who did it? Not who you think!
This is my last Agatha Christie - for now. It was a nice trip down the memory lane, for three of the four novels I read were actually re-readings.
Not this one, and a pleasant surprise it was. With a subject so flashy (coup d'état in an Arab state and a legacy of jewels) it would have been easy for the author to slip into kitsch. not Agatha Christie, though, who reveals herself not only a master of mystery but also a skilful observer of the young girls psychology. A very interesting touch was the ...more
Not this one, and a pleasant surprise it was. With a subject so flashy (coup d'état in an Arab state and a legacy of jewels) it would have been easy for the author to slip into kitsch. not Agatha Christie, though, who reveals herself not only a master of mystery but also a skilful observer of the young girls psychology. A very interesting touch was the ...more
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Jun 13, 2016
Kate
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-and-crime,
school-stories
Okay, fine, I amend my last Christie review: preposterous spy shenanigans ARE acceptable but only if ironically juxtaposed with as down-to-earth a genre as the jolly-hockey-sticks school story. I wonder if anyone's written a spinoff of Julia Upjohn, P.I. with the gloriously oblivious Jennifer as her Watson/Hastings.
Jul 02, 2018
Paula Sealey
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
crime-and-thrillers
Not one of my favourite Christie novels it has to be said, not least because Poirot doesn't even make an appearance until the final act. For me, his character was rather redundant, and the mystery could easily have been solved by one of the stronger players already present in the story. The build up is slow but interesting, and the plot solid, as you would expect from Christie. The characters are well formed and I did enjoy the boarding school setting with its raft of mistresses and 'jolly
...more
Part of an Agatha Christie mini review round up.
This book is set up slightly differently in that there are a fewer characters to sort through and it's much more straight forward. Perhaps this is because I've read it a few times but to me, there isn't a clear answer until the end but it's obvious what the motive is. I did like how foreign countries were brought into it, though! I do really like the title though. It's very mystery-like.
Final Verdict: Intriguing and compelling mystery although ...more
This book is set up slightly differently in that there are a fewer characters to sort through and it's much more straight forward. Perhaps this is because I've read it a few times but to me, there isn't a clear answer until the end but it's obvious what the motive is. I did like how foreign countries were brought into it, though! I do really like the title though. It's very mystery-like.
Final Verdict: Intriguing and compelling mystery although ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Detective-mystery, by Ruth Rendell maybe, about a murder in a girls' school [s] | 11 | 43 | Aug 17, 2017 09:06PM | |
| Agatha Christie L...: December 2015 - Cat Among the Pigeons | 7 | 45 | Jan 05, 2016 04:26PM | |
| Madison Mega-Mara...: #10 - Cat Among the Pigeons | 4 | 6 | Jan 19, 2015 09:22PM |
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Agatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Agatha Christie is the best-selling author of all time. She wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in Romance. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and a billion in ...more
Agatha Christie is the best-selling author of all time. She wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in Romance. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and a billion in ...more
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Hercule Poirot Mysteries
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“Everybody always knows something," said Adam, "even if it's something they don't know they know.”
—
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“No sign, so far, of anything sinister—but I live in hope.”
—
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