The solution was signposted brazenly and brilliantly. Knowing the solution as I did, I slightly lost patience with some of the distractions, but I was impressed at how simple she kept the narration surrounding the crucial moment. Alas, the ending was spoiled for me years ago so all that was left was to see how Agatha Christie worked her tricks… which is a worthwhile enough reason to read, anyway! She’s masterful at misdirection and piling on the secrets and mysteries until the heart of the problem is hopelessly obfuscated. I really wish that I could have had the experience of reading this blind, as I’m extremely curious whether I would have picked up on any of the legitimate clues. But until then, I can say this book was a treat! ( ) I hope to read more of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle to eventually figure out that difference that's been at the back of my mind. Or it could be that Poirot's approach is different from Sherlock Holmes, where the latter places a bigger emphasis upon forensics. I just want to just keep flicking the pages till I find the solution revealed rather than having my own independent theory. It could be that I'm reading the book too fast and not taking my time to make sense of the mystery all over. In any case, Poirot solves the case and does so with his usual brisk pace, and while the ending was superb and totally unexpected I still struggle to fully make sense of methodology or approach he used. My favourite character would have to be Caroline due to this! Some of the exchanges between certain characters is genuinely witty and hilarious. I enjoyed the writing style of this one more than Murder on the Orient Express perhaps because it was in first person or the characters were more fleshed out. This was such a fun gripping read that I managed to finish it in just a few days (not that it's super long or anything).

The death of roger ackroyd