Poirot Buddy Read 14: Death in the Clouds

[Judy]

I hope Jessica doesn't mind me setting up the threads for this one - I am just adding the latest covers to our bookshelf and it is easier to do them all at once. :)

This is another classic Poirot mystery, unfolding aboard a plane where he just happens to be a passenger!

Please do not post spoilers in this thread.

[Jessica-sim]

I so enjoyed the previous Poirot that I already brought this book with me on the train to work on the first day of the month ;-). On my copy's cover the wasp is very prominent, which made me think of the Dr. Who episode "The Unicorn and the Wasp" but that took place in a mansion not on a plane...

[Judy]

The wasp reminded me of something - maybe that was it!

[Jill]

I'm missing this one out this time , as I have read it a couple of times before , as it is the one I used to try and get my children interested in Christie. Unfortunately, they saw straight through it and didn't think much of it. I do think the cover probably didn't help. One of my major mistakes I feel.

[Susan]

I gave my son, And Then There were None and it scared the life out of him, Jill!

[Jessica-sim]

All is not lost! My mother still hasn't forgiven me for not being interested in her Agatha Christie collection AT ALL, I even vehemently disputed her!all though high school and university even.... And look at me now! ;-)

[Adrian]

Gosh I’m a day late starting, how did that happen 😊

[Susan]

Good to hear, Jessica. My son is currently reading, "Death on the Nile," and declared it is 'really good,' so I am hopeful he is over the, admittedly quite scary, And Then There Were None :)

[Ruth]

I'm listening to this on audio, read by Hugh Fraser - lovely.

I haven't read this for years as I wrongly assumed it all took place on the aeroplane and that didn't appeal to me. I can't really remember any of the plot but a couple of things are ringing a bell.

I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

[Adrian]

I finished it in two nights of intensive reading and really enjoyed it. Poirot at his best.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I had never read this one nor seen the TV episode. I enjoyed it.

[Susan in NC]

I’m listening to the audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser as well - just getting started! I think I read this, and/or saw David Suchet on PBS in this many years ago - I think I vaguely remember the murder method, but that’s it!

[Susan]

Hugh Fraser is a wonderful narrator, isn't he? I love him reading the Poirot books.

[Susan in NC]

Susan wrote: "Hugh Fraser is a wonderful narrator, isn't he? I love him reading the Poirot books."

Yes - I loved him as Hastings with David Suchet, so having him read to me is like having my own personal Hastings! 😀

[Frances]

I've just started and I'm enjoying it very much so far. I'm reading this edition so you can see it has a different title-Death in the Air. This paperback version was published in the US in 1984 so perhaps it was a different name for the American market?

So I know it's a cozy mystery when I open the book to find a diagram-in this case a seating plan of the rear car of the aeroplane. This is almost as enjoyable as a list of characters, and I do refer back to it regularly through the opening chapters as we learn about the players and then hear them being interrogated.

Next, there are the sweet young lovers being at first shy and nervous around each other and eventually working up to having afternoon tea together.

Finally, there is the required hack mystery writer and the frequent references to the murder being something out of a bad mystery novel.

So here I am only 6 chapters in and knowing that I am firmly in my happy place for another 180 pages-I love Agatha Christie!

[Susan in NC]

Frances wrote: "I've just started and I'm enjoying it very much so far. I'm reading this edition so you can see it has a different title-Death in the Air. This paperback versio..."

Me, too - so many happy reading memories with this author! I think I had that paperback years ago.

[Susan in NC]

Just finished- wow! As I said in my review, I had read this so many years ago and seen the David Suchet film, but didn’t recall the identity of the murderer, just the method. I really enjoyed that reread, and the audiobook with Hugh Fraser, and look forward to revisiting more Poirots!

[Ruth]

Frances wrote: "I've just started and I'm enjoying it very much so far. I'm reading this edition so you can see it has a different title-Death in the Air.
So I know it's a cozy mystery when I open the book to find a diagram-in this case a seating plan of the rear car of the aeroplane. This is almost as enjoyable as a list of characters, and I do refer back to it regularly through the opening chapters as we learn about the players and then hear them being interrogated.
..."

That's what I miss as I'm listening to an audio version. Like you, I love a list of characters to refer to, or a plan of the house (or in this case an aeroplane). It helps fix things in your mind, doesn't it, and allows you to pause to check who's who and where they were.

[Susan in NC]

Ruth wrote: "Frances wrote: "I've just started and I'm enjoying it very much so far. I'm reading this edition so you can see it has a different title-Death in the Air.
So I..."

I actually switched between the kindle and audiobook, and was pleased to see the aircraft cabin map in the kindle version. I like that, too.

[Ruth]

I've just checked Amazon and you can see the aircraft cabin layout on 'Look Inside'.☺

[Jemima]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m listening to the audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser as well - just getting started! I think I read this, and/or saw David Suchet on PBS in this many years ago - I think I vaguely remember the mu..."

I listened to this edition too and loved it.

[Susan in NC]

He does a great job.

[W]

I found this pretty boring.Stopped reading Christie for a while,after this.