::READERS REVIEWS::

a serial killer who leaves train guides with the bodies - In this novel, Poirot is rejoined by his old, marvelously obtuse friend Hastings (whom we haven't seen since Lord Edgeware Dies, four novels ago, since when he has been at his ranch in Argentina). A serial murder goes on the rampage, sending challenging letters to Poirot in the process, and Poirot and Hastings are on the trail!

Hastings hasn't gotten any smarter, but that's not particularly unrealistic; I'm not sure that hanging out with a great detective would make me any more of a great detective myself, either.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the intertextuality. I'm a total sucker for references, even if they're fictional - I loved the references in Marisha Pessl's Special Topics in Calamity Physics and still loved them (albeit less) after figuring out that most were invented. Hastings comes to visit Poirot, and Poirot suggests that it would be very nice to have a really interesting, challenging murder to solve together. Hastings talks about how multiple murders would be better, as having one murder at the beginning followed by a long ruling out of suspects can be tiresome (which seemed a reference to the recent and lovely Death in the Clouds). At some point Poirot mentions that he recent almost got killed himself (an allusion to Three Act Tragedy), Poirot reminds Hastings how love can be found in the context of murder (an allusion to Hastings' finding his own wife in Murder on The Links), etc.

A minor annoyance is that Christie tries so hard to make Hastings the real narrator that she has a big explanation at the beginning about how it is that Hastings is narrating certain things he didn't observe; I think it'd have been better simply to drop Hasting's role (or leave those things out), but it clearly wasn't my call!

I found the ending a little unsatisfying although I cannot put my finger on way. Christie had me completely fooled as to who the murderer was, multiple times, but somehow the final identity left me less convinced than some, like the last book (Death in the Clouds). But it was an entertaining read for my hotel in Tanzania.

Next comes Murder in Mesopotamia, but I think I need a little break from Poirot.

Absolutely entertaining - Agatha Christie, the most popular mystery writer of all time, recognized that crime is a very romantic topic. Romantic in the sense that it creates drama and demands resolution. The A.B.C. Murders does not disappoint the mystery reader's love of having a puzzle to solve.

The story is narrated by Captain Arthur Hastings, Poirot's friend of some years who has returned home to England temporarily from his ranch in South America. Poirot shares with Hastings a disturbing anonymous letter he received predicting some calamity. Soon enough a murder occurs at the date and location indicated in the letter. Another letter soon follows and Poirot is challenged to find the killer. A pleasure to read from beginning to end.

Classic Mystery - This is the first Agatha Christie story I have read, although I am familiar with the Hercule Poirot series on television. This was also my first foray into this genre; most "mysteries" I have read are actually gory crime thrillers. It was refreshing to have a main character, the dapper Poirot, instead of some gritty detective with emotional problems. Poirot is brilliant, polished, and funny. He's even well-adjusted. I also appreciated the fact that the story was told from the perspective of Poirot's friend, Captain Hastings, meaning that I was left out of Poirot's thought-processes, so every twist and turn was a surprise.

The story starts out with the arrival of a teasing letter at Poirot's home. It warns of something happening in Andover on a specific day. When Alice Ascher is found dead, it's obvious that the murderer is engaged in a lethal game with Poirot. The cast of characters keeps expanding as more murders occur, including family members and distraught boyfriends. Although everyone is a suspect, there are mysterious chapters interspersed throughout the book that feature a strange man named Alexander Bonaparte Cust...A.B.C. Who is this man? What is his connection to the murders?

As the police are scrambling to try to find A.B.C. and to prevent these murders from happening on their appointed days, Poirot is using all his mental powers to try and figure out why these murders are happening. Even when it seems that the case is all locked up, Poirot still tries to understand the underlying reasons behind the crimes. It is this reason that finally blows the case wide open and provides a stunning twist at the end.

This book is a classic of Christie's and really demonstrates her skills as the premier mystery writer. It will obviously appeal to all mystery fiction fans, but also to anyone who is curious about this classic genre. I am looking forward to reading more of Christie's books, and especially those featuring this comically brilliant detective.

The A.B.C murders - When I started this book I thought it was going to be a long summer. However as I got through the book it became extremely interesting. Although it was hard, and the vocabulary was difficult it was a great book.
It start's out with a well renowned detective called Hercule Poirot. He and his friend, Hastings, enjoy solving mysteries together. One day a letter comes in the mail forewarning the murder of a person in Andover. It was mysteriously signed by A.B.C. Sure enough some one dies in Andover. Alice Asher is the first victim to fall to A.B.C's cunning and brutal tactics. A person is apprehended and assumed the killer or the A.B.C. Alexander Bonaparte Cust is his name, everyone believes he is the killer but Poirot is not as quick to assume that.
This book is not for people with a small vocabulary. At some points the characters use French or Latin, I am not sure but still as confusing. The story line was great at first you don't have a clue to what is going on, but as the book progresses you start to understand the characters and who may be the murderers.
All in all this is a great book, but as I said before is a hard to book to comprehend. I recommend this book to anyone who likes Agatha christen or mystery novels.

One of my all-time favorite mysteries! - Poirot is setting off on one of his most baffling and frightening cases ever. A madman has challenged him to a duel - a duel of murderer versus detective. Periodically, the killer will send a letter to Poirot telling him when and where he will murder his next villain, and then it is up to the great detective to stop him. He's going to work his way through the alphabet, beginning with Alice Ascher of Andover, and only Poirot can stop him...if, indeed, anyone can!

I must say, this is my all-time favorite Poirot mystery, and one of my all-time favorite mysteries period! I loved the way Ms. Christie hid the true motive for the murders, and how she kept me wondering just how Poirot would pull it off. There's red-herrings and complications, lies and misunderstandings, all of which keep you well off-guard. And, just when you think it's over, it isn't. I think that this is a great mystery, one that is sure to please any mystery fan!

Trickier than usual. - It's trickier than most of her mysteries but not necessarily better. Poirot begins receiving anonymous letters informing him that murder will be committed. The first is successfully carried out. The victim has some crazy name like Abigail Anathema of Absconde, Ayreshire. That the letters are not from a crank now sends Poirot and Hastings scuttling around, especially after the next one, which foretells another murder in Brixton or someplace. It shapes up that the murders are being carried out in alphabetical order, except for the last, in Doncaster, in which the victim seems to have been mistaken for someone whose last name begins with D.

A good deal of time is spent interviewing witnesses and relatives. The police are heavily engaged. The conclusion by everyone is that the killings are committed by a madman with an A.B.C. obsession. And there are occasional cutaways from Poirot to a mousy character named Alexander Bonaparte Cust. Boy, does HE look suspicious.

Eventually, Cust collapses in a police station, where he has gone to turn himself in. He's an epileptic and has had seizures frequently, leaving him with lapses of memory. Yes, he probably did it alright.

But did he? Poirot has been fretting over the discrepancy between the obsessed madman evidence and the fact that the murders are so assiduously arranged.

Medical discretion forbids further revelation of the plot, but if you have figured this one out before Poirot's usual summing up, I personally will send you a cashier's check for fifteen cents.

Reading with Tequila - The A.B.C. Murders was an average mystery, which is to say that is was good, but not Agatha Christie good. It had the possibility of great excitement and tension due to the notes Poirot was receiving before each murder but failed to capitalize on it. There was no real thrill.

Poirot is known for using his "little gray cells" instead of doing typical physical detective work. A reader is used to seeing Poirot ponder while others scurry looking for "real" clues. In this novel, everyone seemed to ponder, with no real action of any kind. While the killer was surprising, if perhaps a bit improbable, the book itself was ultimately forgettable.

I thought I shouldn't have to guess...but that was the trap... - Wanted so much to put this down - coz the hour on the clock was silently accusing me of being up still - but this story just wouldn't let go.

Which may sound strange, considering that the plot is pretty straightforward - a letter challenging Poirot's sleuthing capabilities tells him to watch out for an immanent event (of course it's a murder...this is Poirot we're talking about). The letter is tauntingly signed, A.B.C.

Sure enough, a murder is committed in the quiet little town of Andover. And a well-known railway guide called `A.B.C.' is found near the corpse.

As with the town's name, the victim's name begins with `A', and the most obvious person who could have done it cannot be accused, as the letter, the scene of the crime, and the whole dynamics of the murder do not fit with the possible motives. Poirot is left stumped.

Fast-track to 2 more letters and 2 more murders...of persons and towns with names beginning with `B' and `C', respectively. Everything appears squeaky-clean, and yet kinda weird. The victims do not have any palpable connection with each other, and it becomes more and more evident that Poirot and the police are dealing with a coldly calculating and dangerous `madman' - one that is ostensibly bent on showing off his skill of being 2 steps ahead of the detectives. The public is stirred into a furor.

But way before that (practically at the beginning, as a matter of fact), the reader is already given a glimpse of one Alexander Bonaparte Cust. A reserved, unprepossessing man who is shown ticking off someone's name in his copy of the A.B.C. railway guide.

By that point, the most obvious reader reaction would be to think, `well, then, that takes care of the suspect's identity' and then just sitting back and letting the scenes unfold as to when and how Poirot catches this Mr. Cust.

As I've said, pretty straightforward, right?

In fact, halfway through the novel, I felt that Poirot was not up to snuff. There were barely any deductions and clever observations being made. And, to be honest, I was starting to feel a little let down by our resident Belgian detective.

And this is where the brilliance of Agatha Christie laughingly poked fun at this gullibility of mine.

It's as if the author knew 5 chapters back how the reader is going to react as the narrative progresses. Knew it, and yet is rubbing her hands together in glee.

Just when she knows that the `thrill' of mystery is beginning to leech off...she breaks down practically all `comfortable' assumptions being made by the characters and the readers and shows that the murders actually conceal a vastly different motive.

Poirot's signature explanation near the end of the whole event reveals that everything is not as it appears to be. And no, he has definitely not lost his touch.

Things are simpler than the reader is led to believe (hence my 4 stars). And yet is still more complex than the average in-your-face murder (hence why I'm still loving it).

What I'm saying? This cat-and-mouse game is one that kept me on the edge of my...uhm...sofa.

And when I finally turned the last page, I had a well-satisfied, yet sheepish, smile on my face.

Christie has done it again. Darn it!

Trickier than usual. - It's trickier than most of her mysteries but not necessarily better. Poirot begins receiving anonymous letters informing him that murder will be committed. The first is successfully carried out. The victim has some crazy name like Abigail Anathema of Absconde, Ayreshire. That the letters are not from a crank now sends Poirot and Hastings scuttling around, especially after the next one, which foretells another murder in Brixton or someplace. It shapes up that the murders are being carried out in alphabetical order, except for the last, in Doncaster, in which the victim seems to have been mistaken for someone whose last name begins with D.

A good deal of time is spent interviewing witnesses and relatives. The police are heavily engaged. The conclusion by everyone is that the killings are committed by a madman with an A.B.C. obsession. And there are occasional cutaways from Poirot to a mousy character named Alexander Bonaparte Cust. Boy, does HE look suspicious.

Eventually, Cust collapses in a police station, where he has gone to turn himself in. He's an epileptic and has had seizures frequently, leaving him with lapses of memory. Yes, he probably did it alright.

But did he? Poirot has been fretting over the discrepancy between the obsessed madman evidence and the fact that the murders are so assiduously arranged.

Medical discretion forbids further revelation of the plot, but if you have figured this one out before Poirot's usual summing up, I personally will send you a cashier's check for fifteen cents.

a serial killer who leaves train guides with the bodies - In this novel, Poirot is rejoined by his old, marvelously obtuse friend Hastings (whom we haven't seen since Lord Edgeware Dies, four novels ago, since when he has been at his ranch in Argentina). A serial murder goes on the rampage, sending challenging letters to Poirot in the process, and Poirot and Hastings are on the trail!

Hastings hasn't gotten any smarter, but that's not particularly unrealistic; I'm not sure that hanging out with a great detective would make me any more of a great detective myself, either.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the intertextuality. I'm a total sucker for references, even if they're fictional - I loved the references in Marisha Pessl's Special Topics in Calamity Physics and still loved them (albeit less) after figuring out that most were invented. Hastings comes to visit Poirot, and Poirot suggests that it would be very nice to have a really interesting, challenging murder to solve together. Hastings talks about how multiple murders would be better, as having one murder at the beginning followed by a long ruling out of suspects can be tiresome (which seemed a reference to the recent and lovely Death in the Clouds). At some point Poirot mentions that he recent almost got killed himself (an allusion to Three Act Tragedy), Poirot reminds Hastings how love can be found in the context of murder (an allusion to Hastings' finding his own wife in Murder on The Links), etc.

A minor annoyance is that Christie tries so hard to make Hastings the real narrator that she has a big explanation at the beginning about how it is that Hastings is narrating certain things he didn't observe; I think it'd have been better simply to drop Hasting's role (or leave those things out), but it clearly wasn't my call!

I found the ending a little unsatisfying although I cannot put my finger on way. Christie had me completely fooled as to who the murderer was, multiple times, but somehow the final identity left me less convinced than some, like the last book (Death in the Clouds). But it was an entertaining read for my hotel in Tanzania.

Next comes Murder in Mesopotamia, but I think I need a little break from Poirot.

this is a good summary of this book.

ABC Is Not As Easy As 1-2-3 Do-Re-Mi - I needed an entertaining and quick mental challenge. The 12th Hercule Poirot mystery does not disappoint. There's no good reason to give you the gist of the plot. Why spoil your fun? All of Ms. Christie's books are crisply written whodunits. No humor or colorful characters (outside of M. Poirot, of course) grace these pages. But the late author sure knew how to build a good puzzler. Most of the book is narrated by Captain Hastings, Poirot's good friend and confidant. Hastings is much like Sherlock Holmes' trusted sidekick, Dr. Watson. There are not a legion of suspects to sidetrack the reader. Ms. Christie was so good at her craft, she only had to wave a handful of possible candidates in front of the reader's face to keep you guessing. Yet, despite such an advantage, chances are that you'll still be stumped. I was. Written in 1935 and "The ABC Murders" is still a fun read.

Her best - I'm am Agatha Christie Read-it-all. I have recently found 3 or 4 recently published AGatha Christie books to read. However none of them top The ABC Murders. It kept me up all night reading and after putting together all the clues, I still struggled to figure out who did it. Excellent. Ms Christie entertains and works your mind in this book. It is my favorite.

Agatha Christie Does a Serial Killer Mystery? - In "The A.B.C. Murders", Hercule Poirot receives a letter from a Mr ABC who taunts Poirot with the claim that he will be committing a murder at a certain place & date. Police think it is a hoax, until Alice Asher in Andover turns up dead with a copy of an ABC timetable nearby. This becomes the mark of the serial killer, with copies of ABC turning up with more dead bodies (all of which were pre-announced by letters addressed to Hercule Poirot). The whole things turns into a media sensation, with Poirot puzzled and seemingly balked by the mysterious ABC.

Meanwhile, we the readers, are apparently spared from being puzzled, since we are introduced early on to the so-called killer, Mr. Alexander Bonaparte Cust. There are several segments in the book that breakaway from Colonel Hasting's narrative where we see Mr Cust's viewpoint. I found that very odd, since Mr Cust just seemed to me to be a terried poor old man and not at all like what Mr ABC should be. I pretty much just felt sorry for him all throughout the book.

Since this is an Agatha Christie novel, there is a twist in the end that I never expected, and to be honest, I couldn't make myself believe how Poirot was able to figure it out. Ms Christie was being a bit too clever again, thus, losing me at the end.

There are other way better Agatha Christie novels out there that a new reader should check out first. This is more for the fan who is on a mission to read all the Christie novels (like me).

This is for the BBC CD Version Specifically! John Moffatt is a GREAT Poirot! - It is frustrating the way you look at a review for a product and there are reviews for other products of the same title. It is the equivalent of looking for a review of a pizza at one restaurant and being listed prominently is the review of a pizza from another restaurant. Anyway...

I find Agatha Christie interpretations to be the same way. Some (especially newer productions) totally miss the mark in terms of the classic cozy mystery feel. Not so with this version.

If you like Poirot, and have never heard John Moffatt in the part, give this a try.

Moffatt personifies Poirot as well as anyone else can. He does as well in Audio as Suchet does on video (not to take away from either).

I have enjoyed many of Christies stories with Moffatt staring as the main character, even going back to before the internet and the limited availability in the 90's on cassette.

These radio interpretations through BBC Radio are top notch, and are great to listen to while doing chores.

I would also suggest if you like this to try the BBC Ian Carmichael Dorothy Sayers Mystery Dramatizations.