1 of 1

Write now Article Tools

A rather unusual Agatha Christie novel, "Towards Zero" is quite different in the sense that neither Hercule Poirot nor Miss Marple is present in the story (it's Sergeant Battle who takes the helm here). Although Christie has already done this in her other novels, "Towards Zero" still counts as one of her most celebrated non-Poirot/non-Marple novels because of the twisted nature of the whole plot and the superb storytelling which goes along with it. Truly, Christie is on top of her game here.

"Towards Zero" starts with a rather boring discourse regarding the psychology of crimes. It may not sound important at first but unbeknown to the readers, Christie is actually setting up the mood for a highly disturbing novel. So disturbing, in fact, that I saw myself closing the book and shuddering during certain parts. She really managed to surprise me here, and to think I've read most of her books already!

Much like Christie's other famous work, "And Then There Were None", the setting may strike you as strangely familiar. The story takes place in a seemingly safe environment, this time a seaside resort, where an ailing woman invites her close friends and relatives. It's not at all surprising that one of the invited guests in the gathering is actually a psychotic murderer. This is an Agatha Christie mystery after all.

Christie's cast of characters is surprisingly strong here, the most notable ones being the dashing debonair, his ex-wife, and his present wife. Actually, every one of them has a distinct personality and background which can make you feel that anyone can be the murderer at some point. You can see each one of them unravel as the chapters fly by. Although the book starts out slowly, the pace quickly becomes frantic as the mysterious psycho starts killing.

Christie is known for her intricate plots and this novel has plenty of twists in store for the avid mystery buff. No amount of observation skills can prepare you for this novel's brilliantly shocking conclusion (well, at least in my part). I had some hunches about the identity of the murderer but I still got stumped towards the end. Like most of her best novels, how she crafted the ending here is truly ingenious. The fact that the novel doesn't rely on two of her most popular detectives adds to the book's value even more. This is an Agatha Christie classic which no self-respecting fan would want to miss.

Learn more about this author, Julius Albert Custodio.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Book reviews: Towards Zero, by Agatha Christie?
We want to hear your view. Write now!