From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Death Comes as the End

Agatha Christie

Start date: May 1, 2021

Finish date: May 31, 2021

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: The May choice in our Agatha Christie challenge for 2021.
[close] The May choice in our Agatha Christie challenge for 2021.

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Group Discussions About This Book

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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 25, 2017 BrokenTune rated it liked it

Shelves: reviewed

“All life is a jest, Imhotep - and it is death who laughs last. Do you not hear it at every feast? Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die.”

Death Comes as the End is Dame Agatha's only historical mystery and she makes full use of her in-depth knowledge of Ancient Egypt. The detail of Egyptian artifacts and religious beliefs Dame Agatha weaved into this was delightful and made up for the odd dalliances with annoying love triangles. What it didn't quite achieve was to give some authenticity ...more

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Feb 25, 2021 Tahlia Fernandez rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: owned

As a long-time Agatha Christie fan, I can’t believe that I have never read this!
The change of scenery was interesting, the characters compelling, and the twists and turns of the story crafted in such a way to keep one guessing and invested in the story. By the end, I was quite satisfied with the explanation of events and with our heroine’s fate.
It has been so long since I have read a full novel in one sitting. My only regret is that it has taken me 20 years of reading Agatha Christie before I d ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 17, 2016 Sandy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-detective-grp, rread-2021, exotic-setting, mystery-classic, mystery-historical, z2021-go-the-distance, zchristie-challenge-2021, rread-2016

I enjoyed this more on my second reading. Good insight into ancient Egyptian life without barraging you with history combine with a fine mystery and interesting characters.

I understand Christie had a different ending in mind and was persuaded by her Egyptian consultant to change the killer. I wish I knew her ending so I could compare them.

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Apr 10, 2021 Jill rated it really liked it

Not quite a 5 star read for me. For quite a while into it, it felt a bit like an adult fairy-story, where the purpose was to teach you a lesson. Once over that it picked up a lot and I admit I was completely at a loss as to who the murderer was. As usual, there were a lot of people put forward as to who had opportunity and motive, the reasons being easily believable. If this had been the first book I had read by Christie, I'm not sure that I would have gone on reading her so fervently. ...more

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