Crooked House in Reading the Detectives

Feb 07, 2018 Nancy Oakes rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-fiction, crime-fiction-uk, classic-mystery-fiction

Like a 3.7/3.8 rounded up.

I finished this book two days ago, and in the meantime, I've been giving it a lot of thought. One thing that strikes me here is that while it may not be my favorite Christie mystery, there is a huge difference between this book and the majority of her other novels that really stands out in terms of plot vs. what's happening around the plot.

I think more than in any other Christie crime novel, Dame Agatha takes us right to the heart of the matter from the very outset. I Like a 3.7/3.8 rounded up.

I finished this book two days ago, and in the meantime, I've been giving it a lot of thought. One thing that strikes me here is that while it may not be my favorite Christie mystery, there is a huge difference between this book and the majority of her other novels that really stands out in terms of plot vs. what's happening around the plot.

I think more than in any other Christie crime novel, Dame Agatha takes us right to the heart of the matter from the very outset. It seems that wealthy tycoon Aristides Leonides has died, and the doctor has refused to sign a death certificate until there is a post mortem. His granddaughter Sophia pays a visit to her fiancé Charles Hayward, and tells him that she believes that his death was no accident -- that he may have been killed. The need for a post mortem makes Sophia think that "It's quite clear that they suspect something is wrong," and that their plans for marriage have to put on hold since they "can't settle anything until this is cleared up." She would like Charles to help her and to come to the house called Three Gables, and to see her family "from an unbiased point of view," giving him access to everyone in the house. She also reveals that even if her grandfather's death turns out to have been murder and not an accident, "it won't matter -- so long as the right person killed him."

Considering the obvious suspect(s), it may seem that this statement can be viewed as some sort of upper-class snobbery, but the more I thought about it, the less I believed it. And the reason became clearer and clearer in my head over these last couple of days. In a big way, you have let go of plot in this book to a point, because it seems to me that it is less about plot or solution than it is about delving into human nature; because of Charles' relationship with Sophia, he is made privy to each person's particulars so we get to see each and every member of this household as an individual rather than just as a potential suspect. We are also let into this three-generation family dynamics, which adds another dimension to this story. Normally this sort of "closed circle" form of mystery allows for the culprit to be caught and order to be restored, but then again, this is no ordinary mystery story. Sure, there are more deaths, some strange goings on with Aristides' will, and other normal trappings but this one brings us right into the heart of human nature territory, and will lead to a most startling conclusion that was completely unexpected.

I've changed my mind, and after pondering it a while, I actually ended up enjoying this novel mainly because it is so very different from most of Christie's other work; it becomes much more of a personal story in the long run rather than just another detective or mystery tale.

personal message for the guy who said Christie was only for bluehairs: evidently, you haven't read this book, because you'd know that's absolutely untrue.

recommended.

http://www.crimesegments.com/2018/02/... ...more

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Jun 05, 2017 Nanosynergy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries-thrillers-espionage, fiction, reviewed, british, fiction-1940s, 2017read

A stand-alone Christie book. Charles Hayward's fiance is the granddaughter of millionaire Aristide Leonides. When Aristide is murdered, their marriage is put on hold until the murder can be investigated - and all fingers seem to be pointing at Aristide's much younger widow. 4 stars for surprising me. ...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Jan C rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, mystery, england

Interesting.

Again, Ms. Christie has foiled me. With 20% to go, I had it narrowed down to three characters. It was none of them.

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Aug 13, 2021 Susan in NC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, kindle, tbr-with-gr-groups

4.5 stars - another new to me Christie read with the Reading the Detectives group. I have discovered a few new favorites in our “Assorted Christies” challenge this year, in which we’ve read one of her stand-alone, non-Poirot, non-Marple mysteries each month. When I discovered her books decades ago in my teens, I stuck to what my library had on hand, mainly her beloved series detectives. Those are great, but she gave us so much more!

This mystery is said to be her favorite among her own books; in 4.5 stars - another new to me Christie read with the Reading the Detectives group. I have discovered a few new favorites in our “Assorted Christies” challenge this year, in which we’ve read one of her stand-alone, non-Poirot, non-Marple mysteries each month. When I discovered her books decades ago in my teens, I stuck to what my library had on hand, mainly her beloved series detectives. Those are great, but she gave us so much more!

This mystery is said to be her favorite among her own books; in my version, she explained in the brief introduction that the Leonides family and their story were in her head for a long time, she only waited for a bit of free time to write their story, as she knew it would be a joy, and jump right on to the page without the usual struggles to work out this character or that plot point. It was very interesting and I flew threw it within a couple days, luxuriating in a large print edition from my library, accompanied by the brilliant narrating of Hugh Fraser, who played Hastings to David Suchet’s Poirot, and is my favorite Christie narrator!

No spoilers, but the basic plot is Charles meets Sophia out in Cairo during WWII. They fall in love, but he realizes Sophia never talks about her family; he raises the point, says when they finally get home after the war, he wants to come and propose marriage. She tells him a funny little tale of a large family, several generations, all living together in a Crooked House - actually, her grandfather is an extremely wealthy and family-oriented Greek immigrant. Charles gets home from war work to see the headlines that grandfather Aristide Leonides is dead. He was 88, but tests show poison was the cause. Sophia won’t marry Charles until the truth is uncovered- the old man’s second wife was only 24, and although it would be convenient for her to be the killer rather than “one of the family”, Sophia fears it’s someone else.

Luckily, Charles’ father happens to be a bigwig at Scotland Yard, and he gives permission for our hero to tag along with Inspector Taverner, get to know his future in-laws, and hopefully help find the killer. What follows is a fascinating dissection of love, family relationships (and dysfunction), and “ruthlessness” - Sophia tells Charles there are different types:

“There’s a lot of ruthlessness in us – and – different kinds of ruthlessness. That’s what’s so disturbing. The different kinds. I’ll try and make what I mean clear. Grandfather, for instance. Once when he was telling us about his boyhood in Smyrna, he mentioned, quite casually, that he had stabbed two men. It was some kind of a brawl…I don’t know – but it was just a thing that had happened quite naturally. He’d really practically forgotten about it…That’s one kind of ruthlessness, and then there was my grandmother. I only just remember her, but I’ve heard a good deal about her. I think she might have had the ruthlessness that comes from having no imagination whatever. All those fox-hunting forebears - and the old generals, the shoot ‘em down type. Full of rectitude and arrogance, not a bit afraid of taking responsibility in matters of life and death”…

It was very well done, I admit I suspected half-way through that I knew whodunnit, but for the life of me couldn’t see the resolution. I was right about the “who” for once - but I was still gobsmacked by the ending. I look forward to the group discussion, I expect it will be very interesting! Definitely recommended, I can see why the master was so proud of this one - all of the characters were so real, and flawed in typical ways. Fascinating and satisfying mystery. ...more

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Mar 28, 2018 Bronwyn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, european, mystery-detective-suspense, novels, title-a-i, do-not-own, by-women, author-a-i, 2018-reads

Oh, that was good. I did not figure it out and didn't see a few of the twists (though not too twisty) coming. ...more

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May 16, 2018 Tom rated it liked it · review of another edition

It is obvious why Dame Agatha is the best selling novelist in history - over 2 billion books sold. She tells a very entertaining and engaging straightforward mystery. At heart she is a dramatist. Her plots and characters are always moving forward and we are swept along with them to a very satisfying conclusion.

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Mar 28, 2009 Jenn Estepp rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sleuths-and-gumshoes

as much as i love miss marple and poirot, it's such a treat when christie departs from them and gives us a quality one-off. of which this book completely is. still has all the tried and true elements - sprawling house, family full of secrets with each member harboring hidden motives, poison and suspicion. not to mention an excellent, signature twist. good stuff, this one. ...more

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