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ninahuynh's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Only reason why it's not a 5 star is cause of all the politic talk, haha. I knew going in (from the title) that it'd likely be something politic-related but the amount of politic jargon, especially at the end of the book, was too much for me.
But Tommy and Tuppence has me blushing and laughing and kicking my feet till the end 😂
But Tommy and Tuppence has me blushing and laughing and kicking my feet till the end 😂
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence
babblingbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Overall very entertaining. Guessed the culprit but then started to doubt myself. Enjoyed the format of amateur adventurers as a change of pace from all-knowing detective.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Confinement
Minor: War, Forced institutionalization, and Gun violence
steveatwaywords's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This is an early book in the career of Christie, and I admit I have not read many of her less famous works. Here, while this thriller--not really mystery--has its moments of irritation and clumsiness from a younger writer, it still offers a comfortable storyline that speaks of an era of more innocent reading, despite its topic.
The two young investigators (who will of course fall in love) find themselves in no less than a hunt for a WWI secret document which may cause the fall of the British government. Scotland Yard and other persons of society have never made much progress in finding it, but they quickly--bizarrely--enlist the confidence of these two amateur youngsters her wander haplessly into their midst. The other characters make a number of public assessments of the two (cleverness, intuitiveness, and the like) and this is how characterization is formed, because very few of these qualities are witnessed from them along the way. Instead, circumstance and luck find them discovering and surviving most dangers--but it's all in the clean fun of the read. We don't worry overmuch about their peril (no matter how much Christie dangles it before us), and we don't worry either about it all coming out okay in the end.
The great twist or mystery that has made her work so famous is also here, though readers are unlikely to be much surprised by it; we can see the truth of what is happening about half-way through, though it takes our heroes a tad bit longer. What is left, the clever escape, is unfortunately done in the way her critics have often accused--simply denying readers access to the information necessary. If we don't tell what a character is doing while they are not currently being narrated, we can have them do just about anything and keep it a secret. But worry not: the puzzle will all be filled in at a celebratory dinner party at the end.
As and early genre piece, then, there is nothing particularly unique about this first of a series of mysteries, but then, nothing entirely unsatisfying, either. Harmless (if quite dated) fun.
The two young investigators (who will of course fall in love) find themselves in no less than a hunt for a WWI secret document which may cause the fall of the British government. Scotland Yard and other persons of society have never made much progress in finding it, but they quickly--bizarrely--enlist the confidence of these two amateur youngsters her wander haplessly into their midst. The other characters make a number of public assessments of the two (cleverness, intuitiveness, and the like) and this is how characterization is formed, because very few of these qualities are witnessed from them along the way. Instead, circumstance and luck find them discovering and surviving most dangers--but it's all in the clean fun of the read. We don't worry overmuch about their peril (no matter how much Christie dangles it before us), and we don't worry either about it all coming out okay in the end.
The great twist or mystery that has made her work so famous is also here, though readers are unlikely to be much surprised by it; we can see the truth of what is happening about half-way through, though it takes our heroes a tad bit longer. What is left, the clever escape, is unfortunately done in the way her critics have often accused--simply denying readers access to the information necessary. If we don't tell what a character is doing while they are not currently being narrated, we can have them do just about anything and keep it a secret. But worry not: the puzzle will all be filled in at a celebratory dinner party at the end.
As and early genre piece, then, there is nothing particularly unique about this first of a series of mysteries, but then, nothing entirely unsatisfying, either. Harmless (if quite dated) fun.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Gun violence
pedanther's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I have mixed feelings about this book. I found the climax effectively tense, and it successfully kept me guessing about the identity of the eponymous secret adversary when I'd been confident I knew who it was. But a lot of what precedes it is episodic runaround without much depth, and the kind of xenophobic political worldview I've already encountered in other thrillers from this period that I read when I was younger and less discerning and didn't really need any more of.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Sexism, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Classism, Incest, Torture, and War
The incest content note is for mention of marriage between first cousins.ijustreallyliketrees's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I had no idea what to expect from a non-Poirot/Marple Christie story but ended up really enjoying the characters of Tommy and Tuppence, and even though the plot of this one is a bit all over the place I still had fun reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Gun violence, and Confinement
poirot's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Confinement, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence and Gun violence
Minor: War, Car accident, and Misogyny
simply_fran's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Kidnapping
bringmybooks's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Confinement, Sexism, Misogyny, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Cursing, Torture, and Xenophobia
beiiadonna's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Gun violence
Minor: Torture
caterina's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Entertaining, quick read, and I figured out the secret adversary early on, but Christie did have me doubting myself for a second! I was pretty annoyed with the very negative portrayal of labor rights movements in the book (ah, truly the worst thing that could happen is a labor strike!). Slow and steady Tommy and quick and passionate Tuppence were a bit of a fun pairing, so I might read more of their books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Murder, Death, and Kidnapping
Minor: Racial slurs, Misogyny, Gun violence, and Incest