All of the characters are well-written and have a depth to them. Christie has always been great at creating nuanced and realistic characters and this novel is no exception. This is such an interesting story and one that really digs deep into a complex family.

But could any of them really have killed them? Charles, whose father works at Scotland Yard, agrees to help investigate the incident. Everyone is overly reliant on Aristide and he keeps a strict rule over the household. The crookedness referring to the interdependent and unhealthy relationships that it contains. The family home is Three Gables or the crooked house of the title. The autopsy reveals that he was poisoned and, as all of his family were currently living with him, everyone in the house is a suspect. Upon his return to Britain, Charles discovers that Sophia’s grandfather, Aristide Leonides, has died. Instead of those familiar faces, we find ourselves in the safe hand of Charles Hayward, a recently returned soldier who is planning on marrying his sweetheart, Sophia. Even if you’re worried that you’ll miss having Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, or Tommy and Tuppence guiding you through the mystery. In her own words, ” I found a study of a certain family interesting to explore.” If you like character studies that focus on familial connections, then this is something you’ll enjoy. Add to that the nursery rhyme reference in the title and you can see why the writer liked this book so much. He has a young wife, a vast fortune, and slightly difficult relationships with his offspring. It’s set in a big house, an elderly patriarch is poisoned and his family are all potential suspects. There’s a reason why it was included on my suggestions for where to start reading Christie books.Ĭrooked House has everything you need from a good standalone Agatha Christie novel. Well, apart from And Then There Were None which I never stop banging on about. I realise that in my re-readings, I tend to focus more on the Poirot or Miss Marple novels. So, I picked up a quick standalone novel. Meaning I can cross off a couple of letters in a matter of days and stop stressing about it so much. I always enjoy her books and they’re usually really quick reads. Who is the best author to go to when you’re falling behind in your monthly reading challenge? Agatha Christie is definitely one of the best writers for getting me back on track.

Crooked house plot