March 2021 - Towards Zero

[Carolyn F.]

Originally published 1944. Features Superintendent Battle.

Lady Tressilian, an old and humourless woman confined to her bed, invites several guests into her seaside home of Gull's Point for two weeks at the end of the summer. Tennis star Nevile Strange, former ward of Lady Tressilian's deceased husband, incurs her displeasure by bringing his new wife, Kay, and his ex, Audrey, under her roof together, thus causing awkward romantic misunderstandings. But events soon turn when Lady Tressilian is killed and Superintendent Battle, who is vacationing nearby in the home of his nephew, Inspector James Leach, finds himself in a labyrinthine maze of clues and deception.

Here's the link to the previous discussion: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Heather L]

Finished yesterday, quite enjoyed this one. I had an idea whodunnit, but the “why” kept me reading.

[ChrisGA]

(view spoiler)[Neville was a sneaky villain---so outwardly naive and charming. Ted was overtly slimy and Kay manipulative and obvious too. However, it was the dark horses with secrets and hidden emotions that gave the story intrique. (hide spoiler)] I enjoyed this one.

[Erin]

Sadly, I struggled with this one. I'm not entirely sure why but I think it had to do with not caring about the characters involved. I wasn't rooting for any of them, or siding with any particular person which is what usually happens for me in an AC book. Oh well, you can't enjoy them all!

[Louise]

I love this one. Superintendent Battle is a great character, I wish Agatha Christie had written more about him. And some of the other characters are very interesting. I remember the ending took me completely by surprise the first time I read it, which is always satisfactory.