I LOVE Agatha Christie.  Her books are fast, smart and well thought out.  The atmosphere is great in this book and she gives you something you rarely see in mysteries or thrillers:  children in REAL mortal danger.  Adults who would murder children is not a pretty sight and one not easily and only rarely touched on by other authors.  Christie hits is straight on here.

(SPOILER ALERT)

As well thought through as Christie's books usually are, it shocked me that there were two MAJOR problems that made this mystery completely foolish and without sense.  It could have been great.  The great thing is that in order to solve the central murder...the reader has to go back and find the killer of a murder that happened years before.  It's like trying to solve a puzzle within a puzzle.  As is that isn't clever enough...the previous murder "could" have been any one of three separate murders.  This set up really keeps the plot twisting back in on itself.

That said....it makes no sense that:

1.)  Miranda would have such a strong friendship with Michael...especially since she'd seen him and Rowen commit a murder!!!  HOW on earth would she feel safe and secure around him.  Her "wanting to be a sacrifice" at the end was dumb.  It made NO sense.  It would have been better if Miranda had only seen Rowena dispose of the body.  That would have made her growing friendship with Michael even more dangerous and creepier....because he'd KNOW she knew about the murder....but NOT that he was involved.  This would have added credibility to his ability to manipulate her.

2.)  Michael murdered Olga, who was already beneficiary to the will in question.  If he wanted money...why didn't he just marry her? That's what Olga wanted?  Why murder her?  The excuse for this in the book is LAME.  Maybe if he'd had a passionate love affair with Rowena, who convinced him to marry Olga and THEN murder her shortly after so they could be together...THAT would have made sense.

3.)  The fact that Michael was Miranda's father felt tacked on for extra drama but just turned out to be a "groaner".  Ridiculous.  If Miranda's mother KNEW Michael was her father and felt there was something "evil" about him....it made NO sense that she would let her daughter play alone with him in the woods.  Dumb.

This book is the classic Christie "slow build".  In fact, the last four chapters are page-turners.  Still....when you get to the Big Reveal....it's a let down.  I love the set up, atmosphere, kids in danger...etc.  It just fell apart for me at the end.  This book could easily be revised to make it terrific.  As is....it's just all right.
I LOVE Agatha Christie. Her books are fast, smart and well thought out. The atmosphere is great in this book and she gives you something you rarely see in mysteries or thrillers:  children in REAL mortal danger. Adults who would murder children is not a pretty sight and one not easily and only rarely touched on by other authors. Christie hits is straight on here. (SPOILER ALERT)

As well thought through as Christie's books usually are, it shocked me that there were two MAJOR problems that made this mystery completely foolish and without sense. It could have been great. The great thing is that in order to solve the central murder... the reader has to go back and find the killer of a murder that happened years before. It's like trying to solve a puzzle within a puzzle. As is that isn't clever enough... the previous murder "could" have been any one of three separate murders. This set up really keeps the plot twisting back in on itself. That said.... it makes no sense that:

1. )  Miranda would have such a strong friendship with Michael... especially since she'd seen him and Rowen commit a murder!!! HOW on earth would she feel safe and secure around him. Her "wanting to be a sacrifice" at the end was dumb. It made NO sense. It would have been better if Miranda had only seen Rowena dispose of the body. That would have made her growing friendship with Michael even more dangerous and creepier.... because he'd KNOW she knew about the murder.... but NOT that he was involved. This would have added credibility to his ability to manipulate her. 2. )  Michael murdered Olga, who was already beneficiary to the will in question. If he wanted money... why didn't he just marry her? That's what Olga wanted? Why murder her? The excuse for this in the book is LAME. Maybe if he'd had a passionate love affair with Rowena, who convinced him to marry Olga and THEN murder her shortly after so they could be together... THAT would have made sense. 3. )  The fact that Michael was Miranda's father felt tacked on for extra drama but just turned out to be a "groaner". Ridiculous. If Miranda's mother KNEW Michael was her father and felt there was something "evil" about him.... it made NO sense that she would let her daughter play alone with him in the woods. Dumb. This book is the classic Christie "slow build". In fact, the last four chapters are page-turners. Still.... when you get to the Big Reveal.... it's a let down. I love the set up, atmosphere, kids in danger... etc. It just fell apart for me at the end. This book could easily be revised to make it terrific. As is.... it's just all right.