What "improvements" have been made for the Black Dog & Leventhal edition? There are already major differences in punctuation, word choices, and scene breaks between the original Collins and Dodd Mead editions of this novel. There are further differences between the Dodd Mead editions republished by Random House/Avenel and the Dodd Mead editions republished by Simon & Shuster/Pocket. There are further additions still in the Signet, Bantam, and Berkley editions. For every publishing house putting out her works, there seem to be a new batch of editors altering Agatha Christie's words and the sound of her voice. What's the matter with these publishers? Whose voice do they think we want to hear when we sit down to a novel by Agatha Christie? And what will she sound like twenty years from now? It's frightening that her estate has failed to see the importance of guarding her words as she wrote them. Please tell me I'm not the only one here who senses that a crime has been committed.

Agatha Christie is well-known for the twists that are in her mystery stories, but should receive just as much renown for her psychological examinations within certain mysteries. "Appointment With Death" is much more the psychological study of a family and those involved with them, than it is with the murder at the heart of the story. Therefore, the novel is heavy on character development and motive for murder, and lighter in terms of mystery and crime.

Mrs. Boynton was a mental sadist, a woman who loved holding her family captive to her every whim and fancy, allowing them no freedom of thought or action. Enclosed in their own world and oblivious to any difference, a trip to Jerusalem finally makes her children aware of how miserable their lives are. Two of the children come to the conclusion that she must be killed, especially to protect the youngest child, but hardly know how to carry out the deadly act. So when their mother is found dead (and murder is believed) all of the children are immediate suspects to Hercule Poirot, but also among each other.

"Appointment With Death" is as fast-paced as any of Christie's other works. Hercule Poirot is more of a minor character until the latter part of the book when he pieces together all of the evidence to arrive at the truth of who killed Mrs. Boynton. The chapters in which he lays out motive and means for the innocence and guilt of each member of the Boynton family is both exhilarating and frustrating, but it shows the remarkable plotting that Christie had to explain the criminal elements in her books. While not the best Poirot mystery, "Appointment With Death" is an enjoyable read with plenty of motives to keep the reader guessing the identity of the culprit.

Agatha Christie is well-known for the twists that are in her mystery stories, but should receive just as much renown for her psychological examinations within certain mysteries. "Appointment With Death" is much more the psychological study of a family and those involved with them, than it is with the murder at the heart of the story. Therefore, the novel is heavy on character development and motive for murder, and lighter in terms of mystery and crime.

Mrs. Boynton was a mental sadist, a woman who loved holding her family captive to her every whim and fancy, allowing them no freedom of thought or action. Enclosed in their own world and oblivious to any difference, a trip to Jerusalem finally makes her children aware of how miserable their lives are. Two of the children come to the conclusion that she must be killed, especially to protect the youngest child, but hardly know how to carry out the deadly act. So when their mother is found dead (and murder is believed) all of the children are immediate suspects to Hercule Poirot, but also among each other.

"Appointment With Death" is as fast-paced as any of Christie's other works. Hercule Poirot is more of a minor character until the latter part of the book when he pieces together all of the evidence to arrive at the truth of who killed Mrs. Boynton. The chapters in which he lays out motive and means for the innocence and guilt of each member of the Boynton family is both exhilarating and frustrating, but it shows the remarkable plotting that Christie had to explain the criminal elements in her books. While not the best Poirot mystery, "Appointment With Death" is an enjoyable read with plenty of motives to keep the reader guessing the identity of the culprit.

Above average. Interesting family dynamics with the classic matriarch.

A definite for Agatha fans; top 25% for others.

Although this is not my favorite Christie story (hence, the 4 stars instead of 5), I still loved listening to it. I think Hugh Fraser (Captain Hastings) does a superb job as reader.

Hercule Poirot has decided to take a vacation to the Middle East. One his first night in Jerusalem he overhears a bit of conversation - "You do see, don't you, that she's got to be killed?" He assumes that he has heard two people collaborating on a book or play, smiles to himself as he muses that crime seems to follow him everywhere. Of course the conversation comes back to haunt him as he again crosses paths with the speakers.

This is another of Christie's dysfunctional families, this time the problem parent is the mother instead of her usual tyrannical father. The Boynton family consists of Mrs. Boynton, grossly overweight, in poor health and whose chief occupation is to torment her family. She has three adult step children, Lennox (married to Nadine), Raymond and Carol and her own daughter, Ginevra. While on an excursion to Petra Mrs. Boynton dies leaving the question of natural causes or murder as the cause. If it is murder was it committed by one of the family or another member of the group?

Poirot is consulted by a local offical to sort out the mess which of course he does but not without suffering the hardships of the desert - so hard on patent leather shoes!

This 1937 novel is one of Christie's 'psychological' mysteries where much time is spent on motive and character development. The result is that by the end of the novel the reader feels personally acquainted with many of the characters. Also this is set in the Middle East where Christie spent much time herself and gives the novel an insight on the area and travel in those times. It is an excellent mystery, all clues are fairly laid out for the reader to sort out and still quite enjoyable and challenging nearly 70 years later.

Mrs. Boynton is one of Agatha Christie's most memorable characters. She is an absolute tyrant who rules her family with fear and the possibility of losing her financial backing. She does not allow them to have contact with outsiders and even arranges a marriage for her oldest son when he seems inclined to seek out a bride. In a departure from the norm, Mrs. Boynton suggests a trip to Jerusalem and brings her family with her. They are accompanied by a family friend, two physicians, two ladies, and Hercule Poirot. Poirot overhears two of the adult Boynton children plotting to kill their mother and he uses this evidence as a beginning to investigate the eventual murder of the old lady. Everyone has a motive, as Mrs. Boynton was rude and obnoxious to everyone she met, so this case takes all of Poirot's deductive powers to figure out the actual murderer. This is classic Christie and as such it is one of the best Poirot books in the series.

Talk about antogonist, our murder victim will have you hoping Poirot lets the guilty walk this time a la ......(won't spoil that title for ya). Very nice characters very believable twist. Ms. Christie proves yet again I am no HERCULE POIROT. How do I always miss the clue?