I wonder why I've never come across this novel. I believe I would have loved it and probably wouldn't have reasons to mind the loose ends such as the unresolved murder of the young detective's father (they would better had skipped that detail in the screen adaptation) or the too decent but not too smart Charles Hayward.
Apart from that, there's plenty to meet the eyes (the rambling Victorian mansion, the giant portrait paintings) and the ears (the dialogues), and to engage the brains (whodunit).
Regardless to the flaws, there's still much of the good old Agatha Christie, the cast is generally fine and the music adds well to the plot and atmosphere. All in all, dramatic and poetic like an opera.
Apart from that, there's plenty to meet the eyes (the rambling Victorian mansion, the giant portrait paintings) and the ears (the dialogues), and to engage the brains (whodunit).
Regardless to the flaws, there's still much of the good old Agatha Christie, the cast is generally fine and the music adds well to the plot and atmosphere. All in all, dramatic and poetic like an opera.