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Taken at the Flood

Agatha Christie · 1948

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Alcohol or drugs, Frightening scenes; positive qualities include Creativity & curiosity, Positive messages.

Book 23 · Hercule PoirotSource checked

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Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 5/5 · Alcohol or drugs 3/5 · Frightening scenes 3/5
Strongest positivesCreativity & curiosity 4/5 · Positive messages 3/5
Series positionBook 23 · Hercule Poirot
Recommendation2.8/5

Creativity & curiosity; strongest caution: death of a character.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Creativity & curiosity; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Death of a character 5/5
Recommendation 2.8/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
15Scored categories
15Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 5, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

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Review depth15 scored categories15 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character5/5
  • Alcohol or drugs3/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Positive messages3/5
  • Courage & resilience2/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 24 · Mrs McGinty's DeadStrongest cautions: Death of a character 4/5 · Frightening scenes 3/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · The Mysterious Affair at Styles
    Death of a character4/5Alcohol or drugs3/5Frightening scenes2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Violence1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · The Murder on the Links
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  3. Book 3 · Poirot Investigates
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes2/5Violence2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  4. Book 4 · The Big Four
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  5. Book 5 · Peril at End House
    Alcohol or drugs4/5Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Romance2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  6. Book 6 · The Mystery of the Blue Train
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes2/5Romance2/5Violence2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  7. Book 7 · Black Coffee
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Violence2/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  8. Book 8 · Death in the Clouds
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes2/5Romance2/5Violence2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  9. Book 9 · Murder in Mesopotamia
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  10. Book 10 · Murder on the Orient Express
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Religious themes1/5
    Gets gentler
  11. Book 11 · Murder in Three Acts
    Death of a character4/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Romance2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  12. Book 11 · Three Act Tragedy
    Death of a character5/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Religious themes2/5Romance2/5Graphic injury1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  13. Book 12 · Cards on the Table
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  14. Book 13 · The A.B.C. Murders
    Death of a character5/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence3/5Romance2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  15. Book 14 · Dumb Witness
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5
    Gets gentler
  16. Book 17 · Hercule Poirot's Christmas
    Death of a character4/5Graphic injury4/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Romance2/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  17. Book 18 · Murder in the Mews
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes2/5Romance2/5Violence2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  18. Book 18 · Sad Cypress
    Alcohol or drugs4/5Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Violence1/5
    Gets more intense
  19. Book 19 · One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets more intense
  20. Book 20 · Evil Under the Sun
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Violence3/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5Religious themes1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  21. Book 21 · Five Little Pigs
    Death of a character4/5Romance3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  22. Book 22 · The Hollow
    Death of a character4/5Romance4/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  23. Book 23 · Taken at the Flood
    Death of a character5/5Alcohol or drugs3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  24. Book 24 · Mrs McGinty's Dead
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Romance2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  25. Book 25 · After the Funeral
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  26. Book 26 · Dead Man's Folly
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Romance2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  27. Book 27 · Hickory Dickory Death
    Death of a character3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Romance2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5LGBTQIA characters1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  28. Book 28 · Cat Among the Pigeons
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  29. Book 29 · The Clocks
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Romance2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5
    About the same
  30. Book 30 · Third Girl
    Alcohol or drugs4/5Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  31. Book 32 · Hallowe'en Party
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  32. Book 33 · Elephants Can Remember
    Death of a character5/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Romance2/5Graphic injury1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  33. Book 34 · The Labours of Hercules
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes2/5Violence2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  34. Book 39 · Curtain
    Death of a character5/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Romance2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense

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What’s in it?

Death of a character5/5
Why this rating?

Several deaths are central: bombing victims, accidental death, suicide, murder, and a wartime identity-related death.

Graphic injury2/5
Why this rating?

A smashed head and fatal injuries are described, but the supplied plot indicates limited graphic detail.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Some insulting or judgmental terms appear, including an epithet for a woman, but strong profanity is not indicated.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

Engagements, love, jealousy, marriage plans, and competing romantic attachments substantially affect the plot.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

Bomb raids, murder investigation, deception, apparent poisoning, and threats create sustained adult suspense.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

The supplied summary suggests adult marriages and relationships but no explicit sexual activity or sexualized nudity.

Alcohol or drugs3/5
Why this rating?

Morphine and an overdose are important to the mystery; the substance is used lethally rather than recreationally.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

A man is punched and fatally falls; his head is then smashed with fire tongs. An attempted strangling and wartime bombing are also central.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience2/5
Why this rating?

Characters face danger and uncertainty, while Poirot persistently investigates; other acts presented as forceful are reckless or harmful.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

The intricate mystery uses disguises, false identities, staged evidence, chronology, and deductive problem-solving to engage the reader.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The setting includes British and Irish characters and varied wartime experiences, but broad human diversity is not a major focus.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

It offers incidental insight into postwar Britain, wartime disruption, inquests, policing, and deductive investigation.

Kindness & empathy1/5
Why this rating?

Some care and concern appear among family and romantic characters, but financial exploitation and manipulation dominate the relationships.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story explores consequences of deception, greed, blackmail, manipulation, guilt, and the pursuit of truth, without presenting all choices simply.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Poirot demonstrates persistence and reasoning, but many major characters lie, exploit others, conceal crimes, or act violently.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in Taken at the Flood would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Taken at the Flood, and what caused that change?
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