Crooked House

This mystery has to be one of, if not the best book Agatha Christie has ever written. Keeps you guessing to the end, which turns out to be incredibly surprising. If you like mysteries, this is a book you'll want to read! Thoroughly enjoyable!!

A typical Agatha Christie story but perhaps one of her best. The crooked house plays a major role in the sequence of events. The family with all their idiosyncrasies make it difficult to identify the real murderer. As usual the solution is found at the very end and in spite of the sad ending it turns out well for the two main players.

This was a good read which had me guessing who did it --as always with Agatha Christie's books. I liked that this story didn't have Poirot or Miss Marble. The characters were believable and I enjoyed reading this book.

Even though I am an Agatha Christie fan, this book was not one of her best. She did not build the suspense as only she could, the story became redundant and trifle. I found myself wishing for the book to be over so I could begin a new one. I imagine even the best authors have an off book once in a while.

I enjoy Agatha Christie mysteries especially Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. I read this one because it is said it was her favorite. It is not my favorite but it is classic Christie and I'm glad I read it. The plot evolved slowly and none of the characters were as appealing as Marple and Poirot.

I know she's the queen of suspense or something, but I find so many of her novels are predictable. I read this as I saw it's due to be a movie very soon. Thought it could be fun to read the book in advance. Didn't quite enjoy it though. Much too predictable. (I apologize in advance to all of the Christie lovers out there . . . I concede she's a great author . . . I just didn't particularly like the story).

I found this book to be most depressing. The setting is dark and unfriendly and so are all the characters. The ending leaves the reader with a feeling of despair. The plot is well written and the characters well drawn.

Crooked House is supposedly one of Christie's top two favorite books and I can see why. Filled with interesting characters, suspenseful twists and a myriad of suspects, Crooked House does not disappoint. On top of that, Hugh Fraser is the best at capturing each character and giving them life. Loved this one!

I read several of Agatha Christie’s books when I was young. I had forgotten about them until recently, when I picked up “and then there were none”, which was my favorite. The nice thing about reading them over after all these years is that i don’t remember the story or who did it, so it really is like reading them for the first time. They are clean and so much fun to read. I recommend them to anyone who enjoys a quick and easy read that is a mystery.

Not as good as some of Ag's greatest work. Gimme Poirot all day over this. However, if you want to get into her standalone' so recommend And Then There Were None or Towards Zero. Wonderfully crafted novels with superb writing from the Queen.

This is your typical Christie piece, I suppose. Entertaining, but the plot is a bit sparse, and she seems at times to try to convince us of the verisimilitude of her characters. The book can suffer from a bit of two-dimensionality and didacticism.

Charles Hayward returns to England from European war with the hope to marry Sophia Leonides. His plans are spoiled when hears that her wealthy grandfather Aristide Leonides has been murdered, by his own family, no less. Sophia asks him to help her finding out the culprit and announces that she cannot marry him until this is solved. She also indicates that 'it would be easier if it was the right person.' His father, Assistant Commissioner of the Yard, gives his assent and encourages the idea.

The police suspect the young widow and the tutor while they plead innocence. As Charles gets closer to the family, he understands why Sophia mentioned their 'ruthlessness.' Alongwith Sophia's sister Josephine, Charles tries to find out the real murderer, but not before another murder in the family. Find out who killed them. HINT: It is someone you will like a lot.

First off, it is DAME AGATHA CHRISTIE, so I don't really have to say anything about her writing. She had me guessing who the killer was and kept me engrossed till the last page. Everytime Charles speaks to a member of the Leonides family, it was not only him that had to keep changing his theory but also the reader. And that is the power of Christie's writing and the strength of her storyline.

I loved how apt the term 'crooked' fits to their house, the members and their characteristics. It ends kinda abruptly but it is not a big deal. It has been months since I read an Agathe Christie's, and Crooked House made me realize what I had been missing out. If you are in mood for a 'whodunnit' you can not go wrong with a Christie.

Having read so many Agatha Christie mysteries, I always appreciate reading one that does not feature her trademark sleuths, especially as Hercule Poirot can be a trifle overbearing at times. "Crooked House" is a delightful, closed door mystery, that will have readers guessing until the very end. It is a tale filled with love and hate, murder and jealousy, all of the elements that make up a good murder mystery.

Charles has just fallen in love with Sophia, the sensible daughter of wealthy but clueless parents. She and her entire immediate family (and some extended) live with her grandfather and his new wife in their strange country house. Their grandfather, Aristide Leonides is a wealthy businessman who does as he pleases and gives generously to all of his children and their offspring. So when he is found murdered, there is very little motive although everyone had the opportunity and knowledge to kill the diabetic when they administered his insulin shots. And Charles finds himself drawn into this mystery, not only because his father works for Scotland Yard, but because Sophia will not marry him unless the murderer is found. Charles is faced with a strange family, at once cold and unwelcoming, but with some members who instantly confide in and beguile Charles. Could Aristide's much younger wife want him dead so she could run off with the grandchildren's tutor? This is what everyone wants to believe. Is one, or both, of his sons angry at some perceived slight? Did one of his daughters-in-law view their living arrangements as more of a prison than a home? Charles knows he must act face before someone else is murdered for knowing too much about the case, and to save his future with Sophia.

"Crooked House" is a fast-paced read that will have readers guessing and confused to the very end. Christie paints a logical case for nearly every suspect and follows several red herrings to their convoluted ends. The ending is unique and sinister and not quite what one would expect, although there have been similar murderers in other Christie works, and indeed in real life.

There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile.
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse.
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.

A not-so-little house that is literally crooked, as well as containing crooked people with crooked ideas. Actually called Three Gables, it is a decidedly creepy, almost castle, with its many levels, hallways, staircases, and rooms – the perfect setting for someone sneaking around up to no good!

I loved all the characters so much that I didn’t want the murderer to be any of them. I had two completely different suspects, and motives, in mind – one of which turned out to be correct, but even then it was a shockingly good twist. There were plenty of false leads along the way, and I didn’t start to figure things out until the 70% mark, by which point most of the people had been eliminated for me. I liked how since this wasn’t a Poirot novel, the main character wasn’t the one to figure out the culprit, rather it was revealed to him by another character.

As per usual, the pompousness and boldness of Agatha Christie’s writing had me chuckling in places – how the London suburb where the house was located had not one, not two, but three golf courses, and that people were often out rightly stated as being ugly or stupid. I also thought the writing of this one came across as more modern than other Christie’s I’ve read. As examples, the department store Debenhams was mentioned and the Director of Public Prosecutions was abbreviated as the DPP (as it’s used today in modern British detective novels). This one was written in 1949, whereas aside from ‘Five Little Pigs’ (1943), the others I have read were all written in the twenties and thirties. I would highly recommend this one to everybody. It’s super! Can’t wait to see the movie.

This was my first audio book from the store, and my first audio read ever and I was very impressed. The software was easy to install and use. The Narrator, Hugh Fraser, was great – read slowly, and distinctly, and was awesome at the various English accents. I would definitely order other audio books in the future.

Asking an author to choose the favorite book he or she wrote is often like asking a grandparent to choose a favorite grandchild; it results in a meaningless response like “they are all special to me.” Agatha Christie, perhaps the best pure mystery writer of all time, might be forgiven had she made a similar statement. However, Christie never hesitated in naming her two favorite books, one of which was “Crooked House,” and, after reading the book, I can understand why.

“Crooked House” take place in the English countryside shortly after World War II. A wealthy octogenarian businessman dies as a result of someone switching some eye drops for his insulin shortly before he received his daily injection. The man had a second wife some 50 years his junior, who quickly becomes the prime suspect, along with her boyfriend, and he also had a bunch of other relatives who all conveniently lived in the same house with him and who all possibly had financial and other motives to wish his demise sooner rather than later. Further, everyone in the house knew about and had access to the victim’s medications and that switching them could be fatal.

Despite Christie’s love for the book, “Crooked House” isn’t nearly as well known as many of her works, such as “Murder on the Orient Express.” The reason for this relative obscurity may well be that “Crooked House” does not feature either of Christie’s two famous detectives, Hercule Poirot or Miss Jane Marple. Instead, the narrator is Charles Hayward a diplomat who spent the war overseas and has just rekindled his romance with Sophia, the granddaughter of the dead businessman. Because Hayward’s father is a police officer, he is asked to stay at the house for a while and talk to the various witnesses in hopes of finding a clue.

Unlike many Christie novels, the solution to “Crooked House” does not depend on unraveling a lot of tiny bits of physical evidence to determine that Colonel Mustard was the only person who had access to the conservatory at the right moment. Instead, the clues are primarily psychological, and figuring out the killer requires figuring out which of the suspects has the temperament of a killer since pretty much everybody could have easily done it. Fortunately, Charles has one or two good scenes with each suspect, so he can make observations as to their guilty behavior or lack thereof.

With the clues primarily being psychological, “Crooked House” resembles one of those optical illusions that is impossible to spot unless you happen to look at it in just the right way. A number of people do figure out the killer’s identity, as judged by the reviews, while others it near impossible. No matter how adept the reader is, one thing is sure; like “Orient Express,” once readers finish “Crooked House,” it’s one they are almost sure to remember.

My admiration for the puzzle in “Crooked House” is tempered a bit by the book’s shortcomings as a novel. Charles is the epitome of the dull narrator—no exercising the little gray cells here—and his romance with Sophia, which other writers might take advantage to ratchet up the suspense is curiously tepid. The only function Charles serves is to provide the narration and give the suspects a shoulder to cry upon. And, although the characters are a bit quirky, readers never lose sight of the fact that “Crooked House” is essentially a book-length puzzle with characters that are given only as much development as needed to support the storyline.

“Crooked House” may only be a puzzle, but it’s a very good one, and one that readers will remember. Having read a number of Christie books over the years, I disagree with the author’s assessment that it’s the best of her work, but it’s still an enjoyable read for mystery fans.

Crooked House

The beginning tells how Charles Hayward met Sophia Leonides in war-time Egypt. When Charles returned to England to meet Sophia he read the notice of her grandfather Aristide's death. Sophia tells him her grandfather's death is suspicious. Charles' father is Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard, and he learns of the facts in this case. Three Gables is a large home composed of three separate houses. Bombing had brought the family together. Inspector Taverner questions the family, and we learn about the events and their character (Chapter 7). Then about the young widow and the private tutor (Chapter 8). Charles talks to the widow Brenda Leonides and we hear her story (Chapter 9). Sophia explains her grandfather's cleverness. We meet Josephine, Sophia's young sister, who likes detective stories. Aristide's will was found unsigned! Next we learn that the family business is in difficulty, due to the error of mismanagement, nothing criminal. The death of Aristide prevented him from saving his son Roger (Chapter 11).

Sir Arthur Hayward gives his opinion on amateur murderers: they are vain and want to talk. What about heredity and additive weaknesses (Chapter 12)? Why did Aristide provide a blueprint for his murder? Charles attends a family meeting; nothing will be done to save Roger's business (Chapter 14). Charles looks around, and talks to Laurence Brown and the young widow (Chapter 16). The missing will is found, and it has a shocking surprise (Chapter 17). But another person is hurt, it is no accident (Chapter 18), Incriminating documents are found (Chapter 19). Aristide's will creates the usual turmoil when the heirs don't share equally (Chapter 20). The police arrest the obvious suspects (Chapter 21). Yet there is some doubt by the family - and the police. Charles discusses his observations of the family. Then an urgent telephone call has shocking news: another poisoning (Chapter 23). The final chapters have the ending to this story. It would be shocking if you did not pick up on the clues appearing near the end. The murderer was hidden in plain sight, like a sapling among trees. Like other stories, it is very intriguing even if implausible.

The final irony is that Charles Hayward will join the Diplomatic Corps and be sent to Persia. He will surely miss the peace and quiet of Swinly Dean.

Crooked House

The beginning tells how Charles Hayward met Sophia Leonides in war-time Egypt. When Charles returned to England to meet Sophia he read the notice of her grandfather Aristide's death. Sophia tells him her grandfather's death is suspicious. Charles' father is Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard, and he learns of the facts in this case. Three Gables is a large home composed of three separate houses. Bombing had brought the family together. Inspector Taverner questions the family, and we learn about the events and their character (Chapter 7). Then about the young widow and the private tutor (Chapter 8). Charles talks to the widow Brenda Leonides and we hear her story (Chapter 9). Sophia explains her grandfather's cleverness. We meet Josephine, Sophia's young sister, who likes detective stories. Aristide's will was found unsigned! Next we learn that the family business is in difficulty, due to the error of mismanagement, nothing criminal. The death of Aristide prevented him from saving his son Roger (Chapter 11).

Sir Arthur Hayward gives his opinion on amateur murderers: they are vain and want to talk. What about heredity and additive weaknesses (Chapter 12)? Why did Aristide provide a blueprint for his murder? Charles attends a family meeting; nothing will be done to save Roger's business (Chapter 14). Charles looks around, and talks to Laurence Brown and the young widow (Chapter 16). The missing will is found, and it has a shocking surprise (Chapter 17). But another person is hurt, it is no accident (Chapter 18), Incriminating documents are found (Chapter 19). Aristide's will creates the usual turmoil when the heirs don't share equally (Chapter 20). The police arrest the obvious suspects (Chapter 21). Yet there is some doubt by the family - and the police. Charles discusses his observations of the family. Then an urgent telephone call has shocking news: another poisoning (Chapter 23). The final chapters have the ending to this story. It would be shocking if you did not pick up on the clues appearing near the end. The murderer was hidden in plain sight, like a sapling among trees. Like other stories, it is very intriguing even if implausible.

The final irony is that Charles Hayward will join the Diplomatic Corps and be sent to Persia. He will surely miss the peace and quiet of Swinly Dean.

Crooked House

The beginning tells how Charles Hayward met Sophia Leonides in war-time Egypt. When Charles returned to England to meet Sophia he read the notice of her grandfather Aristide's death. Sophia tells him her grandfather's death is suspicious. Charles' father is Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard, and he learns of the facts in this case. Three Gables is a large home composed of three separate houses. Bombing had brought the family together. Inspector Taverner questions the family, and we learn about the events and their character (Chapter 7). Then about the young widow and the private tutor (Chapter 8). Charles talks to the widow Brenda Leonides and we hear her story (Chapter 9). Sophia explains her grandfather's cleverness. We meet Josephine, Sophia's young sister, who likes detective stories. Aristide's will was found unsigned! Next we learn that the family business is in difficulty, due to the error of mismanagement, nothing criminal. The death of Aristide prevented him from saving his son Roger (Chapter 11).

Sir Arthur Hayward gives his opinion on amateur murderers: they are vain and want to talk. What about heredity and additive weaknesses (Chapter 12)? Why did Aristide provide a blueprint for his murder? Charles attends a family meeting; nothing will be done to save Roger's business (Chapter 14). Charles looks around, and talks to Laurence Brown and the young widow (Chapter 16). The missing will is found, and it has a shocking surprise (Chapter 17). But another person is hurt, it is no accident (Chapter 18), Incriminating documents are found (Chapter 19). Aristide's will creates the usual turmoil when the heirs don't share equally (Chapter 20). The police arrest the obvious suspects (Chapter 21). Yet there is some doubt by the family - and the police. Charles discusses his observations of the family. Then an urgent telephone call has shocking news: another poisoning (Chapter 23). The final chapters have the ending to this story. It would be shocking if you did not pick up on the clues appearing near the end. The murderer was hidden in plain sight, like a sapling among trees. Like other stories, it is very intriguing even if implausible.

The final irony is that Charles Hayward will join the Diplomatic Corps and be sent to Persia. He will surely miss the peace and quiet of Swinly Dean.

Crooked House

The beginning tells how Charles Hayward met Sophia Leonides in war-time Egypt. When Charles returned to England to meet Sophia he read the notice of her grandfather Aristide's death. Sophia tells him her grandfather's death is suspicious. Charles' father is Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard, and he learns of the facts in this case. Three Gables is a large home composed of three separate houses. Bombing had brought the family together. Inspector Taverner questions the family, and we learn about the events and their character (Chapter 7). Then about the young widow and the private tutor (Chapter 8). Charles talks to the widow Brenda Leonides and we hear her story (Chapter 9). Sophia explains her grandfather's cleverness. We meet Josephine, Sophia's young sister, who likes detective stories. Aristide's will was found unsigned! Next we learn that the family business is in difficulty, due to the error of mismanagement, nothing criminal. The death of Aristide prevented him from saving his son Roger (Chapter 11).

Sir Arthur Hayward gives his opinion on amateur murderers: they are vain and want to talk. What about heredity and additive weaknesses (Chapter 12)? Why did Aristide provide a blueprint for his murder? Charles attends a family meeting; nothing will be done to save Roger's business (Chapter 14). Charles looks around, and talks to Laurence Brown and the young widow (Chapter 16). The missing will is found, and it has a shocking surprise (Chapter 17). But another person is hurt, it is no accident (Chapter 18), Incriminating documents are found (Chapter 19). Aristide's will creates the usual turmoil when the heirs don't share equally (Chapter 20). The police arrest the obvious suspects (Chapter 21). Yet there is some doubt by the family - and the police. Charles discusses his observations of the family. Then an urgent telephone call has shocking news: another poisoning (Chapter 23). The final chapters have the ending to this story. It would be shocking if you did not pick up on the clues appearing near the end. The murderer was hidden in plain sight, like a sapling among trees. Like other stories, it is very intriguing even if implausible.

The final irony is that Charles Hayward will join the Diplomatic Corps and be sent to Persia. He will surely miss the peace and quiet of Swinly Dean.

Crooked House

The beginning tells how Charles Hayward met Sophia Leonides in war-time Egypt. When Charles returned to England to meet Sophia he read the notice of her grandfather Aristide's death. Sophia tells him her grandfather's death is suspicious. Charles' father is Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard, and he learns of the facts in this case. Three Gables is a large home composed of three separate houses. Bombing had brought the family together. Inspector Taverner questions the family, and we learn about the events and their character (Chapter 7). Then about the young widow and the private tutor (Chapter 8). Charles talks to the widow Brenda Leonides and we hear her story (Chapter 9). Sophia explains her grandfather's cleverness. We meet Josephine, Sophia's young sister, who likes detective stories. Aristide's will was found unsigned! Next we learn that the family business is in difficulty, due to the error of mismanagement, nothing criminal. The death of Aristide prevented him from saving his son Roger (Chapter 11).

Sir Arthur Hayward gives his opinion on amateur murderers: they are vain and want to talk. What about heredity and additive weaknesses (Chapter 12)? Why did Aristide provide a blueprint for his murder? Charles attends a family meeting; nothing will be done to save Roger's business (Chapter 14). Charles looks around, and talks to Laurence Brown and the young widow (Chapter 16). The missing will is found, and it has a shocking surprise (Chapter 17). But another person is hurt, it is no accident (Chapter 18), Incriminating documents are found (Chapter 19). Aristide's will creates the usual turmoil when the heirs don't share equally (Chapter 20). The police arrest the obvious suspects (Chapter 21). Yet there is some doubt by the family - and the police. Charles discusses his observations of the family. Then an urgent telephone call has shocking news: another poisoning (Chapter 23). The final chapters have the ending to this story. It would be shocking if you did not pick up on the clues appearing near the end. The murderer was hidden in plain sight, like a sapling among trees. Like other stories, it is very intriguing even if implausible.

The final irony is that Charles Hayward will join the Diplomatic Corps and be sent to Persia. He will surely miss the peace and quiet of Swinly Dean.

Excellent dramatization of Agatha Christie's Crooked House. Set in the days just following the end of WW2. A romantic attachment between Charles Hayward and Sophia Leonides, formed during the War, is put on hold during investigation of her grandfather's death. With a verdict of murder, everyone is under suspicion. Charles questions his own belief in his fiance. Will distrust end their relationship? or are there other family secrets yet to be discovered?

Full BBC cast of characters bring life to the story. Additional colour is added with radio broadcast clips and musical interludes of the era. Good quality recording with evenly controlled volume, identifiable characters, and creative sound effects that add to the drama.

Agatha Christie says -
"This book is one of my own special favourites...practically everyone has liked Crooked House, so I am justified in my belief that it is one of my best."

BBC Audiobooks 2008
Crooked House 1949 Agatha Christie Limited

Definitely, Agatha Christie is a storyteller. But individuals like some of her books better than others, maybe because of plot, venue or characters. To me, though many of her stories seemingly cover the same ground, I've never been put off by one, thinking it was too much like another. They always vary -- more than that -- there's always a freshness. Maybe I especially like this one because the characters flow with me and the plot seems one of her best. I never had a period of angst over it as you sometimes do, didn't think she contrived here and there -- was just thoroughly interested from start to finish. While reading it, I kept feeling I had seen this dramatized, but could find no indication it had been. Actually, I found that it is in progress, with Julian Fellowes writing the screenplay. I hope he sticks with the book. It makes sense he could do a Christie, with his liking to work with a fairly large cast of characters. But I have never seen anything he adapted. Will he modernize it, curve it to his own style too much? I will definitely queue up to find out when released.

Though I haven't read a lot of Agatha Christie, I feel Crooked House likely wasn't on par with her other books. The protagonist, Charles, wasn't a detective, amateur or otherwise, and he wasn't terribly intelligent. The actual murderer wasn't that difficult to figure out, even without an omnipotent point of view, but I felt Charles could have been the killer and it would have taken a signed confession from himself for him to make that deduction. I'm determined to become more familiar with Mrs. Christie's writing, but will give Hercule Poirot the next chance.

Known hands-down as the most popular mystery writer of all time, nearly forty years after her death Agatha Christie remains a bestselling author whose novels have still only been outsold by Shakespeare and the Bible. Crooked House - one of Christie's own personal favorites, and indeed my favorite of her books - is a complex story about a very dysfunctional family, led by the patriarch Aristide Leonides, who is summarily poisoned in the midst of his ungrateful relatives, all of whom have motives ... and alibis! Two intriguing things about this novel (other than its jaw-dropper of an ending) are the richer-than-usual characterizations Christie fills the pages with; never more so, in the close to eighty novels of hers that I've read over the years, have her people come off more real. The other, simply put, is that this tale doesn't feature any of her usual detectives on-board to solve the case; no Poirot, no Miss Marple, or Tuppence and Tommy or Superintendent Battle, or even Ariadne Oliver. And this, perhaps, is another reason the novel works so beautifully; there are no distractions from the story, nor from the intricate family and their secrets and associations with each other; they, as it should be, are your focus for this tale of murder. But even with that, I still dare you to see that ending coming! ****1/2

I am always in awe at Agatha Christie's gifts as a writer. In book after book she delivers a briskly paced murder puzzle populated with eccentric characters and peppered with wry observations. Christie makes it look easy which disguises the effort expended and the art of her craft. Crooked House is a standalone novel featuring a too-close family and a murder of the patriarch. I read the book in a day and was very entertained. I am looking forward to viewing the movie adaptation.
Highly recommended.

I am a huge Agatha Christie fan. I have possibly all of her books, and nearly all the television and film versions of her works, starring a variety of Hercule Poirots (my best is David Suchet) and Miss Marples (Margaret Rutherford, Joan Hickson and Julia McKenzie tops). According to the Guinness Book of records, Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist of all time. Often referred to as the "Queen of Crime," she is also regarded as a master of suspense, plotting, and characterisation. Recently I started rereading her work and began with Crooked House, one of the seven novels inspired by nursery rhymes. Agatha Christie described this as her favourite book. She says in the author's foreword: "This book is one of my own special favourites. I saved it up for years, thinking about it, working it out, saying to myself, `One day when I've plenty of time, and want to really enjoy myself--I'll begin it! ... Crooked House was pure pleasure.'"

Three generations of the Leonides family live together under the roof of wealthy patriarch Aristide. His first wife died; her sister Edith has cared for the household since then. His second wife is the indolent Brenda, decades his junior, who exchanges love letters with the grandchildren's tutor, Laurence Brown. After Aristide is poisoned by his own eye medicine (eserine), his granddaughter Sophia tells narrator and fiancé Charles Hayward that they cannot marry until the killer is apprehended. Charles' father "The Old Man" is the Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard, so Charles investigates from the inside along with assigned detective, Chief Inspector Taverner. It seems that everyone could have a motive. The ridiculously young wife Brenda wants to be free to marry the tutor. Then there's Roger, the eldest son who needs money to prop up his tottering business. Second son Philip has always been jealous of Roger. Not to mention their wives (Clemency and Magda), who could also have motive for various financial reasons. Josephine, Aristides's precocious granddaughter, tells Charles that the police are stupid and she has already worked out who the killer is, along with copious notes and clues in her little black notebook. When Josephine is attacked and Nanny is mysteriously poisoned by hot chocolate after Brenda and the tutor are arrested, the danger escalates to a surprise finish.

This was the first time I'd read the book and it was great. The pace is good, the characters real (we have all met them somewhere along life's path) and the suspense chilling. I am quite good at guessing the killer in various crime books, but this one stumped (and shocked) me completely. Charles is excellent as the sometimes-bumbling amateur sleuth. Sophia is sharp-witted and courageous. There's a Roger and a Magda in every family. The family are at once torn apart and cling together in this time of adversity and stalking danger. Highly enjoyable! (A lesson about making a watertight will included!)

Yet another proof that Agatha Christie is a legend. Crooked House is a stand alone story, apart from the series of Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Tommy and Tuppence etc. This one has criminologist Charles Hayward as the narrator. Charles tells us the story of his girlfriend and why she refused to marry him when he proposed. Agatha Christie has the tact of making something fabulous in the way of narrating a story.

The narration is flawless, the story is flawless, the characters are perfectly flawed, and the twist is admirable. You would never have seen it come, the way it came and hit you. Agatha Christie stories are those which are to be read when you want to know what real suspense / mystery / thrillers feel like. She paved the path for all mystery writers after her. The way her stories are – supple, intense, delicate and engulfing – describes an ideal mystery novel, like absolutely no one else can. And as for today’s mystery writers, there is only one thing to say – You can go high indeed, but you can never surpass your teacher, the one who lead the way.

"Crooked House" is notable for being one of Agatha Christie's self-proclaimed favorite mysteries, stating that: "writing "Crooked House" was pure pleasure and I feel justified in my belief that it is one of my best." In the absence of her two most famous detectives (Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple) the mystery is told in first-person narrative by Charles Hayward, a young man who falls in love with the wealthy and beautiful Sophia Leonides in Cairo near the end of WWII.

Postponing their engagement until the end of the war, they are finally reunited in England. Unfortunately, they cannot enjoy a happy ending just yet. Sophia's grandfather Aristide Leonides has died at age eighty-five, but the police are certain that he was poisoned, and are currently investigating the family for his murderer. All the Leonides family hope to pin the blame on Aristide's extremely young widow, believed to have been carrying on an illicit love affair with the tutor of the younger family members, yet Sophia and Charles are not so sure.

As his father is an Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard, Charles has access to the police reports, and because of his relationship with Sophia, is able to mingle with the Leonides family. As expected, they are an eccentric bunch, from the embittered sister of Aristide's first wife, to his inadequate sons, his melodramatic daughter-in-law, and his sullen grandchildren. All of them had motive and opportunity, none has a watertight alibi, and everyone had access to the poison used to kill him.

With complications over the will and Sophia's younger sister prying into the murder investigation on her own, Charles is left trying to analysis each family member before another murder takes place.

"Crooked House" is vintage Christie right down to the title, which like many of her novels is derived from a nursery rhyme. There's a strange extended family living in a large, imposing house, all of whom are viable suspects with distinct personalities.

This is one of the few Christie mysteries in which I've been able to deduce who the killer was (which isn't saying much, as that's only happened once before) but was no less enjoyable because of it. I find that the novels that don't feature the strong personalities and idiosyncrasies of Poirot or Marple are ever-so-slightly darker, touching on themes and possibilities that can be quite chilling if you're reading alone on a dark night. "Crooked House" definitely falls into that category.

I enjoyed this Agatha Christie book very much. It's the story of Charles Hayward who is engaged to Sophia Leonides a rich lady in an eccentric family.

When Sophia's grandfather Aristide is found murdered the family is suspect. It just so happens Charles' father works for Scotland Yard and he asks Charles to be the "eyes and ears" for the police. After asking Sophia's opinion Charles does exactly that.

This is a typical English mystery by Ms. Christie but all of the twists and red herrings make it very enjoyable and I was caught off guard completely on the true murderer.

Hugh Fraser does a wonderful job as narrator, he reminds me of Hugh Grant's voice.

"Writing Crooked House was pure pleasure and I feel justified in my belief that it is one of my best," said Dame Agatha about this book CROOKED HOUSE.

How can you not want to read this book with that introduction?

If you are looking for a "comfort read" which for me are English mysteries a la Christie, this one shouldn't disappoint.

The rather eccentric Patriarch of an extended family dies suddenly and the son of the local detective, who is engaged to the granddaughter of the Patriarch, is asked by his father to get the inside information on the family as they think it's an inside job.

Many of the family members have the motive and means for murder, but Christie leaves some telling clues to point to the actual killer. I suspected about everybody, but found it satisfying that there were reasons to suspect the real killer above other suspects.

I can see why Christie found this a fun book to write--it is fairly straightforward but imaginative in its plot.

Glad Christie found so much joy in writing it. You will probably find joy in reading it if you want to escape to the English Countryside and solve a crime with Dame Agatha dropping clues for you.

I read all these reviews because I am a Christie fan-at-it. The charge that she plagiarized CROOKED HOUSE fron an Ellery Queen book, while shocking if true, can't be verified...so I'm not even going there.

This book has all the Christie elements: strange house built by an even stranger owner; family pitted against the aged wreck of a Grandfather who held the purse strings, to a new--and VERY young bride; the family themselves being pretty much crackers & at odds with each other, and two murders that has everybody suspecting everybody else. The final element, the one that I most relate to--is that it's really very funny. Christie had a very modern, almost existential, sense of humour.

For example: At the beginning of the story the two young lovers have been separated by a World War II that is now over. They plan to get together again at a classy restaurant. Unfortunately, their reunion plans have hit a tiny little snag--the girl's Grandfather has been murdered. The cops think it's an inside job & give orders not for anyone to leave the house. When they manage to meet anyway, the boyfriend asks: But how did you get out of the house? She replies that she shimmied down the drain pipe. His response: Darling!

I thought it was funny & cute. There's a lot of that in CROOKED HOUSE. I really don't think the typical Christie humorous touch was the result of plagiarizing.

Agatha Christie wrote a total of three "Nursery Rhyme Murders" -- the other two are, A Pocket Full of Rye (Miss Marple Mysteries) and Hickory Dickory Dock (The Christie Collection), (aka Hickory, Dickory, Death (The Agatha Christie Mystery Collection).) For those who would like to read all three there are compendium editions available from various publishers such as this one: The Nursery Rhyme Murders: Including "a Pocket Full of Rye", "Hickory Dickory Death" and "the Crooked House". While not generally formally included as Nursery Rhyme Murder mysteries, Christie also wrote One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (Hercule Poirot) and Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians, (aka, And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie Collection).) The latter book's original British title is considered racist so I won't list it here.

Getting to THE STORY for the mystery under review, I especially enjoyed it for two specific reasons: 1) it reflects a change from Christie's serial works in that there is no Hercule Poirot, no Miss Marple, no Parker Pyne, nor any Tommy and Tuppence. 2) Over the years, I've read all eighty or so Christie books and plays, (including her romance novels under the pseudonym of Mary Westmacott, ergo: Agatha Christie: Six Mary Westmacott Novels (Giants' Bread / Absent in the Spring / Unfinished Portrait / The Rose and the Yew Tree / A Daughter's a Daughter / The Burden)), and to the best of my recollection this is the Grand Dame's darkest mystery of them all, even "disturbing" at points.

Protagonist/narrator (a First-Person and retrospective account) Charles Hayward and Sofia Leonides meet in Egypt while rendering service to their country during World War Two. They soon fall in love and even though they are destined for a period of separation while performing their respective wartime assignments they still conditionally pledge to marry when the war ends.

The war eventually terminates and Charles wastes no time in contacting Sophia at her home located in a sleepy little suburb of London, Swinley Dean. Sophia's beloved grandfather, a shrewd old Greek entrepreneur in his late eighties by the name of Aristide Leonides, has coincidentally just died and Sophia says that the prospect of a wedding must be postponed until some level of family tranquility has been re-established. The entire clan, consisting of grandchildren, Sofia's aunts and uncles, and servants, reside communally but in separate wings of a strangely-configured and expansive edifice known as "Crooked House," a home which had been conceived and constructed years before by the resourceful Aristide.

Aristide's first wife had died some years before and, much to the astonishment and repugnance of his household, the old man re-married to a gorgeous young bride by the name of Brenda. It comes as little surprise that this perceived gold-digger is held in great contempt by Aristide's children and grandchildren, particularly when Brenda's instantaneous prominence in Aristide's testamentary directives becomes substantial. But Brenda comes under the greatest scrutiny of all concerned when the police suddenly announce that Aristide died of intentional poisoning and it's also revealed that the children's limpet-like tutor, Laurence Brown, is Brenda's secret lover.

Charles Hayward is subsequently thrown into the unenviable role of "reluctant spy" within the household as Charles' father happens to be Assistant Police Commissioner Sir Arthur Hayward. One Inspector Taverner is placed in charge of the investigation and it soon becomes clear that certain members of the household, including a conspicuously unattractive and precocious granddaughter, are in great danger as the unknown killer obviously remains in residence!

First published in 1948, this work is a cozy murder-noir, conveyed within the bubble of a notably more somber atmosphere than the more traditional Christie mysteries. Crooked House manifests the perfect venue for a poisoning case. The characters, as expected from the Christie pen, are appropriately colorful and melodramatic.

In summary, I found this tale to be shrewdly-written and entertaining. The story does drag a bit in the middle, from chapters 13 through 16. But in the larger picture I can definitely recommend this remarkable work of escapism and murder most foul to any fan of golden-age British mysteries.

The beginning tells how Charles Hayward met Sophia Leonides in war-time Egypt. When Charles returned to England to meet Sophia he read the notice of her grandfather Aristide's death. Sophia tells him her grandfather's death is suspicious. Charles' father is Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard, and he learns of the facts in this case. Three Gables is a large home composed of three separate houses. Bombing had brought the family together. Inspector Taverner questions the family, and we learn about the events and their character (Chapter 7). Then about the young widow and the private tutor (Chapter 8). Charles talks to the widow Brenda Leonides and we hear her story (Chapter 9). Sophia explains her grandfather's cleverness. We meet Josephine, Sophia's young sister, who likes detective stories. Aristide's will was found unsigned! Next we learn that the family business is in difficulty, due to the error of mismanagement, nothing criminal. The death of Aristide prevented him from saving his son Roger (Chapter 11).

Sir Arthur Hayward gives his opinion on amateur murderers: they are vain and want to talk. What about heredity and additive weaknesses (Chapter 12)? Why did Aristide provide a blueprint for his murder? Charles attends a family meeting; nothing will be done to save Roger's business (Chapter 14). Charles looks around, and talks to Laurence Brown and the young widow (Chapter 16). The missing will is found, and it has a shocking surprise (Chapter 17). But another person is hurt, it is no accident (Chapter 18), Incriminating documents are found (Chapter 19). Aristide's will creates the usual turmoil when the heirs don't share equally (Chapter 20). The police arrest the obvious suspects (Chapter 21). Yet there is some doubt by the family - and the police. Charles discusses his observations of the family. Then an urgent telephone call has shocking news: another poisoning (Chapter 23). The final chapters have the ending to this story. It would be shocking if you did not pick up on the clues appearing near the end. The murderer was hidden in plain sight, like a sapling among trees. Like other stories, it is very intriguing even if implausible.

The final irony is that Charles Hayward will join the Diplomatic Corps and be sent to Persia. He will surely miss the peace and quiet of Swinly Dean.

Agatha Christie's books were impossible to put down--I read them all as an adolescent, and I reread them occasionally when I want to give myself a treat. Crooked House is one of her best. Not only are they a joy to read, but you pick up the tone of the British aristocracy--Christie wrote from about 1918 until the sixties, so you really get a sense of the aristocracy falling on hard times. When Christie started writing, she made her main detective a retiree; by the time she got rid of him in the 60's, he had to be over a hundred. But back to Crooked House--the ending is really convoluted and if you figure it out ahead of time you are truly a mystery genius.

Most of Christies books are rather similar up until the ending, where they all branch out and either become a good Christie, or an excellent Christie. It is often the final solution of an Agatha Christie book which makes or breaks it.
Up until the solution, there is little new to be had here. It is the typical Christie dysfunctional family haunted by the shadow of murder. Into the fray steps a detective, sleuthing around and discovering all sorts of misdemenours. Nothing wrong with that at all. Provides excellent enjoyment. However, it is with the ending that an Agatha Christie book can really provide more than enjoyment, and can inspire wonderment.
This is one which does just that.
It's really rather run-of-the-mill until the solution is propounded, whereupon the book explodes in an unexpected horror in the fact of almost pure, yet very simple, evil. You will never guess the solution. But when it comes, it is one of the most surprising she concocted. And shocking.
No one can ever underestimate her contribution to the genre. It is with books like this that she really redefined the nature of the crime novel.
And she has far more literary worth than most critics would have you believe. (Rather like critics of the excellent Stephen King.) Her writing is good, her characters well formed, and her psychology spot on. (Her adept hand at psychological acuteness is often overlooked, but all her books are truly excellent psychological thrillers, as well as classic detective stories.)

Nowadays most people seem to know Agatha Christie from the TV and film adaptations of her novels. But her books are still out there to be read, and "Crooked House" is one of the better ones.

There is no Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple here, only the grown-up son of a senior man at Scotland Yard. He wants to find the murderer of a rich and sly Anglo-Greek businessman, Aristide Leonides. Or to be precise, he wants to find the murderer providing it's not Leonides' granddaughter Sophia, the woman he loves.

There are plenty of suspects, the most obvious being Leonides' second wife, more than fifty years younger than him.

The whole family live in the same, rambling house, and the atmosphere is pretty claustrophobic. The plot keeps you turning the pages, and the dialogue is good.

The novel is set circa 1947,and this is reflected in the stiff-upper-lip approach of some of the characters. However a history student of the '40s wouldn't gain very much from studying this book as source material, nearly every paragraph is focused on the plot. The story is set in the affluent London suburb of Swinly Dean, but about all we learn about it is that it has 3 golf courses.

The most noteworthy character in the book is the murder victim himself :

"Crooked , yes- but not a crook. Never anything outside the law...Funnily enough, he was attractive... Nothing much to look at. Just a gnome- ugly little fellow."

If you haven't read Christie before, and want to see what the old Dame of Detective Fiction could do, this is a good book to start with. If you are already a fan, don't miss this one.

Christie is most famous for her Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple books, but I think this stand-alone detective story is her finest. The mystery surrounds the death of Aristide Leonides, a wealthy Greek entrepreneur (think Aristotle Onassis) with a young trophy wife and a bunch of relatives who sponge off him. Christie's characters in this book are fascinating -- nearly every one of the eccentric family members is a suspect in Leonides' death.

Luckily for the reader, Charles Hayward, fiance of Leonides' granddaughter and son of a Scotland Yard detective, is perfectly placed within the family. As Charles delves further into the mystery, and more family members are attacked, he realizes that one of the Leonides may be a sociopath.

Everything about this book is perfect -- the plot is riveting, the suspense is never-ending, and the ending is truly a shocker. Do not miss this book.

Like other reviewers I admire CROOKED HOUSE for its claustrophobic plot and the audacity of its payoff, another variation on Christie's famous "least likely person" gambit. But even if you know going in who did it, it's still an intriguing read. This time around I noticed, for the first time, how very deep Christie's cultural specificity ranges. Usually we think of her as light reading, sort of fluffy, but CROOKED HOUSE is oddly stuffed with allusions to all sorts of bodies of knowledge. Hardly a page goes by without a definite reference to some other book, myth, piece of music, popular song, TV program, or what have you--the sort of brand name precision Stephen King is famous for. I hadn't really noticed it in Agatha Christie before, but check it out.

One suspect, Magda, is compared directly to a real life actress. "For the first time I was aware of the charm of her delightfully tip tilted nose. I was faintly reminded of Athene Seyler." Athene Seyler! Not exactly, even in 1948, a particularly well known star. It's not as though Christie wrote "Garbo." No, she meant to characterize Magda more precisely by alluding to La Seyler. Never a huge star, she was 50 in 1948, far from slim, a sort of Kathy Bates type perhaps, equally at home on the stage as on the screen. In the CROOKED HOUSE, the references continue: one victim was painted by Augustus John, a painter whom Christie saw as the epitome of modernism, another by John Singer Sargent, perhaps her example of an outmoded genteel tradition. Magda and her son, Eustace, are glimpsed in a family pose, and Charles thinks it looks very like a portrait by Gainsborough.

Magda recalls a scene from THE VOYSEY INHERITANCE, Granville Barker's 1905 melodrama recently updated by none other than David Mamet! Famous murderers of the past are invoked, most notably Edith Thompson and Constance Kent. Charles agrees to play "Watson" to young Josephine's "Sherlock Holmes." And there's a lot from Shakespeare and the Bible: the "mark of Cain," for one, and "this side idolatry" (Ben Jonson speaking of his love of Shakespeare). Poetry is everywhere. We are reminded that Henry the VIII was in fact a poet too, writing verse to Anne Boleyn. Christie alludes to Chaucer and Colerudge as well. But it's not just the work of the canon that you need to know in Agatha Christie, there's pop culture too, for one of the suspects is an avid listener to the "Brains Trust," a popular UK radio show of the postwar period.

Then there's all the history lessons! "The drama of Thermidor," writes Christie, regarding the French Directoire, "the decree of outlawry against the Robespierrists, the magnificence of Barras, the cunning of Fouche--Napoleon, the half-starved young gunner lieutenant." Suffice it to say if you don't know your French Revolution you will never guess the ending.

Perhaps my favorite character is Clemency--the steely wife of Roger, the woman who helped develop the atomic bomb and thus, we suspect, might be willing to commit a murder as well. In one passage Charles, the narratorm dwells on "Clemency's abstract expression." I can't help but wonder if this is a reference, possibly subconscious, to the "abstract expressionism" that was all the rage in painting circles at the moment Christie was composing CROOKED HOUSE--1948? It was popularized, don't forget, by CLEMENT Greenberg, possibly CLEMENCY is an ironic reference to this art critic. Oh well, just a thought!

CROOKED HOUSE was written in 1949. The detective is not Hercule Poirot nor Mrs. Marple but Charles Hayward, the son of an eminent Scotland Yard superintendent, who's in love with Sofia Leonides whose grandfather has just been poisoned. The book is a good example of the "all in the family" murder genre as Aristide Leonides was murdered in the family home and the prime suspects are his own wife, his sister-in-law, his sons, their wives and his grandchildren.

As often in the Agatha Christie novels of that period, there aren't many descriptions of London or even of the "crooked" Leonides house in the book. CROOKED HOUSE is pure Christie style : a lot of dialogs and psychological considerations carried out per se by Charles Hayward. In addition to the final twist which seems to have been very innovative and provocative in 1949, American radios refusing to broadcast the radio adaptation of the novel, I liked very much, in a detective story, the fact that nor the detective, nor the police inspectors could find the identity of the murderer(s).

A book for the week-end.

This is a very good "no Hercuçe Poirot" novel by the Queen of Suspense.

SPOILERS!!!!!

Here, chief inspectors are Charles (a British diplomatic worker, who is fiancée with Sophia), his father (a Scotland Yard old hand, who does not make the investigations directly), chief inspector Laverne and Sargeant Lamb.

Main stage in the Crooked House itself, the mansion where the family of and 87 year old very rich Greek immigrant lived, before being murdered.

This is a fast reading all the way, you will read in two days, easily (or even one!).

This work is darker than most of Christie's work, the ending is disturbing but it is one of her best.
In war-time Egypt two young people, Charles Hayward and Sophia Leonides, met and fell in love. They are separated by their duties but keep in touch and plan to met after the war. When they are finally able to be together again in England Sophia and her family are under suspicion for the murder of her grandfather. Charles attempts to solve the crime and becomes immersed in his future in-laws lives.
Who has commited the crime and why? Was it the old man's young bride and her lover? Or was it one of his disappointing sons? Perhaps his dead wife's sister who despised him or one of his daughters-in-law, or someone else....
This 1951 story is another of Christie's dysfunctional family studies but most other aspects of this one are departures from her usual style. First the patriarch of the family dominates by affection and kindness not fear and bullying. Also this is not one of her series, the detective and narrator, Charles Hayward, appears in this book only.
The writers of Christie's day laid down certain rules of dective fiction, no unknown poisons or death rays, the butler did not do it, all clues must be fairly laid out for the reader etc. Christie adhered to these rules (although she sometimes interpreted them in unusual ways) and did absolutely in CROOKED HOUSE. The clues are all there for the reader to follow and yet I believe that, for most readers, the solution will come as a surprise.

I'm such a huge fan of the fastidious and meticulous Monsieur Poirot and the gentle, yet perceptive Miss Marple, that I rarely stray from them in my Christie-mania. Their mere presence in a book adds a little humor and, yes, comfort - knowing that at least one person is going to make sure justice is done is comforting.

But as Agatha Christie's work isn't infinite (oh, that it were!), I occasionally have to leave behind Poirot and Marple and dive into the unknown. I'm glad I did. Crooked House starts out familiarly enough - the large house in the country, the rambling family and hangers-on that occupy it, no lack of motive or opportunity - but you soon realize that it's a bit darker than that. At some point you start to feel a bit uneasy, and by the end you are fully creeped-out. With no valiant Poirot and Marple to save the day, anyone could be the killer.

The whole thing is just genius and a real page-turner. I found myself thinking about the book for days after reading it. Whether you're a seasoned Christie fan or not, this is a must-read.

Having read all of the Agatha Christies at least twice, I can honestly say that "Crooked House" is my very favorite. One reason is that Agatha Christie does in this novel what she does best---gathers an extended family all under one roof, allows one of the family to be murdered, and shows quite clearly that all the others had motive and opportunity.
"Crooked House" is an excellent story of a complex family. The patriarch is Aristide Leonides, a Greek who has come to England and made a fortune in the restaurant and catering business. His mansion is home to his two sons, two daughters-in-law, three grandchildren, his first wife's sister, and now to his young and beautiful second wife plus the grandchildren's tutor. When the wealthy old man is poisoned, the reader learns that everyone had not only a motive but also an alibi. The characterizations are wonderful and the characters stand out as some of Mrs. Christie's most memorable ones.
The usual detectives are absent in this one, but the detecting is in the capable hands of Charles Hayward, the son of a Scotland Yard detective and the fiance of Aristide's granddaughter Sophia Leonides. When the blood-chilling ending occurs, one is shocked and yet, on careful reexamination, must admit that all the clues were clearly there.
Curl up with a cup of cocoa (unpoisoned, of course) and enjoy this classic crime with one of Mrs. Christie's most spectacular and unforgettable endings.

"Crooked House" has long been considered one of Agatha Christie's most brilliant and memorable books -- the author herself singled it out as a favorite. I gave it a five-star review two years ago, but was recently stunned to see this one-line comment by Korean reviewer "ellermoris":
>this mystery pirate ellery queen's work "the tragedy of y"
Agatha Christie a plagiarist! During her golden years of the 1940s? Surely this couldn't be true ... could it?
Yes, it could be. And it is.
Here is the plot of "The Tragedy of Y," without giving away any major surprises: Three generations of a warped, wealthy family live together in one house. The hated grandparent is murdered. The children's tutor is wrongly arrested. Secret handwritten documents emerge that solve the crime. The murderer is shockingly revealed to be <the same person as in "Crooked House">. (Given the ostensible originality of Christie's ending, this last point is the most damning of all.)
"The Tragedy of Y" was first published in 1932 under the pseudonym of Barnaby Ross. It was reissued as a paperback in 1945 credited to the more familiar pseudonym of Ellery Queen. "Crooked House" was published in 1949.
Despite this disturbing and embarrassing discovery, I would still strongly recommend "Crooked House." It's a better book than "The Tragedy of Y," which suffers from a surfeit of clues, an overly analytical explanation, and weak characterization. Christie takes the same ingenious plot and turns it into a compelling human tragedy with an intuitively satisfying solution. We'll just have to live with the fact that the plot wasn't hers....

I am a huge Hercule Poirot fan,(and an Agatha Christie fan), but I don't care for Miss Marple or Tommy and Tuppence, so years ago I stopped reading any Christie except for Poirot.
I picked this book up idly while I was wandering around Barnes and Noble one night, and began reading it. I was surprised to find a "detective" other than the ones mentioned above, although the book blurb, which calls
Charles Hayward a "criminologist" is somewhat of an exaggeration. He's really more of a firsthand witness with police connections.
Be that as it may, Agatha got me with this one. I enjoy Poirot more for the characterization than anything else, and I am no better at solving mysteries than I am at playing cards, because I am too lazy to catalog details.
But in this book I did try to deduce who the murderer was, and as I say - Agatha got me. I missed it completely.
With this book I discovered that what they say about my old, favorite author is true:she gives you all the details you need to solve the mystery. Still, you don't.
This was a fun read. The characters were original and interesting, and the suspense was maintained through to the end.
The family saga was an interesting counterpoint to the murder, and Charles personal involvement in the case added to the suspense.
I am going to look for more Charles Hayward mysteries.

Christie lists this as one of her all-time favorites of the novels she wrote. I'm glad she also lists Endless Night (but not Sleeping Murder), as well as her most famous ones. However, Crooked House failed to draw me in as much as the ones I just mentioned. First, there was too much dialogue and too little description, so it made me wonder if it was originally intended as a play. The narrator, Charles, is a bit of a dolt, pleasant but a little ineffectual (like Hastings), and hardly a good match for the sharp Sophia. A bit of weirdness too that could easily have been put right by a good editor, such as when Charles returns home after years abroad and, seeing his dear father for the first time after his long absence, they immediately launch into a discussion of the case. Another oddity is when Charles first visits the house and is led into the drawing room for no particular purpose (nobody in there) and then to the library. It could have been better. The plot stands up well, and the villain is (as usual with Christie) unexpected. It's still easily better than most contemporary cozy mysteries.

One of Christie's strongest. Although the plot is neither intricate nor clue-laden, the ending is powerful and immediately convincing. Christie's climatic explanatory chapters are usually lengthy; this one is barely two or three pages. This is due to the soundness and deceptive simplicity of the solution. Christie's publishers wanted her to change the unconventional ending, but she wisely refused. A classic murder mystery.

were very entertaining, as was the rest of the story. This is my first Christie book; that being said, I have the rather poor superpower of always picking the worst book the author ever wrote to be the first I read. But this book was ok, the story moved along, not really any slow spots. It was kinda anti-clamitic at the end - she ran out of story before she ran out of pages. But overall, Agatha will be very pleased to know that I will read more of her work.

Most of Christie's mysteries offer startling solutions, but few are such complete jaw-droppers as the solution found in CROOKED HOUSE, which is as unexpected as it is inevitable. The story of an eccentric family smothered by a rich and wiley patriarch who meets with unexpected death, CROOKED HOUSE relies largely on character and atmosphere for effect. These are not elements one normally expects from a Christie mystery--but not only does Christie deliver them here, she does so without allowing them to overshadow one of the craftiest puzzles in her career. Prepare to read the novel in one sitting: you won't be able to put it down.

As a murder mystery, this is perhaps not one of Agatha's best. But as a study in characterization, this is an exceedingly powerful novel. The cast of characters is intriguing and the change in their psychological mindset as they suspect each other is gripping. This book has a minefield of quotable descriptions of human behavior. I enjoyed it.

This is one of the Christie books I remember reading as a child. When I reread it recently, I was amazed at how superb it is - it is not a Poirot or Miss Marple mystery, not at all, but it is a very different type of mystery. The shocking solution is in fact a brutal attack upon our own culture, our obsession with murderers and murder, and the inexorable impartiality of evil - it is a very frightening book, largely because it does not follow ALL the strictures one expects of a murder mystery. A novel as well as a whodunnit as well as a psychological study. And a grand success.

Agatha Christie displayed once again why she was at the top of the list of mystery writers in this very well written murder mystery in the Leonides family. The characters are vivid, and for the most part unlikeable, and yet this story captivated me from the beginning. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who would like to pass the afternoon or evening with an intelligent and baffling mystery.

Just as Christie's Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot so often uses psychology to solve murders, the solution to this mystery lies in the mental nature of the characters. There are no logistical considerations to take into account, for all the suspects have ample opportunity to commit the deed. Instead, it's motive and personality that are examined. Up until the solution is revealed, the novel is very typical Agatha Christie (which is certainly no bad thing). However, the conclusion is quite surprising in my opinion, and it makes the book above average.

Others have summarized the plot, so I'll simply say that the characters are all very vividly painted and are interesting, though possibly a little caricatured for some tastes. Charles Hayward is a perfectly adequate narrator, but I was left wanting a little more zest, such as in the dry humor of Leonard Clement in The Murder at the Vicarage.

Christie herself wrote in her autobiography that Crooked House, along with Ordeal by Innocence, was one of the two mysteries she was most satisfied by. I don't quite feel that strongly about it, but while certainly not a gem like The Murder of Roger Ackroyd or And Then There Were None, Crooked House is nevertheless an intriguing non-series Christie mystery. Recommended!

Another delightful murder mystery by Agatha Christie. ( I must be getting smarter as I get older, because I figured out the culprit before the final denouncement. ) Dame Agatha never disappoints. Always fun and engaging to read.

I enjoyed this book when I first read it some time ago and was deeply surprised by the ending. I consider this book as one of my own personal favorites. It is one of the few Christie novels that hasn't been adapted for TV or in the movies--that is until now. Next year in January there will be after a long, long, time a new film adaptation of Christie's Crooked House headed by a remarkable cast of stars including Glenn Close, Gillian Anderson, Max Irons, Christina Hendricks, and Terrence Stamp to name a few. You can check out the new trailer for this new adaptation of her novel on Youtube Hope this is welcome news for those who enjoy reading Crooked House or those who are fans of the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie.

"Crooked House" has long been considered one of Agatha Christie's most brilliant and memorable books -- the author herself singled it out as a favorite. I gave it a five-star review two years ago, but was recently stunned to see this one-line comment by Korean reviewer "ellermoris":
>this mystery pirate ellery queen's work "the tragedy of y"
Agatha Christie a plagiarist! During her golden years of the 1940s? Surely this couldn't be true ... could it?
Yes, it could be. And it is.
Here is the plot of "The Tragedy of Y," without giving away any major surprises: Three generations of a warped, wealthy family live together in one house. The hated grandparent is murdered. The children's tutor is wrongly arrested. Secret handwritten documents emerge that solve the crime. The murderer is shockingly revealed to be <the same person as in "Crooked House">. (Given the ostensible originality of Christie's ending, this last point is the most damning of all.)
"The Tragedy of Y" was first published in 1932 under the pseudonym of Barnaby Ross. It was reissued as a paperback in 1945 credited to the more familiar pseudonym of Ellery Queen. "Crooked House" was published in 1949.
Despite this disturbing and embarrassing discovery, I would still strongly recommend "Crooked House." It's a better book than "The Tragedy of Y," which suffers from a surfeit of clues, an overly analytical explanation, and weak characterization. Christie takes the same ingenious plot and turns it into a compelling human tragedy with an intuitively satisfying solution. We'll just have to live with the fact that the plot wasn't hers....

I am a huge Hercule Poirot fan,(and an Agatha Christie fan), but I don't care for Miss Marple or Tommy and Tuppence, so years ago I stopped reading any Christie except for Poirot.
I picked this book up idly while I was wandering around Barnes and Noble one night, and began reading it. I was surprised to find a "detective" other than the ones mentioned above, although the book blurb, which calls
Charles Hayward a "criminologist" is somewhat of an exaggeration. He's really more of a firsthand witness with police connections.
Be that as it may, Agatha got me with this one. I enjoy Poirot more for the characterization than anything else, and I am no better at solving mysteries than I am at playing cards, because I am too lazy to catalog details.
But in this book I did try to deduce who the murderer was, and as I say - Agatha got me. I missed it completely.
With this book I discovered that what they say about my old, favorite author is true:she gives you all the details you need to solve the mystery. Still, you don't.
This was a fun read. The characters were original and interesting, and the suspense was maintained through to the end.
The family saga was an interesting counterpoint to the murder, and Charles personal involvement in the case added to the suspense.
I am going to look for more Charles Hayward mysteries.

Christie lists this as one of her all-time favorites of the novels she wrote. I'm glad she also lists Endless Night (but not Sleeping Murder), as well as her most famous ones. However, Crooked House failed to draw me in as much as the ones I just mentioned. First, there was too much dialogue and too little description, so it made me wonder if it was originally intended as a play. The narrator, Charles, is a bit of a dolt, pleasant but a little ineffectual (like Hastings), and hardly a good match for the sharp Sophia. A bit of weirdness too that could easily have been put right by a good editor, such as when Charles returns home after years abroad and, seeing his dear father for the first time after his long absence, they immediately launch into a discussion of the case. Another oddity is when Charles first visits the house and is led into the drawing room for no particular purpose (nobody in there) and then to the library. It could have been better. The plot stands up well, and the villain is (as usual with Christie) unexpected. It's still easily better than most contemporary cozy mysteries.

were very entertaining, as was the rest of the story. This is my first Christie book; that being said, I have the rather poor superpower of always picking the worst book the author ever wrote to be the first I read. But this book was ok, the story moved along, not really any slow spots. It was kinda anti-clamitic at the end - she ran out of story before she ran out of pages. But overall, Agatha will be very pleased to know that I will read more of her work.

Most of Christie's mysteries offer startling solutions, but few are such complete jaw-droppers as the solution found in CROOKED HOUSE, which is as unexpected as it is inevitable. The story of an eccentric family smothered by a rich and wiley patriarch who meets with unexpected death, CROOKED HOUSE relies largely on character and atmosphere for effect. These are not elements one normally expects from a Christie mystery--but not only does Christie deliver them here, she does so without allowing them to overshadow one of the craftiest puzzles in her career. Prepare to read the novel in one sitting: you won't be able to put it down.

As a murder mystery, this is perhaps not one of Agatha's best. But as a study in characterization, this is an exceedingly powerful novel. The cast of characters is intriguing and the change in their psychological mindset as they suspect each other is gripping. This book has a minefield of quotable descriptions of human behavior. I enjoyed it.

This is one of the Christie books I remember reading as a child. When I reread it recently, I was amazed at how superb it is - it is not a Poirot or Miss Marple mystery, not at all, but it is a very different type of mystery. The shocking solution is in fact a brutal attack upon our own culture, our obsession with murderers and murder, and the inexorable impartiality of evil - it is a very frightening book, largely because it does not follow ALL the strictures one expects of a murder mystery. A novel as well as a whodunnit as well as a psychological study. And a grand success.

Agatha Christie displayed once again why she was at the top of the list of mystery writers in this very well written murder mystery in the Leonides family. The characters are vivid, and for the most part unlikeable, and yet this story captivated me from the beginning. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who would like to pass the afternoon or evening with an intelligent and baffling mystery.

Just as Christie's Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot so often uses psychology to solve murders, the solution to this mystery lies in the mental nature of the characters. There are no logistical considerations to take into account, for all the suspects have ample opportunity to commit the deed. Instead, it's motive and personality that are examined. Up until the solution is revealed, the novel is very typical Agatha Christie (which is certainly no bad thing). However, the conclusion is quite surprising in my opinion, and it makes the book above average.

Others have summarized the plot, so I'll simply say that the characters are all very vividly painted and are interesting, though possibly a little caricatured for some tastes. Charles Hayward is a perfectly adequate narrator, but I was left wanting a little more zest, such as in the dry humor of Leonard Clement in The Murder at the Vicarage.

Christie herself wrote in her autobiography that Crooked House, along with Ordeal by Innocence, was one of the two mysteries she was most satisfied by. I don't quite feel that strongly about it, but while certainly not a gem like The Murder of Roger Ackroyd or And Then There Were None, Crooked House is nevertheless an intriguing non-series Christie mystery. Recommended!

Another delightful murder mystery by Agatha Christie. ( I must be getting smarter as I get older, because I figured out the culprit before the final denouncement. ) Dame Agatha never disappoints. Always fun and engaging to read.

i have read almost 30 of the agatha christie books and plan to finish them all!!! ive become quite good at figuring them out and i thought this one was fairly easy to figure out. i was in a way mad at the ending and i thought this book had a very evil feel to it unlike most of her books. but if your a fan of murder this is one you will defineately want to read!!! along with "murder on the nile" (my very favorite book of hers) which i figured out:D "the murder of rodger ackroyde" and "and then there were none"

This is probably my favorite agatha christie, then ending is just so...RIGHT!!! I mean goodness knows I didn't guess it, but when you learn it at the end you go oh!!! and you look back at the book and it fits!!! In addition to this, the characters in this book are just amazing, the quick-witted josephine, the severely adoring clementis, bumbling roger, cold-seeming phillip, magda, actress supreme,smart-able minded and kind sophia and of course, the character of all christie characters, old aritside leonides, the impressive patriarch of the twisted and crooked leonides family.Just a great read, I recommend it so much!!!!

When I first started reading the book, it appeared to me as a love story! Unfortunately I am not a big fan of those kinds of books. But I really liked the way Miss. Christie’s portrayal the love between Sophia and Charles. After reading couple of chapter the main enigma begins surrounding Mr. Leonides’, the tycoon who emigrated from Greece, death. There are so many suspected murderers in the house and the level of suspects overwhelms the police. And so the story goes on. But the final revelation is truly amazing. If you think you can solve this mystery even before reading the last page, you are so wrong my friend! Miss. Christie is truly a genius and keeps you guessing until the end. My suggestion to you is that; read the book even if you’ve never read a Christie book before. Trust me you will become a mystery freak after you read this book. (...)

This is one of Christie's most interesting novels. Don't be surprised if you can't put it down!! You will be quite surprised at the ending and kicking yourself for not guessing whodunit! My hint to you--listen to the description Christie gives about the mind of a murderer, and then try to pick which character matches.

THIS IS ONE OF CHRISTIE'S BEST I LIKED THE PLOT SO MUCH I REPLACED THE PAPER BACK WITH A HARD COVER
THERE IS A QUIET LOVE AFFAIR. STRANGE CHARACTERS. A CARING ELDERLY AUNT. A SURPRISED ENDING WHAT MORE WOULD YOU WANT IN A MYSTERY.

Sorry but reading the other reviews slightly ruined this book for me. They give too many hints (they seem subtle but once you get your hands on the book the answer is obvious). Anyway, I was nonetheless satisfied with this book and agree that is one of Dame Christie's must-reads. Read it.

This Christie novel doesn't quite deliver the goods. It's the usual savoir faire: a crumbling family's patriarch is murdered, and his significantly-younger trophy wife is thought to be his killer. The dysfunctional Leonides family thinks the victim's wife might be carrying-on an affair with the live-in tutor. There's plenty of police talk and not nearly enough character development. In fact, one wishes the characters weren't so "Christie," i.e., familar, predictable, etc. Despite a mildly intriguing denouement (which, also, was somewhat predictable), Crooked House lacks fresh characters and gripping dialogue, which makes it a tedious read.

This is an excellent book about a clueless crime. I think it is special because, the detectives aren not the same. Although it is a little bit large story and it hasn not the clues that I wished. But I think it is one of her best stories.

Audible.com records books with NO TRACKS! If you try to play this file on an iPod it is ONE long file. Since I don't listen to books 10 hours at a time, Audible audio versions are completely useless to me. I spent hours of frustration with a rude and incompetent "customer service" representative who refused to refund the purchase. AVOID!

I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a good old fashioned mystery. If you haven't read any of Agatha Christie's books before I think you should give them a try, you won't be sorry you did!

This is an excellent book about a clueless crime. I think it is special because, the detectives aren not the same. Although it is a little bit large story and it hasn not the clues that I wished. But I think it is one of her best stories.

This Christie novel doesn't quite deliver the goods. It's the usual savoir faire: a crumbling family's patriarch is murdered, and his significantly-younger trophy wife is thought to be his killer. The dysfunctional Leonides family thinks the victim's wife might be carrying-on an affair with the live-in tutor. There's plenty of police talk and not nearly enough character development. In fact, one wishes the characters weren't so "Christie," i.e., familar, predictable, etc. Despite a mildly intriguing denouement (which, also, was somewhat predictable), Crooked House lacks fresh characters and gripping dialogue, which makes it a tedious read.

Audible.com records books with NO TRACKS! If you try to play this file on an iPod it is ONE long file. Since I don't listen to books 10 hours at a time, Audible audio versions are completely useless to me. I spent hours of frustration with a rude and incompetent "customer service" representative who refused to refund the purchase. AVOID!