Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
Narrator: David Suchet
Series: Hercule Poirot #17, Colonel Race #3
Published by HarperAudio on July 3, 2012
Source: Purchased
Genres: Vintage Mystery
Length: 7 hrs 59 mins
Format: Audiobook
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The tranquillity of a cruise along the Nile was shattered by the discovery that Linnet Ridgeway had been shot through the head. She was young, stylish and beautiful. A girl who had everything . . . until she lost her life.

Hercule Poirot recalled an earlier outburst by a fellow passenger: 'I'd like to put my dear little pistol against her head and just press the trigger.' Yet in this exotic setting nothing was ever quite what it seemed.

Death on the Nile is a classic Poirot mystery.  Poirot is on vacation in Egypt, taking a cruise on the Nile – and of course a murder occurs. Happily, Colonel Race is on board too and the two of them take up the investigation.

We’ve got a lot of people on board the cruise, including a young couple on their honeymoon who are being stalked by the husband’s ex-girlfriend, a young society man and his mother, a romance author and her daughter, an elderly kleptomaniac and her travel companions, a couple questionable men, a maid, a doctor – so many that it can get a little confusing on audio. The narrator did a good job with all the voices, but it’s still a lot. The characters are all interesting and have their own personalities and motives. And Poirot likes them all, or almost all of them. He gives several people passes on their less serious crimes. It’s the “hush, hush” house. Everything but murdered is hushed up. He even likes the killer. Poirot can be a bit grating at times (not that I think so, but I know others do), but he’s a bit softer here. He’s still a know-it-all, but is a little kinder about it.

The mystery in this one is put together well. There are so many suspects, but when all the clues come together, it makes total sense. One thing I like about Christie is that she can still surprise me.

I do love Agatha Christie.

By the way, I love this cover. Maybe it’s because I’m freezing today (maybe I should turn on the heat), but it looks so warm and I love the silhouette of the pyramids in the back.