I really enjoyed reading this book, and pairing it with the corresponding “Swinging Christie’s” @christie_time podcast episode about it made the experience even more interesting, plus I also watched the recent Kenneth Branagh adaptation just to get extra metatextual!
Getting into the discussion about why Christie chose to centre a 1960s mystery around a Halloween party was fascinating. At that time the holiday was still quite niche in the UK…
As a story, I found Hallowe’en Party seasonal and satisfying. We have the indomitable Ariadne Oliver, the ever-wonderful Hercule Poirot, and, quite unusually, the murder of children, something Christie very rarely touches. Naturally, this brings with some uncomfortable conversations, but it also heightens the stakes in a way that makes the mystery feel darker.
The mystery itself is a good one: not easy to untangle, and the denouement is clever.
The atmosphere is rich and vivid, perfect for a seasonal read. Christie uses the setting to great effect, exploring the geography of the party, the village, the houses, and the strange quarry garden and its nooks and crannies.
I also love one of the recurring themes in her later work: the “retrospective murder.” The idea that a present-day crime is rooted in some long-buried wrongdoing gives the narrative an archaeological feel.
Interestingly, the novel was published in 1969 and dedicated to P. G. Wodehouse.
All in all, Hallowe’en Party is a satisfying, atmospheric, slightly unusual Christie, and one I thoroughly enjoyed.
One word: entertaining.
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