Agatha Christie Lovers discussion

There were topics about favorite books of AC, but what about disappointments?

I'm quite sure there have to be some failures it is just impossible to be perfect all the time.
I have some personal proposals, but at first want to hear it from you :)

Gosh, we should go back to the Tommy and Tuppence book we read in the beginning. Lots of complaints about that book.

I don't like Tommy and Tuppence at all!!! I didn't like them in The Secret Adversary and even less in Partners in Crime... in fact I think that's the only one of Christie's books that I didn't finish

Also some of the other books were a bit of a disappointment for me such as The Mysterious Mr. Quin or The Labours Of Hercules. In general I don't like short stories, and those two were just that.

I guess is normal that out of 80-something books that Christie wrote some of them are not that good! :o)

Hmmm... I don't enjoy very much Miss Marple's books. I haven't read many, just two or three, but they were really boring and slow for me. I much prefer Poirot.

I'm sorry to hear there were a lot of complaints about The Secret Adversary, as that is one of my favorites, and Tommy and Tuppence my favorite sleuths.

For me, the political espionage books are less successful. Passenger to Frankfurt stands out in my mind as my least favorite. Of course, having said that, I have to make an exception for the Tommy and Tuppence books, which are mostly political espionage.

I liked all the Tommy and Tuppence stories with the exception of Postern of Fate, which I thought was dreadful!

I also have to agree with Denise about Passenger To Frankfurt.

I really like Tommy and Tuppence too, but I'm thinking that's colored from the BBC series which I watched first and then read their books. The TV series is really good if anyone is thinking about watching them although the quality of the filming isn't fantastic I think the actors are wonderful.

Carolyn, I recently bought a set of DVDs called 'Agatha Christie's Romantic Detectives'. It includes the entire series of Partners in Crime, starring Francesca Annis and James Warwick as Tommy and Tuppence, plus movies of Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (starring the same two actors in different roles), and Seven Dials Mystery (also featuring James Warwick and Sir John Gielgud). The final disk is called Agatha Christie: A Life in Pictures, and from the description, it sounds like the story of her disappearance (this is not the movie Agatha on the same subject that starred Vanessa Redgrave and Dustin Hoffman). Since I have the same problem with DVDs as I have with books, and buy them faster than I can watch them (!), I haven't watched any of them yet! It's a very cool collection, though.

♪ Kim wrote: "I liked all the Tommy and Tuppence stories with the exception of Postern of Fate, which I thought was dreadful!

I also have to agree with Denise about Passenger To Frankfurt."

I think that Postern of Fate was the last novel that Christie wrote, and I do agree to an extent. I caught a lot of continuity problems, and I think she must have been starting to decline. However, I still really enjoyed the characters that I had come to love so much (including Albert), seeing where they were in their life by now, and I loved the dog!

I've only been disappointed by one so far- Elephants Can Remember. It was one of her much later books and I felt it lacking her usual energy.

Well, my first book was Sleeping Murder with Miss Marple and I liked it. After that one I read some with Poirot and I came back for a book with Miss Marple and I didn't like it at all, I liked the story, I liked all of her stories [I didn't read so many yet] but I donÂt like Miss Marple.. :(

You're not the only one Flavia - I've heard that from several people that they don't care for Miss Marple

I wonder if the dislike for Miss Marple is generational? I can understand a bit of why Christie must of thought Marple was deliciously ironic--the awareness of evil in the "quaint little communities," the (perceived) dowdy spinster with so much knowledge of humanity. I always liked her a great deal--like Poirot, she must solve crime with her grey cells, although she certainly isn't above setting a trap or two. (Come to think of it, I think she does that quite a bit).

The last few books published were poorly written and I didn't like them at all. I thought the Passenger to Frankfurt was good, but it was not a typical Christie book.

The last two books written, Elephants Can Remember and Postern of Fate were the two books I didn't like. I don't think they would have been published at all if the author wasn't Agatha Christie.

Carol, Carolyn F.: well, I don't like her but it is probably because I read some books with Poirot, so it's not that I dislike her, it's just that I like Poirot more..
I don't know why, probably for me it's the fact that I like his attitude (even if I ,probably, shouldn't)

☯Emily wrote: "The last two books written, Elephants Can Remember and Postern of Fate were the two books I didn't like. I don't think they would have been published at all if the author wasn't Agatha Christie."

I agree, Emily. The only reason I've rated Elephants Can Remember at 3 stars is that it was the first Agatha Christie I ever read, so I remember it fondly.

Flavia wrote: "Carol, Carolyn F.: well, I don't like her but it is probably because I read some books with Poirot, so it's not that I dislike her, it's just that I like Poirot more..
I don't know why, probably f..."

I also prefer Poirot, but there are a few Miss Marple books among my favorites - A Murder Is Announced, 4:50 From Paddington, and Nemesis.

Kim: I only read 2 books with Miss Marple but I actually plan to read "A Murder Is Announced" and "Nemesis" soon even if I don'l like her as much as I like Poirot :)

I don't remember the plot, but I remember reading A Murder Is Announced and enjoying it.

☯Emily wrote: "The last two books written, Elephants Can Remember and Postern of Fate were the two books I didn't like. I don't think they would have been published at all if the author wasn't Agatha Christie."

Those are kind of sad, because they show a mental decline beginning in what had been such a brilliant mind. They can be confusing, with continuity problems. But at the same time, I am fond of them, being the last books featuring Ariadne Oliver, and Tommy and Tuppence.

Reading 2 early Miss Marple mysteries for book club. Would love some ideas on really good books.

Elizabeth: I really liked sleeping murder. (I think it was her last book:-s)

Hi Elizabeth- I prefer Nemesis, myself as far as Miss Marple mysteries.

I guess I might be the odd one out, but I was never a fan of Hercule Poirot, although Sad Cypress is the exception to the rule.

Hi Everyone- my name is Laura Seeber- AC fan since oh, around the early 1980s. Nice to meet you all :)

Laura

welcome Laura :)

thanks I just discovered in my bookcase Nemesis so will get right after it.
I too am not a Poirot fan. maybe I have not given him real chance.

Am nutty about the Mary Westmacott (sp) books!

Have so gotten into Scandi mysteries and love them but need to branch out.

Happy N.Y

Elizabeth wrote: "Reading 2 early Miss Marple mysteries for book club. Would love some ideas on really good books."

The other two I mentioned above are also very good mysteries featuring Miss Marple - A Murder Is Announced and 4:50 From Paddington. If you decide to read them, I'll be interested to know what you think.

✿ Deni wrote: "I don't like Tommy and Tuppence at all!!! I didn't like them in The Secret Adversary and even less in Partners in Crime... in fact I think that's the only one of Christie's books that I didn't fini..."
I really do not like short stories either and Tommy and Tuppence would be the lowest Christie's on my list.

I love Tommy and Tuppence, and I love Miss Marple too, but, I really didn't like Passenger to Frankfurt, is the only book that was a challenge to finish it

I hate it when she repeats a plot point; such as two blue-eyed people not being able to produce a brown-eyed child. This was used in Hercule Poirot's Christmas and "The House at Shiraz" in Parker Pyne Investigates.

I never noticed that Leah.

Martha wrote: "I love Tommy and Tuppence, and I love Miss Marple too, but, I really didn't like Passenger to Frankfurt, is the only book that was a challenge to finish it"

I think we're one of the few who like Tommy and Tuppence.

I like Tommy and Tuppence although I didn't like the last book written with those characters.

I know I've said this before (and I think in this same thread), but Tommy and Tuppence are my favorites.

I also really liked Tommy and Tuppence. I may be heavily influenced by the British TV series from the 1980's starring Francesca Annis and James Warwick.

I didn't "try" them yet :(

Donna wrote: "I also really liked Tommy and Tuppence. I may be heavily influenced by the British TV series from the 1980's starring Francesca Annis and James Warwick."

I think I watched the TV shows before I read the Tommy and Tuppence books. I really liked them too Donna. I have them on VHS still.

I'm not a big fan of Tommy and Tuppence.

Not long ago I bought a set of DVDs that includes the Partners in Crime TV series, as well as a few movies. So far I've watched the series; it had been years since I'd seen them. They were great! Although I do find Francesca Annis quite a bit more sophisticated than I picture Tuppence being, so I think she was miscast, although she does do a good job. James Warwick is good as Tommy, and Albert is perfect!

I started reading AG in middle school and continued reading most of her books through college. Now 30 years later I have decided to start rereading her books after getting a few free ebooks. I still love HP. I never liked Mrs Marple in high school. Now I enjoy her books. T&T were my favorite books. I look forward to reading them again and seeing if I enjoy them as much.

I must say that, although i enjoy Ms Marple books, 'At Bertram's Hotel' was a great disappointment, as the story lacked intrigue and there weren't any twists or turns.

My least favourite are definitely the Tommy & Tuppence books. I don't know if they just haven't aged well but I certainly found them a little boring and maybe dated.

Julie wrote: "I must say that, although i enjoy Ms Marple books, 'At Bertram's Hotel' was a great disappointment, as the story lacked intrigue and there weren't any twists or turns."

I didn't read the book, just saw a film, and I absolutely love it!

I love the Miss Marple shows too Mat.

Murder on the Orient Express. I couldn't believe it when I got to the end. What? You mean ---- did it? lol
I felt it a cop out.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was also a disappointment. For all that is supposed to be her 'masterpiece', it's the only book of the great AC's that I 'got' whodunit as I read it.

I will have to say... Sparkling Cyanide. I read it but I didn't like it much.