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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Audiobook version, definitely recommend. Christie's works lend themselves so well to performance (as the BBC discovered about 50 years ago, ha).
Enjoyable, bit hokey now, but fun as an American to hear acronyms that were undoubtedly common at the time, but having no idea what they stand for now (and they are not explained in the book). Enjoyable.
Enjoyable, bit hokey now, but fun as an American to hear acronyms that were undoubtedly common at the time, but having no idea what they stand for now (and they are not explained in the book). Enjoyable.
A good plot, but it doesn’t really feel like an Agatha Christie story. The dialogue is a bit silly sometimes, probably just a sign of the times.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
This book is maddening.
One of my biggest pet peeves is when a smart character does something stupid for no good reason other than that the author needs them to in order for the plot they've laid out to make sense. The main point of The Secret Adversary is that Tommy and Tuppence don't know who the villainous "Mr. Brown" is. Less than halfway through the book a character literally points to Mr. Brown and then passes out. From context neither we nor Tuppence know which of two men it is, BUT SHE LITERALLY POINTS TO HIM. Somehow this goes over Tuppence's head in spite of the fact, that to this point, she has been the smartest one in the room. Then on the next page, when the character again tells her that Mr. Brown is in the room with them, rather than suspecting the two gentlemen she is with, she gets up and looks in the wardrobe. Tuppence is not that dumb. You (yes I mean you Agatha Christie) have gone to great lengths to show us she's not that dumb, but suddenly you need her to be for some reason.
For no good reason at that. A far better choice would have been for Tuppence to see it too and have to continue working with both men knowing one of them is Mr. Brown but not knowing which. Instead, the rest of the book is (to use a term from the world of improv theater) bridging. You know something has to happen (Tuppence has to realize one of them is Mr. Brown) and you're just killing time until it does. It's maddening and boring. Fortunately there's no reason for Tommy to know one of them is Mr. Brown, so his sections of the book kept me interested.
One of my biggest pet peeves is when a smart character does something stupid for no good reason other than that the author needs them to in order for the plot they've laid out to make sense. The main point of The Secret Adversary is that Tommy and Tuppence don't know who the villainous "Mr. Brown" is. Less than halfway through the book a character literally points to Mr. Brown and then passes out. From context neither we nor Tuppence know which of two men it is, BUT SHE LITERALLY POINTS TO HIM. Somehow this goes over Tuppence's head in spite of the fact, that to this point, she has been the smartest one in the room. Then on the next page, when the character again tells her that Mr. Brown is in the room with them, rather than suspecting the two gentlemen she is with, she gets up and looks in the wardrobe.
For no good reason at that. A far better choice would have been for Tuppence to see it too and have to continue working with both men knowing one of them is Mr. Brown but not knowing which. Instead, the rest of the book is (to use a term from the world of improv theater) bridging. You know something has to happen (Tuppence has to realize one of them is Mr. Brown) and you're just killing time until it does. It's maddening and boring. Fortunately there's no reason for Tommy to know one of them is Mr. Brown, so his sections of the book kept me interested.
Tuppence and Tommy plan to hire themselves out as a pair of adventurers to make ends meet. Soon they are working to save England from revolution. Her cleverness and his stubbornness are quite the pairing.
A thoroughly enjoyable read
This book, which was published in January 1922, introduces the reader to the characters of Tommy and Tuppence, who will appear in another 4 books by Agatha Christie.
I know these two characters are not as popular as Hercule Poirot and Ms Marple, but they appear to have so much fun in this adventure, despite the dangers and the sticky situations they find themselves in. I have read a short story in which they appeared (though I cannot remember its title) and had enjoyed it.
They are a great double act with Tuppence's curiosity and impetuosity clashing with Tommy's caution.
Agatha Christie's style in this book is somewhat different. I felt she had a lot of fun writing it. This isn't a side of her we find in her Poirot and Miss Marple books.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Secret Adversary. As usual, we are faced with quite a few characters and therefore a few possible culprits, and a lot of red herrings. I thought two of the characters as possible masterminds from a few chapters in, and got down to one from half way through the book. And for once, I was right!!!
This book, which was published in January 1922, introduces the reader to the characters of Tommy and Tuppence, who will appear in another 4 books by Agatha Christie.
I know these two characters are not as popular as Hercule Poirot and Ms Marple, but they appear to have so much fun in this adventure, despite the dangers and the sticky situations they find themselves in. I have read a short story in which they appeared (though I cannot remember its title) and had enjoyed it.
They are a great double act with Tuppence's curiosity and impetuosity clashing with Tommy's caution.
Agatha Christie's style in this book is somewhat different. I felt she had a lot of fun writing it. This isn't a side of her we find in her Poirot and Miss Marple books.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Secret Adversary. As usual, we are faced with quite a few characters and therefore a few possible culprits, and a lot of red herrings. I thought two of the characters as possible masterminds from a few chapters in, and got down to one from half way through the book. And for once, I was right!!!
Not at all what I had expected, really didn't enjoy the book that much to start with. The final quarter of the book improved and saved it slightly. Not sure I would rush to read any more of this series.
Great fun! Fast, funny, lots of twists and turns, loveable characters, occasional genuine concern for their wellbeing. I figured out who the big bad was, which I don’t always do! Can’t wait to read more T&T.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was excited to read this because I hadn’t read any of the Tommy & Tuppence books before, and it was such fun—in spite of the more improbable and unrealistic aspects of the plot! Both Tommy and Tuppence annoyed me a little at times, but I did enjoy their youthful energy and banter—as well as seeing Agatha Christie write younger protagonists. I loved their ingenuity as they navigated various predicaments independently of each other. Tuppence had her own strengths and contributions in unraveling the mystery, instead of just being a throwaway token female in the duo. I look forward to reading more Tommy and Tuppence in the future!