Mark Pghfan’s Comments (group member since Mar 06, 2014)

Mark Pghfan’s comments from the The Parlor PI's group.

Welcome back to the final leg of the discussion! I chose this book since it was not a particularly well known one of Christie's yet one of her most surprising endings. Unlike most mysteries, including Christie's, there were clearly only four people who could have "dunnit". It was the twisting of this that I enjoyed the most. In the final section, it seemed clear that one person did it, after a confession. Wrong! Then a second person clearly did it after another attempted murder. Wrong! Finally we got to the finish and Poirot out did all his partners (literally!) but deducing the correct solution. I'll let you all in for the discussion, but be alert, spoilers abound! (I can't see how we can get around that in this case.) Later on, we can discuss the changes from the TV adaptation to the book, which were considerable!

Hello, all! Sorry to be lax on this, but I was out of town at my work convention for the past six days--in Austin Texas. It was so busy, I never got around to starting the last section, which I will do momentarily.

She is a very long-ago writer, even predating Christie and Sayers. That means that her books are available on Kindle for free! I don't think she wrote a series; just individual novels. And only a handful The Circular Staircase being the one that comes to my mind.

I would love to try a Mary Roberts Rinehart! Very classic!

Yes, Tina, I'm afraid to comment here for fear of pointing out a significant difference between the book and the TV version. I'll have to leave it at that.

Mrs. Oliver does seem to help out in the investigation, coming up with something no one else found. I think this is revealed in this section.

I'll start the third and final part later in the week...

Well, I'm not familiar with bridge either, though Poirot and apparently Christie are. There is something in the scores that "clicks" for Poirot. I won't say what it is right now, though he does discuss it before he identifies the solution. And it does make sense.

I think the "black angel" was probably just a colloquialism from the day. Christie also used the similar "a goose walking over my grave" for an eerie feeling.

Well, I didn't want us to get behind, so I thought I'd start the second section now. When we begin, the sleuths are headed to Mrs. Lorrimer, after visiting Dr. Roberts. She is certainly a bridge fiend! While Battle is looking for possible murders in the suspect's past, Poirot is more interested in the things they noticed in the room when the murder took place, and in the actual play of the game the four were involved with. It is the psychology from these answers that Poirot is using. With his leetle grey cells, of course! And let's not forget Mrs. Oliver who is visiting with Anne Meredith and her roommate Rhoda Dawes. Now that seems an unusual set up. Apparently Rhoda has the money and owns the cottage, but when Battle visits, Rhoda answers the door and Anne asks HER to go get the coffee for them. Quite a turnabout from someone who is supposed to be the "companion" herself!

Movie version Shaitana was much younger than I pictured, as well. Also less frightening looking. I picture a really almost freaky looking person. Mephistopheles was the devil!

I'll wait a bit until people catch up, before heading on to the second section.

Poirot's views on Mrs. Oliver's writing seem to very. He certainly does think she is an original thinker, but also (which I think is pointed out here) think she re-uses similar plots.

The Adriane that is in the books and the one portrayed by Zoe Wanamaker are very different, in my opinion. In the books, she is genial and kind of fluffy. In the TV versions (Ms. Wanamaker plays her in a number of them) she is more arch and sharp.

The discussion of Cards on the Table has begun! See the new thread.

Welcome to our July read, Agatha Christie's Cards on the Table. In Christie's "The ABC Murders", which was published just two years prior to this book, Poirot describes his ideal murder to investigate. Paraphrasing a bit: "I'd like a very simple murder. Say, four people sit around a card table playing bridge. Their host, who sits away from them, is killed. One of them MUST have done the murder, but who? It would be totally psychological"

Well, here is that case. The mysterious Mr. Shaitana meets Poirot at a charity function and develops an idea. He will invite Poirot to his home to show him his collection of murders who "got away with it". Just that happens. In one room, there are four "detectives". Poirot, Colonel Race, Ariadne Oliver, and Superintendent Battle (who all show up in a few other Christies, not always with Poirot.) In another room are four others, presumably murderers who got away with it: Major Despard, a well traveled adventurer, Mrs. Lorrimer, an older widow who is very keen on bridge, Anne Meredith, a young girl, and Doctor Roberts, a, um doctor. Both groups play bridge. At the end of the evening, we find that Mr. Shaitana is dead, killed with a dagger through the heart, in the room with the four "murderers".

Heads up: If you have seen the TV version of this with David Suchet, you will find that it has only a passing resemblance to the book. And not in a good way.

He is a major part of Towards Zero, a non-Poirot book. Also Cat Among the Pigeons, with Poirot.

Yes, it was another great story for us. Characters we have come to know and care about! Well, maybe not Natasha, but most of them...

First off, I did not guess the "whodunnit" though it would have been very difficult to, given the complexity of the situation. Robert certainly a heel, though not without his charm to many of the women. I really am tickled with the character of Kevin. Though not a typical kid, certainly, he still was most believable. And charming, of course.

Definite choice as far as I am concerned. Glad we will have you aboard!

I think the interplay between Wanda and Natasha is great! A really good way to get under Natasha's skin.

Certainly, J. I didn't mean to rush you at all! I'll wait till we are done with the delightful Diva and then move on.

It looks like Cards on the Table for July. I'll start early next week to give you all a chance to get the book.

Sounds not too delightful. Probably more Jack the Ripper than Agatha Christie. I might check it out (literally) from the library. Thanks!