Agatha Christie is the Master of the sophisticated, too-too British, country manor murder mystery.  All that I have to SEE is her name on a book and I grab it up fast as I can!  That's how I became the owner of Spider's Web at a recent book sale.
After reading the first few pages it didn't have that cozy, snuggle into the book feeling of a Christie and I couldn't figure out why.  Finally (LIGHT BULB) I examined the cover and "saw" Charles Osborne's name. With a little digging I uncovered the true facts:  This is indeed a Christie.  An adaptation of her play, turned into a novel by Charles Osborne.
It has some small charm, but leaves me wanting the full-bodied robust flavor of 'Ten Little Indians' which was referred to in the text of this book.
When I finally understood WHAT it was I was reading (adaptation of a Christie play, written by another) I was able to finish the book, but under Osborne's hand, the elements of the stage production are not well hidden.  When character's come into the room, it is an Entrance.  There is an artificial flow to everything that is written, as though it were still a stage play complete with stage directions for each character's actions.
Clarissa is 'breezy', her husband Henry 'bumbling', Pippa --- 'hungry'.  All Fun for the stage and giving the viewer something to identify, but not very satisfactory for a murder mystery novel.
So, gentle reader, if you are looking for vintage Christie, don't be fooled by the cover.  You won't find it here.
Agatha Christie is the Master of the sophisticated, too-too British, country manor murder mystery. All that I have to SEE is her name on a book and I grab it up fast as I can! That's how I became the owner of Spider's Web at a recent book sale. After reading the first few pages it didn't have that cozy, snuggle into the book feeling of a Christie and I couldn't figure out why. Finally (LIGHT BULB) I examined the cover and "saw" Charles Osborne's name. With a little digging I uncovered the true facts:  This is indeed a Christie. An adaptation of her play, turned into a novel by Charles Osborne. It has some small charm, but leaves me wanting the full-bodied robust flavor of 'Ten Little Indians' which was referred to in the text of this book. When I finally understood WHAT it was I was reading (adaptation of a Christie play, written by another) I was able to finish the book, but under Osborne's hand, the elements of the stage production are not well hidden. When character's come into the room, it is an Entrance. There is an artificial flow to everything that is written, as though it were still a stage play complete with stage directions for each character's actions. Clarissa is 'breezy', her husband Henry 'bumbling', Pippa --- 'hungry'. All Fun for the stage and giving the viewer something to identify, but not very satisfactory for a murder mystery novel. So, gentle reader, if you are looking for vintage Christie, don't be fooled by the cover. You won't find it here.