From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Big Four (Hercule Poirot, #5)

Agatha Christie

Start date: July 1, 2025

Finish date: July 31, 2025

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: Next in our Poirot and Marple challenge
[close] Next in our Poirot and Marple challenge

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Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 168 topics — 7,797 comments total

Group Challenges

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie
By Susan · 16 posts · 18 views

last updated Sep 12, 2025 08:12PM

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) - SPOILER Thread
By Susan · 13 posts · 22 views

last updated Sep 16, 2025 12:58PM

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What Members Thought

Jul 02, 2017 BrokenTune rated it it was ok

Shelves: reviewed

‘But Poirot— why?’

This is possibly the most appropriate quotation I can choose to describe the book.

The Big Four has one of the silliest plots of Christie's books which is based on Poirot and Hastings engaging in international crime and espionage - much in the same way that Holmes and Watson do,just in a more believable way. Where Holmes is reserved enough to carry off disguises and under-cover work, Poirot's flamboyance has him stick out like a sore thumb all over the place, and Christie's at ...more

53 likes · Like · see review

Jun 17, 2018 Marina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Honestly, I did not know what to expect from this book. Despite what majority said, I actually quite enjoy this.

Firstly, I was delighted to find Hastings back in the game. Secondly, it was more "action-packed" for a Poirot book and that I found quite refreshing.

Even though, this book wasn't about us, the reader, trying to figure out who did it amongst all the suspects that Agatha Christie has presented to us, this book still manages to keep me at the edge of my seat.

Most importantly, it was r ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2023 Laura Hannaway rated it liked it

Shelves: readchristie2023

#ReadChristie2023

Wasn’t particularly impressed with this one. The overarching story was ridiculous and the plotting wasn’t anywhere close to her usual high standards.

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May 26, 2018 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: agatha-christie

Seems I'm in the minority here, as I really liked this book. OK, at times it did seem a bit disjointed, but it was so different from the usual Christie books, that it amazed me. I certainly can't see myself forgetting this book unlike some of the other Christie books I have read. ...more

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Sep 25, 2017 Sandy rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2025, mystery-classic, rread-2017, 2025-christie-detectives

Did not improve on a second or third reading. If there is a plot it is not worth the effort. A series of fantastical episodes, none of which are believable.

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