Honestly if you don't have much of an interest in Egyptology, this book might get you skipping some bits (which are actually interesting to know). If they are facts, I have the drive to read it because coming from a textbook would just make me yawn - eight times in the span of two hours while I did a subject (snore). Theo is a lot of fun, definitely amusing and entertaining, and I hardly say that about a lot of characters, I like her ways of noticing the tiny details, since she's still young - but with a vast knowledge on removing curses, might I add - but especially when the plot is set in 1907. I like her because she reminds me a bit of me, if she doesn't like someone, she doesn't like someone - unless they prove otherwise. There are words there that you'd never hear in our century, however it's not ye olde English, so they are still understandable :) The other characters are not boring at all, it's either a you-love-'em or you-can-tolerate-them moment with each, from learning about Will's abundance in siblings (which Theo actually wonders "[doesn't] anyone in his family have a real name?") to Grandma Throckmorton, who's being kept in the dark is almost making the protagonist tick a little (to ease curiousity :-p I'm just mentioning that Theo is sworn to secrecy and the phrase went through my head 'if grandma only knew..' - read on!). If you hadn't guessed I've been thinking of this review throughout the book, but I have to say, the ending was brilliant and so.. significant! Loved it all! I can't wait for the fourth book, which most should've known the title by now: Theodosia and the Last Pharaoh
Poirot is a new detective for me but he's been solving cases by Agatha Christie since forever, and now I know why. He's a brilliant man with a moustache to match his great powers of deduction (if you read his cases, you'll know it's quite large).
Though if I remember, there were some long-winded speeches (which I didn't skip but I did get a glazed look over my eyes) but there always is. I think it's to confuse. So not only does the Queen of Crime keep me guessing, she comes up with the least expected guilty party - seriously, I tried to keep up with the intuitive thoughts here and there. Realizing 'whodunit', I was stumped. Who knew?
She's living well up to her name.
This time Poirot had friends to discuss with, however he still had his thinking time. It was a lot of fun to read, and I'm picking up more of her books, especially those on Poirot. Basically you get a two-in-one by using my grey matter and picking up a little French along the way, *cough*which is one of the crucial points for the murder*cough*. I can't wait for one of the next books I'm looking out for: The Mystery of the Blue Train.
(And yes, I made the connection. Poirot has a thing for terrors on trains :-P)
This is a last note: sad thing about it is, this is another book of hers that I found which has a typo error. The back cover gives the synopsis, however the first name of the victim (they put it as Simon, I think) is slightly different then that of the actual story, Samuel Ratchett :(
