This early Poirot novel is pulp fiction and not really a whodunnit. Poirot and Hastings go on the hunt for the members of the Big Four, a criminal syndicate led by a Chinese man who is the master planner, an American industrialist who provides the wealth, a French woman who provides scientific know how, and a mysterious number 4, the Destroyer, who seems to be able to adopt almost any disguise at will. This syndicate is supposed to be behind every riot, labour unrest and political upheaval across the world, including the Russian revolution, and even behind some natural disasters using the French woman's expertise, aiming at world domination and the collapse of civilisation. Yes, four master criminals with thousands of agents supposedly in every country at their disposal. This is so ridiculous I could scarcely suspend my disbelief at points, but I guess was kind of enjoyable hokum.

One contemporary review, in The Scotsman of 17 March 1927 sums it up perfectly for me: "The activities of Poirot himself cannot be taken seriously, as one takes, for example, Sherlock Holmes. The book, indeed, reads more like an exaggerated parody of popular detective fiction than a serious essay in the type. But it certainly provides plenty of fun for the reader who is prepared to be amused. If that was the intention of the authoress, she has succeeded to perfection". ( )

I normally find Agatha Christie to be a riveting read but this was pretty boring. It lacks the unity of plot of a proper novel. It is a series of episodes, only unified by the theme of Hercule Poirot investigating and uncovering the identity of one of the villains. Most Christie fans and scholars agree that The Big Four isn't her best. Kuddos to the Queen of Mystery for trying a different story out but this one was utterly a bore. ( )

Horrible.

Agatha Christie seems to have a legendary status as a mystery writer, but up until recently, I've read very few of her books.

I took a long time in reading this one. I liked it better than the previous one I read which was a series of short stories--though a couple times in this one it felt like Christie had some short stories that she made fit the Big Four plot.

I guessed a couple of the twists because they were also used by Conan Doyle in Sherlock Holmes books. ( )

there are parts of this that are fun and obviously the way he solves the crimes is at least interesting, but overall this was way too much swagger and bluster for me, with utterly ridiculous plot devices. poirot obviously actually cares about his friend hastings, but he treats him abominably, to the point that it was hard to read about it. i know this was written almost a hundred years ago (so i'm ignoring the racism) but i really dislike the way she mentions something randomly and then it immediately becomes pertinent, in the same way i never like the way every conclusion that poirot amazingly (and with no evidence, often) leaps to is always correct. he annoys me more than compels me, i think. and her use of just about every possible trick and method of murder in this one was way over the top for me. ( )