Thrillers vs. Puzzle Mysteries

[Christine PNW, Agathyte]

I posed this question in the Seven Dials Mystery spoiler thread, but I thought it was deserving of it's own thread.

Now that we have completed The Seven Dials Mystery, we are done with the "thriller" style of Christie until we read N or M?, almost two years from now in March, 2023. The thrillers are fairly sparse from here on out, in any case. After N or M, we don't get the next thriller until February 2024, with They Came to Baghdad.

But let's talk about the two distinct styles - the puzzle mystery versus the thriller. Which is your favorite? Are you sad to see the thrillers in the rear view mirror? Do you see titles where she has successfully blended the two disparate styles that you particularly admire (remember, no spoilers here!).

I will admit that I frankly prefer the puzzle mystery, but there is something about the looser plotting and the more seat-of-the-pants structure to the thrillers that I do find enjoyable. Christie's thrillers are mostly not to be taken seriously, which can be a lot of fun.

If you look at our schedule, you'll also see that we are heading into a period of incredible growth on the part of Christie's skill as a writer. Some of the absolute BEST stuff is coming in the next year or so. Is there a book you are particularly keen to read or reread?

[Ruth]

I much prefer the puzzle mystery and I'm looking forward to digging into a few more in the coming months.

[Rosemarie]

I prefer the puzzle mysteries as well, even though I often get led astray by red herrings.

[Ruth]

I love being led astray by red herrings!

[Christine PNW, Agathyte]

Rosemarie wrote: "I prefer the puzzle mysteries as well, even though I often get led astray by red herrings."

The red herrings are a lot of fun! Christie was such a skilled plotter!

[Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large)]

Christine PNW wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "I prefer the puzzle mysteries as well, even though I often get led astray by red herrings."

The red herrings are a lot of fun! Christie was such a skilled plotter!"

She definitely was.

[BrokenTune]

LoL. With respect to Agatha, I definitely prefer the puzzle mysteries.

[Marie]

One more vote for puzzle mysteries! The term “puzzle” is apt; at the conclusion of those mysteries, I’m always satisfied with how the characters and motives “fit” together. At the conclusion of Agatha’s thrillers, I rarely feel that order has been completely restored. The complexities of intrigue leave me feeling the resolutions are illusory and temporary.

[Michaela]

Also prefer puzzle mysteries, esp. by Agatha! :)

[Christine PNW, Agathyte]

Marie wrote:At the conclusion of Agatha’s thrillers, I rarely feel that order has been completely restored. The complexities of intrigue leave me feeling the resolutions are illusory and temporary ..."

Very perceptive, Marie.

I think one of my major problems with her thrillers is that they seem so much more unrealistic than her mysteries. I know that Christie has a reputation for poor characterizations, but this is a reputation with which I strongly disagree. Her characterizations are economical, to be sure, and can sometimes rely a bit too much on cliche (the retired British army Colonel, for example, is ubiquitous). Nonetheless, however, her murders almost always resonate and one can actually imagine her characters, no matter their sex, social class or occupation, committing the murders at hand.

This is almost never true of her thrillers. Little within in them is convincing to me.

I don't need extreme realism, but I do need to feel like the stories have some element of plausibility. The thrillers largely fail to convince me.

[Tara]

I prefer the mysteries too. I have to be in the mood for a thriller, because they do tend to defy credibility. But if you are willing to go along for the ride, they can be guilty pleasures too.

[LISA]

i prefer the puzzlers. They definitely keep me sharp as I read other well-crafted contemporary mysteries of today!

[Natalie aka Tannat]

I definitely prefer the puzzler over the thriller when it comes to Dame Agatha. The thrillers just strike me as so silly, and that's not what I look for in a thriller.

[Tania]

Natalie aka Tannat wrote: "I definitely prefer the puzzler over the thriller when it comes to Dame Agatha. The thrillers just strike me as so silly, and that's not what I look for in a thriller."

I agree with this, I have to be in the mood for something a bit sillier. The puzzles are very satisfying and I can usually pick up on something but not all of it, so I feel I can pat myself on the back for the bits I did get.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Much prefer the puzzle mysteries. She *can* write a good thriller, but several of her real stinkers are in the category, as well. You are on average likely to get a good read with one of her "puzzle" reads.