Winnebago,  Like you I also liked Postern of Fate.  But I think it is considered her weakest book because of the inconsistencies in it - the timeline e.g. doesn't really work out.  But then it was the last book Agatha wrote and she was 80 or nearing 80, if I remember correctly. 

Personally I especially liked the scenes of Tuppence going to clear out the library and starting to read a bit here and another bit there.  I recognise myself in that.  I have been putting off reshuffling my library for that very reason.  I know my hubby will not see me for a long time once I start doing that, because I will start reading favourite passages. 

I know what you mean about the timeline, I sometimes wondered if it was conseivable for such a long time ago be conected with the time the book was set in, My sircumstances changed afew years ago and I used to love putting my book in alphabetical or cronological order and maybe read bits while doing so, the books mentioned made me want to see if I could buy them, which surely is a good thing. Thankyou for replying, bits of the book I have forgotten so will enjoy re reading it one day.

I thought I had figured out "Postern of Fate" early on, and was excited to read through the rest of the book to validate my correct theory:

that Alexander Parkinson hadn't written "Mary Jordan did not die naturally. It must have been one of us..." but rather meant "Mary Jordan did not die. Naturally, it must have been one of us..." and that the old Mrs Griffin was in fact Mary Jordan -- still alive as she never died in the first place -- and, though she was hired as a British secret service agent as a young girl, was in fact a double agent working for Jonathan Kane I suppose. When her tenure ended, she killed one of the many young Parkinson girls (somehow) and must have hacked her face in and made it look like it was herself, made to look like Mary Jordan had died, but Alexander Parkinson figured this out. ... Mrs Griffin had even apparently sent Mrs Miller to the Beresfords'!

...except, when I turned the page to uncover this clever plot twist, or one rather like it, the story ended. Nothing really happened, and the usual confusing mess of a story was not neatly resolved, but rather left a confusing mess.

I understand the book was poorly transcribed from Christie's dictations and edited, but surely the seed of the clever plot would have remained regardless?

Gosh Bowie! I never got all that, Although in the main I really enjoyed the book I did find the ending a bit confusing but all in all an enjoyable book.

Hi, winne! Hope you havent forgotten me!

Bowie, I had never thought of it like that! That way the book goes from *sigh* to awesome!

Hello Silver, How have you been? I have missed Moley and you.

I've missed you too! Hope you're well!  I'll tell Moley to pop in too, shall I?

Yes Silver, that would be brilliant.

Hello winne! I've missed you too!

And hi silvey!

I haven't read "Postern of Fate" yet but I have always wanted to: it has such an interesting synopsis.

I adore Tommy and Tuppence, there is a real warmth to the novels often missing in Poirot. Postern Of Fate is no exception to this, but I'm afraid I too find it highly disappoiting plot-wise. Yes, there are the seeds of a good idea in there, but there is literally no denouement to the "plot" - it all just grinds to a halt. Disappointing, but not as roundly awful as its reputation would suggest.

Hello Mole, Nice to have you back. I quite agree discotea, I got the impression Agatha started writing it and then realised as she had set the initial Crime so far in the past she was unable to live up to the Brilliant synopsis and excellent beginning of the book which I am sad to say led to the books unsatisfactory resolution but I still think it is better than 'By The Pricking of My Thumbs which is the only previous Novel with Tommy and Tuppence not mentioned in this book as far as I can see. (I don't include PIC as I feel it is a book of short stories even though it starts with them being set a task which they finish at the end of the book.  

Postern of Fate is definately one of AC's weakest ever novels, and without a doubt the weakest of ther T&T series. The timeline incosistencies stuck out a mile, but also, when rereading it, I noticed that Agatha's writing had this really rambling nature to it. She was nearing 80, and I can see why she stopped writing books- she was starting to lose her touch at masterful writing. Also, this is the only time in ACs novels where the solution is not fair to the reader; there is no way you can fairly figure out the solution.

Give me By the Pricking of My Thumbs or N or M? any day over this.

I found it unreadable I'm afraid. Im not Tommy and Tuppence's greatest fan but all those meandering conversations drove me to sleep. I swear there were a couple of occassions where AC forgot which character was speaking and characters ended up speaking to themselves. I know AC was very protective of her work but surely her editors should have stepped in and sorted out some of the dreadful inconsistencies.

The bit mentioned above where Tuppence spends an age going through books in the library is similar to another tedious passage in The Clocks when Poirot talks at length about detective fiction.

I'm sorrry you found it unreadable, apart from it being a bit boring in a couple of places and it sort of tailing off at the end I loved the book