This book started out a little slow for me, but it was so worth it! The plot wasn't even close to what I expected. Although it' s not a thriller like Christie's other works, it kept me hooked till the last page.

The characters were extremely well-rounded and beautifully fleshed out, with diverse, flawed personalities. Although some developments in the plot appeared to be a bit sudden and unexpected, everything is perfectly in keeping with what you know of the characters and how you'd expect them to act. Christie writes insightfully about how everyone has different motivations and approaches to life, and how that shapes their stories. 

Despite being slightly predictable, the ending was tied masterfully to the beginning and brought the whole story together full circle. All in all, this was a wonderful, really thought-provoking read.

This is the first time I've read a Mary Westmacott novel, and it was as comfortable as an old shoe. Agatha Christie's signature writing style was still present. She was able transition well to a romance novel simply because she has always written about human nature. She was able to keep the readers interest by building in suspense. There were a couple of long monologues that made my eyes glaze over, but otherwise it was a nice relaxing read.