AC_Critical+Reviews

**Agatha Christie **

Photo and Biography Critical Review Novel Review Other Works Websites

 **Black Coffee**  "Black Coffee was Agatha Christie's first ever stage play written in 1930's. The play was recently adopted as a novel by Charles Osborne (author of 'Life and Crimes of Agatha Christie'). Though the novel is not actually penned by Christie, it comes as close to being one. After decades, Christie fans are presented with a Hercule Poirot novel that truly reads like authentic, vintage Christie.

Poirot is urgently summoned by scientist Sir Claud Amory to help him preserve and ship out his newly discovered formula (critical for British defense during the war). But before Poirot reaches Sir Amory's country estate, the scientist is mysteriously dead and his formula stolen. With Captain Hastings by his side, Poirot sets out solve the crime and save the more amiable members of the household from embarassment.

The description style clearly indicates that the story has been taken right out of a stage play. The plot is neither too complex nor is it too difficult to spot the villain. But still, it can definitely be reckoned as another one of Christie's classic mysteries."
 * Sriram Gopalan, Resident Scholar

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 **The Body In The Library**  "The body of a young woman is found in the library of Colonel and Mrs. Bantry. Mrs. Bantry immediately calls in her old friend, Miss Marple, to investigate the crime.

The body is identified as a dancer who worked at a nearby hotel and was in no way connected to the Bantrys. It is also discovered that the young lady had attached herself to a rich old man and his family and that he had been planning to adopt her. Soon afterwards, the body of another young woman is found in a burned-out car. She is thought to be a girl guide who had disappeared on the same day as the dancer. The crimes seem unrelated, but Miss Marple starts to poke around and finds a connection that enables her to solve the mystery. "
 * Jóhanna, Resident Scholar **