Death on the Nile
Caution. Age: 16+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
Christie shows how sin grows. Poirot begs a jealous girl not to open her heart to evil, and the book proves him right: one coveted man leads to three murders. But the ending is wrong. Poirot knows the killer has a second pistol, lets her shoot her lover and herself, and says he wanted it so. The book treats that as mercy. It is consent to a killing and a suicide, and it weakens hope.
For parents
Read aloud from 15 if at all. Independent reading from 16. Plugged In says 18. For older teens who can argue with a hero. Ask where Jacqueline could still have turned back. Ask why Poirot had no right to let her die that way (CCC 2280 to 2283). Older printings insult Egyptian children; say so.