I am actually a bit sad that I’ve finished this book, because it’s the last of the new Agatha Christie books that I got for Christmas. I thought I was going to be able to spread the three out over the year a bit more, but I just couldn’t help myself. Oh well! Let’s jump into a review of Sparkling Cyanide.This marks book number six in the 24 in 2024 challenge.
Plot summary
Rosemary Barton is beautiful, wealthy and suddenly dead. At her birthday party, she dies from a glass of champagne laced with cyanide. At first it is thought to be suicide. But a year later, her husband isn’t so sure and sets of a chain off events that leads to murder, money and tangled romances.
So who killed Rosemary and why on earth did they do it?
Murder, mystery and a nice little romance
I couldn’t work this one out, which was nice. My only reservation is that I feel like I wasn’t given all the facts. In the final expose of the mystery, certain things come to the fore which I feel wasn’t really included in the general book. Perhaps that meant you couldn’t quite work it out on your own. However, it was still a well built mystery, and I don’t think the extra pieces of information felt incongruous.
There’s a nice little touch of romance to this book, which is always nice. Despite all the murder and mystery, there is a sweet little happily ever after. I’d definitely rate Sparkling Cyanide as one of the more enjoyable Christies, if not the most fascinating in the actual building of the plot and the unfolding of the mystery.
I would certainly recommend this book for those times when you want something light and enjoyable. It’s perfect for these last few weeks of summer. I suggest pouring yourself a glass of something cold, sparkling and cyanide-free and relaxing with this book.
