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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Like many of you, I'm sure, I gobbled up Agatha Christie mysteries, one after another, when I was a teenager. The details of the plots faded as the years went by, but I remembered the books fondly. My favourites were not the adventures of Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple (although my husband & I watched "Poirot" with David Suchet on PBS faithfully for years), but the lesser-known husband & wife team, Tommy & Tuppence Beresford -- aka "Partners in Crime."
Unlike some fictional characters, Tommy & Tuppence aged as the series progressed through four novels and one collection of short stories: the first Tommy & Tuppence book, "The Secret Adversary," was Christie's second novel -- published in 1922 and set in contemporary post-WWI Britain; the final volume, "Postern of Fate" was Christie's final book, published in 1973 and set some 50 years after the events of the first book.
I was delighted to read, earlier this summer, that the BBC was bringing some of the Tommy & Tuppence mysteries to life in new adaptations. The new series recently started showing on Bravo here in Canada (and on Acorn in the U.S), and I thought it was timely to revisit these two old friends, some 40 years (!) after I first read about their adventures.
"The Secret Adversary" (the book) begins with the 1915 sinking of the Lusitania. Women & children are being evacuated first, and a young woman accepts & agrees to deliver an important package from a desperate British agent.
Cut to post-World War One London, as Miss Prudence Cowley (aka "Tuppence") runs into a childhood friend she nursed during the war, Tommy Beresford. Both are at loose ends, looking for work and for excitement, and decide to go into business together, calling themselves "The Young Adventurers." They get a little more than they had bargained for, as they are drawn into the search for the missing woman from the Lusitania and her precious cargo. And, of course, there's romance.
The dialogue is horribly dated ("Tuppence, old thing!" "Tommy, old bean!"), and I found myself rolling my eyes over Christie's idea of how an American would talk. The plot is likewise dated and a tad melodramatic, involving a Bolshevik plot to overthrow of the British government -- and I had a pretty good idea fairly early on as to who the mysterious villain "Mr. Brown" might be. But there were still enough twists and turns to keep me interested. It's a fun, light read with an engaging hero & heroine and I finished it with a smile.
Unlike some fictional characters, Tommy & Tuppence aged as the series progressed through four novels and one collection of short stories: the first Tommy & Tuppence book, "The Secret Adversary," was Christie's second novel -- published in 1922 and set in contemporary post-WWI Britain; the final volume, "Postern of Fate" was Christie's final book, published in 1973 and set some 50 years after the events of the first book.
I was delighted to read, earlier this summer, that the BBC was bringing some of the Tommy & Tuppence mysteries to life in new adaptations. The new series recently started showing on Bravo here in Canada (and on Acorn in the U.S), and I thought it was timely to revisit these two old friends, some 40 years (!) after I first read about their adventures.
"The Secret Adversary" (the book) begins with the 1915 sinking of the Lusitania. Women & children are being evacuated first, and a young woman accepts & agrees to deliver an important package from a desperate British agent.
Cut to post-World War One London, as Miss Prudence Cowley (aka "Tuppence") runs into a childhood friend she nursed during the war, Tommy Beresford. Both are at loose ends, looking for work and for excitement, and decide to go into business together, calling themselves "The Young Adventurers." They get a little more than they had bargained for, as they are drawn into the search for the missing woman from the Lusitania and her precious cargo. And, of course, there's romance.
The dialogue is horribly dated ("Tuppence, old thing!" "Tommy, old bean!"), and I found myself rolling my eyes over Christie's idea of how an American would talk. The plot is likewise dated and a tad melodramatic, involving a Bolshevik plot to overthrow of the British government -- and I had a pretty good idea fairly early on as to who the mysterious villain "Mr. Brown" might be. But there were still enough twists and turns to keep me interested. It's a fun, light read with an engaging hero & heroine and I finished it with a smile.
Christie #2
Tommy & Tuppence #1
Talking Books narrator George Holmes--good
Overdrive narrator Nadia May--excellent except when fighting a migraine
It's a suspense story rather than a mystery and really picks up in the second half when we all know what a dangerous situation has developed but don't know if the main characters will figure it out. Lot's of silly romance in there, too.
It's hard to rate Agatha Christie--think when she was writing and how original she was! For example, how many suspense novels had been written when she wrote this one? And the character of Tuppence--we take smart, independent female MC's for granted today. She was probably a novelty in Christie's time.
It's also interesting to compare the difference in the approach to problems between Tommy and Tuppence. Christie must have been an absolute genius to have such appreciation of this at such a young age.
It would be fun to hear Nadia May narrate the story.
Tommy & Tuppence #1
Talking Books narrator George Holmes--good
Overdrive narrator Nadia May--excellent except when fighting a migraine
It's a suspense story rather than a mystery and really picks up in the second half when we all know what a dangerous situation has developed but don't know if the main characters will figure it out. Lot's of silly romance in there, too.
It's hard to rate Agatha Christie--think when she was writing and how original she was! For example, how many suspense novels had been written when she wrote this one? And the character of Tuppence--we take smart, independent female MC's for granted today. She was probably a novelty in Christie's time.
It's also interesting to compare the difference in the approach to problems between Tommy and Tuppence. Christie must have been an absolute genius to have such appreciation of this at such a young age.
It would be fun to hear Nadia May narrate the story.
I knnewwww it ! (So happy I wasn't fooled this time)
Wonderful story! A thrilling mystery by Agatha Christie with a romantic touch! What more can I ask for?
Might be one of my favourite novels written by the queen.
Loved the young adventurers. I can relate to Tuppence: you read too many crime writing, you start thinking you're a detective
Wonderful story! A thrilling mystery by Agatha Christie with a romantic touch! What more can I ask for?
Might be one of my favourite novels written by the queen.
Loved the young adventurers. I can relate to Tuppence: you read too many crime writing, you start thinking you're a detective
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
are we not going to talk about that guy marrying his cousin? why did everyone treat that as normal lol
a fun romp in classic xenophobic 1900s adventure story fashion. tommy & tuppence were surprisingly cute (in the few moments they have together in between getting kidnapped, respectively)
a fun romp in classic xenophobic 1900s adventure story fashion. tommy & tuppence were surprisingly cute (in the few moments they have together in between getting kidnapped, respectively)
I enjoyed this book so much! I liked it a lot more than And Then There Were None.. which seems like a weird thing to say about her most popular novel. I found this book so much more enjoyable because I felt like I was so invested in the mystery Tommy and Tuppence were solving together. Not only were these characters THE BEST, but this one just had me guessing right up to the last second. I am so glad that my co-worker caught me reading And Then There Were None and lent me his Tommy and Tuppence books! Definitely will be continuing this series.
my first agatha christie book!! it was enjoyable and surprisingly easy to get through…. i think i’m in love with tommy now oops
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced