Great title for this solid mid-range Hercule Poirot mystery. It's based on the short story “The Triangle at Rhodes”, which I had already read since it's included in the collection Murder in the Mews. That means the story wasn't really new to me, but it was fine because extending it to novel length added more complexity. I found it enjoyable, because the premise is very intriguing and full of murderous tension, but perhaps the characters are not vivid enough to place it among Christie's very best. ( )

#24 Hercule Poirot - read for a book club
In this Poirot book, he is on a vacation when a body is found on the beach. Poirot investigates the suspicious death, questioning the various occupants of the hotel on the island. The island is a small island, and the group of characters is relatively small.
Poirot gives a remarkable assessment of how he determined the guilty party. He notices everything, especially things that he believes to be discrepancies.
Everyone at the book club really enjoyed this book. ( )

“Oh, God, she’s been strangled…murdered.”

She, being Arlena Stuart, a beautiful siren, and wife of Captain Marshall. Who on this island of leisure could have done it? “It all boils down to this - was it an outsider, or a guest at the hotel?” Or a jealous husband? Well, Hercule Poirot just so happens to be vacationing at said island, so the job falls to him! A job he is well suited for!

A fun read, one that kept me guessing until all was revealed and I'd discovered that I was wrong on my first, second, and third guesses! And when Poirot suggests the picnic at the end? Très bien! A thoroughly good read and a fun puzzle to attempt to put together!

“Yes, darling,” said Mr. Gardener. (every time that popped up, it gave me a smile!)

“Nothing is needed but physical strength - and the soul of a killer!” ( )

Typical, entertaining Christie book. Of course the revelation has a few ridiculous parts but it's still *believable* so it comes across as inspired rather than frustrating. The book is full of stereotypes but they're entertainingly written and she subverts them a bit. Nothing that would surprise anyone who knows what Christie does, just a solid book with some examples of the flair that shows she was a pretty good writer. ( )

Another banger from the master of the red herring and the impossible-to-guess ending. I loved it. ( )