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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Het eerste verhaal was een beetje langdradig en voorspelbaar, maar toch bleef ik wel lezen. De korte verhalen vond ik erg oppervlakkig en eigenlijk nergens naartoe gaan. De introductie duurde naar mijn gevoel te lang, waardoor de ontknoping echt in drie zinnen wordt gedaan.
The first story was a bit lengthy and predictive, but I wanted to keep reading either way. The short stories were very shallow and without coming to a real point. The introduction was way too long, what led to a climax of only around 3 sentences.
The first story was a bit lengthy and predictive, but I wanted to keep reading either way. The short stories were very shallow and without coming to a real point. The introduction was way too long, what led to a climax of only around 3 sentences.
adventurous
funny
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
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
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
This is February’s pick for #ReadChristie2023 and the prompt for this month was a blunt object. This book is a collection of short stories featuring Tommy and Tuppence. It is where the pair of amateur detectives take on board various different mysteries to solve but they mimic other famous detectives in literature to try and solve them by their specific methods.
This is basically Agatha having a bit of fun with the genre and she even makes fun of her own famous detective Hercule Poirot but the majority of the stories came across as very dull and I wasn’t invested in any of them.
This is only my second book reading Tommy and Tuppence, I loved The Secret Adversary they were in but this time round, I found them both very irritating!
It is however, a light and fun collection of stories but I definitely prefer Christie’s full length novels. I don’t think the short story collection works as well. Plus, I enjoy the more darker stories. Give me the shocking murders and suspense please, not the merry, well-to-do waffle that comes out of Tommy & Tuppence’s mouths. It just made me roll my eyes a bit too much.
I do love Agatha Christie but this is probably the worst one I have read by her unfortunately. Thankfully there aren’t many I dislike of her books! Onto the next!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"'I suggest that you have six months leave from the office and, of course, if you like to run a Detective Agency under the name of Theodore Blunt, it' s nothing to do with me.'...'You can run the Agency as you please. I fancied' - his eyes twinkled a little - 'that it might amuse Mrs Tommy to try her hand at a little detective work.'"
A set of short stories fearing husband and wife team, Tommy & Tuppence Beresford. Tommy is asked by his boss to stand in for a Mr Blunt in a detective agency, so takes Tuppence as his secretary, Miss Robinson and Albert as the 'office boy'. Whilst investigating they are actually spies and the pair argue about using the tactics of various literary detectives.
Each story is different, with either a new case or continuing their front as a detective agency. They're witty stories and many are rather silly, with Tommy and Tuppence having adventures, bickering as though solving the case is a casual accident. My favourite story was The House Of Lurking Death, because it felt like a proper, twisty mystery. In the final story, Christie even has the pair emulating her own detective, Hercule Poirot, and why not?! Very clever, hailing the fictional detectives whilst her erstwhile heroes poke fun at themselves.
A set of short stories fearing husband and wife team, Tommy & Tuppence Beresford. Tommy is asked by his boss to stand in for a Mr Blunt in a detective agency, so takes Tuppence as his secretary, Miss Robinson and Albert as the 'office boy'. Whilst investigating they are actually spies and the pair argue about using the tactics of various literary detectives.
Each story is different, with either a new case or continuing their front as a detective agency. They're witty stories and many are rather silly, with Tommy and Tuppence having adventures, bickering as though solving the case is a casual accident. My favourite story was The House Of Lurking Death, because it felt like a proper, twisty mystery. In the final story, Christie even has the pair emulating her own detective, Hercule Poirot, and why not?! Very clever, hailing the fictional detectives whilst her erstwhile heroes poke fun at themselves.
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Decided to join the #readchristie2023 this year as I loved reading Murder on the Orient Express last year and I wanted to read more Agatha Christie. Partners in Crime was the February pick, with the prompt being a blunt object. This is the second book in the Tommy and Tuppence series and I'm not sure I will continue to read others in this series. I much prefer the Hercule Poirot series as I find that series much better. This series takes a lighter tone than the Poirot series with loads of banter and mischief between Tommy and Tuppence. The book reads like a series of short stories with some being enjoyable and others I didn't love but overall an okay book. Although I was disappointed in this one, I can't wait to get back reading the Poirot series and some other Agatha Christie books over the year
Synopsis:
Tommy and Tuppence Beresford are restless for adventure, so when they are asked to take over Blunts International Detective Agency, they leap at the chance.
Their first case is a success - the triumphant recovery of a pink pearl. Other cases soon follow - a stabbing on Sunningdale gold course; cryptic messages in the personal columns of newspapers; and even a box of poisoned chocolates. But can they live up to their slogan of 'Any case solved in 24 hours?'.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Read Christie 2023 - February Prompt
Although this is a re-read for me, I’d read it so long ago that it was like reading it for the first time. I’ve grown to love the relationship between Tommy and Tuppence and their banter is simply delightful! In this compilation of short stories, they tackle a variety of cases involving spies to kidnappings in their signature style - that is to say - with supreme self-confidence often bordering on cockiness!
Christie has them imitate the detection styles of several famous golden age detectives - Sherlock Holmes, Roger Sheringham, and of course her very own Poirot! She does it with aplomb and a fantastic sense of humour and even though the plots are simple, they make for very enjoyable reading 😃 And Mr. Carter - who can forget him?! A firm favourite! As usual, Hugh Fraser’s narration is excellent!
I enjoyed this return to the world of the Beresfords and their stint at The International Detective Agency!
Although this is a re-read for me, I’d read it so long ago that it was like reading it for the first time. I’ve grown to love the relationship between Tommy and Tuppence and their banter is simply delightful! In this compilation of short stories, they tackle a variety of cases involving spies to kidnappings in their signature style - that is to say - with supreme self-confidence often bordering on cockiness!
Christie has them imitate the detection styles of several famous golden age detectives - Sherlock Holmes, Roger Sheringham, and of course her very own Poirot! She does it with aplomb and a fantastic sense of humour and even though the plots are simple, they make for very enjoyable reading 😃 And Mr. Carter - who can forget him?! A firm favourite! As usual, Hugh Fraser’s narration is excellent!
I enjoyed this return to the world of the Beresfords and their stint at The International Detective Agency!
3.5/5 stars
Though I've read the Secret Adversary and was a bit fond of Tommy and Tuppence, after reading Mr. Quin they faded in my eyes. The stories are not bad, but I didn't enjoyed them as Mr. Quin's, though to be honest you can't compare them. I just didn't get the same feeling.
Though I've read the Secret Adversary and was a bit fond of Tommy and Tuppence, after reading Mr. Quin they faded in my eyes. The stories are not bad, but I didn't enjoyed them as Mr. Quin's, though to be honest you can't compare them. I just didn't get the same feeling.