Ugh.
2 stars
Racist, derivative claptrap.
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published July 10, 1997 by Collins Crime.
The Big Four (Agatha Christie Collection)
3 stars
(24 reviews)
They are a vicious international quartet of criminals known as "The Big Four". Number One was a brilliant Chinese, the greatest criminal brain of all time; Number Two was a USAmerican multi-millionaire; Number Three was a beautiful Frenchwoman scientist; and Number Four was "the destroyer," the ruthless murderer with a genius for disguise, whose business it was to remove those who interfered with his masters plans. These four, working together, is a partnership with one simple goal, establish world dominance with murders.
Belgian detective Hercule Poirot was preparing for a voyage to South America when an uninvited guest, coated from head to foot in mud, stood at his doorway, collapsed, then recovered long enough to scribble the number four on a piece of paper. Now, "The Big Four" pursues eliminate the only man who can foil them: Hercule Poirot. It's up to Poirot and his faithful assistant Hastings to follow …
They are a vicious international quartet of criminals known as "The Big Four". Number One was a brilliant Chinese, the greatest criminal brain of all time; Number Two was a USAmerican multi-millionaire; Number Three was a beautiful Frenchwoman scientist; and Number Four was "the destroyer," the ruthless murderer with a genius for disguise, whose business it was to remove those who interfered with his masters plans. These four, working together, is a partnership with one simple goal, establish world dominance with murders.
Belgian detective Hercule Poirot was preparing for a voyage to South America when an uninvited guest, coated from head to foot in mud, stood at his doorway, collapsed, then recovered long enough to scribble the number four on a piece of paper. Now, "The Big Four" pursues eliminate the only man who can foil them: Hercule Poirot. It's up to Poirot and his faithful assistant Hastings to follow the clues and stop the deadly cabal from achieving its devastating end. But do they really avoid the Grim Reaper? In the most dangerous case of his career, the little detective will not be diverted by poison, a falling tree, electrocution, or a hit-and-run. Poirot appears to meet his end when a bomb explodes in his apartment. Hastings, devastated, vows to avenge him--but can he succeed without Poirot?
Review of 'The Big Four (Agatha Christie Collection)' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I really enjoyed this book. Agatha Christie steps out of the usual expected murder case and turns it into an exciting tale of intrigue and mystery where Hercule Poirot takes on a World Domination organization simply known as "The Big Four".
Each of the four members is referred to by a number.
Number one stands for power. He is one of the most powerful people in the world, although no one knows it. He's always behind the scenes pulling strings.
Number two stands for money. He is pretty much the richest person in the world and funds all of their projects.
Number three stands for western science. Number three is one of the worlds most famous scientists and is above suspicion from everyone.
Number four is simply "the destroyer".
He is like the executive branch for the group. He does the killing. And he looks different every time.
Number four …
I really enjoyed this book. Agatha Christie steps out of the usual expected murder case and turns it into an exciting tale of intrigue and mystery where Hercule Poirot takes on a World Domination organization simply known as "The Big Four".
Each of the four members is referred to by a number.
Number one stands for power. He is one of the most powerful people in the world, although no one knows it. He's always behind the scenes pulling strings.
Number two stands for money. He is pretty much the richest person in the world and funds all of their projects.
Number three stands for western science. Number three is one of the worlds most famous scientists and is above suspicion from everyone.
Number four is simply "the destroyer".
He is like the executive branch for the group. He does the killing. And he looks different every time.
Number four is who Poirot has the most trouble with. No one knows who he is, what he looks like, or where he will strike next.
This book has a perfect balance of adventure and mystery. It is narrated by Captain Hastings.
(Note: This review was written when I had not read very many of Agatha Christie's books. Upon rereading, I am less enthusiastic about it as I was then, having experienced so many that are better)
Jill reviewed The Big Four (Poirot) by Agatha Christie
Review of 'The Big Four' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This book was ridiculous, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
ManyRoads reviewed The Big Four (Poirot) by Agatha Christie
Review of 'The Big Four' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This was a most interesting spy / mystery novel. Fun to read and interesting. Hercule dies and...
Review of 'The Big Four (Agatha Christie Collection)' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
[a:Agatha Christie|123715|Agatha Christie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1321738793p2/123715.jpg] is one of my favorite writers, and I usually enjoy reading her books over and over. This is an exception.
In 1926, Christie was suffering from overwork, the death of her mother, and an unfaithful husband who wanted a divorce. She also staged a dramatic disappearance, probably to embarrass her erring husband. It resulted in a great deal of publicity as well.
In [b:An Autobiography|16301|An Autobiography|Agatha Christie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396228839s/16301.jpg|3038860] Christie stated that she had been unable to write a word since her mother's death. She was approaching a deadline and was short of money. Her brother-in-law, Campbell Christie, "...suggested that the last twelve stories published in "The Sketch" should be run together, so that they would have the appearance of a book." [b:The Big Four|16316|The Big Four (Hercule Poirot, #5)|Agatha Christie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1372506728s/16316.jpg|721292] was the result. Not surprisingly, [b:The Big Four|16316|The Big Four (Hercule Poirot, #5)|Agatha Christie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1372506728s/16316.jpg|721292] does not have the …
[a:Agatha Christie|123715|Agatha Christie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1321738793p2/123715.jpg] is one of my favorite writers, and I usually enjoy reading her books over and over. This is an exception.
In 1926, Christie was suffering from overwork, the death of her mother, and an unfaithful husband who wanted a divorce. She also staged a dramatic disappearance, probably to embarrass her erring husband. It resulted in a great deal of publicity as well.
In [b:An Autobiography|16301|An Autobiography|Agatha Christie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396228839s/16301.jpg|3038860] Christie stated that she had been unable to write a word since her mother's death. She was approaching a deadline and was short of money. Her brother-in-law, Campbell Christie, "...suggested that the last twelve stories published in "The Sketch" should be run together, so that they would have the appearance of a book." [b:The Big Four|16316|The Big Four (Hercule Poirot, #5)|Agatha Christie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1372506728s/16316.jpg|721292] was the result. Not surprisingly, [b:The Big Four|16316|The Big Four (Hercule Poirot, #5)|Agatha Christie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1372506728s/16316.jpg|721292] does not have the feel of a novel. It is choppy and jumps around quite a bit. Hastings makes an extended appearance and is even more tedious than usual. I honestly don't know how I finished this.
Hastings, who has married and settled down in Argentina, has come to visit his old friend. Poirot advises that he is going to do some investigating for the richest man in the world, Abe Ryland a/k/a "The American Soap King." A man stumbles into Poirot's apartment and passes out. Once they revive him, he writes the number four a dozen times, even time larger than the last. He then says, "Li Chang Yen," and tells Poirot and Hastings of the "Big Four" - Number One is Li Chang Yen, Number Two is an American, Number Three is a French woman, and Number Four is just "the destroyer." From then on, everything proceeds at a fast pace.
It's very obvious that [b:The Big Four|16316|The Big Four (Hercule Poirot, #5)|Agatha Christie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1372506728s/16316.jpg|721292] is a lot of short stories strung together. Basically, Poirot investigates a series of cases and claims they are all linked to the Big Four. I was reminded of Nayland Smith always suspecting Fu Manchu in every single crime he investigated. Very convenient and not terribly believable. I found the very idea of the "Big Four" to be straight out of pulp magazines or comics - or possibly spy novels, though James Bond was many years in the future. Oh, and the mysterious Number Four, "the destroyer"? Very anticlimactic.
I carried away two things from this book - one, even Christie could write a bad novel, and two, Hastings is incredibly stupid. Seriously, how could he not know?
"This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force." (attributed to Dorothy Parker)
Subjects
- Crime & mystery
- Mystery/Suspense