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Hercule Poirot #41
Hallowe'en Party
A Woodleigh Common i ragazzi stanno festeggiando Halloween quando viene fatta una scoperta agghiacciante: la tredicenne Joyce è stata assassinata. La giallista Ariadne Oliver, presente al party, si precipita dall'amico Poirot e lo convince a interessarsi del caso: Joyce, infatti, poco prima della morte, si era vantata di aver assistito a un omicidio, ma nessuno le aveva creduto. Possibile che invece la ragazza, conosciuta per essere una gran bugiarda, avesse detto la verità? E che il colpevole abbia deciso di chiuderle la bocca per sempre?
226 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1969
5333 people are currently reading
67164 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,775 books75.5k followersAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,285 reviews
February 2, 2012
I am a big fan of Agatha Christie. I love her writing and have read piles and piles of her books.
So I feel a bit queasy when my first review of one of her books is panning it.
But I can’t recommend this book to anyone—especially not to anyone who hasn’t read Agatha Christie before. You might get the impression that she is a hack, formulaic writer with cardboard characters who all spout the same dialog. You might read this book and think that Agatha Christie writes mysteries with predictable plots and too large of a social agenda.
You would be right if you based your judgement solely on this novel. In fact, there is a part of me that desperately wants to believe that this book is a forgery. Perhaps Christie decided to loan her irascible detective Hercule Poirot and the self-parodying Ariadne Oliver out to another author, an apprentice perhaps. That might explain the travesty that is this novel.
Yet, I look at the date of this novel—1969—and realize that perhaps one of my favorite mystery authors was simply getting tired of her characters and writing to meet a deadline. Perhaps she had used up all of her suspenseful endings and gripping characterizations. Granted, Curtain--a novel that ranks with her best works—was still to come, but I think this novel was part of the reason she was so ready to give Poirot his send-off.
The book begins slowly, pouring all sorts of irrelevant details and descriptions over us as if Christie hadn’t yet decided in which direction she was going to take the novel and what information would end up being useful. Even when the murder takes place—the murder of a 13-year-old girl at a Hallowe’en party—there isn’t a lot of drama.
The book gets worse as we have to listen to each and every character spew forth the popular drivel about criminals not being responsible for their actions and that the murder must have been committed by an insane person let out too early from a mental institution due to overcrowding. It wouldn’t have been so bad if only two or three people had proposed this as a solution, but to have every person interviewed jump on this bandwagon and speak almost identical dialog made for a boring read. Indeed, the only diversity in opinion came from Poirot himself, who maintained that this was a murder with a motive.
As the readers, we have no doubt. Dame Agatha does not write murders without motives. So it would have been nice if at least a few of the characters Poirot interviewed could have had a distinct voice.
I was also disappointed because typically Christie is able to produce an ending that is both surprising and memorable. In this novel, I was able to figure out who the murderer was when Poirot was first given a list of past murders. There was one slight twist at the end, but it was neither surprising nor interesting.
The ending of the book was nothing but painful. Christie labored at building suspense using all sorts of techniques to the point where the techniques got in the way and the reading was simply wearisome. She holds off on revealing who-dun-it until long after the reader has any doubts, making the denouement simply a relief that the book was almost over, rather than a delightful surprise.
Agatha Christie writes wonderful mysteries. I encourage anyone to read them. But don’t read this book. Try instead one of these novels:
Witness for the Prosecution
The Mousetrap
And Then There Were None
Death on the Nile
The ABC Murders
Murder on the Orient Express
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Verdict
The Mirror Crack’d From Side to Side
All of those books are immensely satisfying and are wonderful examples of Christie’s craft. I may even go re-read some of those to get the taste of Hallowe’en Party out of my mouth.
So I feel a bit queasy when my first review of one of her books is panning it.
But I can’t recommend this book to anyone—especially not to anyone who hasn’t read Agatha Christie before. You might get the impression that she is a hack, formulaic writer with cardboard characters who all spout the same dialog. You might read this book and think that Agatha Christie writes mysteries with predictable plots and too large of a social agenda.
You would be right if you based your judgement solely on this novel. In fact, there is a part of me that desperately wants to believe that this book is a forgery. Perhaps Christie decided to loan her irascible detective Hercule Poirot and the self-parodying Ariadne Oliver out to another author, an apprentice perhaps. That might explain the travesty that is this novel.
Yet, I look at the date of this novel—1969—and realize that perhaps one of my favorite mystery authors was simply getting tired of her characters and writing to meet a deadline. Perhaps she had used up all of her suspenseful endings and gripping characterizations. Granted, Curtain--a novel that ranks with her best works—was still to come, but I think this novel was part of the reason she was so ready to give Poirot his send-off.
The book begins slowly, pouring all sorts of irrelevant details and descriptions over us as if Christie hadn’t yet decided in which direction she was going to take the novel and what information would end up being useful. Even when the murder takes place—the murder of a 13-year-old girl at a Hallowe’en party—there isn’t a lot of drama.
The book gets worse as we have to listen to each and every character spew forth the popular drivel about criminals not being responsible for their actions and that the murder must have been committed by an insane person let out too early from a mental institution due to overcrowding. It wouldn’t have been so bad if only two or three people had proposed this as a solution, but to have every person interviewed jump on this bandwagon and speak almost identical dialog made for a boring read. Indeed, the only diversity in opinion came from Poirot himself, who maintained that this was a murder with a motive.
As the readers, we have no doubt. Dame Agatha does not write murders without motives. So it would have been nice if at least a few of the characters Poirot interviewed could have had a distinct voice.
I was also disappointed because typically Christie is able to produce an ending that is both surprising and memorable. In this novel, I was able to figure out who the murderer was when Poirot was first given a list of past murders. There was one slight twist at the end, but it was neither surprising nor interesting.
The ending of the book was nothing but painful. Christie labored at building suspense using all sorts of techniques to the point where the techniques got in the way and the reading was simply wearisome. She holds off on revealing who-dun-it until long after the reader has any doubts, making the denouement simply a relief that the book was almost over, rather than a delightful surprise.
Agatha Christie writes wonderful mysteries. I encourage anyone to read them. But don’t read this book. Try instead one of these novels:
Witness for the Prosecution
The Mousetrap
And Then There Were None
Death on the Nile
The ABC Murders
Murder on the Orient Express
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Verdict
The Mirror Crack’d From Side to Side
All of those books are immensely satisfying and are wonderful examples of Christie’s craft. I may even go re-read some of those to get the taste of Hallowe’en Party out of my mouth.
September 4, 2024
Hi. Hello, bookish friends. Greetings, Ghouls and Gals!
Are you always looking for that perfect Autumnal read?
Maybe you aren't a fan of Horror, you don't want to be literally afraid, but still want the feeling of the Halloween season?
If this is the case, than this may be the perfect book for you. I read Hallowe'en Party a couple of years ago on Halloween night and I had a lot of fun with it.
This is a Hercule Poirot mystery. If you are a Poirot fan, his calm and efficient manner, than what are you waiting for?
Pick this one up!
The main plot revolves around a children's Halloween Party and what one child claims to have witnessed during that party.
A murder. ((dun dun dun)) Is this kid full of it or what?
The atmosphere is definitely Halloweenie, but without being frightening and intimidating.
Also, perfect for fans of Christie's classic 'whodunit' formula!
Are you always looking for that perfect Autumnal read?
Maybe you aren't a fan of Horror, you don't want to be literally afraid, but still want the feeling of the Halloween season?
If this is the case, than this may be the perfect book for you. I read Hallowe'en Party a couple of years ago on Halloween night and I had a lot of fun with it.
This is a Hercule Poirot mystery. If you are a Poirot fan, his calm and efficient manner, than what are you waiting for?
Pick this one up!
The main plot revolves around a children's Halloween Party and what one child claims to have witnessed during that party.
A murder. ((dun dun dun)) Is this kid full of it or what?
The atmosphere is definitely Halloweenie, but without being frightening and intimidating.
Also, perfect for fans of Christie's classic 'whodunit' formula!
March 29, 2021
QUE ÓDIO.
4,5 ⭐
4,5 ⭐
October 26, 2025
Ariadne Oliver and Poirot team up to find out who killed a really annoying child.
I know what you're thinking, Random Goodreader.
An annoying child?
What's wrong with killing one of those?!
But it is actually a crime to do away with children.
Even if they are of the obnoxious variety...apparently. Like you, I'm not 100% convinced of this, but let's go with the premise for now.
A little braggy girl swears loudly that she's seen a murder done years ago. No one believes her because she's known to be a bit of an ass who lies to make herself look better.
Next thing they know, she's floating face down in the bobbing-for-apples bucket.
Could it be that for once she was telling the truth?
Leave it to Poirot and his little grey cells to find out the answer to everything!
This is one that I've read multiple times, and I still mostly enjoy the twists and turns in the story. However, even with a bratty kid or two getting axed, this one is just missing that special something that makes most of her books 4 star reads for me, so it's not one of my favorites.
Recommended for fans of Agatha Christie.
I know what you're thinking, Random Goodreader.
An annoying child?
What's wrong with killing one of those?!
But it is actually a crime to do away with children.
Even if they are of the obnoxious variety...apparently. Like you, I'm not 100% convinced of this, but let's go with the premise for now.
A little braggy girl swears loudly that she's seen a murder done years ago. No one believes her because she's known to be a bit of an ass who lies to make herself look better.
Next thing they know, she's floating face down in the bobbing-for-apples bucket.
Could it be that for once she was telling the truth?
Leave it to Poirot and his little grey cells to find out the answer to everything!
This is one that I've read multiple times, and I still mostly enjoy the twists and turns in the story. However, even with a bratty kid or two getting axed, this one is just missing that special something that makes most of her books 4 star reads for me, so it's not one of my favorites.
Recommended for fans of Agatha Christie.
September 20, 2022
This is by no means my favorite Poirot novel, but it was fun immersing myself in the fall setting regardless.
October 20, 2020
Thirteen-year-old Joyce Reynolds is murdered at a Halloween party. She was killed by being dunked in the bucket used for bobbing for apples. Earlier in the day, Joyce was telling everyone how she saw a murder some time ago. (Joyce is known for exaggerating and lying, so no one took her seriously at the time.) But now, with her death, maybe she was telling the truth. A lady author (Ariadne Oliver) that was at the party visits Hercule Poirot and asks him if he can look into this. He agrees. Will Poirot find out who the murderer is?
Enjoyable read, though there was barely any Halloween in this book, except for the Halloween party at the beginning of the story. It was slow at times, but I had fun trying to figure out who the murderer was. It’s always fascinating to see how Poirot figures out a case.
Another fine story by Agatha Christie.
Enjoyable read, though there was barely any Halloween in this book, except for the Halloween party at the beginning of the story. It was slow at times, but I had fun trying to figure out who the murderer was. It’s always fascinating to see how Poirot figures out a case.
Another fine story by Agatha Christie.
March 16, 2021
Na calma e esplêndida noite de sexta-feira, 12 de março do calendário gregoriano, editheus, vulgo Matheus Madeira de Souza, primeiro de seu nome e de Bel Rodrigues (assim espero), segundo de seu pai e sua mãe, termina de ler Noite da Bruxas da lendária Agatha Christie.
Após finalizar o livro, fiquei divagando em meus pensamentos sobre como a Agatha consegue me fazer de otário, como que um livro publicado em 1969 possui uma escrita tão atual e satisfatória. Quamquam, interim, etiam, este livro não me prendeu tanto na história, por mais que a temática de dia das bruxas seja de muito meu agrado. Achei uma história gostosinha para se ler, um livro que você pode lambear em um dia e então continuar tocando a vida vestindo sua fantasia de palhaço.
Outro ponto que fiquei muito em abalroamento foi o fato de a vítima ser uma adolescente, isso com certeza fez a história tomar um rumo mais pesado, pelo menos na minha perspectiva astigmática de 4 graus, quando envolve vítimas animais ou adolescentes, eu sempre sinto que o tiro é mais embaixo .
Minha conclusioni é de que fui com altas expectativas por ter me apaixonado por Morte no Nilo, entretanto dei de cara com uma história um pouquinho menos envolvente, o que pode ter quebrado toda minha experiência com o livro em si, recomendo muito que você leia e tire suas próprias conclusiones, esta é apenas a opinião de um ser humano humilde, noivo de uma crítica de sucesso e ainda em desenvolvimento de sua análise julgamental.
Logo, aqui, hoje, neste mês, neste ano, neste exato cativeiro, eu, homem fenotipicamente branco dou a nota de 3.8 edilikes.
Agradeço vossa atenção, me segue lá no meu servidor do mirc TeteuCritica e na comunidade do meu orkut “Agatha aff, de novo fui feito de otário?” e é isso pessoal um beijo a todos.
Após finalizar o livro, fiquei divagando em meus pensamentos sobre como a Agatha consegue me fazer de otário, como que um livro publicado em 1969 possui uma escrita tão atual e satisfatória. Quamquam, interim, etiam, este livro não me prendeu tanto na história, por mais que a temática de dia das bruxas seja de muito meu agrado. Achei uma história gostosinha para se ler, um livro que você pode lambear em um dia e então continuar tocando a vida vestindo sua fantasia de palhaço.
Outro ponto que fiquei muito em abalroamento foi o fato de a vítima ser uma adolescente, isso com certeza fez a história tomar um rumo mais pesado, pelo menos na minha perspectiva astigmática de 4 graus, quando envolve vítimas animais ou adolescentes, eu sempre sinto que o tiro é mais embaixo .
Minha conclusioni é de que fui com altas expectativas por ter me apaixonado por Morte no Nilo, entretanto dei de cara com uma história um pouquinho menos envolvente, o que pode ter quebrado toda minha experiência com o livro em si, recomendo muito que você leia e tire suas próprias conclusiones, esta é apenas a opinião de um ser humano humilde, noivo de uma crítica de sucesso e ainda em desenvolvimento de sua análise julgamental.
Logo, aqui, hoje, neste mês, neste ano, neste exato cativeiro, eu, homem fenotipicamente branco dou a nota de 3.8 edilikes.
Agradeço vossa atenção, me segue lá no meu servidor do mirc TeteuCritica e na comunidade do meu orkut “Agatha aff, de novo fui feito de otário?” e é isso pessoal um beijo a todos.
November 1, 2015
While some of Agatha Christie’s mysteries remain immensely satisfying, there are a few that just don’t work, whether from cultural shift or a more experimental approach. I was worried when I picked up Hallowe’en Party; I had been operating with a suspicion that her best work was earlier in her extensive career. However, it wasn’t long before my concern was dismissed as I settled into an engrossing tale of Hercule Poirot investigating a murder at a Halloween party.
Poor Joyce; thirteen and a bit desperate for attention, she’s become known for telling tales. Perhaps hoping to impress Mrs. Oliver during the preparations for a Halloween party, she claims to have seen a murder. When the Halloween party is over, Joyce is discovered dead, but only Mrs. Oliver connects the earlier boast to the death–the rest of the village is prefers to blame an anonymous unstable person. She calls on dear, aging Hercule. He concurs with her fine instincts and arranges to stay with retired Inspector Spence, coincidentally living in the same village.
Hercule focuses on Jane’s tall tale, convinced the solution lies in the past. He digs into the history of the village; a disappearing au pair girl, a wealthy widow who died unexpectedly, a forger who was stabbed, a man killed in a hit-and-run, a strangled girl in a gravel pit. As he talks with the villagers, the ominous atmosphere increases.
Almost everything about the book is lovely. The writing shines, the characters are complex. Christie can paint a portrait in only a few sentences: “His friend, Mrs. Oliver, sounded in a highly excitable condition. Whatever was the matter with her, she would no doubt spend a very long time pouring out her grievances, her woes, her frustrations or whatever was ailing her…The things that excited Mrs. Oliver were so numerous and frequently so unexpected that one had to be careful how one embarked upon a discussion of them.”
The atmosphere is sinister, and the setting feels fully realized, although I still don’t understand why snap-dragon would be the capstone to a children’s party. Once again Mrs. Oliver serves as a authorial voice, particularly when Hercule notes how an author tends to co-opt characters from real people. Her bits calling out Hercule are particularly amusing:
“The trouble with you is,” said Mrs. Oliver…”the trouble with you is that you insist on being smart. You mind more about your clothes and your moustaches and how you look and what you wear than comfort. Now comfort is really the great thing. Once you’ve passed, say, fifty, comfort is the only thing that matters.��
Straight from the mouth of a seventy-nine year old.
An excellent read, and well worth re-reading.
Poor Joyce; thirteen and a bit desperate for attention, she’s become known for telling tales. Perhaps hoping to impress Mrs. Oliver during the preparations for a Halloween party, she claims to have seen a murder. When the Halloween party is over, Joyce is discovered dead, but only Mrs. Oliver connects the earlier boast to the death–the rest of the village is prefers to blame an anonymous unstable person. She calls on dear, aging Hercule. He concurs with her fine instincts and arranges to stay with retired Inspector Spence, coincidentally living in the same village.
Hercule focuses on Jane’s tall tale, convinced the solution lies in the past. He digs into the history of the village; a disappearing au pair girl, a wealthy widow who died unexpectedly, a forger who was stabbed, a man killed in a hit-and-run, a strangled girl in a gravel pit. As he talks with the villagers, the ominous atmosphere increases.
Almost everything about the book is lovely. The writing shines, the characters are complex. Christie can paint a portrait in only a few sentences: “His friend, Mrs. Oliver, sounded in a highly excitable condition. Whatever was the matter with her, she would no doubt spend a very long time pouring out her grievances, her woes, her frustrations or whatever was ailing her…The things that excited Mrs. Oliver were so numerous and frequently so unexpected that one had to be careful how one embarked upon a discussion of them.”
The atmosphere is sinister, and the setting feels fully realized, although I still don’t understand why snap-dragon would be the capstone to a children’s party. Once again Mrs. Oliver serves as a authorial voice, particularly when Hercule notes how an author tends to co-opt characters from real people. Her bits calling out Hercule are particularly amusing:
“The trouble with you is,” said Mrs. Oliver…”the trouble with you is that you insist on being smart. You mind more about your clothes and your moustaches and how you look and what you wear than comfort. Now comfort is really the great thing. Once you’ve passed, say, fifty, comfort is the only thing that matters.��
Straight from the mouth of a seventy-nine year old.
An excellent read, and well worth re-reading.
November 10, 2018
What started out as a unique and interesting mystery soon turned into a rather tedious read with bland characters and a repetitive storyline. The resolution was acceptable yet disappointing as it seemed to be a jumble of happenings that an amateur detective (or reader) could not have pieced together. I was left feeling like there was absolutely no way I could have figured it out, like the clues were never given. Maybe they were there though as I found the book to be so disjointed that I was never interested enough to try and figure out the clues.
I chose this as a Halloween read but other than the murder occurring on Halloween, there is no Halloween element to the book.
The lack of suspense paired with the meandering plot warrants only a 2 star rating from me. It definitely didn’t grab me and in my opinion, it’s not one of Christie’s best works.
I chose this as a Halloween read but other than the murder occurring on Halloween, there is no Halloween element to the book.
The lack of suspense paired with the meandering plot warrants only a 2 star rating from me. It definitely didn’t grab me and in my opinion, it’s not one of Christie’s best works.
October 28, 2023
Hallowe'en Party: A Hercule Poirot Mystery #41 by Agatha Christie is the Story, A Haunting in Venice is the Film Adaption!
A Halloween Party that turns deadly...
During preparations for an 'eleven plus' teenage Halloween party, thirteen-year-old Joyce Reynolds brags about once witnessing a murder. Known to be a bit of afibber liar storyteller, no one believes her, causing her to stomp out and run home.
Later that day, after most of the party festivities are complete, Joyce is nowhere to be found. Her body is eventually discovered in the library where the apple bobbing took place. Someone held her head down long enough in the galvanized bucket full of water to drown her.
Ariadne Oliver, the well-known crime novelist, was at the party and highly distraught about poor little Joyce. She calls upon her good friend Hercule Poirot to investigate and discover who's responsible for this murder in a quiet English village...
Hallowe'en Party is the perfectly themed Agatha Christie Mystery to listen to in October and is one of the last Poirot stories Christie wrote. It feels dated and a bit old-fashion considering the year it was published in. 1969, when Modern was a buzz word, this story has words such as Authoress, Disappearess, and Jollification. Yep, that feels like a bit of a time-warp, I'd say.
Despite this, Christie's story weaves together relationships, past events, and possible motives as her most famous character, Hercule Poirot observes, discovers secrets, gathers facts, eliminates suspects one by one, and ultimately, in true "Poirot Fashion", miraculously uncovers the truth. Voilà!
Hallowe'en Party audiobook narrator Hugh Fraser does a remarkable job of voicing and bringing Hercule Poirot to life. This was my first HP investigation and an entertaining introduction to this character that I can recommend to all who love an Agatha Christie Mystery!
3.75⭐rounded up!
A Halloween Party that turns deadly...
During preparations for an 'eleven plus' teenage Halloween party, thirteen-year-old Joyce Reynolds brags about once witnessing a murder. Known to be a bit of a
Later that day, after most of the party festivities are complete, Joyce is nowhere to be found. Her body is eventually discovered in the library where the apple bobbing took place. Someone held her head down long enough in the galvanized bucket full of water to drown her.
Ariadne Oliver, the well-known crime novelist, was at the party and highly distraught about poor little Joyce. She calls upon her good friend Hercule Poirot to investigate and discover who's responsible for this murder in a quiet English village...
Hallowe'en Party is the perfectly themed Agatha Christie Mystery to listen to in October and is one of the last Poirot stories Christie wrote. It feels dated and a bit old-fashion considering the year it was published in. 1969, when Modern was a buzz word, this story has words such as Authoress, Disappearess, and Jollification. Yep, that feels like a bit of a time-warp, I'd say.
Despite this, Christie's story weaves together relationships, past events, and possible motives as her most famous character, Hercule Poirot observes, discovers secrets, gathers facts, eliminates suspects one by one, and ultimately, in true "Poirot Fashion", miraculously uncovers the truth. Voilà!
Hallowe'en Party audiobook narrator Hugh Fraser does a remarkable job of voicing and bringing Hercule Poirot to life. This was my first HP investigation and an entertaining introduction to this character that I can recommend to all who love an Agatha Christie Mystery!
3.75⭐rounded up!
March 2, 2024
Me conocen, quiero mucho a mi abuelita Agatha pero... ¿QUÉ FUE ESTO? JAJA. :(
Lo que empezó como un intrigante misterio donde una niña muere después de revelar que había presenciado un crimen, se convirtió en una novela desastrosa. Hubo al menos 70 páginas en donde el asesinato principal pasó a segundo plano para que Poirot investigara otros que se supone "tenían relación". Además, ha sido de los libros más predecibles, desde que se descubre el cadáver ya sabía quien era el culpable.
Se desarrolla en las fechas de Halloween y casi nada de la historia nos hace ver elementos de esa época. Pudo haberse desarrollado en cualquier otra fecha y seguía funcionando.
Lo único rescatable es lo graciosa que se Ariadne Oliver, porque es claramente una parodia de la misma Agatha.
Aun así, sigo queriendo mucho a mi abuelita.
Lo que empezó como un intrigante misterio donde una niña muere después de revelar que había presenciado un crimen, se convirtió en una novela desastrosa. Hubo al menos 70 páginas en donde el asesinato principal pasó a segundo plano para que Poirot investigara otros que se supone "tenían relación". Además, ha sido de los libros más predecibles, desde que se descubre el cadáver ya sabía quien era el culpable.
Se desarrolla en las fechas de Halloween y casi nada de la historia nos hace ver elementos de esa época. Pudo haberse desarrollado en cualquier otra fecha y seguía funcionando.
Lo único rescatable es lo graciosa que se Ariadne Oliver, porque es claramente una parodia de la misma Agatha.
Aun así, sigo queriendo mucho a mi abuelita.
December 7, 2018
What a fun Halloween read this one was! A fan of Agatha Christie, I've had this one on my TBR pile for too long. For the last three years I have checked this book out for Halloween with grand plans to read it. And something always comes up. Last year, my mother in-law snagged it from me and read it while visiting. This year I was determined and I'm so happy I finally finished it.
Hallowe'en Party tells the story of a Halloween Party thrown for some teenage kids where things go horribly wrong and one child ends up drowned in the bobbing for apples bucket. The child just earlier that evening had been boasting that she had seen a murder. Naturally, no one believed her. But then she is murdered herself. Low and behold, one of the guests at the part is a famous mystery writer who just happens to be friends with none other than Mr. Hercule Poirot. And from there, this wonderful storm just steamrolls through this haunting mystery. The town doesn't appear as idyllic as most think as Poirot finds as he begins his investigation....there have been other murders too. But the famous detective is on the case, which will soon be solved.
Oh I really enjoyed this one. I used to read Agatha Christie so long ago and frankly, I'm not sure why I moved away from her books. I really enjoy them. Which is odd as I'm not a huge mystery fan but always make an exception for Ms. Christie. Not being a mystery fan....but found it shocking that I pegged the culprit early on in the story. Probably just dumb luck on my part. Ha!
I listened to the audio version of this and it's great. The narrator, Hugh Fraser, does an amazing job building the atmosphere for this one, doing so many voices, sending one completely over the top, but so fitting for the character. I was so drawn into the narration that at times, I stopped paying attention to what tasks I was doing (I usually listen while I cook). A highlight of a read, eh listen for me. And a perfect Halloween story for the season. And now, on to my next Agatha Christie novel.
Hallowe'en Party tells the story of a Halloween Party thrown for some teenage kids where things go horribly wrong and one child ends up drowned in the bobbing for apples bucket. The child just earlier that evening had been boasting that she had seen a murder. Naturally, no one believed her. But then she is murdered herself. Low and behold, one of the guests at the part is a famous mystery writer who just happens to be friends with none other than Mr. Hercule Poirot. And from there, this wonderful storm just steamrolls through this haunting mystery. The town doesn't appear as idyllic as most think as Poirot finds as he begins his investigation....there have been other murders too. But the famous detective is on the case, which will soon be solved.
Oh I really enjoyed this one. I used to read Agatha Christie so long ago and frankly, I'm not sure why I moved away from her books. I really enjoy them. Which is odd as I'm not a huge mystery fan but always make an exception for Ms. Christie. Not being a mystery fan....but found it shocking that I pegged the culprit early on in the story. Probably just dumb luck on my part. Ha!
I listened to the audio version of this and it's great. The narrator, Hugh Fraser, does an amazing job building the atmosphere for this one, doing so many voices, sending one completely over the top, but so fitting for the character. I was so drawn into the narration that at times, I stopped paying attention to what tasks I was doing (I usually listen while I cook). A highlight of a read, eh listen for me. And a perfect Halloween story for the season. And now, on to my next Agatha Christie novel.
October 31, 2025
„Празникът на Вси светии“ ме зашемети и надхвърли очакванията ми! Предполагах, че ще прочета любопитно криминале с хелоуински елементи, а се оказа такова с изумителна атмосфера на Шекспирова трагедия... Агата Кристи умело е разказала непреходна история за човешката алчност, заплитайки поредната интересна мистерия.
Еркюл Поаро е повикан от Ариадни Оливър, за да помогне в разследването на убийството на момиче, извършено по време на празненство за Хелоуин. Криминалната загадка обаче никак не е лесна, тъй като е свързана с други мрачни престъпления от миналото в малкото градче...
Еркюл Поаро е повикан от Ариадни Оливър, за да помогне в разследването на убийството на момиче, извършено по време на празненство за Хелоуин. Криминалната загадка обаче никак не е лесна, тъй като е свързана с други мрачни престъпления от миналото в малкото градче...
October 31, 2022
It had been a long time since I'd read an Agatha Christie book, and I picked this one up on a whim. The plot felt repetitive and the characters were bland. While this story didn't necessarily make me want to read more in this series, I still enjoyed it overall. This was a good one for Halloween weekend 🎃.
Blog: LucyKnowsThings.com
Blog: LucyKnowsThings.com
October 26, 2025
“Old sins have long shadows. As we advance through life, we learn the truth of that saying.”
My first Agatha Christie book!
An innocent Halloween party leads to murder. To fully immerse myself in this read, I paired the paperback version with an audiobook because I needed to hear the British accent. (It's my favorite accent. #swoon) I don't know what it is about the British accent, but it makes me want to dress up in a posh outfit, smoke a cigarette from an opera holder, and lounge on an expensive chaise while reading. (And I don't even smoke cigs. lol) This was an enjoyable read to celebrate the Halloween season. 🎃 I also watched the 2010 film starring David Suchet as Hercule Poirot. Poirot is quite the character!
My first Agatha Christie book!
An innocent Halloween party leads to murder. To fully immerse myself in this read, I paired the paperback version with an audiobook because I needed to hear the British accent. (It's my favorite accent. #swoon) I don't know what it is about the British accent, but it makes me want to dress up in a posh outfit, smoke a cigarette from an opera holder, and lounge on an expensive chaise while reading. (And I don't even smoke cigs. lol) This was an enjoyable read to celebrate the Halloween season. 🎃 I also watched the 2010 film starring David Suchet as Hercule Poirot. Poirot is quite the character!
November 16, 2020
You know i am still um-ing and ah-ing as to whether this is 4 or 5 stars. A really great detective novel, great plot and Poirot was on top form, and to cap it all he is ably assisted by Ariadne Oliver, so why am i still prevaricating as to why its 4 or 5 stars ?
I really don't know where to start, apart from repeating myself. I checked the reviews of this book, and the ratings average less than 4.0, so maybe it isn't just me.
It's good, its complex but simple, its well thought out, it doesn't rush, it doesn't dawdle, Poirot is in virtually the whole novel, and so is Ariadne Oliver. There's some great characters, a brilliant final deduction and its wonderfully believable, but still dash it all it is only 4 stars.
The story focuses on the death of a young girl at a Hallowe'en party, found drowned in a bucket of apples. Being a notorious fibber who had just boasted of seeing a murder to look good in the eyes of the special guest the famous detective writer Ariadne Oliver, people begin to wonder if she was murdered to keep quiet. Ariadne calls in Poirot as she feels there is more to the girl's death than meets the eye. He arrives and starts uncovering all sorts of skeletons from the cupboard, forged wills, missing opera (au pair) girls and a slightly dodgy dead lawyer. All this stemming from a boastful young girl's murder whilst bobbing for apples.
Oh I'm still undecided, at the moment its 4 stars, but who knows if I'll bump it up to 5.
I really don't know where to start, apart from repeating myself. I checked the reviews of this book, and the ratings average less than 4.0, so maybe it isn't just me.
It's good, its complex but simple, its well thought out, it doesn't rush, it doesn't dawdle, Poirot is in virtually the whole novel, and so is Ariadne Oliver. There's some great characters, a brilliant final deduction and its wonderfully believable, but still dash it all it is only 4 stars.
The story focuses on the death of a young girl at a Hallowe'en party, found drowned in a bucket of apples. Being a notorious fibber who had just boasted of seeing a murder to look good in the eyes of the special guest the famous detective writer Ariadne Oliver, people begin to wonder if she was murdered to keep quiet. Ariadne calls in Poirot as she feels there is more to the girl's death than meets the eye. He arrives and starts uncovering all sorts of skeletons from the cupboard, forged wills, missing opera (au pair) girls and a slightly dodgy dead lawyer. All this stemming from a boastful young girl's murder whilst bobbing for apples.
Oh I'm still undecided, at the moment its 4 stars, but who knows if I'll bump it up to 5.
January 19, 2025
Choose Your Own Adventure!
You are a truly annoying little girl. A busybody, a liar. Who can trust you? For the good of the community, a-bobbin' for apples you must go – like permanently. But death is not the end! From on high you witness the actions of a strange mustached man and his flighty authoress sidekick. Together they vow to avenge your murder and lay your lovely bones to rest. They believe in your tale of dastardly deeds and murder, the tale that brought you to such an untimely end; their quest for vengeance will lead them to all who once stood in judgment of you.
Unfortunately, your legacy remains that of an unrepentant liar and even your avengers soon grow weary of your string of lies and deception. Turn from the truth, little soul, fly away! But wherever shall you go?
If you decide to follow the demented authoress on a path filled with psychics, séances and black magic, choose http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
If you decide to follow the mustached weirdo in his never-ending quest for crème de cacao, choose https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
You are a truly annoying little girl. A busybody, a liar. Who can trust you? For the good of the community, a-bobbin' for apples you must go – like permanently. But death is not the end! From on high you witness the actions of a strange mustached man and his flighty authoress sidekick. Together they vow to avenge your murder and lay your lovely bones to rest. They believe in your tale of dastardly deeds and murder, the tale that brought you to such an untimely end; their quest for vengeance will lead them to all who once stood in judgment of you.
Unfortunately, your legacy remains that of an unrepentant liar and even your avengers soon grow weary of your string of lies and deception. Turn from the truth, little soul, fly away! But wherever shall you go?
If you decide to follow the demented authoress on a path filled with psychics, séances and black magic, choose http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
If you decide to follow the mustached weirdo in his never-ending quest for crème de cacao, choose https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
June 3, 2023
Pretty standard Poirot novel. I don't figure out the end of a Agatha Christie novel very often, but I guessed this one fairly early...though I wasn't 100% certain. Still thoroughly enjoyed it. Love Poirot!
October 24, 2023
3.5 stars
After a thirteen year old girl boasts about witnessing a murder at a Halloween party, hours later she is found murdered in the library. An author who was at the party invites her friend Hercule Poirot to investigate.
This book inspired the movie A Haunting in Venice, but let's be honest they are two completely different stories, each good in their own turn. This book held my attention and even though I suspected who the murderer was fairly early on, the breakdown of motive and maneuvering was interesting to follow along. Not much that is spooky about this book, not much about Halloween, but still a solid mystery novel.
After a thirteen year old girl boasts about witnessing a murder at a Halloween party, hours later she is found murdered in the library. An author who was at the party invites her friend Hercule Poirot to investigate.
This book inspired the movie A Haunting in Venice, but let's be honest they are two completely different stories, each good in their own turn. This book held my attention and even though I suspected who the murderer was fairly early on, the breakdown of motive and maneuvering was interesting to follow along. Not much that is spooky about this book, not much about Halloween, but still a solid mystery novel.
October 23, 2017
Read for my IRL book club. Based on the publisher's blurb that Dame Agatha's sales are exceeded only by Shakespeare's and the Bible, my failure to appreciate what the entire reading world cherishes no doubt speaks to some dark blot on my soul.
October 13, 2022
The thirty-eighth Poirot novel. and the sixth of seven, in which his partner in the murder investigation is the writer, the author of detectives Ariadne Oliver, a somewhat ironic self-portrait of Agatha Christie. It is this lady who finds herself in the house where the murder took place on the evening when it happened, and it is she who turns to Hercule for help.
I'm not a fan of the Queen of Detective stories and this novel is no exception. The killer is calculated from the first third, everything else is perceived as a pile of unnecessary details and abstract reasoning. Psychological reliability tends to zero, although the story with the codicil is played out gracefully.
Well, that's why Lady Agatha and the Queen. We will read it. Regardless.
Бом-бом, дили-дили, в колодце кошку утопили
- Дети не всегда рассказывают дома о несчастных случаях на улице или инцидентах, связанных с насилием, свидетелями которых им довелось быть.
– Но матерям-то они все рассказывают.
– Я в этом не уверен, – покачал головой Пуаро. – Знаю по опыту, что дети утаивают от матерей очень многие вещи.
Тридцать восьмой роман о Пуаро. и шестой из семи, в котором его партнером по расследованию убийства выступает писательница, автор детективов Ариадна Оливер, некоторым образом ироничный автопортрет Агаты Кристи. Именно эта дама оказывается в доме, где произошло убийство в вечер, когда оно случилось, и именно она обращается к Эркюлю за помощью.
Богатое поместье, Вечеринка на Хэллоуин, куда приглашены окрестные дети. Подготовлены интересные развлечения. Одни с мистическим подтекстом, вроде гадания о женихах со свечами и зеркалами или Львиного зева с выхватыванием изюмин из горящего пунша. Другие просто веселые состязания на ловкость, как без помощи рук сгрызть яблоко, плавающее в воде. Вот утопленной головой в яблочном ведре и найдут тринадцатилетнюю девочку, которая в начале вечера сказала, что была свидетельницей убийства, но тогда не поняла, что это убийство, а теперь знает точно.
Прибывший на место преступления Пуаро не с ищет гипотетического бродягу, обуянного манией убийства - именно этого ждут от следствия местные жители ,а вовсе даже интересуется убийствами, смертями при странных обстоятельствах, исчезновениями людей. И внезапно выясняется, что таковых по соседству было немало: задушили учительницу, прирезали молодого человека из адвокатской конторы, машина сбила насмерть супруга владелицы поместья, где убита девочка (упс).
А еще была та мутная история со смертью госпожи Лоуэл-Стайл богатой тетушки этого самого задавленного лорда, впрочем, у нее было очень больное сердце, тут вопросов нет. Но после смерти, девушка из Восточной Европы, которая совмещала у нее обязанности секретаря и сиделки, предъявила кодицил к завещанию, согласно которому наследницей всего состояния леди становился не племянник (к тому времени уже почивший) с супругой, а она, Ольга Семенова. Бумага была признана подделанной, авантюристке грозило тюремное заключение, потому понятно, что она сбежала, впохыхах оставив половину своих вещей.
Конечно, эти, с материка. понятия не имеют о наших британских ценностях, о сдержанности и умении подчинять порывы страстей логике, упорядочивать хаос, создавать красоту. Вот леди Лоуэлл-Стайл, например, которая наняла знаменитого ландшафтного дизайнера, чтобы из бывшей каменоломни создать мистически-прекрасный Погруженный сад. А каков красавец архитектор, который сотворил это чудо, просто эльф!
Я не поклонница Королевы детектива и этот роман не исключение. Убийца вычисляется с первой трети, все остальное воспринимается как нагромождение ненужных деталей и отвлеченных рассуждений. Психологическая достоверность стремится к нулю, хотя история с кодицилом обыграна изящно.
Ну так, на то леди Агата и королева. Мы будем читать ее. Невзирая.
I'm not a fan of the Queen of Detective stories and this novel is no exception. The killer is calculated from the first third, everything else is perceived as a pile of unnecessary details and abstract reasoning. Psychological reliability tends to zero, although the story with the codicil is played out gracefully.
Well, that's why Lady Agatha and the Queen. We will read it. Regardless.
Бом-бом, дили-дили, в колодце кошку утопили
- Дети не всегда рассказывают дома о несчастных случаях на улице или инцидентах, связанных с насилием, свидетелями которых им довелось быть.
– Но матерям-то они все рассказывают.
– Я в этом не уверен, – покачал головой Пуаро. – Знаю по опыту, что дети утаивают от матерей очень многие вещи.
Тридцать восьмой роман о Пуаро. и шестой из семи, в котором его партнером по расследованию убийства выступает писательница, автор детективов Ариадна Оливер, некоторым образом ироничный автопортрет Агаты Кристи. Именно эта дама оказывается в доме, где произошло убийство в вечер, когда оно случилось, и именно она обращается к Эркюлю за помощью.
Богатое поместье, Вечеринка на Хэллоуин, куда приглашены окрестные дети. Подготовлены интересные развлечения. Одни с мистическим подтекстом, вроде гадания о женихах со свечами и зеркалами или Львиного зева с выхватыванием изюмин из горящего пунша. Другие просто веселые состязания на ловкость, как без помощи рук сгрызть яблоко, плавающее в воде. Вот утопленной головой в яблочном ведре и найдут тринадцатилетнюю девочку, которая в начале вечера сказала, что была свидетельницей убийства, но тогда не поняла, что это убийство, а теперь знает точно.
Прибывший на место преступления Пуаро не с ищет гипотетического бродягу, обуянного манией убийства - именно этого ждут от следствия местные жители ,а вовсе даже интересуется убийствами, смертями при странных обстоятельствах, исчезновениями людей. И внезапно выясняется, что таковых по соседству было немало: задушили учительницу, прирезали молодого человека из адвокатской конторы, машина сбила насмерть супруга владелицы поместья, где убита девочка (упс).
А еще была та мутная история со смертью госпожи Лоуэл-Стайл богатой тетушки этого самого задавленного лорда, впрочем, у нее было очень больное сердце, тут вопросов нет. Но после смерти, девушка из Восточной Европы, которая совмещала у нее обязанности секретаря и сиделки, предъявила кодицил к завещанию, согласно которому наследницей всего состояния леди становился не племянник (к тому времени уже почивший) с супругой, а она, Ольга Семенова. Бумага была признана подделанной, авантюристке грозило тюремное заключение, потому понятно, что она сбежала, впохыхах оставив половину своих вещей.
Конечно, эти, с материка. понятия не имеют о наших британских ценностях, о сдержанности и умении подчинять порывы страстей логике, упорядочивать хаос, создавать красоту. Вот леди Лоуэлл-Стайл, например, которая наняла знаменитого ландшафтного дизайнера, чтобы из бывшей каменоломни создать мистически-прекрасный Погруженный сад. А каков красавец архитектор, который сотворил это чудо, просто эльф!
Я не поклонница Королевы детектива и этот роман не исключение. Убийца вычисляется с первой трети, все остальное воспринимается как нагромождение ненужных деталей и отвлеченных рассуждений. Психологическая достоверность стремится к нулю, хотя история с кодицилом обыграна изящно.
Ну так, на то леди Агата и королева. Мы будем читать ее. Невзирая.
October 7, 2017
3.5 stars!
I had my hunches and finally figured out most of the mystery, with a 1/4 of the book left.
It can happen friends but is very rare with AC books! It’s so rare, it’s kind of like seeing a yeti for the first time. 😂
This was a fun book and an interesting ending.
Not one of her best books but still highly entertaining.
I had my hunches and finally figured out most of the mystery, with a 1/4 of the book left.
It can happen friends but is very rare with AC books! It’s so rare, it’s kind of like seeing a yeti for the first time. 😂
This was a fun book and an interesting ending.
Not one of her best books but still highly entertaining.
September 9, 2023
PS: In anticipation of Kenneth Branagh's 9/15/23 film adaptation, A Haunting in Venice, the trailer for which makes it look better than I recall this book read.
“I hate water”—Ariadne Oliver, once rescued at sea by a friend.
“I hate apples. I never want to see another apple again”—Ariadne Oliver
Hallowe’en Party, Hercule Poirot #36, the second to last Poirot novel, published in 1969, and the second to last written, since Curtain was written in the forties, ready to publish when the end would finally come about (which didn’t happen for more than a quarter of a century later!). To say this is better than you’d expect is no compliment, of course, but it ust is. I had little expectations except to be happily surprised at the cleverness of some aspects of the ending, as I always am, and in that respect was not disappointed.
Hostile 13-year-old Joyce, known to be a compulsive liar, tells everyone at a Halloween Party for “Plus Elevens” that she once saw a murder; when no one believes, she leaves in a huff and is promptly drowned in the tub for bobbing apples. This is the second of the Poirot books, both of them written when Christie was a grandmother, where children die, and others almost die. An expression of grandparently worry?
Aside from the lively opening, in the spirit of P.G. Wodehouse, to whom the book is dedicated, the book descends for more than a 100 pages into a dull and somewhat needless side story about a forged codicil to a will. This is a Halloween story, can it not be a little scary? Can it not connect to Halloween more than just the opening?! We do have a woman, Mrs. Goodbody who plays a witch at the party, who also seems to have some actual (though underutilized) psychic capacity, and who presciently tells Poirot:
“Ding dong dell, A pussy in the well”— quoting a nursery rhyme [and can a reference to pussies in the pussy hat Women’s March generation ever again be only a reference to cats? It IS here! And in my house with three actual cats!]
But Christie is (largely) consistent; if you think a murder has to do with madness or magic, you are wrong. Sprites or drooling crazies are not generally killers in Christie. It is usually greed, at the base of things, in some way or the other. You need a reason to kill.
The killer in this tale kills for greed, but it is money s/he requires to create Beauty, to make Art. So s/he kills, in the manner of Agamemnon, who sacrificed his daughter Iphegenia so that he could get a wind to take him to Troy.
“There is always a brave world, but only, you know, for very special people. The lively ones. The ones who carry the making of that world within themselves”—Poirot
This novel, set in 1969, includes several references to young men with raucous rock n roll voices and “piles of unruly hair.” Dame Christie and the sixties were not a match, let’s just say. There are water and apple references throughout this tale—one house that figures in is even called Apple Trees--and as Poirot points out,
“One always comes back to apples”—Poirot
It is "scatty” detective writer Ariadne Oliver that invites Poirot to help solve the murder(s), which do pile up near the end. She's a lively character, the best thing that came to the imagination of the later Christie.
Hallowe’en Party is quite good in places, it really is, overall, but it is uneven, including long passages of near irrelevance and boredom after a promising energetic and amusing opening, though it has, I’ll admit, a pretty satisfying conclusion. She didn't get to be the world's bestselling author because she is clue-less. It's not scary, not really at all, but it is for Halloween.
“I hate water”—Ariadne Oliver, once rescued at sea by a friend.
“I hate apples. I never want to see another apple again”—Ariadne Oliver
Hallowe’en Party, Hercule Poirot #36, the second to last Poirot novel, published in 1969, and the second to last written, since Curtain was written in the forties, ready to publish when the end would finally come about (which didn’t happen for more than a quarter of a century later!). To say this is better than you’d expect is no compliment, of course, but it ust is. I had little expectations except to be happily surprised at the cleverness of some aspects of the ending, as I always am, and in that respect was not disappointed.
Hostile 13-year-old Joyce, known to be a compulsive liar, tells everyone at a Halloween Party for “Plus Elevens” that she once saw a murder; when no one believes, she leaves in a huff and is promptly drowned in the tub for bobbing apples. This is the second of the Poirot books, both of them written when Christie was a grandmother, where children die, and others almost die. An expression of grandparently worry?
Aside from the lively opening, in the spirit of P.G. Wodehouse, to whom the book is dedicated, the book descends for more than a 100 pages into a dull and somewhat needless side story about a forged codicil to a will. This is a Halloween story, can it not be a little scary? Can it not connect to Halloween more than just the opening?! We do have a woman, Mrs. Goodbody who plays a witch at the party, who also seems to have some actual (though underutilized) psychic capacity, and who presciently tells Poirot:
“Ding dong dell, A pussy in the well”— quoting a nursery rhyme [and can a reference to pussies in the pussy hat Women’s March generation ever again be only a reference to cats? It IS here! And in my house with three actual cats!]
But Christie is (largely) consistent; if you think a murder has to do with madness or magic, you are wrong. Sprites or drooling crazies are not generally killers in Christie. It is usually greed, at the base of things, in some way or the other. You need a reason to kill.
The killer in this tale kills for greed, but it is money s/he requires to create Beauty, to make Art. So s/he kills, in the manner of Agamemnon, who sacrificed his daughter Iphegenia so that he could get a wind to take him to Troy.
“There is always a brave world, but only, you know, for very special people. The lively ones. The ones who carry the making of that world within themselves”—Poirot
This novel, set in 1969, includes several references to young men with raucous rock n roll voices and “piles of unruly hair.” Dame Christie and the sixties were not a match, let’s just say. There are water and apple references throughout this tale—one house that figures in is even called Apple Trees--and as Poirot points out,
“One always comes back to apples”—Poirot
It is "scatty” detective writer Ariadne Oliver that invites Poirot to help solve the murder(s), which do pile up near the end. She's a lively character, the best thing that came to the imagination of the later Christie.
Hallowe’en Party is quite good in places, it really is, overall, but it is uneven, including long passages of near irrelevance and boredom after a promising energetic and amusing opening, though it has, I’ll admit, a pretty satisfying conclusion. She didn't get to be the world's bestselling author because she is clue-less. It's not scary, not really at all, but it is for Halloween.
October 27, 2024
A delightful mystery with greed and love forming the main strands that Poiroit needs to disentangle
The victim is always important, said Poirot. The victim, you see is, so often the cause of the crime.
A nice crime mystery, ideal for the darker time of the year! 🎃🔪🪦
Loved the movie adaption as well, with the Italian setting, despite being very different! 🎥🍿
Interesting is how in this book, a lot of commentary on slipping standards and reduced care of mentally ill people is mentioned. Apparently these kind of complaints are of all times. A mentally disturbed killer motif comes back a lot, but there are also things that are decidedly anachronistic for our times. An husband has polio, someone of 60 is called the old lady, August, Hans and Boris derided as gaudy boys names.
Meanwhile Poirot doesn’t get the break he wants, but is helped by old friends from other cases.
The wit of Christie is definitely a highlight (with the character of the victim at the source of a lot of the comments: Let’s not get clouded by sentiment, she was rather a mediocre child) and not revealing anything, I enjoyed how the mystery was handled, seances and all.
Quotes:
The personality of the victim is the cause of many a murder
Do you know what you sound like: a computer
Kids are not brought up right nowadays
In this age of increased crime.
She is quite a nice woman, but rather stupid I think
She was quite attractive to men in her modest kind of way
Money can almost always find a way
The victim is always important, said Poirot. The victim, you see is, so often the cause of the crime.
A nice crime mystery, ideal for the darker time of the year! 🎃🔪🪦
Loved the movie adaption as well, with the Italian setting, despite being very different! 🎥🍿
Interesting is how in this book, a lot of commentary on slipping standards and reduced care of mentally ill people is mentioned. Apparently these kind of complaints are of all times. A mentally disturbed killer motif comes back a lot, but there are also things that are decidedly anachronistic for our times. An husband has polio, someone of 60 is called the old lady, August, Hans and Boris derided as gaudy boys names.
Meanwhile Poirot doesn’t get the break he wants, but is helped by old friends from other cases.
The wit of Christie is definitely a highlight (with the character of the victim at the source of a lot of the comments: Let’s not get clouded by sentiment, she was rather a mediocre child) and not revealing anything, I enjoyed how the mystery was handled, seances and all.
Quotes:
The personality of the victim is the cause of many a murder
Do you know what you sound like: a computer
Kids are not brought up right nowadays
In this age of increased crime.
She is quite a nice woman, but rather stupid I think
She was quite attractive to men in her modest kind of way
Money can almost always find a way
May 7, 2022
Nothing like a Halloween murder in May. In retrospect, I should have waited until the proper time to read this gem. This is another Poirot classic. My first Adriadne Oliver book. I found her a bit underwhelming. She was more of a plot device to get Poirot involved than anything else.
I pat myself on the back for guessing the murderer around the 70% mark. Granted that was pure luck on my part. The reveal still took me by surprise as I didn't grasp all the details. Short, but sweet.
I pat myself on the back for guessing the murderer around the 70% mark. Granted that was pure luck on my part. The reveal still took me by surprise as I didn't grasp all the details. Short, but sweet.
October 22, 2023
Hallowe'en Party is one of the darker mystery stories in the Poirot series. The chosen subject matter and the victims of the story, especially the child victims produced an uncanny feeling throughout the story.
A child dies at a Halloween party setting in motion a past hidden crime. At least that is what Ariadne Oliver thinks when she summons Poirot, and Poirot's "little grey cells" are quite in agreement. The local police are skeptical whether the present crime has any connection with a past undetected one, but Poirot, being quite sure, pursues his own investigation in that line. Needn't say that Poirot is absolutely right and for the first time, so is Mrs. Oliver's intuition.
It was a good murder-mystery story. There is no argument about it. But the problem is that its full potential is realized only towards the very end of the story. This is both due to the presentation being monotonous and the writing being repetitive. It took half the book to make me interested in the story. But when I became fully engaged, I could overlook the flaws mentioned and continue with more ease.
What was most gratifying about this Poirot novel is that I was able to form the story before Poirot explained it to us. The criminal/s, the motive, the whys and the how's fashioned in my mind fairly easily notwithstanding Christie's efforts at misdirecting. Whether it is my genius of mastering Christie's mind or her lowering her creative standard is hard to say. :) Nevertheless, it is extremely satisfying.
I did enjoy the story as a whole, but it could certainly have been better engineered, for the story is pretty original. Had Agatha Christie styled up her writing to keep it more interesting from the very beginning, I would have generously said that Hallowe'en Party is one of her best works.
A child dies at a Halloween party setting in motion a past hidden crime. At least that is what Ariadne Oliver thinks when she summons Poirot, and Poirot's "little grey cells" are quite in agreement. The local police are skeptical whether the present crime has any connection with a past undetected one, but Poirot, being quite sure, pursues his own investigation in that line. Needn't say that Poirot is absolutely right and for the first time, so is Mrs. Oliver's intuition.
It was a good murder-mystery story. There is no argument about it. But the problem is that its full potential is realized only towards the very end of the story. This is both due to the presentation being monotonous and the writing being repetitive. It took half the book to make me interested in the story. But when I became fully engaged, I could overlook the flaws mentioned and continue with more ease.
What was most gratifying about this Poirot novel is that I was able to form the story before Poirot explained it to us. The criminal/s, the motive, the whys and the how's fashioned in my mind fairly easily notwithstanding Christie's efforts at misdirecting. Whether it is my genius of mastering Christie's mind or her lowering her creative standard is hard to say. :) Nevertheless, it is extremely satisfying.
I did enjoy the story as a whole, but it could certainly have been better engineered, for the story is pretty original. Had Agatha Christie styled up her writing to keep it more interesting from the very beginning, I would have generously said that Hallowe'en Party is one of her best works.
November 2, 2020
I've only got handful of Poirot's left to read and thought this would be a perfect choice to enjoy over the Halloween weekend.
It's well known that Christie found writing the Belgian detective insufferable and it's certainly telling during the 1960's.
The introduction of crime writer Ariadne Oliver in the later books does bring a breath of fresh air to the series and it's her attendance at the Halloween party for young teens that calls Poirot into his latest mystery.
The opening was so good!
Definitely horrific as 13 year old Joyce boasts that she once witness a murder, but was too young to realise what she had witness at the time.
Once the party ends her body has been found in an apple-bobbing tub - truly terrifying!
The crux of the story sees Poriot trying to work out was guilty of a murder that had been committed a few years ago.
The thinking is that solving that will reveal who killed Joyce, the problem is that the plot starts introducing way to many characters and gets overly complex and confusing - not least the various plot strands that are left unresolved.
Christie is always a joy to read and even in the weaker novels theres still plenty to enjoy.
I guess I was hoping for more focus on the Halloween party setting itself.
One thing that is fascinating following her longest running series is the social climate of the time, with this being first published in 1969 Christie had plenty to say on the sexual revolution at the time.
I liked to be fooled by Dame Agatha but felt she was trying to add too many elements which inevitably dragged the middle section down.
It's still a worthwhile read, just not one of her best.
It's well known that Christie found writing the Belgian detective insufferable and it's certainly telling during the 1960's.
The introduction of crime writer Ariadne Oliver in the later books does bring a breath of fresh air to the series and it's her attendance at the Halloween party for young teens that calls Poirot into his latest mystery.
The opening was so good!
Definitely horrific as 13 year old Joyce boasts that she once witness a murder, but was too young to realise what she had witness at the time.
Once the party ends her body has been found in an apple-bobbing tub - truly terrifying!
The crux of the story sees Poriot trying to work out was guilty of a murder that had been committed a few years ago.
The thinking is that solving that will reveal who killed Joyce, the problem is that the plot starts introducing way to many characters and gets overly complex and confusing - not least the various plot strands that are left unresolved.
Christie is always a joy to read and even in the weaker novels theres still plenty to enjoy.
I guess I was hoping for more focus on the Halloween party setting itself.
One thing that is fascinating following her longest running series is the social climate of the time, with this being first published in 1969 Christie had plenty to say on the sexual revolution at the time.
I liked to be fooled by Dame Agatha but felt she was trying to add too many elements which inevitably dragged the middle section down.
It's still a worthwhile read, just not one of her best.
September 18, 2023
3.5 rounded up for the Queen of Mystery herself 😁 Read this as a film tie-in (A Haunting in Venice). As it centers on the murder of a child, I’m thinking the film changed more than just the UK setting. It wasn’t the greatest Poirot I’ve ever read (I’m still rather partial to Roger Ackroyd) and I thought the mystery fairly obvious, but it was still enjoyable and a fairly quick read too.
March 9, 2024
I enjoyed revisiting this Agatha Christie title with the new book cover based on the major motion picture ‘A Haunting in Venice’. I am a hard-core Christie fan and I abhor movies so I will refrain from watching the film. I have been cheated by many recent remakes of the classic Christie titles and have been left with a bitter taste in my mouth metaphorically, therefore I would rather do without them. I congratulate the scriptwriter on his new take on the ‘Hallowe’en Party’ and hope that his venture was successful at the box office.
It was not clear from the first reading of his introduction whether the scriptwriter had made any changes to this novel or not or whether he was only referring to the movie in question. I also had totally forgotten the actual plot details of the book (it has been a good 20 years) so I’m not sure whether I read a new version or the old version. Since I’m cut off from the audio-visual world since 2012, I was unable to procure the required information necessary to solve my own doubts about this book. Still, the book was engaging and enjoyable and I read it with the astute perceptiveness of an adult which made the reading very easy and light. I don’t mind being informed on GR by other fans or friends whether I read the old version or the newer edition, so feel free to leave me a message in the comments.
I read this book for the first time in the 10th grade back in 2004 and I really enjoyed it back then. I was taken up with the character of Ariadne Oliver and her fondness for apples. Now in 2024, I again have re-read this novel and have enjoyed it, but I’ve tended at times to critique the novel. This I did especially towards the end of the book where certain factors or events were not accounted for or were in fact ‘missed’ by Christie. One example was that of the death of Mr. Drake via a car accident. I felt that Christie totally missed commenting about this sub-plot among others.
The plot about the killing of the young Joyce was chilling enough but one can notice that the author was not at her prime. Poirot seems to be more melancholic and sentimental, and his detection is based solely on coincidental presumptions rather than thorough facts. This was especially so regarding the garden in the Quarry and the people he met there. I found this portion and the conversations with certain individuals there hard to digest. The theme of retirement seems to hang about the novel and a reader keeps running into this theme every time one turns to a new chapter.
Still, the book was a fun read, and it did not scare me at all nor sent any chills down my spine. I wanted to get this book especially to re-read about Oliver who makes me laugh to myself a lot. Indeed, I wish I had more people like her in my life. I seem to attract more individuals like the villain/s in this novel in my life rather than former. She was a delight to read though now I realize there was very little of her in this novel compared to the other Christie classics where she appears.
I rate the book 5 stars in keeping with my enjoyment of it as a teenager.
It was not clear from the first reading of his introduction whether the scriptwriter had made any changes to this novel or not or whether he was only referring to the movie in question. I also had totally forgotten the actual plot details of the book (it has been a good 20 years) so I’m not sure whether I read a new version or the old version. Since I’m cut off from the audio-visual world since 2012, I was unable to procure the required information necessary to solve my own doubts about this book. Still, the book was engaging and enjoyable and I read it with the astute perceptiveness of an adult which made the reading very easy and light. I don’t mind being informed on GR by other fans or friends whether I read the old version or the newer edition, so feel free to leave me a message in the comments.
I read this book for the first time in the 10th grade back in 2004 and I really enjoyed it back then. I was taken up with the character of Ariadne Oliver and her fondness for apples. Now in 2024, I again have re-read this novel and have enjoyed it, but I’ve tended at times to critique the novel. This I did especially towards the end of the book where certain factors or events were not accounted for or were in fact ‘missed’ by Christie. One example was that of the death of Mr. Drake via a car accident. I felt that Christie totally missed commenting about this sub-plot among others.
The plot about the killing of the young Joyce was chilling enough but one can notice that the author was not at her prime. Poirot seems to be more melancholic and sentimental, and his detection is based solely on coincidental presumptions rather than thorough facts. This was especially so regarding the garden in the Quarry and the people he met there. I found this portion and the conversations with certain individuals there hard to digest. The theme of retirement seems to hang about the novel and a reader keeps running into this theme every time one turns to a new chapter.
Still, the book was a fun read, and it did not scare me at all nor sent any chills down my spine. I wanted to get this book especially to re-read about Oliver who makes me laugh to myself a lot. Indeed, I wish I had more people like her in my life. I seem to attract more individuals like the villain/s in this novel in my life rather than former. She was a delight to read though now I realize there was very little of her in this novel compared to the other Christie classics where she appears.
I rate the book 5 stars in keeping with my enjoyment of it as a teenager.
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