Cards on the Table

A Hercule Poirot Mystery

By: Agatha Christie

Narrated by: Hugh Fraser

Length: 6 hrs

Publisher's summary

Mr. Shaitana is famous as a flamboyant party host. Nevertheless, he is a man of whom everybody is a little afraid. So when he boasts to Hercule Poirot that he considers murder an art form, the detective has some reservations about accepting a party invitation to view Shaitana's "private collection".

Indeed, what begins as an absorbing evening of bridge is to turn into a more dangerous game altogether.

©1936 Agatha Christie Limited (P)2003 HarperCollins Publishers

this is a great Christie mystery

Some of Agatha Christie's mysteries are more about characters and some are more about mystery, and this is one of the latter. That's not to say that the characters are poor, only that the mystery itself takes center stage. It's a real whodunnit: A dinner party includes 4 criminals, whom the host claims to know have each gotten away with murder, and 4 sleuths, both professionals and amateurs......and while the 4 criminals are in a room playing bridge, one of them quietly and secretly murders the host. Whodunnit, and how will Poirot figure it out? Keep listening and find out.

Hugh Fraser does a terrific job, as I've enjoyed in the past.

Poirot according to Hoyle

In my own mind, I kind of think of Agatha Christie mysteries as being sort of "A list" and "B list." To me, this book is on the "B list," but not because it is bad; only because it is not quite as wonderful as some others (I don't personally think there are any bad AC novels).

In this one, Poirot (along with Supt Battle, Col. Race and Ariadne Oliver--a mystery writer who one senses is created by Agatha in her own image) must solve an odd murder. Mr. Shaitana, a man who has boasted he can pick up on clues to people who have committed murder, invites the four sleuths, along with four other people, to play two tables of Bridge. Alas, the man who believed he could figure out who was a murderer quickly becomes the murder victim. And the hunt begins. Poirot cleverly uses the score sheets from the bridge game to ascertain who was playing the game at various times. But there are many more twists and turns till the murderer is revealed in the end.

I think High Fraser does a good job with the narration, and it is all the more fun since he played Captain Hastings in the Poirot TV series. This is a fun read. Agatha Christie is always a winner, and even though I read them all many years ago, I'm having a lot of fun listening to them again. Recommend!

Implausible Plot, Fun Twists and Turns, Stellar Narration

Hugh Fraser does his usual excellent narration with the perfect Poirot, somehow completely believable women’s voices, and everyone else in this completely implausible yet fun mystery. My one regret is that there isn’t more Ariadne Oliver, the shambling apple-chomping mystery writer who makes her first appearance here. But a delightful use of an Audible credit — painted an entire room of my house while Poirot and amis kept me company.

Confusion confusion!

I have tried to listen to this audible book at least half a dozen times !
the first couple of times I was somewhat preoccupied when I was listening , so then I would go back and re- listen go back and re-listen, but I would still find myself going back and re-listening!!
.... and honestly I've never been more disappointed with one of Agatha's stories !
the murder is definitely committed rather quickly ;before you can get A solid feel for any of the characters...and then the investigations seem to flip-flop all over the place with way too many people and too many conversations thrown into the mix.
As I've purchased this book on audible there's nothing I can do now but to hang onto it maybe someday I'll try it again but I'm already halfway through it and want to scream!
I really was looking forward to another Agatha on Audible I love listening to Hugh Frasier as he narrates.
This one just does not hold my interest at all.

Another great murder mystery

I will just say that I love the dialogue that Christie uses and the voice of Hugh Frasor is absolutely the best.

Disappointed

Was Cards on the Table worth the listening time?

This book was as wonderful as any other of her tales. I love the way that Poirot referred to this type of murder in a previous book as his "ultimate crime to solve". I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone but it left me somewhat dizzy. The last 30-45 minutes seem to move the action really fast and the ending literally comes out of nowhere.

The only part I didn't care for was when other members of Scotland Yard went to interview people. You didn't know who these officers were and never heard anything about them later on either. It seemed random. I can understand the need to interview the people but why not send one of the characters we already knew? It was like they had a cameo appearance and in a book it just doesn't work the same as a movie.

I may have enjoyed it better if I played bridge. I didn't understand many of the hands that were played during the games. I would have gotten more out of the book if I did.

Amusing and entertaining

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Lots of fun for fans of Dame Agatha

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cards on the Table?

All the scenes with Ariana Oliver ( Agatha Christie making fun of her image)

Have you listened to any of Hugh Fraser’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Hugh Fraser is one reason to listen. He's fabulous !

Perfect narration

Hugh Fraser is absolutely the voice of Poirot in my mind. His performances excellent every time and as usual Agatha Christie pens a compelling tale.

Easily one of the best of Poirot!

This was one of the first Poirot novels I ever read, and it's easily the one I've reread the most! Superb performance, the voices and tone were top-notch. Recommended!

Oh Come ON! Disappointed w this Christie "mystery"

Overall, I consider myself a fan of Agatha Christie books, but if this were the very first Christie book I read, I might not have bothered to read any others. The story line is OK up until about the last 4 chapters (I think there are about 30 short chapters altogether). Without giving away the ending, she brings in some crucial "facts" for the first time at the very end to explain the story -- which is unfair from the reader's standpoint. And even the final explanation for the twist at the end doesn't even really answer all the questions a reader would have. I should've listened to the reviewers who warned that this happens in this story, but so many other reviewers gave it such a high score (which I don't understand) that I gave it a try. Without the nonsensical ending, I would have rated the book 3.5 stars. I wish I had passed on this book.