I love you. I'm never going to let you go.
Sparkling Cyanide
by Agatha Christie
Genre: Murder Mystery
About: Rosemary Barton had everything: money, beauty, a string of lovers and an loyal, understanding husband. Everyone was shocked by her death - a suicide! But as time passes, not everyone seems so convinced it was suicide.
The Good
This was another classic, everyone is a suspect with an added layer that there were a few tricks to the murder which confused things in a brilliant way. I enjoyed all the characters, Christie was really very good with dialogue, and for this novel I especially liked the way it begins: we're given a chapter for each of the people at the table i.e. each suspect. No-one lies, but no-one fully tells the truth either. The best part of the story, however, is the ending. Christie was masterful at the unravelling of the mystery - everything comes together so well but she makes you wait while each piece gets put into place, shifting suspicion deftly and forcing you to race through to the end.
I also thought it very similar to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. The characters and somewhat gothic vibe felt an echo of du Maurier's classic. Rosemary is as haunting and as scandalous as Rebecca herself, Iris becomes our naïve heroine, Ruth plays a version of a domineering Mrs Danvers, George is as fool as Maxim. Of course it's not a copy of Rebecca, but it has enough shades of the same that I wonder if it was an intentional homage.
The Bad
Unfortunately the most glaring similarity this one had was to Ordeal By Innocence (the only other Agatha Christie I've read) so although the novel still surprised me in places, it felt repetitive in its themes. Given how prolific Christie was in her novel writing it's to be expected that some motives characters have will repeat, I think I was just unlucky to read two of her novels back to back that have, virtually, the same one.
The Somewhat Iffy
The first murder, yes, I get it. The second murder, a bit less so. It is believable and very clever in how it was shown to us, but a bit convoluted when you know the who and the why behind it. By no means disappointing as a solution, just not the smoothest from A to B to C.
Overall
A fast and enjoyable ride. Lots of suspects, great build up and even when you think you know, you'll be doubting yourself right up until the end.
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