I feel a rant coming on (but I'll have to be brief as I don't have much time at the moment)... This was one of the most brilliant books I've ever read. A basic knowledge of bridge will do, but you can still appreciate this book without having ever heard of the game before (I knew nothing about it when I first read it other than that it existed). This is a brilliant locked-room murder, because instead of baffling readers with which of the people did it, AC baffles the reader with which of them DIDN'T do it! The locked room narrows down the suspects, and everyone could've done it under the right set of circumstances.

True, we don't get mysterious slant-eyed adventuresses whispering "Two o'clock- the old pier" in shadowy alleys to young, dashing heroes (although, IMO, AC was never too great at adventure novels); but in all honesty, COTT doesn't get dull. It provides an interesting commentary on justice (a topic very much appreciated in mysteries), and, out of necessity, has memorable characteres. Because the solution is entirely psychological, the characters simply must be well-drawn out for the book to be any good. They are.

I agree with you go_leafs COTT is Brilliant, I have read it 3 times I loved the Cocept, the Characters, everything about this Magnificent book, It is such a shame ITV decided to make a decent Adaptation of the book.

I feel I just have to dissagree with you about Agastha Christie's Adventure Novels, although the type of heroine you mention would not be right for COTT Adventure Novels have their place and although I didn't get on with Passenger to Frankfurt or They Came To Baghdad The Bundle Books aswell as Why Didn't They Ask Evans and The Man In The Brown Suit are Terrific, I haven't read Destination Unknown yet so can't comment on it but you must know by now I love the T&T Aswell.