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

Apr 10, 2018 John rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: agatha-christie

This is so far my least favorite Christie book. The Big Four is a story which is far fetched and seems written in a hurry. Stereotypical Chinese and Americans with a conspiracy of world domination. The only consistent bit being Hastings a big thick and Poiret’s testing board and fall guy. I mean weird weapons and world domination, Christie is so much better than this book and thankfully it is an exception to her better crafted stories.

9 likes · Like · see review

May 29, 2017 SewingandCaring rated it did not like it

This was the worst book in the world and it felt like it would never end. I can see now why the no chinaman rule came in.

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 27, 2016 Jarvis rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: golden-classics

Not one of the best, but still good! :-)

3 likes · Like · see review

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

Shelves: mystery-classic, read-2025, 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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Jun 25, 2018 Vanessa rated it liked it

Not my favorite Hercule Poirot, as many others have said. Disjointed, odd, jumpy. Feels "later" in Hercule's career than it is in chronology as the 5th book. ...more

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