Death on the Nile is placed as one of my top five favorite Agatha Christie novels and its one of the worlds much loved. First read in my teens and read countless times since, this review was brought on from a recent question to myself,"Has any book ever inspired you to travel?" This book was it: Egypt for the history and to see the sights with my own eyes. Death on the Nile this wonderful little facsimile first edition hardback a perfect way to experience Agatha Christie with the original typesetting, format, book cover only two hundred and eighty-four pages it sets out to capture our imagination.
Its the 1930s from the opening pages Christie wastes no time by introducing us briefly to an array of eccentric characters but our first main focus would be on heiress Linnet Ridgeway. Linnet has it all beauty, brains and plenty of money, a deadly combination, others would say what she couldn't buy with cash she could buy with a smile. Twenty years old with both parents deceased her Inheritance of the Hartz millions came from her mothers side, from her father Melhuish Ridgeway his ruthless attitude on business matters. Linnet had charm and was the sensation of the moment, at the heart of all the gossip columns she'd been purposed to by Lord Windlesham and had recently arrived in the little village of Malton-under-Wode paying a steal of sixty-thousand for her new toy Wode Hall. Villagers speculated she'd bring more money to the area. In celebration of her own happiness Linnet had even bought a set of Pearls worth around another fifty-thousand.
The arrival of best friend Jacqueline (Jackie) de Bellefort who came from money but was now penniless was gushing about her true love, marriage plans and throws everything into a different perspective. Smart and country boyish Simon Doyle also broke after being laid off from the city but Jackie knew they would find a way to be together. Wode Hall was the answer, the idea was for Linnet to give him a job as lands agent, and if all went well in months to come they could get married and honeymoon in Egypt. Linnet makes a slight change to Jackie's plans and out of the blue Linnet marries penniless Simon Doyle then adds insult to Jackie's wounds they are to honeymoon in Egypt.
Belgian Detective Monsieur Hercule Poirot was taking his own vacation in Egypt, no ulterior motive but just to see the sights. A few days before the Nile trip on board the S.S. Karnak he meets all fellow passengers at the Cataract Hotel. Extraordinary bunch; an American socialite Miss Van Schuyler and her niece Cornelia Robson; Miss Schuyler's nurse Miss Bowers; a curious man named Mr. Ferguson; the archeologist Signor Richetti; the silent James Fanthorp; the Austrian Dr. Bessner; passionate novelist Salome Otterbourne and her daughter, Rosalie; Mrs. Allerton and her son, Tim; Linnet's American lawyer and trustee Andrew Pennington; Linnet's maid Louise Bourget and none other than Jacqueline de Bellefort who had been stalking the new honeymoon couple since they left England. By the time the trip begins Poirot realizes evil is everywhere and death is only the beginning!
Death on the Nile a marvellous book. What I love most the character building, this is where Christie plays, the characters supply comedy throughout and would make up the lighter part of the book. The English class system is firmly in place, again Christie shows form by her usage of language, over the course of the book these extraordinary characters grow with that language, the bold statements, showing the inner workings of their superficial worlds. On the darker side all the humor is balanced against a more serious element, Murder and here's where our minds are tested as she plots ever so tightly. Let us not forget Christie last ingredients a fantastic location, Egypt, a trip down the Nile, Christie captures the moment, almost everywhere you turn; there is a reference to death and the afterlife in Egyptian cultures, its history, its fascination, this book for me certainly has that winning combination.
So for the first time readers here's your chance to play Christie's psychology game, pitting your wits against the man with the little gray cells M. Hercule Poirot, for those all aboard we have now arrived at page 133. A plan is given of S.S Karnak Promenade Deck, diagram one shows the top deck with Saloon and numbered rooms, the second diagram shows numbered rooms and characters names who occupy them. For clues and extra information we continue to read on but watch those Red herrings, remember: any crime can be solved by simply placing the puzzle pieces correctly. Any moment before the end might be the important one, but to win you must answer all questions to all three murders before it is revealed; " Who commited it?" "How it was done?" "Motive/Why?" how us Christie fans envy you lot, Good Luck!
First published in 1937, its a classic that still works in modern day. Highly recommended.
Andrea BowhillGet more detail about Death on the Nile (Hercule Poirot Series).
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