By: Agatha Christie
Stafford Nye and Mary Anne, the supposed protagonists of this work, are appealing characters. But they fail to make up for a confused, unrealistic plot, especially as they fade out of the novel before the denouement, accomplishing nothing of note except achieving their personal happily ever after. This novel, a tale of grandiose plots of youth world domination, starts off passably, but rapidly deteriorates. The ending is the clincher; the "solution" to youth protests is an irreversible reshaping of characters viewed as dangers to society. Utterly appalling. (Fiction) 07/12/09
