Tuesday 30 March 2021

AGATHA CHRISTIE WITH LORD EDGWARE DIES

 Book Review


Title.            Lord Edgware Dies


Author         Agatha Christie


Publisher     Agatha Christie Ltd &

                    Planet Three Publishing

                    Network Ltd


This story is one of The Agatha Christie Collection and it comes in a beautiful bound book that feels so nice in the hand. Clearly, that would not be ever enough because it is the writing, the story, plots and of course characters. Here there is Captain Hastings and Hercule Poirot who drive  the book onwards.


The scene is Central London where wining and dining are a fact of daily life with little mention of anyone working class. Theatre performances, dinner parties and those that cosy-up to the lords and ladies. It is about class. Location is an important factor and with the characters that the author has created there is no time to be bored, but one must pay attention. There are many events and the incidents continue at pace.


Of course, Hastings and Poirot, seem to have so much power over Scotland Yard and the bit player to the intrigue, Inspector Japp, who tries to assert his authority but is only ever second to the grey cells of Hercule Poirot and one could say second class too.


Her writing is a lesson for detail and there can be no confusion as what actually happened, when and my who.  There is a letter by the culprit in the last chapter saying how it was done. I loved it for the style and the play of how it could have been in that era. Just wonderful to have read it.

Agatha Christie is the methodical and meticulous mistress of plot. 


What next? Well, the rest of her collection are on the shelf, but I may try a Ruth Rendell story next. The choices are many.


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