> I was a little disappointed with it, but then I'd never read the book. I thought the answer to the mystery seemed a little contrived.
>
> Gri"better eleven months later than never"shny

A lot of Christie's stories probably seem contrived now because they have been imitated or seem tame or...

To me, Harry Potter doesn't seem all that original in the basic plots but for the kid reading it for the first time, it is fresh and new. As for Christie, she was a groundbreaking writer with mysteries and has set the standard, much like Tolkien. I have to read some of her stories knowing that I may have already seen a (ripped-off) version somewhere else. Hers are almost always better.

I have seen "The Mousetrap on stage, now. I still haven't seen "Orient Express."

Fer"Eleven Months plus Nine"rick