Plenty of dramatic action, tangled clues, and a fresh new adversity for Poirot and his little gray cells! I like the splashiness of this case, the fact that it’s one taking place in the public eye and not behind closed doors. Those ones are also immensely fun, but seeing Poirot work this one out was a particularly nice treat to read. ( )

It's a nice, quick read! I always enjoy reading about Poirot. The mystery itself always felt a bit convoluted but I'm satisfied with the resolution. I'll probably pick up more Agatha Christie novels next year! ( )

Really great mystery! I recognized one of the clues as being a clue, which made me feel smart, but I didn't guess the ending, which kept me in a state of suspense throughout. In short, a perfect combo! ( )

Enjoyed it very much. I saw a movie based on this novel that was dark, gloomy, and depressing. It was nothing like the novel. The novel is much better. ( )

I can't recall the Suchet version of this story but had recently seen the BBC adaptation last Christmas - very dark and not at all the classic Poirot as portrayed by David Suchet. Anyway, having read the book I could see the vast liberties taken by the latest adaptation and much prefer the original text.

In this Poirot is semi-retired but is still handling high profile cases. Hastings, married now and living in South America, has returned to England for a long holiday and is staying with his old friend when the first in a series of anonymous letters arrive: letters which taunt Poirot with the news that the writer will commit a murder in a particular town on a particular date. The letters are signed A B C. Although he takes the first to the police and is disturbed by it, they believe it is one of the enormous number of hoaxes and crank letters which they receive on a daily basis, until someone is in fact found murdered on the day in question, with an A B C Railway guide positioned near the body. And this is just the first.

As well as the humour shown in Poirot's relationship with Hastings - who narrates the story - I liked the fact that the police are not numbskulls in this and they do not sideline Poirot let alone treat him with the disrespect shown in the latest TV adaptation. And, as I guessed, the sordid aspects of the TV version were entirely made up. Instead we have Poirot still at the height of his powers slowly gathering together the snippets of facts that he needs which eventually point their way to the real culprit. Unlike 'Cat Among the Pigeons' which I read a while ago, here he is foregrounded and we see an insight into his methods, which even include an amusing scene of the misdirection he creates in a greengrocer's shop in order to ellicit the truth. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale and am therefore awarding it 5 stars. ( )