Status
Available
Series
Genres
Publication
Berkley (1986), Edition: Reprint, Paperback
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML: In Agatha Christie's classic, Three Act Tragedy, the normally unflappable Hercule Poirot faces his most baffling investigation: the seemingly motiveless murder of the thirteenth guest at dinner party, who choked to death on a cocktail containing not a trace of poison. Sir Charles Cartwright should have known better than to allow thirteen guests to sit down for dinner. For at the end of the evening one of them is dead�??choked by a cocktail that contained no trace of poison. Predictable, says Hercule Poirot, the great detective. But entirely unpredictable is that he can find absolutely no motive for murder....
User reviews
LibraryThing member xicanti
Three amateur sleuths investigate a suspicious death at a house party, with Hercule Poirot's help. Mr. Satterthwaite, the main character from her Harley Quinn stories, also features prominently.
This is a fairly entertaining little mystery that employs many of Dame Agatha's signature plot devices: a
Good for completists, but by no means essential reading for anyone not devoted to the author's work.
This is a fairly entertaining little mystery that employs many of Dame Agatha's signature plot devices: a
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large cast of potential suspects, clues that both illuminate and mislead, "assistants" who help Poirot along and a final scene in which everything is spelled out for the reader. It's perfectly decent, but it lacks that special something that makes certain of Ms. Christie's books really sparkle. The final twist is also one she's used elsewhere, and to greater effect. Good for completists, but by no means essential reading for anyone not devoted to the author's work.
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Retired actor Sir Charles Cartwright throws a house party in his Cornwall home. He invites several locals to have dinner with his house guests. During the cocktail hour, the local reverend suddenly drops dead. The Harley Street specialist/house guest and the local doctor both attribute the death to
As the title implies, the novel is structured in three “acts.” The action shifts from Cornwall to Monte Carlo, London, and Yorkshire, and to points in between. A large part of the book is narrated from the vantage point of Mr. Satterthwaite, who first appeared in the short story collection The Mysterious Mr. Quin. Nevertheless, it is Hercule Poirot who solves the crime and reveals the culprit.
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natural causes, but are they mistaken? Could it be murder?As the title implies, the novel is structured in three “acts.” The action shifts from Cornwall to Monte Carlo, London, and Yorkshire, and to points in between. A large part of the book is narrated from the vantage point of Mr. Satterthwaite, who first appeared in the short story collection The Mysterious Mr. Quin. Nevertheless, it is Hercule Poirot who solves the crime and reveals the culprit.
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LibraryThing member mmyoung
I remember feeling, when I first read this book many years ago, that there was something "off" about it. Something didn't quite work. When I reread it recently I was left with the same feeling. And it is one that it difficult to clearly articulate.
Warning, past here there be spoilers.
Perhaps the
Since he has no Hastings to function as Watson to his Holmes Poirot is forced to discuss the murders in the book with a number of different characters who cannot successfully fill in for the missing Hastings. Poirot does not have the type of relationship with any of these characters that would justify his opening up to (or, for that matter, misleading) them. In order to "play fair" with the reader Christie must provide a limited view into the minds of the various subsidiary characters whose POVs advance the plot since to do otherwise would have immediately given away "whodunnit."
The characters seem to be rather vaguely "realized" functioning more as types than as individual people and I felt uninvested in any of them on first reading or on rereading. Their failure to come off the page was particularly noticeable in the latter chapters of the book when I often felt that whenever one character, particularly Poirot, was speaking the other characters froze into immobility or faded from the scene. This is especially true in the dramatic "all is revealed" scene when I was as a reader distracted by the lack of distracting responses from the other people in the room.
In short, what would have been an enjoyable play presented instead as a serviceable book.
Warning, past here there be spoilers.
Perhaps the
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clearest way of explaining it is to say that I think that this would be a far better play than a novel. On stage the things that, in my opinion, worked against it might actually work for it. (Not to mention the wonderfully meta quality of staging a play about a murder that was basically staged and rehearsed much like a play.Since he has no Hastings to function as Watson to his Holmes Poirot is forced to discuss the murders in the book with a number of different characters who cannot successfully fill in for the missing Hastings. Poirot does not have the type of relationship with any of these characters that would justify his opening up to (or, for that matter, misleading) them. In order to "play fair" with the reader Christie must provide a limited view into the minds of the various subsidiary characters whose POVs advance the plot since to do otherwise would have immediately given away "whodunnit."
The characters seem to be rather vaguely "realized" functioning more as types than as individual people and I felt uninvested in any of them on first reading or on rereading. Their failure to come off the page was particularly noticeable in the latter chapters of the book when I often felt that whenever one character, particularly Poirot, was speaking the other characters froze into immobility or faded from the scene. This is especially true in the dramatic "all is revealed" scene when I was as a reader distracted by the lack of distracting responses from the other people in the room.
In short, what would have been an enjoyable play presented instead as a serviceable book.
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LibraryThing member sgerbic
November 1998
I have been meaning to reread this book for some time and finally I picked i up and read it through in two days. I remembered who the murderer was which is extremely frustrating when Christie tries to move in a red herring. But I couldn’t remember the motive. Poriot takes a back
I have been meaning to reread this book for some time and finally I picked i up and read it through in two days. I remembered who the murderer was which is extremely frustrating when Christie tries to move in a red herring. But I couldn’t remember the motive. Poriot takes a back
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seat to the characters Mr. Satterwaite and Charles Cartwright which doesn’t suite his style much and though Christie tries to make the reader empathize with Cartwright, somehow he is not a very sympathetic character....all along you are hoping Cartwright will be the next murder victim so Manders can win the girl. I believe that Christie gave the true love affair to the ill fated Babbingtons. Show Less
LibraryThing member riverwillow
I have a soft spot for this story as I like the idea of applying a three act structure to a novel. Its not classic Christie, but it passes the time very nicely all the same.
LibraryThing member BookAngel_a
Hercule Poirot was actually NOT the star of this novel. What a shock! Who knew it was possible for someone to overshadow Poirot?? But Christie found a way. I enjoyed it immensely, but I would have liked a bit more Poirot. I also liked the way the murder was turned into a play by use of references
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throughout the book. Interesting plot twists too - and expert trickery of course. Show Less
LibraryThing member miyurose
I found this to be a sub-par Poirot novel. It just wasn't a particularly compelling mystery. Only mildly entertaining, and somewhat predictable.
LibraryThing member cmbohn
Hercule Poirot has been invited to many parties, but this one was different. The local vicar dropped dead after drinking a cocktail. At first, the death is presumed to be from natural causes. But a few weeks later, a doctor who was a guest at the fatal party also drops dead after finishing a
Poirot is not a central character in this book until towards the end. The main character at first is Mr. Satterthwaite, a conventional gentleman of uncertain age. That makes it a little different from the regular Poirot book. Well done and fun, but not extraordinary.
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drink.Poirot is not a central character in this book until towards the end. The main character at first is Mr. Satterthwaite, a conventional gentleman of uncertain age. That makes it a little different from the regular Poirot book. Well done and fun, but not extraordinary.
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LibraryThing member mrtall
Three-Act Tragedy is a bit of a gimmick novel, even for Agatha Christie! She structures the book in the promised three acts, each taking place in a different setting.
The positives here are the cooperation and interactions between Hercule Poirot and Mr Satterthwaite, her odd,
On the downside, Poirot’s presence here is limited, which to his fans is of course a small disappointment. The novel also lacks particularly interesting supporting characters.
Three Act Tragedy is still an engaging and charming read, however, so I recommend it without hesitation.
The positives here are the cooperation and interactions between Hercule Poirot and Mr Satterthwaite, her odd,
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upper-crust-yet-colorless ‘man on the scene’ recurring character. In fact, it’s Satterthwaite who conspires with a team of amateur sleuths to solve the seemingly inexplicable poisoning of a country parson at a dinner party. The solution to the mystery, while not among Christie’s very best, is never the less good fun.On the downside, Poirot’s presence here is limited, which to his fans is of course a small disappointment. The novel also lacks particularly interesting supporting characters.
Three Act Tragedy is still an engaging and charming read, however, so I recommend it without hesitation.
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LibraryThing member Jim53
A local vicar keels over dead at an actor's dinner party. His death is assumed to be natural until a knighted neurologist suffers a similar fate at his own home. The actor and a couple of friends decide to investigate, and M. Poirot, who has retired from detecting, can't resist the opportunity to
I particularly enjoyed the character of Egg, an ambitious young lady; none of the others had much to them. Ms. Christie has some fun with the "three acts" idea. Overall there isn't much to it, other than some typical Poirot cleverness at the end.
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help.I particularly enjoyed the character of Egg, an ambitious young lady; none of the others had much to them. Ms. Christie has some fun with the "three acts" idea. Overall there isn't much to it, other than some typical Poirot cleverness at the end.
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LibraryThing member smik
A dinner party at "Crow's Nest", the home of bachelor Sir Charles Cartwright at Loomouth, turns to tragedy when the Rev. Stephen Babbington takes a sip of his cocktail, convulses, and drops dead. Babbington's death is diagnosed as a seizure, and not suspicious. However not all the dinner guests are
Among the dinner party are Mr. Satterthwaite, an actress, an author, Sir Bartholomew Strange, Hermione Lytton Gore, and, making up the numbers at the table, Hercule Poirot. Nothing comes of the suspicions, analysis of the vestiges of liquid in the cocktail glass reveals nothing, and the book moves on.
Mr Satterthwaite is a great observer of people and he concludes two things about Sir Charles Cartwright - firstly he is always playing a part. Cartwright is by profession an actor, but in Satterthwaite's estimation, he is always seeking to play out roles, and take centre stage in real life. Secondly he sees that he is head over heels in love with Hermione Lytton Gore who is a good thirty years younger than him, and he is not sure that the young lady reciprocates.
The action moves to the Riviera. Mr Satterthwaite is in Monaco for the day and reads an announcement in the newspaper of the death of Sir Bartholomew Strange, in circumstances very similar to Babbington's. He meets Sir Charles Cartwright and learns that many of the Crow's Nest houseparty were also at Sir Bartholomew's dinner party. Hermione Lytton Gore has written requesting Sir Charles return to London as soon as he can. An inquest has already decided the death was due to nicotine poisoning.
Strolling in the gardens Sattertwaite comes across a familiar egg-shaped head, that of Hercule Poirot. Separately he and Satterthwaite decide to return to London by the next train.
THREE ACT TRAGEDY was also published as MURDER IN THREE ACTS. Indeed the story is laid out to reinforce that impression. There is a frontispiece that says
Directed by
SIR CHARLES CARTWRIGHT
Assistant Directors
MR SATTERTHWAITE
MISS HERMIONE LYTTON GORE
Clothes by
AMBROSINE LTD
Illumination by
HERCULE POIROT
The story is broken into 3 acts.
In FIRST ACT -SUSPICION Babbington dies and there are suspicions about how he died.
SECOND ACT - CERTAINTY begins with the announcement of Sir Bartholomew Strange's death.
THIRD ACT - DISCOVERY brings Hercule Poirot into his own.
This is a story of coincidences,quite a number of false trails, and one in which both Mr Satterthwaite and Hercule Poirot play the matchmaker. Poirot is determined that the mystery will not defeat him. He is very aggrieved that he did not originally think Babbington was murdered.
This is the one book in which Satterthwaite collaborates with Poirot. He previously appeared in the stories which feature Mr. Harley Quin, in particular those collected in The Mysterious Mr. Quin (1930). The book gives us quite a detailed description of Mr Satterthwaite, as well as some further background about Hercule Poirot. (this is his 9th appearance in a novel - and there is no mention at all of Captain Hastings).
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satisified, and at least one thinks it is murder.Among the dinner party are Mr. Satterthwaite, an actress, an author, Sir Bartholomew Strange, Hermione Lytton Gore, and, making up the numbers at the table, Hercule Poirot. Nothing comes of the suspicions, analysis of the vestiges of liquid in the cocktail glass reveals nothing, and the book moves on.
Mr Satterthwaite is a great observer of people and he concludes two things about Sir Charles Cartwright - firstly he is always playing a part. Cartwright is by profession an actor, but in Satterthwaite's estimation, he is always seeking to play out roles, and take centre stage in real life. Secondly he sees that he is head over heels in love with Hermione Lytton Gore who is a good thirty years younger than him, and he is not sure that the young lady reciprocates.
The action moves to the Riviera. Mr Satterthwaite is in Monaco for the day and reads an announcement in the newspaper of the death of Sir Bartholomew Strange, in circumstances very similar to Babbington's. He meets Sir Charles Cartwright and learns that many of the Crow's Nest houseparty were also at Sir Bartholomew's dinner party. Hermione Lytton Gore has written requesting Sir Charles return to London as soon as he can. An inquest has already decided the death was due to nicotine poisoning.
Strolling in the gardens Sattertwaite comes across a familiar egg-shaped head, that of Hercule Poirot. Separately he and Satterthwaite decide to return to London by the next train.
THREE ACT TRAGEDY was also published as MURDER IN THREE ACTS. Indeed the story is laid out to reinforce that impression. There is a frontispiece that says
Directed by
SIR CHARLES CARTWRIGHT
Assistant Directors
MR SATTERTHWAITE
MISS HERMIONE LYTTON GORE
Clothes by
AMBROSINE LTD
Illumination by
HERCULE POIROT
The story is broken into 3 acts.
In FIRST ACT -SUSPICION Babbington dies and there are suspicions about how he died.
SECOND ACT - CERTAINTY begins with the announcement of Sir Bartholomew Strange's death.
THIRD ACT - DISCOVERY brings Hercule Poirot into his own.
This is a story of coincidences,quite a number of false trails, and one in which both Mr Satterthwaite and Hercule Poirot play the matchmaker. Poirot is determined that the mystery will not defeat him. He is very aggrieved that he did not originally think Babbington was murdered.
This is the one book in which Satterthwaite collaborates with Poirot. He previously appeared in the stories which feature Mr. Harley Quin, in particular those collected in The Mysterious Mr. Quin (1930). The book gives us quite a detailed description of Mr Satterthwaite, as well as some further background about Hercule Poirot. (this is his 9th appearance in a novel - and there is no mention at all of Captain Hastings).
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LibraryThing member arielfl
Continuing on in my summer Agatha Christie challenge, I come to Three Act Tragedy. This is my first Hercule Poirot book and I was a little disappointed. I thought he would figure more prominently in the book but after dismissing the first death as accidentally in the beginning of the book we don't
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hear much more from him until the end. He does not hold the same appeal Miss Marple does for me, at least in this book. I will see if I like him any better as I read other books featuring him this summer. The central mystery at the heart of this novel was not that engaging for me. There were a lot of characters to keep track of in the beginning and that was somewhat confusing, although that did get easier as the novel went on. Like in the previous AC mystery I reviewed, the solution was presented in the final pages. I had rather liked the murderer so that was disappointing although Eggs did seem to get her happy ever after. I am off to view the Masterpiece Classic film of Three Act tragedy. Perhaps when I view it on film, I will like it better. If this had been the first AC I read I might have given up on the challenge. I will see if Endless Night is more to my liking. Show Less
LibraryThing member bolgai
The more I read Agatha Christie's mysteries the more I like them. It seems like with every new volume there's an extra something that makes them more than just an engaging riddle. Either I'm reading the books with a more pronounced human element or I'm just noticing it more and somehow I'm inclined
I really liked Mr. Satterthwaite, the intelligent little man with an absolutely unpronounceable name and a way with people. The Lytton Gore ladies were my "human element" here introducing the subject of being able to see people for who they really are and not in the way Poirot does it. They made mistakes sometimes, sure, but their perceptions felt warm and uncalculating. I liked these characters more than the rest particularly because we learned more about them as people than we did about any of the others and that is really my only gripe - the rest of the cast are barely fleshed out and I wish we knew a little more about them.
Of course I didn't figure out who the culprit was even though I suspected everyone. It almost detracted from the story, this constant watchfulness, attentiveness to every word and trying to see in what way it could be a clue, whether it could be a clue. I really need to turn off that part of my brain next time and just enjoy the story. Learn from my mistakes, my friends!
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to think that it is the latter. I really liked Mr. Satterthwaite, the intelligent little man with an absolutely unpronounceable name and a way with people. The Lytton Gore ladies were my "human element" here introducing the subject of being able to see people for who they really are and not in the way Poirot does it. They made mistakes sometimes, sure, but their perceptions felt warm and uncalculating. I liked these characters more than the rest particularly because we learned more about them as people than we did about any of the others and that is really my only gripe - the rest of the cast are barely fleshed out and I wish we knew a little more about them.
Of course I didn't figure out who the culprit was even though I suspected everyone. It almost detracted from the story, this constant watchfulness, attentiveness to every word and trying to see in what way it could be a clue, whether it could be a clue. I really need to turn off that part of my brain next time and just enjoy the story. Learn from my mistakes, my friends!
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LibraryThing member Liz1564
This is vintage Christie and an enjoyable read. Who would want to murder a kind old vicar at a house party and follow it up by murdering a famous psychiatrist at another house party? That is the puzzle facing three amateur sleuths who, despite their analysis of the events, can't come to any
The book is divided into three acts, much like an actual play with a murder occurring in each act. Many of the characters come from the theater: Sir Charles Cartwright the retired actor and one of the sleuths, a female playwright who sees too much, an attractive,although aging actress. Add to the mix a charming young woman who is the second sleuth, her maybe former beau, a bookie and his fashion designer wife plus sundry butlers, secretaries, housekeepers. Hercule Poirot is joined by the third amateur sleuth Mr Satterthwaite, a character who was last seen in the Harly Quinn short stories.
About a third of the way through the novel I remembered who the murderer was and I enjoyed picking out the clues as Christie laid them down. She certainly plays fair in this one and I think the novel has one of the best last lines in her entire canon.
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conclusion. It is up to Hercule Poirot who was actually a guest at the scene of the first murder to use his little gray cells and uncover the murderer.The book is divided into three acts, much like an actual play with a murder occurring in each act. Many of the characters come from the theater: Sir Charles Cartwright the retired actor and one of the sleuths, a female playwright who sees too much, an attractive,although aging actress. Add to the mix a charming young woman who is the second sleuth, her maybe former beau, a bookie and his fashion designer wife plus sundry butlers, secretaries, housekeepers. Hercule Poirot is joined by the third amateur sleuth Mr Satterthwaite, a character who was last seen in the Harly Quinn short stories.
About a third of the way through the novel I remembered who the murderer was and I enjoyed picking out the clues as Christie laid them down. She certainly plays fair in this one and I think the novel has one of the best last lines in her entire canon.
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LibraryThing member antiquary
A series of murders involving an egocentric actor.
LibraryThing member bbbart
Almost a four-star rating for this 11th Poirot mystery from Agatha Christie. The story was very refreshing and unlike most of the other Poirot's not written from Hasting's first person. It's funny to see how Christie mocks the whole detective genre in this book and I was very surprised by the
I did find the beginning very confusing however, due to the great number of characters introduced and their rather difficult names. I took me a while to start enjoying the book. That's why it's only a three-star rating from me.
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confindings of Poirot in one of the characters in the very last page about his methods and character.I did find the beginning very confusing however, due to the great number of characters introduced and their rather difficult names. I took me a while to start enjoying the book. That's why it's only a three-star rating from me.
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LibraryThing member RubyScarlett
Nice change of pace since the investigation is carried out by three characters that don't include Poirot at first. Very surprising resolution which you just don't expect but no deus ex machina here, it all makes perfect sense. I quite liked the touches of romance here and there which are
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reminiscent of the earlier books. It's no Orient Express but it's such a good read on a rainy afternoon. Show Less
LibraryThing member SueinCyprus
An actor throws a dinner party, and when someone dies an accident is at first assumed. Hercule Poirot gets involved and solves the mystery in his inimitable fashion. Clever plotting and a bit of humour.
LibraryThing member Cassandra2020
Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie - good
So, I'm an Agatha Christie addict. I'm slowly working through her books as I find them in charity shops or bookcrossing and use them as comfort reading when I need respite from something heavy going or my annual stats are down & I need a quick read. This
Of course, this one has been adapted for TV and I've seen it and, more to the point, can actually remember the plot. Normally that doesn't spoil it for me but, for a change, the TV version stuck very closely to the book and I knew from page 1 'whodonit'.
Still a good read, enough
changes from my remembrances to make it worthwhile and of course, written
to the usual AC standards. Not too many ouch moments with the use of
non-pc language either. A good read.
So, I'm an Agatha Christie addict. I'm slowly working through her books as I find them in charity shops or bookcrossing and use them as comfort reading when I need respite from something heavy going or my annual stats are down & I need a quick read. This
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time it was the stats.Of course, this one has been adapted for TV and I've seen it and, more to the point, can actually remember the plot. Normally that doesn't spoil it for me but, for a change, the TV version stuck very closely to the book and I knew from page 1 'whodonit'.
Still a good read, enough
changes from my remembrances to make it worthwhile and of course, written
to the usual AC standards. Not too many ouch moments with the use of
non-pc language either. A good read.
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LibraryThing member rosalita
A renowned but retired British actor throws a dinner party at his country home, where the village vicar unexpectedly drops dead. Was it ... murder?! No one seems to think so except the actor, his friend Satterthwaite ("A dried-up little pipkin of a man"), and the actor's erstwhile young lover, Miss
But when one of the other guests at that party, a nerve doctor named Strange, throws his own dinner party with more or less the same guest list back in London some months later, another death occurs and suddenly no one is pooh-poohing anything, least of all Poirot.
Another twisty plot from the queen of twisty plots, as the spotlight of suspicion falls plausibly on one after another of the characters. Poirot's part is seemingly minor, except that he is the one in the end who solves the seemingly unsolvable mystery. Additional kudos to Dame Agatha for structuring a mystery involving denizens of the theater scene as a play: Act One, the first murder; Act Two, the second murder and the amateur investigation; Act Three, the unmasking of the murderer. Or, as she says in the mock Production Notes at the beginning, Illumination by Hercule Poirot. Bravo!
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Hermione Lytton Gore (Egg to you, if you please). Even Hercule Poirot, who was a guest at the party, pooh-poohs the idea.But when one of the other guests at that party, a nerve doctor named Strange, throws his own dinner party with more or less the same guest list back in London some months later, another death occurs and suddenly no one is pooh-poohing anything, least of all Poirot.
Another twisty plot from the queen of twisty plots, as the spotlight of suspicion falls plausibly on one after another of the characters. Poirot's part is seemingly minor, except that he is the one in the end who solves the seemingly unsolvable mystery. Additional kudos to Dame Agatha for structuring a mystery involving denizens of the theater scene as a play: Act One, the first murder; Act Two, the second murder and the amateur investigation; Act Three, the unmasking of the murderer. Or, as she says in the mock Production Notes at the beginning, Illumination by Hercule Poirot. Bravo!
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LibraryThing member Auntie-Nanuuq
Let's see: when I first began the book I was excited to find Mr. Satterthwaite on the terrace of the Crow's Nest, because he is usually followed by Harley Quinn, however, much to my dismay this was not to be, and instead M. Poirot turned up.
Upon the announcement of M. Poirot's pending arrival for
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a dinner party, there is conjecture that there will be a murder; as murders seem to be M. Poirot's forte & seem to occur where ever he happens to be. The host (Sir Charles, the great actor) jokes to his friend the Doctor, Sir Bartholomew : "Well, you can have your murder, Tollie, if you're so keen on it. I make only one stipulation- that I shan't be the corpse!"The dinner party consists of: Sir Charles; Egg Lytton-Gore (whom is very fond of Sir Charles & visa-versa) & her mother; the parson & his wife, the Babbingtons, Sir Bartholomew; Mr. Satterthaite; M. Poirot; the Dacres (she's a famous designer, he's a gambler & a lout); Angel Sutcliffe (the actress); Anthony Astor (the female playwright); Oliver Manders (Egg's friend); and Miss Milray (Sir Charles' secretary who sits in at the last minute to even out the t able to 14)
After dinner, Pastor Babbington, who has no enemies, sips a cocktail & falls over dead, the inquest rules, heart failure ..... M. Poirot, Sir Charles, & Mr. Satterthwaite begin to make inquiries but get nowhere.
A short time later, Sir Bartholomew gives a dinner party (inviting most of the same people) and falls over dead while sipping sherry (nicotine poisoning)... Then butler mysteriously disappears and the police pin him as the most obvious suspect.
Mr. Satterthwaite, Egg, & Sir Charles join forces to investigate the murder of the good Doctor. Eventually M. Poirot joins the group and they break-up into teams; M. Poirot with Egg and Sir Charles with Mr. Satterthwaite.
The Pastor Babbington is exhumed & is found to have been poisoned by nicotine thus connecting his murder to that of the Doctor's, there is no end of clues and there are a few Red Herrings.....
To my dismay, Mr. Satterthwaite, who usually figures it out w/ his sound ability to weigh evidence and use his keen powers of observation of people & human nature is shown up by M. Poirot..... This is where I knocked off 1 ?.
But, I NEVER had a clue "Who done it"!
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LibraryThing member pgchuis
This was excellent. I enjoyed the investigative trio of Egg, Sir Charles and Mr Satterthwaite, even though it meant we saw less of Poirot. The solution was ingenious and completely satisfactory.
LibraryThing member sensitivemuse
I enjoyed reading this typical 'whodunnit' great cast of characters, each with their own story and background, a charming get together, and of course a murder. The plot seems to follow a Drama theme, with characters involved or have a drama/acting background, and the title is nice play on the plot
Although Poirot is central to the story and is in it, he does take somewhat of a background role for this one. He does however, bring his sleuthing skills in the last third of the book to tie all the ends together.
Definitely am taking a liking to the Poirot mysteries. There's more intrigue and mystery than the Miss Marple series.
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as it does come in "three acts"Although Poirot is central to the story and is in it, he does take somewhat of a background role for this one. He does however, bring his sleuthing skills in the last third of the book to tie all the ends together.
Definitely am taking a liking to the Poirot mysteries. There's more intrigue and mystery than the Miss Marple series.
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LibraryThing member aront
Christie’s book do get better if you read them in chronological order. I found the motive convincing, and the reveal held together better than some of the earlier Poirot books. Also, I can more easily overlook Christie’s casual anti-semitism, because Oliver does get the girl in the end. Still,
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thus far, Murder on the Orient Express is the one I’ve enjoyed the most. Show Less
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Three-Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie features Hercule Poirot as he tracks down a particularly clever murderer. As one of several guests at a dinner party given by the famous actor Sir Charles Cartwright, Poirot actually considers the first murder, that of a gentle country vicar, as a natural death.
Sir Charles, his friend Mr. Satterthwaite and a young lady, Hermione Lytton Gore, known as “Egg” come together and work on trying to discover what happened but it is not until Hercule Poirot joins them that the pieces are fully gathered and put together.
Entertaining, humorous and original, I found Three-Act Tragedy to be a really fun read. The author obviously enjoyed supplying plenty of red herrings for her readers to ponder upon and there was enough misdirection to keep everyone’s “little grey cells” working overtime.
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It is not until some months later when at another dinner party, attended by many of the same guests, another death occurs that is found to be by poison, that attention is returned to the first.Sir Charles, his friend Mr. Satterthwaite and a young lady, Hermione Lytton Gore, known as “Egg” come together and work on trying to discover what happened but it is not until Hercule Poirot joins them that the pieces are fully gathered and put together.
Entertaining, humorous and original, I found Three-Act Tragedy to be a really fun read. The author obviously enjoyed supplying plenty of red herrings for her readers to ponder upon and there was enough misdirection to keep everyone’s “little grey cells” working overtime.
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Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1934-06-01
Physical description
224 p.; 6.9 inches
ISBN
0425091805 / 9780425091807
Local notes
Alternate Title: Murder in Three Acts