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A review by prashiie
The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
3.0
“After all, that was what one came abroad for - to see all these peculiar things one reads about in books.”
This book starts in Bulawayo. It is the second time Agatha Christie writes about this location.
Anthony Cade is asked to bring the memoirs of Count Stylptitch and to return some letters to Virginia Revel. The Comrades of the Red Hand as well as the Loyalist Party are trying to get the memoirs from Cade. On top of all that, he also finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery.
The story was a bit confusing because I found it hard to separate the Comrades of the Red Hand from the Loyalist Party. But still found it an entertaining book. One thing I found disturbing is how some characters talked about black people.
“Merciful God in heaven! He has married a black woman in Africa! Come, come, it’s not so bad as all that. She’s white enough - white all through, bless her.”
I mean, this was written in 1925, so we cannot really judge that time by our current standards. But reading it was still quiet disturbing.
“It’s awful, but I never really look at them properly.”
The servants and the so-called "lesser" people are usually ignored. Nobody really notices them, which gives them anonymity. In this case, Varaga took advantage of that.
This book starts in Bulawayo. It is the second time Agatha Christie writes about this location.
Anthony Cade is asked to bring the memoirs of Count Stylptitch and to return some letters to Virginia Revel. The Comrades of the Red Hand as well as the Loyalist Party are trying to get the memoirs from Cade. On top of all that, he also finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery.
The story was a bit confusing because I found it hard to separate the Comrades of the Red Hand from the Loyalist Party. But still found it an entertaining book. One thing I found disturbing is how some characters talked about black people.
“Merciful God in heaven! He has married a black woman in Africa! Come, come, it’s not so bad as all that. She’s white enough - white all through, bless her.”
I mean, this was written in 1925, so we cannot really judge that time by our current standards. But reading it was still quiet disturbing.
The servants and the so-called "lesser" people are usually ignored. Nobody really notices them, which gives them anonymity. In this case, Varaga took advantage of that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Racism
Minor: Kidnapping and Murder