Monday, January 25, 2010

Crime Fiction Alphabet: Ordeal By Innocence by Agatha Christie


Recovering from amnesia, Dr. Arthur Calgary discovers that he alone could have provided an alibi in a scandalous murder trial. It ended in the conviction of Jacko Argyle. The victim was Jacko's own mother, and to make matters worse, he died in prison. But the young man's innocence means that someone else killed the Argyle matriarch, and would certainly kill again to remain in the shadows. Shaded in the moral ambiguity of murder, the provocative psychological puzzler of guilt, vengeance, and blood secrets is among Agatha Christie's personal favorites.

As I had read it long time back, I had forgotten all about it. Today sorting through my Agatha Christie novels, I found it. Thought why not post it for Crime Fiction Alphabet: O? Will re-read it soon and post my views.

8 comments:

Alyce said...

I've been listening to Agatha Christie short stories in the car over the past week, and am wondering if the full length mysteries are better, or if it's the narrator's fault, but it been rather sleep-inducing. I'm hoping that when I read one of her novels I like it better.

gautami tripathy said...

Alyce, her novels are definitely better. Do check out. But for me, I have read almost everything by her.

Alyce said...

That's good to know! I have to admit after hearing so many great things about her mysteries I was very disappointed. Maybe I'll hold off on the short stories for now and pick up a novel.

Any suggestions on which would be the best to start with?

gautami tripathy said...

Pick the older ones:

Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

And Then There Were None.

Murder in Orient Express

Ordeal by Innocence

Dead Man's Folly

These are few of my personal favourites. I love all the Miss Marple and Poirot books. She has written a lot!

Alyce said...

Thanks! I think I might try one of the Miss Marple books, because the short stories are Poirot mysteries. That way I'll have a chance to see what both are like.

Carol said...

I love Agatha Christie. I need to reread some of them.

Kerrie said...

Thanks for this contribution to the Crime Fiction Alphabet Gautami. I haven't got to this one in my reading challenge, although like you I first read it years ago. When you do write your review don't forget to submit it to the Agatha Christie Blog Carnival

Anonymous said...

I loved this one...I think there was a movie also based on it?