The handful of Christie books that I've read so far lead me to believe that she's incapable of writing an uninteresting novel, and this was certainly interesting as well as being enjoyable to read. Poirot is his usual smug self, but there's a more evident streak of kindness in him here than is normal, and that is I think due to the strong supporting cast. Katherine Grey is extremely likeable, and I hope she pops up again in later novels. Lenox, her younger cousin, is less visible but also well-drawn, and I'd be happy to see her again as well.

On the down side, this does take a lot longer to get going than I'm used to with a Christie read, and her seemingly unbreakable fascination with disguises is again apparent - I'm sorry to say it's the one element of predictability and tedium that I routinely find in her work. The number of her villains who slink about in ridiculously convincing disguises must keep the costume shops of Paris and London more afloat than opera. In fact I dare to say that should any of them ever be on the verge of going under, all they need to do is invite Poirot to visit, and the subsequent sale of wigs, cloaks, and other stuff as villains converge for their makeovers will amply replay the endeavour.