Crooked House by Agatha Christie

From the mysteries that unfolded to the tricks of a sly little girl, Agatha’s Crooked House is one of the best picks for anyone trying to enkindle that exciting feeling of solving puzzles. From a huge mansion owned by a wealthy grandpa lays the body of this old but full of life Man. He was known to be very healthy and still strong even though he was old enough to be bedridden. Leonides had a wife who was almost detested by everyone in the house, there were rumours that he had a hand in the death of her husband.

The house was inhabited by sophisticated characters who were more like living in their part of the world. The murder mystery was led by the grandfather of Charles who was also the fiancé of Sophia, the granddaughter of the deceased. Plots opened and characters were wrongly blamed only to find out at the tail of the story that the true criminal had just died. This is the type of book that one will not put down until the last page.

Christie writes with clarity and conciseness, and she does a great job of creating tension throughout the entire book. She also includes a number of story twists and red herrings, which kept the reader guessing right up until the very end. There was no point in the book that clearly showed or pointed out the real felon of the crime.

The intense characterization in "Crooked House" is one of its strong points. The Leonides family is represented accurately, with each member having distinct goals, traits, and weaknesses. The mystery is further complicated and intriguing by the subtle familial dynamics.

For instance, Josephine's actions weren't all that shocking, but the way she was portrayed did not convey the idea that she was capable of committing such a terrible thing.

Overall, "Crooked House" is a perfect example of a detective story, complete with a solid plot, a colorful cast of characters, and a surprising conclusion. For those who enjoy murder mysteries, it is a must-read and a wonderful introduction to Agatha Christie's writing.