The One About A Murder On A Cruise Ship: Death On the Nile by Agatha Christie

I mentioned that I had joined the ‘Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge’. One of the prompts in this challenge is to read a book set on a plane, train, or cruise ship. For this prompt I decided to read my second Agatha Christie book, ‘Death On the Nile’.

Death on the Nile

by Agatha Christie

Edition: Paperback, 214 pages

Publication Date: 1978 by Bantam Books (first published November 1st 1937)

URL: https://www.agathachristie.com/stories/death-on-the-nile

Series: Hercule Poirot #17, Colonel Race #3

Goodreads synopsis:

Agatha Christie’s most daring travel mystery.

The tranquility of a lovely cruise along the Nile is shattered by the discovery that Linnet Ridgeway has been shot through the head. She was young, stylish and beautiful, a girl who had everything – until she lost her life.

Who’s also on board? Christie’s great detective Hercule Poirot. He recalls an earlier outburst by a fellow passenger: ‘I’d like to put my dear little pistol against her head and just press the trigger.’ Despite the exotic setting, nothing is ever quite what it seems…

Librarian’s note: this Hercule Poirot novel should not be confused with the short story of the same name. Also by Christie. But it starred Parker Pyne. It came out several years earlier. The title and locale are the same, but the contents are quite different. It is not a precursor of this story. The Pyne short story can be found elsewhere on Goodreads.

“They conceive a certain theory, and everything has to fit into that theory. If one little fact will not fit it, they throw it aside. But it is always the facts that will not fit in that are significant.”

I am usually more of a dark, psychological thriller reader, but occasionally I do enjoy a cosy mystery to snuggle up with before bed. Cosy mysteries is a sub-genre that I have only discovered last year through a recommendation. It’s a lovely genre fit for those who love mysteries but dislike the gore and violence that sometimes comes with a lot of books under the umbrella genre of ‘Mysteries’. Agatha Christie was obviously a household name in this genre

and for a good reason!

There’s something so charming about Agatha Christie’s writing that makes her murder-mysteries seem like bedtime stories– almost comforting in a way. She combines all the right elements in her stories, from interesting characters, intriguing mystery, and brilliant storytelling all into one. And Death In The Nile is no different.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. This book had captured my attention from the very first chapter, and I think the only time my eyes strayed away from this book is when I went to grab a drink. After that, it was back to reading. I love books (especially mysteries and thrillers) that are set in one contained location; whether it’s in a small town or where people are trapped in one building (An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena is a good one if you like these kinds of things too!). However I had never read a book set on a cruise ship, much less one where a murder happens on board and all the suspects are trapped on the ship, so I was very excited for this one. After finishing this book, I am pleased to say that I really enjoyed this book and had such a fun experience figuring out who the murderer was.

Agatha Christie does such a good job with keeping the mystery and intrigued constant throughout the book. She does this by including a few subplots, leading the reader through different situations involving the characters, and then eventually combining all the clues that lead to the final revelations of the murder mystery. Christie is the Queen of sprinkling red herrings here and there Admittedly, there were some subplots that I was not too interested in but luckily it was only minor compared to the main mystery. As someone who reads crime novels and mysteries frequently, some of the revelations were a little predictable; however, the ending still leads to a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, this was such an intriguing murder mystery that leads readers on a not-so-smooth-sailing cruise with a few twisty revelations, and suspicious characters that readers should keep a close eye on.

3 stars

Have you read any of Agatha Christie’s works?

Let me know in the comments below!

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