The Seven Dials Mystery
Ratings12
Average rating3.4
15
Ratings12
Average rating3.4
Brings back several characters from an earlier novel, *The Secret of Chimneys*, in a story that can best be described as a John Buchan thriller told by P.G. Wodehouse. (https://agathachristie.fandom.com/wiki/The_Seven_Dials_Mystery)
Consummate young silly ass Gerry Wade is the despair of hosts and hostesses across the land, with his inability to make it to breakfast before the eggs are congealed, the toast has wilted and the coffee has grown chill and distinctly unwelcoming. And so, a small group of sundry other young silly-asses and interchangeable girls decide that a good, stiff dose of eight fine alarum clocks would be just the thing to spring him, yelling, from his bed in the early hours. This plan, however, fails signally to work, for the very good reason that Gerry is far too dead to be roused by anything quieter than the Last Trump.
This discovery both puts a dampener on the house party and raises some questions. Why would a notoriously heavy sleeper die of an overdose of a sleeping draught? And why are there only seven of the eight clocks found in the bedroom, neatly and sinisterly arranged on the mantelpiece as though to convey some message?
Lady Eileen ‘Bundle’ Brent and friends are shortly to find out… (https://alackofconsensus.wordpress.com/2018/03/07/review-the-seven-dials-mystery-by-agatha-christie/)
Reviews with the most likes.
Lending library find - this was a good palate cleanser to the 2-star romances. Christie was taking a turn at blending her typical murder mystery with a spy thriller, but I think I prefer her usual. I actually picked up an edition that has two of her other novels in it, so I'm looking forward to reading those. The forward noted that Christie's portrayal of German and Russian spies in this one hasn't aged particularly well, but...German and Russian spies in the between-war period were up to no good! I also agree 100% with their observation that Christie spares no one, especially the British upper class, in her satiric sweep: this novel is full of aimless young men of means, and Lord Caterham in particular is Wilde-ean in his absurdity. The standout here is for sure the heroine (in another skewering of social mores, she is ridiculously nicknamed Bundle), who is equal parts zany and disciplined. Forget Superintendent Battle; this should have been the start of the Bundle series.
Not an ordinary mystery, this one is more “international spy” thing :-D
I didn't expect the twist. Good :-)
Reminds me a lot of Wodehouse. Slightly silly boys, very accomplished girls. I like that. :-D (Though, of course fatherly men try to keep girls out of the action, being such gentle, fragile things. Fainting and all.) Agatha didn't keep the girls safe, nor out of action. I like that, too :-D
Once again the maestro has dumbfounded me, I never know where she is going to go! Delightfully fun, enjoyable characters with plenty of deaths and daring.
Great to see a plucky, young female take the lead and lots of very funny moments. Dialogue was sharp as a whip and there were plenty of twists and turns.
As with all the Christie novels I've read so far it is far removed from the reality of that time. Everyone has plenty of money and all the time in the world for sleuthing and playing golf. But it's a lovely piece of escapism which is, sometimes, all you want from a book!
Overall I liked it. I particularly liked the characters, though I found the mystery aspect a little lacking. It seemed at the start to be about one thing but then it seemed to totally change gears. I did not guess the ending though.
Featured Series
5 primary booksSuperintendent Battle is a 5-book series with 5 primary works first released in 1925 with contributions by Agatha Christie, Agatha Christie, and Myra Vreeland.
