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Knowing Agatha Christie’s time ended in 1975, I read one of her books a year. I disliked Hercule Poirot after his first couple of novels and preferred other characters in each release year. I hoped Agatha figured out that a name alone did not produce quality.

This 1927 novel is engagingly well written and superbly original in nature! Less creative readers misunderstood that it is a novel, not short stories, with a strong resolution and excursion in every chapter. Now, this is what you call breaking a formula and writing something fresh! Stylistically, it invited constant bedtime reading no matter how brief. By the final third, I had to keep going and indulged in one of those energized, daring but gratifying 5:00 AM finishes.

�The Big Four� has John Hastings visiting Hercule from South America for nearly a year. We are reassured his memorable wife approved. A Chinese, English, and American man and Frenchwoman combine science and money. It was interesting for Agatha to write about an atomic bomb when it did not appear until 1945. My only criticism, which spoils nothing, is the unexplained purpose of wrecking a mountain hideout. Only cohorts were killed, without world consequences. We did not meet the Chinese genius and with the status of two unconfirmed, I am certain Agatha meant them to return as nemeses.

The Italian portion seemed to indulge an action packed faceoff and culmination of Hercule’s, John’s, and Mr. Ivan’s chase. Even though I reflect that it was purposeless, it was exciting. What it showcased spectacularly was Hercule’s extreme trickiness. I objected as usual, that he did not credit John’s intelligence. It would have served John in dealing with capture, to know his wife was safe. I leave off with a good feeling, however, about whomever the next novels feature.