From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Elephants Can Remember (Hercule Poirot, #42)

Agatha Christie

Start date: December 1, 2020

Finish date: December 31, 2020

Discussion: Archive: Poirot Buddy Reads

Why we're reading this: Getting towards the end of our Poirot buddy reads.
[close] Getting towards the end of our Poirot buddy reads.

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Archive: Poirot Buddy Reads

* Reading Order for the Unofficial Poirot Buddy Reads
By Jessica-sim · 54 posts · 155 views

last updated Dec 27, 2020 08:20AM

Poirot Buddy Read 40: SPOILER THREAD Curtain
By Jessica-sim · 20 posts · 35 views

last updated Feb 05, 2021 06:12PM

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What Members Thought

Jan 21, 2021 Adrian rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: det-agatha-christie, detectives-challenge-hp-2018-20, zz-paper-books, zz-audiobook

Lunchtime Listen December 2024

Read by the inimitable Hugh Fraser !

I have to say this was a really enjoyable lunchtime listen, that only lasted a few days as we just wanted to keep listening. The story is excellent, the narration is just superb.

In fact I am wondering whether to ramp it up to 5 stars as it was such a fun listen.

Group Series Read of all Poirot novels 2019-2021

It is now over 4 years that I, along with other members of the Reading The Detectives Group, have been reading Agatha C Lunchtime Listen December 2024

Read by the inimitable Hugh Fraser !

I have to say this was a really enjoyable lunchtime listen, that only lasted a few days as we just wanted to keep listening. The story is excellent, the narration is just superb.

In fact I am wondering whether to ramp it up to 5 stars as it was such a fun listen.

Group Series Read of all Poirot novels 2019-2021

It is now over 4 years that I, along with other members of the Reading The Detectives Group, have been reading Agatha Christie's detective novels. We started with a year of the redoubtable Miss Marple and we are coming to a conclusion after 3 (and a bit ) years of the inimitable Hercule Poirot, I shall miss them both. (Luckily we have started a group read of non Marple/Poirot Christies.)

So, I was meant to be reading this book in December last year I think, but a (rare) reading slump, saw me fall 3 books behind schedule in this reading challenge. That said it has only taken me 2 days to read it, as I seem to be on a bit of a roll.

This is the first book I have read of Poirot's that references directly some of his previous cases (well the first I remember ), and reading some of the posted reviews, other people feel that it mirrors/borrows the plot from some previous books.
Personally I didn't find that many similarities with previous novels, yes it involved an incident in the distant past that Poirot has to investigate, and whilst he has done it once before, how many times has investigated a current crime ?
This book features the wonderful Ariadne Oliver and a brief appearance from the slightly creepy Mr Goby, who stares at the fireplace. For those who have never read this book , it is based around a young woman who's prospective mother-in-law is worried that she has inherited murderous tendencies after her mother and father supposedly ended their lives in a suicide pact.
Poirot gets involved as the young woman happens to be the god daughter of his close friend the wonderful Ariadne Oliver (I will always see Zoe Wanamaker). Having watched all the David Suchet Poirot's a few months ago I remembered this story, but still enjoyed this a lot. Hercule and Ariadne investigate all the way through this novel, and bring it to a conclusion really well (I do not see it as wishy-washy and vague as some reviews have mentioned)
Yes I have given it 4 stars, but to be honest, to me it was around a 4.4 stars so was almost a 5 star detective read for me. ...more

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Apr 07, 2020 John rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: agatha-christie

A good story.

Celia Ravenscroft and Desmond Burton-Cox want to marry. Desmond’s mother by adoption, Mrs Burton-Cox am odious woman opposes the marriage. At a literary luncheon she approaches Ariadne Oliver, who is Celia’s godmother to help her scupper the happy couples marriage plans. Celia’s parents died years ago in what the police determined to be a suicide pact. Mrs Burton-Cox wants to know who was the instigator as Molly the wife had a twin sister, Dolly that was mentally unstable. If she c ...more

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Mar 09, 2017 Jovita Reed rated it liked it · review of another edition

Not my favorite Hercule Poirot mystery by any means. The plot was a bit thin, and easy to figure out fairly early on in the story. I also missed the character quirks that so endear me to Poirot, as they are absent in this volume. I was also annoyed with Ariadne Oliver in this book, as she was rather scatterbrained towards the beginning, and did not improve much as the story developed. I find it tough to give less than three stars to the Grande Dame of mystery, though, as Christie's writing style ...more

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