Towards Zero by Agatha Christie: Book Review

Towards Zero by Agatha Christie is the fifth book to feature Superintendant Battle. First published in 1944, Towards Zero examines what happens before the murder, the zero hour.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Mr. Treves, the famous criminologist, loved murder mysteries, except that they all began with a murder. He maintained that that fatal moment should be the ending, the finishing stroke, or “zero hour.” Unfortunately, Treves’ brilliant mind – and memory for crime – would be the death of him. And now it seems everyone at Gull’s Point guesthouse – even Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard – is hurtling straight towards zero,

Positives

True to form, this book offers the twists and turns you expect from Agatha Christie.

Also true to form, the descriptions of the setting, while brief and thorough enough for one to picture everything.

Negatives

Some of the characters were just not as well developed as others, Kay in particular. She is more of a spoiled child than a married woman.

My Opinions

According to the Agatha Christie website: What is the connection between a failed suicide attempt, a wrongful accusation of theft against a schoolgirl, and the romantic life of a famous tennis player?

Many people consider this to be one of Christie’s best works. While I enjoyed reading this book, how could I not? There was just something about how some of the characters were written. The main female characters seemed weak and docile, and a couple of the main male characters were controlling and manipulative.

I did not see the twist coming. I had one person in my mind who was behind it all, but I was very wrong. Giving my exact reaction would be a spoiler, and I don’t want to do that to you.

I picked this book up for the Read Christie 2021 challenge, where the September theme was a story featuring a school. Towards Zero is listed as one of the suggested options on the site. I have to admit; I feel a bit lied to as the school in the story is only there for a few pages. While it was a great insight into Superintendant Battle’s life, it was not a necessary part of the story.

If you are a fan of Agatha Christie, I say this book is worth a read. If you have never read any of her books, you may enjoy it as well.

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.