През една мъглива нощ в Южен Уелс непознат мъж претърпява злополука с колата си. Търсейки помощ, той се отправя към близката къща, но там открива трупа на мъж в инвалидна количка и жена с револвер в ръка. Тя е съпруга на убития и му признава вината си, а неочакваният гост предлага своята помощ, за да я защити. Възможно ли е Лора Уоруик всъщност да не е извършила убийство? Ако е така, кого прикрива тя? Доведеният брат на жертвата или възрастната му майка? Своя любовник или бащата на детето, загинало по вина на нейния съпруг? Домът е пълен със заподозрени...
Charles Thomas Osborne was a journalist, theatre and opera critic, poet and novelist. He was assistant editor of The London Magazine from 1958 until 1966, literature director of the Arts Council of Great Britain from 1971 until 1986, and chief theatre critic of Daily Telegraph (London) from 1986 to 1991. He is the only author the Agatha Christie Estate has ever allowed to produce adapted works in her name. ()
I don’t know why this book is the first one that comes to mind when I hear the name, Agatha Christie. It might be because this is one of the first books that introduced me to the world of Agatha Christie. It might also be because this is one of my favorite books written by her. Rereading it now is still equally exciting, even after knowing the ending as I read it before.
She tells us the story of a stranger who goes into an isolated house. He witnesses something horrific there. A woman is seen standing with a gun over the dead body of her husband. Is it the woman who committed the murder, or is there any other mystery behind the murder? It appears to be a straightforward whodunnit by the author. But it is not, especially as the author is Agatha Christie. There are many twists and turns that will surprise you in this book, especially if you are new to the world of books written by Agatha Christie.
I was in two minds to pick this book when I read it for the first time many years ago due to the confusion created by the “literary pundits� regarding detective fiction. The “literary experts� said that reading detective fiction by authors like Agatha Christie is a waste of time. Instead, they suggested trying literary fiction or some serious non-fiction books. The foolish younger version of me was totally perplexed hearing all this. At last, I decided to go with my gut instinct and give it a try with this book. After this book, I brought a few more books by her and enjoyed reading each one before buying her entire collection.
Recently Iga Swiatek (French Open 2023 champion) was in the news when she revealed her love for books by Agatha Christie. She said that it is the books by Agatha Christie that she read just before the start of crucial matches in major grand slam tournaments as they help her to focus more. She delineates the importance of reading all types of books in our life. Her life and success are the best answers to those pundits who belittle crime fiction, especially detective fiction, saying that they are useless. I gave the example of Iga here because she is a role model for many youngsters, and they can easily understand the idea I am trying to convey.
I am not a literary expert who can help you choose books, as my knowledge of literature is pretty limited. But I can tell you the Medical aspects of reading literature as I am also a healthcare professional and have done some research regarding this topic. We should never avoid fiction (be it detective fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, or any other type of fiction) when choosing books to read. Fiction helps to build empathy, reduce stress, relax our minds, improve focus, memory, and creativity, and broaden our perspective. So I think the best way to read is by mixing fiction and non-fiction, giving more importance to the books you like reading.
I know that most of my friends here are huge fans of Agatha Christie, just like me. Still, I get two or three messages occasionally asking me whether to read fiction or non-fiction. I wrote the last three paragraphs just for them, and I will be happy if it will help them in choosing books. Now, returning to this book, it is pretty easy for me to recommend it to everyone as it is one of my favorite books written by Agatha Christie.
—ĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔ� You can also follow me on | | | | | | | |
A man breaks down on the side of the road and makes his way to a house, only to walk in on a woman holding a gun and saying she killed her husband. Her husband who is slumped over in his wheelchair! Something isn't right, so he tells her he wants to help her get away with murder. As you do when a hot chick confesses to murder. Because...well, because.
The sexy wife reveals that the dead man was 20 shades of horrible. Not so much at first, mind you! But when an injury left him crippled, it didn't exactly bring out the best in his personality.
He shot at neighbors, taunted his special needs half-brother, terrorized his family members, and even killed a small child with his car while drunk and speeding. And he got away with all of it. No one will miss him. Not even his mother.
This is another novelization of one of Christie's plays adapted by Charles Osborne. It's not bad but I'm pretty sure it works better as a play. And while the ending is a gotcha, it's also weird and abrupt. I think your mileage may vary on this one, but I really enjoyed the audiobook version read by Hugh Fraser.
[5.0⭐] 𝙐𝙣𝙖 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙖 𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙖 es una obra de teatro escrita por Agatha Christie en 1958. Es una de las piezas de teatro más famosas de la autora, hasta fue publicada en 1999 como novela (el formato que yo he leído). La historia se desarrolla en una carretera de Gales, en donde un misterioso hombre, Michael Starwedder, se queda estancado por culpa de una tormenta de nieve. Ahí, él decide acudir a una mansión próxima para poder pedir ayuda y, sin embargo, descubrirá que se acaba de cometer un homicidio. En primera instancia, verá a una presunta asesina, la esposa del difunto, que ha decidido confesar esta fechoría. Sin embargo, Michael no piensa que ella sea la culpable y es por ello que decidirá investigar por su cuenta para poder descubrir quién es el verdadero asesino, aunque se le dificultará en el camino ya que todos tenían motivos de sobra para matarlo; era un hombre cruel, insufrible y desalmado.
Como siempre, Agatha Christie vuelve a hacer de las suyas y me ha dejado realmente impactada e impresionada. Admiro en demasía la capacidad que esta mujer tiene de poder transmitir con un par de palabras la maldad que existe en el ser humano y en el mundo. Aquí, tenemos a una víctima que juega con la moral del lector porque, al conocer la verdadera personalidad del individuo, sabemos que es malo y cruel, así que el lector se cuestionará con un: ¿merecía vivir o ha sido lo correcto el que lo hayan matado? A medida que vamos conociendo la personalidad desenfrenada y malvada de la víctima, nos vamos dando cuenta de que no podemos juzgar a nadie por haberlo asesinado. Incluso, uno como lector llega a enfadarse de sobre manera con él por haber podido eludir a las autoridades de sus fechorías. La obra es muy rápida de leer y es bastante dinámica, avanzamos muy rápido de un sospechoso a otro y las acciones están muy bien logradas (esto es evidente, se trata de una pieza de teatro, así que todo tiene que ser rápido y bien pensado). La solución del caso se me ha hecho realmente satisfactoria y me ha asombrado por completo. No me esperaba ni en lo más mínimo ese giro inesperado en la historia, se nota que Christie nunca pierde su magia (y eso es algo que agradezco de sobremanera en los thrillers policiales).
Finalmente, puedo decir que es una obra rápida de leer y muy entretenida. Como siempre, Agatha Christie nunca decepciona y es una opción segura para poder disfrutar de un buen thriller policial.
began life as a play by . This is the novelized version written by .
As you read it is obvious that it is derived from a play because the entire novel takes place in one room. Characters arrive and depart from this room, individually or in groups, from one door or another, just as actors would come and go on stage. This does not detract at all from the quality of the writing or the story itself.
Like many Christie novels the mystery is spun out and almost everyone was suspected of being the murderer at one point or another. Eventually one of the least likely suspects showed another side to his character and became the guilty party. Until the very last page......
If you like and have not read this yet then do. It is a good one.
Having read every full length novel by the queen of crime I came across this play that has been adapted into a novel. I started to read this book and very soon I knew I had picked a good book to read, I could easily picture this been played out on a stage and it had the usual twists and turns that any Agatha Christie reader would expect. As with most Christie novels the finger of suspicion moved from character to character as more facts were told. The novel starts with a stranger running his car into a ditch in dense fog near the South Wales coast, and making his way to an isolated house where he discovers a woman standing over the dead body of her wheelchair-bound husband, gun in her hand. She admits to murder, and the unexpected guest offers to help her concoct a cover story. There is a doubt that the woman, Laura Warwick did not actually commit the murder after-all but why why would she admit guilt. The house is full of suspects and in turn you will suspect all of them. It was good to read one of my all time favourite authors work with this 1958 adapted play.
„Неочаквания� гост� се оказа изключително силна пиеса на Агата Кристи! Историята е кратка, но изпълнена с вълнуващи обрати и драматични събития. Закъсал на пътя шофьор попада на местопрестъпление в близка къща. Изглежда че жена е убила мъжа си и трябва само да повика полицията, обаче той говори с нея и решава да ѝ помогне. Разбира се, криминалната загадка е страшно любопитна...
„� Понякога и най-ужасните лъжи могат да минат за истина � мрачно възропта сержант Кадуолъдър. � „Господ�, Господи, този свят в лъжи потънал е� � Шекспир�
বইটি একটি উপন্যা� (ক্যাসল হাউসের খুনি), একটি উপন্যাসিকা (দি আন্ডারডগ) � একটি ছোটগল্� (দ্� কম্প্যানিয়ন) দ্বারা সংকলিত�
ক্যাসল হাউসের খুনি: এট� একটি এক� উপন্যাস। উপন্যাসট� সবমিলিয়� ভালই লেগেছে, কিছুটা টেনে বড� করার অনুভূত� দিলে� শেষমেষ সমাপ্তির চমকট� (��� যেকো� ক্রিস্টি-কাহিনি� মূ� আকর্ষণ) ভা� ছি�, কিছুটা পোয়েটিক জাস্টিসে� অনুভূত� দিয়েছে। যদিও আম� গল্পের মাঝামাঝি থেকে� আন্দাজ করতে পারছিলাম এম� কিছু� হব�, তব� কাহিনি� উপস্থাপনের মুন্সিয়ানার কারণ� তেমন একটা ধাক্কা না খেলে� খারা� লাগেনি, বর� যৌক্তি� ব্যাখ্যা� কারণ� তৃপ্তি� পেয়েছি। মূ� সূত্� বোধকরি ছি� গল্পের প্রারম্ভ�, এম� কিছু বিসাদৃশ্� চোখে ধর� পড়েছি�, যেটা� খটকা অবচেতন মনের কোণে গেঁথ� ছি�, আর শেষে সেটা� সাথে খাপে খাপে মেলাতে পেরে নিজে� বুদ্ধিমত্তার উপরে� কিছুটা আস্থ� ফিরে পেলাম। যাইহোক, কাহিনিটি আকর্ষনীয় � চমকপ্র� একদম প্রথ� পাতা থেকে�, আর ঘটনাক্রমের ভেতর দিয়� নাটকীয় মোড়গুলো� খারা� ছি� না� একটা ব্যাপা� একটু বিরক্তিক� লেগেছে তা হল� উপন্যাসটিত� শুধু সংলা� আর সংলা� আর সংলা�, সংলাপে� মধ্য দিয়েই সবকিছু, ঘটনা সেভাবে খু� একটা ছিলই না ... অত-শত কথ� পড়ত� পড়ত� প্রায় বিরক্ত� ধর� গিয়েছিল! মূ� ইংরেজি উপন্যাসট� ক্রিস্টি� একটি নাটক থেকে নিয়� বানানো, বোধকরি সেকারণেই এত কথকতায� পূর্ণ। আর সমাপ্তিট� ভা� হলেও ঠি� মন মত� হয়ন�, কথার পিঠে কথায� অনেক টানাটানি� পর হু� কর� তড়িঘড়ি কর� শে� কর� দেয়� হয়েছে বল� মন� হয়েছে, কিছু কিছু ব্যাপারে� ব্যাখ্যা ধোঁয়াটে� থেকে গেছে� আমার রেটি�: �.�/১০
দি আন্ডারডগ: এট� আগাথ� ক্রিস্টি� সর্বাধিক জনপ্রিয় গোয়েন্দাচরিত্� এরকু� পোয়ারোর একটা উপন্যাসিকা� উপন্যাসিকাটি শে� কর� খু� একটা তৃপ্তি পাইন�, যেকো� রহস্যগল্পে� যে মূ� আকর্ষণ: অননুমেয় এব� চম�, সেটা এখান� সেভাবে ছি� না� কাহিনিটা শুরু থেকে বে� ভালই এগুচ্ছিল, জট পাকিয়� ওঠ� ভা� মত� জমিয়ে� তুলেছি� ঘটনাবল�, তব� শে� রক্ষ� হয়ন� ঠি� মতো। মধ্যরাতে বাড়ির একটা কামরায� খু� হয়েছে, আর সবচেয়� সম্ভাব্য খুনিকে� পুলি� গ্রেপ্তা� করেছে। কিন্তু মৃতে� স্ত্রী� দৃঢ় বিশ্বা� যাকে গ্রেপ্তা� কর� হয়েছে সে খুনি নয�, বাড়ির অপ� এক ব্যক্ত� আদতে খুনি� পোয়ার� বাড়ির প্রত্যেককে সন্দেহভাজন ধর� নিয়� তদন্� শুরু হতেই এক� এক� দেখা যেতে থাকল সবার� লুকানো� � অসততার কিছু না কিছু গুঢ় উদ্দেশ্য রয়েছে, কিন্তু খুনি হিসেবে ঘুরে ফিরে শুধুমাত্� গ্রেপ্তারকৃতকে� নির্দে� করছে, আর মৃতে� স্ত্রী যাকে দাবি করছে� খুনি হিসেবে তা� খু� করার কো� উপায়ই নেই। তদন্তে� মধ্য দিয়� বে� হয়ে এল� কিছু গোপন সত্য, কয়েকজনে� আস� চেহারা� উপন্যাসিকাটি� শে� উন্মোচ� আমাক� তেমন নাড়� না দিলে� চিরবিশ্বস্� কিন্তু পুরা� পাগল� পোয়ারোর অভিন� তদন্তে� ধারা-গত�-পদ্ধতি আর নিপূ� ভাবে ধৈর্যে� সাথে জা� বিছিয়� ইঁদু�-বেড়াল খেলা� মত� কর� শেষে আস� খুনিকে হাতেনাতে পাকড়া� কর� দেখে মজ� পেয়েছি। আমার রেটি�: �.�/১০
দ্� কম্প্যানিয়ন: কথায� যেমন বল� হয� 'ছো� মরিচের ঝা� বেশি', তেমন� মাত্� কয়ে� পৃষ্ঠা� এই ছোটগল্পটাও আগের একশো+ পৃষ্ঠা� উপন্যাসিকাটি� তুলনায� বেশি উপভোগ্� � চমকপ্র� লেগেছে আমার কাছে� গল্পটা ক্রিস্টি� পোয়ার� বাদে আরেক জনপ্রিয় গোয়েন্দাচরিত্� বৃদ্ধা মি� জে� মার্পলকে নিয়� লেখা� মি� মার্পলের গ্রামে প্রত� সপ্তাহের মতোই সন্ধ্যাবেল� আস� বসেছ� তাদে� 'টুয়েসডে নাইট ক্লা�'-এর, যেখানে তাঁর� বিভিন্� রহস্�-কেন্দ্রি� ঘটনা� বা গল্পের রহস্যভেদ করার চেষ্টা করেন গল্পোচ্ছলে� উপস্থি� ডঃ লয়ে� শোনালে� তা� অতীতে� এক অদ্ভূত অভিজ্ঞতা� স্মৃতি, একটি অস্বাভাবিক মৃত্যু � দু'জন রহস্যময় ইংরে� মহিলাক� নিয়ে। আর ডাক্তারে� স্মৃতিচারণ শেষে উপস্থিতদের বিভিন্� মতবা�-ব্যাখ্যা দেয়ার চেষ্টা� মাঝে� মি� মার্পল ঠি� ঠি� যুক্তি � বুদ্ধি দিয়� সে� রহস্যে� অখণ্ডনীয় সমাধান কর� দিলেন। শেষে� সত্যটা আম� কিছুটা আন্দাজ করতে পারলেও তা গল্প উপভো� করায� কোনপ্রকা� অন্তরায় হয়ে দাঁড়ায়নি, আর মি� মার্পল ক্ষুরধার বুদ্ধিমত্তায� যে সূক্ষ্� � বিস্তারিতভাব� প্রতিট� অসংগতি� ব্যাখ্যা দিয়েছেন সেটা পড়ে পুরোপুরি তৃপ্তি পেয়েছি। আমার রেটি�: �/১০
সবমিলিয়�, রহস্যগল্পে� ভক্তদে� জন্য দ্রুতপাঠ্য হিসেবে বে� ভালো বইটা আমার মত�, আনন্দদায়ক কিছু সময় সহজে� উপহা� দিতে পারব� পাঠকদের। তিনট� সম্পূর্ণ তি� ধরনে� রহস্�, এব� পোয়ার�, মার্পল � এক� রহস্যকাহিন� বইটি� দু� মলাটের ভেতর স্থা� পাওয়ায় পাঠককে যথায� বৈচিত্র্যময়তা� স্বা� দিতে সক্ষম। তিনটার কোনোটি� ক্রিস্টি� ক্লাসি� মাথাআউলানো রহস্যগুলির পর্যায়ে� না হলেও যথেষ্ট উপভোগ্য।
অনুবাদ নিয়� নতুন কর� কিছু বলার নে�, সেবা যে এখনো অনুবাদের দি� থেকে বাংলাদেশ� এক নম্ব� আর তাদে� প্রতিট� অনুবাদ-কোয়ালিট� যে এখনো অন্য যেকো� প্রকাশনী� যেকো� অনুবাদ থেকে যোজন যোজন এগিয়ে, সেটা বইটি পর� আর� একবা� নতুন কর� উপলব্ধ� করলাম। সায়েম সোলায়মানে� অনুবাদ সবসময়� অসাধার� রক� সাবলী�, প্রাঞ্জল � মনোমুগ্ধকর, � বইতে� তা� ব্যতিক্র� নেই। বইটা পড়া� সময় একবারে� জন্য� মন� হয়ন� আম� বিদেশি কো� উপন্যা� পড়ছ�, মন� হয়েছে বইটা যে� বাংলাতেই লেখা হয়েছে� বো� কর� এখানেই একজন প্রকৃত গুণি অনুবাদকে� সার্থকতা� � প্রসঙ্গে একটা খু� মজার উক্ত� মন� পড়ল�, গুডরিডসে� পেয়েছিলাম� Translators are like ninjas. If you notice them, they're no good - Etgar Keret. সে দি� থেকে তিনি যে একজন দুর্ধর্ষ নিনজ�, সে বিষয়ে কো� সন্দেহ� নে�!
كعادة أجاثا كريستى فى كل عمل أقرأه لها ما إن أتوقع هوية القاتل إلا و سرعان ما يتبين لى خطأ هذا التوقع رواية مليئة بالمفاجأت حتى الصفحة الأخيرة تصلح جدا كبداية للدخول فى عالم أجاثا ❤️�
Like , The Unexpected Guest is yet another play of Dame ’s that was turned into a novel by . Both of the plays-turned-novels were originally published in 2000 and recently turned into audiobooks; while neither feature Christie’s usual characters of Miss Jane Marple, Hercule Poirot, or Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, both are equally fabulous.
Due to a pea fog, Michael Starkwedder runs his car off the road and arrives at a house, only to find the wheelchair-bound Richard Warwick shot in the head and his wife, the beautiful Laura Warwick, holding the gun. She claims to have shot and killed her husband, but Starkwedder begins to doubt her story. Is she innocent and shielding someone, as he thinks, or has he been taken in by a pretty face? Plenty of twists in a rollercoaster of a novel that will keep you guessing to the very, very end.
FANTASTICO. Muy bueno. Entra a formar parte de mis favoritos de A.Christie. Magistral, la puesta en escena. La historia parece tener poco misterio al principio, pero a medida de la madeja se va deshaciendo, van surgiendo nuevos sospechosos y cuando el caso parecía que tenia ya al asesino confeso y atrapado, zas, en la última página se descubre al verdadero asesino. MAGISTRAL DE NUEVO A.CHRISTIE.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The Unexpected Guest is another play by Agatha Christie that was adapted as a novel Charles Osborne - so in short, it is not that great.
Of course I am peeved that I ended up with this book because it was advertised as an Agatha Christie novel, and it is not, but I am also astounded Osborne got to write several novelisations at all, and all of them on commission by Christie's estate!
He has no feel for Christie's characters.
While I can see that the setting in this novel is a typical Christie country house mystery, the main character of Laura Warwick does not strike me as a Christie woman at all.
But maybe I'm just peeved that Audible did not make it clear that this was an Osborne novel.
Ολοκληρώνοντας την ανάγνωση του συγκεκριμένου μυθιστορήματος της Κρίστι, αμέσως, αναρωτήθηκα το λόγο που δεν το είχα διαβάσει μέχρι τώρα. Πραγματικά, κατά τη γνώμη μου, αποτελεί ένα από τα πιο ουσιαστικά, ανατρεπτικά και πρωτότυπα βιβλία της, στο οποίο, για πρώτη φορά, 'ψυχογραφεί' τόσο εύστοχα και ξεκάθαρα τους ήρωές της (1958).
Tο συγκεκριμένο έργο στη πρωτότυπη μορφή του είναι θεατρικό, και στη προκειμένη περίπτωση, πρόκειται για τη μυθιστορηματική προσαρμογή από τον Charles Osborne, o οποίος έχει γράψει καί τη βιογραφία της συγγραφέα με τίτλο 'H ζωή και τα εγκλήματα της Άγκαθα Κρίστι'. Χαρακτηριστικά, αναφέρει ότι ο Άπρόσμενος επισκέπτης', ουσιαστικά, έσωσε τη φήμη της (όσον αφορά τα θεατρικά της έργα), γιατί ανέβηκε στο θέατρο, λίγους μήνες μετά την αποτυχία της 'Ετυμηγορίας'. Συμπληρώνει, ακόμα, ότι ένας από τους βασικούς χαρακτήρες του έργου, ο μισητός και ανάπηρος Ρίτσαρντ Ουώρουικ είχε βασιστεί στον αδερφό της Κρίστι, Μόντυ, ο οποίος ήταν ανάπηρος, τα τελευταία χρόνια της ζωής του. Αυτό το γεγονός, κατά τη γνώμη μου, έδωσε και την ξεχωριστή έμπνευση στη συγγραφέα, ώστε να αποδώσει με τέτοιο ξεχωριστό τρόπο τα συμπτώματα της κατάθλιψης, αλλά και να ψυχογραφήσει σε τέτοιο σημαντικό βαθμό τους ήρωες του 'Απρόσμενου Επισκέπτη'.
Σε όλο το έργο, οι διάλογοι και τα γεγονότα παρουσιάζονται χωρίς πολύπλοκες λεπτομέρειες και συμπεράσματα, σε αντίθεση με άλλα μυθιστορήματά της, ενώ όλοι οι ήρωες διαφέρουν και μοιάζουν ταυτόχρονα σε τέτοιο βαθμό, ώστε ο αναγνώστης όχι μόνο δεν μπορεί να είναι σίγουρος για τον/την δολοφόνο, αλλά καταλήγει να συμπάσχει με όλα τα πρόσωπα. Υπάρχει, επίσης, διάχυτο το βρετανικό χιούμορ στους διαλόγους, ενώ τα αποσπάσματα ποιημάτων που χρησιμοποιεί για να σχολιάσει τα γεγονότα ο αρχιφύλακας Καντουολάντερ δημιουργεί την αίσθηση του απόκοσμου, όσο και της τραγικής ειρωνείας.
Πέρα από αυτό, η συγγραφέας αποκαλύπτει ανοιχτά τη γνώμη της για τους Σκοτσέζους, οι οποίοι τείνουν, κατά τη γνώμη της, να είναι αφάνταστα υπομονετικοί, πεισματάρηδες και αποφασιστικοί, ενώ δεν αποφεύγει να τονίσει φεμινιστικά ότι οι γυναίκες είναι πιο σκληρές και ανθεκτικές από τους άντρες, οι οποίοι έχουν τη τάση να είναι πιο ατομιστές.
Αξέχαστοι μένουν οι δευτεραγωνιστές της ιστορίας: η ηλικιωμένη κυρία Ουώρουικ με τη γενναιότητάς και τη σοφία της, η οικονόμος κα Μπένετ με τη συνδυαστική και πονηρή της σκέψη, και ο 19χρονος Τζαν με την περίεργη νοητική πάθηση, αλλά καί με τις 'φονικές' ατάκες.
Τέλος, ο 'Απρόσμενος επισκέπτης' δικαιολογεί περίτρανα το ρητό 'μην πιστεύεις όσα βλέπεις', δημιουργώντας την επιθυμία στον αναγνώστη για λίγες σελίδες, ακόμα, μυστηρίου και ανατροπών μέσα στη πυκνή ομίχλη της Ουαλίας.
The book is based on Agatha Christie play. Charles Osborne has done a wonderful job in bringing alive the play in a typical Christie fashion. The end as in almost all her novels is great and as a reader makes you wonder at the brilliant climax. A Bollywood flick- Dhund is based on this play. Though true to the story line most of he time, the ending in the film is weal compared to the book. One of the best plots by Christie. Awesome read.
Classic A.C. featuring an unreliable narrator. Adapted from a play to novel. Cast of Characters: Laura Warwick, Michael Starkwedder, Richard Warwick, Jan Warwick, Angell, Miss Bennett, Julian Farrar, John MacGregor, Inspector Thomas & Sergeant Cadwallader.
I won't go into too much detail as to not spoil and/or accidentally give anything away. So...there's been a death in the Warwick home that may or may not be a suicide/accident/murder. A dark & tragic ghost from the past that may have led to this murderous death, lovers' desire to be together without being labeled adulterous or mental instability & hormones wrecking havoc. A quick journey that twists & turns, jumping through suspects like fleas in a dog pile with a nice reveal at the end that I did not see coming. I recommend if you are looking for a quick read that will hold your attention but also some hair yanking trying to piece together "facts". Fast read!
This was originally a play by Agatha Christie, which has now been turned into a novel by another author. I can easily imagine it as a play, and I think it would probably be better in that form, as, although there are some clever twists and turns, it seemed a little flat and lifeless, and was, for me, just, an ok read.
كتاب رائع لأجاثا كريستي مثل كل كتبها الجميل في كتب أجاثا كريستي أنها تعرف في ماذا نفكر ، ومتي ! بمعني أنها تعرف أن فكرة معينة ستطرأ علي بالك في هذا الوقت بالتحديد فتشك في شخص معين ، وتراها تدحض كل شكوكك في كلمة واحدة لتجد المتهم آخر شخص يمكن توقعه وطبعا لا يوجد ملل علي الإطلاااق
mega przyjemna. zamysł na historie? świetny. serio, taki zagadkowy, wręcz niepokojący. aż człowiek chce się dowiedzieć co będzie dalej. plot twisty były w porządku. chciałbym czytać więcej takiej christie, może jednak się polubimy.
Debo comenzar por confesar que nunca he leído a Agatha Christie así que realmente desconozco cuánto del su estilo se conserva y cuánto proviene de la novelización de Charles Osborne.
En algún punto se vuelve repetitiva y predecible, aunque igual te da por seguir leyendo ya sea para confirmar si adivinaste el desenlace o por genuina curiosidad. No es la mejor historia, pero está bien para entretenerte un rato.
Hãy tưởng tượng bạn đang chạy xe hơi trên một con đường vắng bóng người � một vùng tỉnh l� của nước Anh giữa trời đêm tối mịt. Xe của bạn bất ng� b� hư, bánh xe kẹt trong một mương nước, không có cách nào đ� bạn có th� t� xoay x� lái xe ra đ� chạy tiếp. Bạn bèn đi dọc đường, tìm nhà dân đ� nh� giúp đ�, rồi bạn bước chân vào một căn nhà có cửa đang đ� m�. Trong căn phòng nơi bạn bước vào, bạn hoảng hồn phát hiện ra xác chết của một người đàn ông ngồi trên xe lăn, b� bắn vào đầu. Đứng cách xác chết một khoảng là một người ph� n� với v� ngoài xinh đẹp và quyến rũ, mặt mày hoảng hốt, trên tay đang cầm một khẩu súng. Nếu là bạn, bạn s� làm gì?
Đó chính là tình cảnh mà Michael Starkwedder đã rơi vào trong tác phẩm “The Unexpected Guest� - do tác gi� Charles Osborne viết lại thành tiểu thuyết dựa trên kịch bản v� kịch cùng tên của N� hoàng Trinh thám Agatha Christie. Và người ph� n� cầm khẩu súng trong phòng ấy là Laura Warwick - v� của nạn nhân đã chết trên chiếc xe lăn, Richard Warwick. L� thường tình, chúng ta s� nghĩ ngay rằng Laura Warwick là hung th� đã giết chồng cô, và chúng ta s� phải báo ngay cho cơ quan chức năng vào điều tra và lập h� sơ v� án, đúng không nè? Th� nhưng, Michael Starkwedder, sau khi bình tĩnh lắng nghe Laura Warwick k� lại câu chuyện v� cuộc hôn nhân của cô, đã không những không báo cảnh sát ngay, mà còn đ� ngh� giúp Laura v� nên một câu chuyện hòng che đậy s� thật v� tội ác đã xảy ra và đánh lạc hướng cơ quan điều tra.
Richard Warwick hiện lên theo lời k� của Laura là một người đàn ông đã từng có quá kh� huy hoàng, là biểu tượng thành công của phái mạnh. Nhưng rồi sau v� tai nạn b� sư t� tấn công, khiến Richard b� liệt nửa thân dưới và phải gắn cuộc đời với chiếc xe lăn, những phần xấu xí nhất trong con người Richard đã l� diện. Hắn ta là một người chồng bạo lực, cắm cảu, luôn chì chiết và đàn áp tinh thần Laura những khi có th�. Đối với v� đã th�, đối với cậu em cùng cha khác m� của hắn là Jan, hắn cũng không đối x� tốt đẹp gì hơn. Jan là một chàng trai tr� tuổi, ngọt ngào, nhưng kh� năng tư duy có phần hơi hạn ch�, nên Richard luôn lấy lý do đó đ� đe dọa tống Jan vào trại tâm thần. Nói chung, Richard là một k� chết cũng ch� ai thèm tiếc thương.
Đ� che mắt cảnh sát điều tra, Michael và Laura đã cùng nhau dựng lên một câu chuyện v� s� tr� thù của McGregor - người đàn ông có đứa con trai trước đây Richard đã từng tông xe chết. Nhưng nội tình thật s� của v� án này là như th� nào? Liệu cuộc hôn nhân với một k� tàn bạo và độc ác như Richard có phải là lý do cho việc Laura gây án? Và thậm chí, liệu Laura có phải là k� gây án hay không, khi mà càng v� sau, dường như tất c� những gì Laura làm đều là đ� giúp che giấu k� phạm tội thực s�? Danh sách những k� tình nghi bỗng chốc được m� rộng, khi mà ai sống trong căn nhà đó vào đêm đó đều có th� là hung th� giết Richard.
Jan - cậu em cùng cha khác m� với nạn nhân - dần dần hiện lên trước mặt độc gi� là một chàng thanh niên mê thích súng đạn và luôn hành x� theo kiểu b� thích thú thái quá. Mrs. Warwick - m� của nạn nhân - luôn nhìn thấy s� tàn bạo của con mình, bản thân đang mắc bạo bệnh và sắp gần đất xa trời, nói chuyện như kiểu nửa thú nhận nửa thú nhận việc bà có liên quan đến v� án. Rồi s� xuất hiện của Julian Farrar - chính tr� gia đang đà thăng tiến, đồng thời là người tình của Laura - lại càng khiến mọi th� thêm phần hấp dẫn, khi mà Julian nghi ng� Laura đã ra tay giết chồng, trong khi Laura lại nghi ng� Julian đã giết Richard trong khoảng thời gian anh ta đến nhà đ� gặp chồng cô vào buổi tối hôm đó. Hoặc thậm chí, có th� nào thực s� McGregor đã giết Richard nhằm tr� thù cho cái chết của con trai ông ta - một câu chuyện ban đầu là bịa nhưng có khi nào lại chính là s� thật? Và còn dấu vân tay in trên mặt bàn ngay k� bên nạn nhân là của ai?
“The Unexpected Guest� qu� thực là câu chuyện whodunit điển hình của Agatha Christie, khi độc gi� có th� cùng theo dõi tiến trình điều tra của cảnh sát, kết hợp cùng s� tương tác, những chia s�, hành x�, lời thoại của các nhân vật xoay quanh v� án đ� đoán định xem ai là hung th� thực s�. Và mình cũng đã nghi ng�, đã đoán định người này là hung th�. Th� nhưng những tưởng mình đã đoán đúng thật rồi, thì ô kìa, Madam Christie tung ra một cú plot twist ngay � những đoạn văn cuối cùng của câu chuyện, làm mình sững s� đến bật ngửa luôn!!! Trời ơi, mình kiểu, viết cái kết kiểu này thì ai mà đoán ra cho được Dì Tha ơi :))))) Khủng khiếp quá mà, thật s� không th� ng� được luôn!!!!
Nói chung là cuốn này hay lắm đó. Nếu so với những tác phẩm mình đọc xong trước đó của Agatha Christie thì cuốn này mỏng hơn (vì được viết lại t� kịch bản kịch), cốt truyện thì cũng đơn giản thôi. Nhưng chính s� đơn giản ấy lại có th� lôi cuốn được độc gi�, nh� vào bầu không khí bí hiểm, tạo s� nghi ng� khi không biết ai mới thực s� là k� gây án. Thêm phần án mạng đã xuất hiện ngay t� chương đầu tiên, tạo ấn tượng mạnh với độc gi� ngay t� ban đầu. Tình cảnh xe b� hư của Michael thì bình thường, nhưng những gì anh phát hiện ra trong căn nhà nơi anh đến với mục đích xin tr� giúp thì lại rất bất thường, t� đó dẫn đến hàng loạt những khám phá khác nhau. Và đỉnh nhất, vâng, đến bây gi� mình vẫn còn chưa quên được, chính là cái kết với cú b� lái ngoạn mục của Dì Tha :D Kinh hồn bạt vía :)))
Và gặp bạn nào thích n� quyền trong trinh thám, thì chắc hẳn s� thích cái nhận định sau của một nhận vật trong truyện lắm:
“Men are really the sensitive sex. Women are tough. Men can’t take murder in their stride. Women apparently can.�
সেবা� অনুবাদ ক্যাসল হাউসের খুনি বইটা� অন্তর্গত না�-উপন্যাসে� মাধ্যম� বইটা পড়া হল, বর্তমানে দেশে� অন্যতম সেরা অনুবাদ� সায়েম সোলায়মা� ভাইয়ে� অনবদ্য সুলিখি� অনুবাদ দিয়ে। উপন্যাসট� সবমিলিয়� ভালই লেগেছে, কিছুটা টেনে বড� করার অনুভূত� দিলে� শেষমেষ লাস্টে� টুইস্টটা (যা যেকো� ক্রিস্টি-কাহিনি� মূ� আকর্ষণ) ভা� ছি�, বে� একটা পয়েটি� জাস্টিসে� ফি� দিয়েছে। যদিও আম� গল্পের মাঝামাঝি থেকে� আন্দাজ করতে পারছিলাম এম� কিছু� হব�, তব� কাহিনি� উপস্থাপনের মুন্সিয়ানার কারণ� তেমন একটা চমকে না উঠলে� খারা� লাগেনি, বর� যৌক্তি� ব্যাখ্যা� কারণ� তৃপ্তি� পেয়েছি। মূ� সূত্� বোধকরি ছি� গল্পের প্রারম্ভ�, এম� কিছু বিসাদৃশ্� চোখে ধর� পড়েছি� যেটা� খটকা অবচেতন মনের কোণে গেঁথ� ছি�, আর শেষে সেটা� সাথে খাপে খাপে মেলাতে পেরে নিজে� বুদ্ধিমত্তার উপরে� কিছুটা আস্থ� ফিরে পেলা� :P
যাইহোক, কাহিনিটা আকর্ষনীয় � চমকপ্র� একদম প্রথ� পাতা থেকে�, আর ঘটনাক্রমের ভেতর দিয়� নাটকীয় মোড়গুলো� খারা� ছি� না� একটা ব্যাপা� বে� বিরক্তিক� লেগেছে সেটা হল উপন্যাসটিত� শুধু ডায়লগ আর ডায়লগ আর ডায়লগ, ডায়লগের ভেতর দিয়েই সবকিছু, ঘটনা সেভাবে খু� একটা ছিলই না... অত-শত কথ� পড়ত� পড়ত� বিরক্ত� ধর� গিয়েছিল! মূ� ইংরেজি উপন্যাসট� ক্রিস্টি� একটা নাটক থেকে নিয়� বানানো, বোধহয় সেকারণেই এত প্যাচা� ভর্তি। আর সমাপ্তিট� ভা� হলেও ঠি� মন মত� হয়ন�, কথার পিঠে কথায� অনেক টানাটানি� পর হু� কর� তড়িঘড়ি কর� শে� কর� দেয়� হয়েছে বল� মন� হয়েছে, কিছু কিছু ব্যাপারে� ব্যাখ্যা ধোঁয়াটে� থেকে গেছে�
অনুবাদ নিয়� নতুন কর� কিছু বলার নে�, সেবা যে এখনো অনুবাদের দি� থেকে বাংলাদেশ� এক নম্ব� আর তাদে� প্রতিট� অনুবাদ-কোয়ালিট� যে এখনো অন্য যেকো� প্রকাশনী� যেকো� অনুবাদ থেকে যোজন যোজন এগিয়ে, সেটা বইটি পর� আর� একবা� নতুন কর� উপলব্ধ� করলাম। সায়েম সোলায়মানে� অনুবাদ সবসময়� অসাধার� রক� সাবলী�, প্রাঞ্জল � মনোমুগ্ধকর, � বইতে� তা� ব্যতিক্র� নেই। বইটা পড়া� সময় একবারে� জন্য� মন� হয়ন� আম� বিদেশি কো� উপন্যা� পড়ছ�, মন� হয়েছে বইটা যে� বাংলাতেই লেখা হয়েছে� বো� কর� এখানেই একজন প্রকৃত গুণি অনুবাদকে� সার্থকতা� � প্রসঙ্গে একটা খু� মজার উক্ত� মন� পড়ল�, গুডরিডসে� পেয়েছিলাম: Translators are like ninjas. If you notice them, they're no good--Etgar Keret. সে দি� থেকে তিনি যে একজন দুর্ধর্ষ নিনজ�, সে বিষয়ে কো� সন্দেহ� নে�!
সবমিলিয়�, রহস্যগল্পে� ভক্তদে� জন্য কুইক-রি� হিসেবে খারা� না বইটা আমার মত�, আনন্দদায়ক কিছু সময় সহজে� উপহা� দিতে পারব� পাঠকদের। এখ� বইয়ের বাকি দুটা কাহিনি পড়ব (এরকু� পোয়ার�'� উপন্যাসিকা 'দি আন্ডারডগ' � মি� মার্পলের ছোটগল্� 'দ্� কম্প্যানিয়ন'), আশ� কর� একইরকম আনন্দদায়ক পা� হবে।
wow wow wow this book is good at giving me blow job mouth because in the last 15 pages my mouth dropped so much so hard i literally thought the book was starting to end when another bomb dropped and it ALL came together and WOW okay very good easy read enjoyed the connection between the characters enjoyed the simplicity and the complexity All in all a goodread
Michael Starkwedder, whose run his car into a ditch on a foggy night, walks up to a house where he intends to get assistance but instead finds the body of the home's owner, a man in a wheelchair. He also finds a woman standing in a corner of the room, holding the weapon.
The woman says that she did the killing, but the reader soon discovers that a whole lot of the tale is gray. Did Laura Warwick kill her husband � or is she covering for someone else? Because nearly everyone involved in this twisted mystery has cause and the means to kill Richard Warwick.
Agatha Christie originally wrote this story as a play in 1954, and it reads very much like a play � everything happens in the sitting room of the house. But it came to become a novel with the assistance of Charles Osborne, a journalist, theatre and opera critic, poet and novelist, who also novelized Christie's other plays, Black Coffee and Spider's Web.
It's been a very successful production. This is a thrilling story with clever twists and surprises galore. Everything about this story is well done. It's a very good read.