THE SECRET ADVERSARY
UK publication: 1922 (John Lane, The Bodley Head)
US publication: 1922 (Dodd, Mead)
Detective: Tommy & Tuppence Beresford
Genre: Novel
Plot summary and comments: More of a thriller than a mystery, in which the Beresfords-to-be enter the world of international espionage. Tommy Beresford and Tuppence Cowley are childhood friends in their 20s recently demobilized from the war, who meet by accident and are recruited by the Secret Service to save the country. Their task is to trace a girl (Jane Finn) who escaped from the sinking of the Lusitania with Allied documents which must now be found and suppressed; the puzzle is to identify their adversary (actually a master international criminal and spy) among the various characters they encounter (including Julius Hersheimmer, an American millionaire and Jane's cousin, Sir James Peel Edgerton, a distinguished barrister, and Albert, a lift-boy). Tommy and Tuppence are good friends throughout the story, but reveal their deeper feelings for one another at the end (although marriage is not yet on the horizon). The story is also an interesting picture of the post-war social instability in England. It was eventually (1928) made into a film in Germany, "Die Abenteuer GmbH".
Courtesey of: http://stout.physics.ucla.edu/%7eyoder/mystery/christie.html
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::READERS REVIEWS::
"Though not exactly a mystery, Agatha Christie's The Secret Adversary is yet another wonderful and exciting adventure starring Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, probably the most lovable of Christie's detectives. The answer to this mystery/adventure may not be too difficult to guess at, but it's the fun-loving, humourous characters one falls in love with. If only Agatha Christie had written more books staring the Beresfords. "
"First I would like to say something, I LOVE Tommy and Tuppence. The young and lively Tommy and Tuppence (portrayed in Secret Adversary and Partners In Crime) not the middle aged couple the later novels made them to be. The mystery itself is pretty good (it is Agatha were talking about, after all) but what makes this book stand out from the rest are the two main characters. Their dialouge is witty, their romance (they are in love, aren't they??) is sweet. This is easily one of my favourite Agatha Christie books. "
"Agatha Christie's THE SECRET ADVERSARY is her first full blown attempt at the 'thriller' novel, which was an extremely popular format in the year it was published (1922). In those days, writers like Sapper and Edgar Wallace were creating best-sellers for an ever-appreciating public. Therefore, it is not surprising that Christie would try her hand at the format as well. The results of this book are slightly mixed, but only if you take it too seriously. For after all, Christie was a brilliant woman and knew EXACTLY what she was doing. What THE SECRET ADVERSARY is is a parody of the thrillers that were currently so popular. Does this mean that we should not take it seriously? No. But it may help you enjoy the book more to realize that some of the elements of the book were added to tweak those other elements that were taken so very seriously in other thrillers.
For example, how many coincidences can this book have? All Tommy and Tuppence (the extremely engaging heroes of the story) have to do is mention a name and they are immediately plunged in the enemy's lair. Even Tuppence cannot refrain from mentioning how 'amazing" it all is! Definitely this is Christie with tongue-in-cheek. Additionally, it is amazing that the villians (who are playing a very serious game indeed) do not dispatch with our heroes the moment they are detected. Again, this is done with a slight jab to other thrillers where the heroes are typcially caught by the bad guys once or twice and they NEVER, EVER kill the heroes off. They always give them multiple chances to escape. Christie knew how silly this all could be, but included anyway to play the game that she so obviously enjoyed.
You might think, by all I have said, that this is not a book for you. You also might wonder why I am giving it five stars. First of all, it is Christie after all, and her style is breezy and extremely readable. Also, Tommy and Tuppence are delightful characters and their banter is worth the rest of the book. Plus, there are some very effective moments in the book, which only a master like Christie could manage. The discovery of the poisoned body is very well written and actually created a chill that shot down my spine. Yes, it is not Christie's greatest work by a long shot, and yes, there are some incredible implausibilities in the story. But I believe that they were there for a purpose. Besides, if all you are looking for is a diverting couple of hours, you could do a lot worse than this book. It's a lark, and that is exactly what Christie intended it to be from the first."
"In her second novel, Agatha Christie introduced Prudence "Tuppence" Cowley and Tommy Beresford, old friends who are both newly discharged from the service at the end of World War I. By chance, they meet in London one day and to fight their boredom launch a detective firm together. Their first case involves tracing a young girl, Jane Finn, who disappeared during the war with a folder of important government papers. This is also Mrs. Christie's first of many novels to use the "master criminal" plot, a device she will use many more times in her writing career. The suspense is thrilling as is the enthusiasm of Tommy and Tuppence, two characters who will return in "Partners in Crime," "N or M?" "By The Pricking of My Thumbs," and "Postern of Fate." But it is in this first novel that the two are most endearing, especially when Tommy asks Tuppence to become his wife."
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