Customer Reviews

Absent in the Spring and Other Novels: Absent in the Spring -- Giant's Bread -- The Rose and the Yew Tree (Mary Westmacott Omnibus)

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3 star:		(1)
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Fans of Agatha Christie's mystery novels will not be disappointed in these more standard novels, which she published under the name Mary Westmacott. "Absent in the Spring" is a magnificent novel, the story of a woman unexpectedly stranded in a desert outpost with no distractions, who is forced for the first time to see herself and others objectively. A simple concept, but difficult to write. Christie handles the matter superbly, and in her autobiography, lists this as one of her favorite novels. "Absent in the Spring" is even more interesting when you consider she wrote the book in 3 days during the London Blitz!

Most of the novels Christie wrote as Mary Westmacott are semi-autobiographical, or reveal conflicts or persons present in her own life. Christie fans will want to include this collection of novels for insight into the author's life, thought processes, and internal emotional struggles. The other novels in this collection, especially "Giant's Bread", are also excellent novels, but the collection would be worth reading just for "Absent in the Spring."

These novels are wonderful! In my opinion, "Giant's Bread" is her masterpiece!

If you enjoyed The Shell Seekers, you might enjoy Agatha Christie writing as Mary Westmacott. I admire the crafting and timelessness of 'Absent in the Spring', but I found the sense of futility too sad to want to read again.

A great trio of novels. Giant's Bread is her masterpiece!

I found this book very hard to read considering all I have read are Agathas suspense novels. I was rather dissapointing to see this type of writing style. Her suspense and romantic novels are both very well written out but to see this side of her kind of ruined the whole detective novels. I wouldn't recommend this to readers who like her original style...