2017 book 88

Agatha Christie's Cat Among the Pigeons
This is another of the Christie books that Robin Stevens had particularly mentioned as an influence, and who can resist Poirot getting involved in a mystery at an elite girls' boarding school? Unfortunately, this one is rife with Orientalism, like if you ever wondered exactly what Orientalism was, you could read this and see a thousand examples and shake your head in dismay, as I did. Still, the plot--involving missing jewels and murders and boarding school girls--is entertaining and surprising, and it's got that trademark Christie humor. Interestingly, Poirot himself doesn't come into things until rather late--I like how Christie just wants to tell a good story and not just focus on the famous character. And she writes such fascinating and vivid women. A- due to period racism but an otherwise top-notch story.