Not my favorite of Christie's. Still artful and intriguing, if a little bit forgettable.
Summary:
An anonymous note arrives to warn Elinor and Roddy of someone ingratiating herself to the wealthy and ailing Mrs. Welman to encroach on the family fortune. Everyone seems to love Mary, a charming young girl doted on by Mrs. Welman and given an education above her class. Well, not everyone as Mary is found fatally poisoned. The only person with opportunity and motive seems to be the stoic beauty Elinor Carlisle, the niece was to inherit her aunt's fortune. Quite taken with Elinor, the local doctor is convinced that she couldn't be guilty and enlists the help of renowned dectective Hercule Poirot to prove it isn't the open and shut case that it appears to be.
Verdict: 7/10
Christie's mysteries are always so seamless and easy to rush through. Though this novel was largely overshadowed by her other mysteries and didn't seem as inspired. (Am I the only one who doesn't understand the title.) I still enjoyed it, I mean I read it in two days!
There's all the elements of a classic Christie: inheritance, poison, red herrings, tangled romances, and anonymous notes. The story uniquely takes place over many months with an entire section playing out through various characters' letters to each other, a fun element that made the time pass faster. Also unlike others that I've read by her, this book takes place largely in a courtroom. The reader learns the identity of the killer at the same time as the jury.
Until now, I've only seen Poirot present before the crime and therefore able to consult immediately after and see the scene firsthand. Beginning in the courtroom means the reader knows who has been killed and who is accused and then gets to relive the events leading up to the murder from the viewpoint of the other characters. Only afterward does Poirot arrive to interview the witnesses and share his insight.
As such, Poirot didn't feature as heavily. Even in the "big reveal," the lawyers were the ones giving the evidence and damning pronunciations, subtracting from the detective's heroics and lovable banter. And at the end of the trial, there were still loose threads hanging about. Poirot explains a few, but they didn't tie together as neatly as Christie's red herrings usually do. Most of the clues in this mystery weren't as well-highlighted either so the revelations felt abrupt.
Regardless of explanations, I'm always struck by how ahead of her time Christie was. There are several modern and controversial themes such as assisted suicide and extramarital affairs. Poirot is similarly forward-thinking in matters, but unlike other genius detectives from Bakers St., the Belgian is never rude or narcissistic. Poirot is confident in his skills yet never thinks himself above others. He’s very personable, if particular, knows how to delegate, and doesn't belittle or villainize the police, instead trusting them to do their jobs. I truly love stories centered around him.
While Sad Cypress may not be in my top 5 or even top 10, it's still a good read. I enjoyed guessing at the culprit and was still surprised by the end. Even the lesser Christie novels are better than most other mystery authors.
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