Cards on the Table

 BOOK REVIEW: Cards on the Table

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

"A flamboyant party host is murdered in full view of a roomful of bridge players… Mr Shaitana was famous as a flamboyant party host. Nevertheless, he was a man of whom everybody was a little afraid. So, when he boasted to Poirot that he considered murder an art form, the detective had some reservations about accepting a party invitation to view Shaitana’s private collection. Indeed, what began as an absorbing evening of bridge was to turn into a more dangerous game altogether.."

~ From Goodreads ~

So many twists, so many turns, so many murders, and so many clues. This one confused the hell out of me. I think I had attempted to read this one a long time ago but left it because I couldn't understand the game of Bridge!

I still do not understand the game of bridge, but I read through it anyway. I do think the cleverness of the crime would have been more evident if I had known how that game is played.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed all the backstories of all the four suspects being investigated by the other four detectives/novelist team. Two teams of four players play cards on two tables in two different rooms after their dinner party is done. In the room that the four suspects are playing, the host doses off to sleep never to awaken. This is the same host who has boasted to Poirot that he collects the murderer's secrets. 

Hercule Poirot's grey cells work miracles again, while we are left guessing and assuming all the wrong leads. In the end, it's worth the wait though. This detective actually irritates me with his arrogance. But that is also something that I absolutely love about him because he manages to camouflage it well inside praises and "to throw us off the track" comments. 

It's another must-read for Hercule Poirot fans. 

This book was perfect for the following Reading Prompts too: 

Popsugar Reading Challenge 2021: A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover