THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY
UK publication: 1929 (Collins)
US publication: 1929 (Dodd, Mead)
Detective: Superintendent Battle
Genre: Novel
Plot
summary and comments: A puzzle-thriller, which uses several of the characters
and the house from The Secret of Chimneys (1924). A young man is found
dead in his bed in Chimneys, with seven alarm clocks ranged around the
mantelpiece. As in The Secret Adversary, the identities of the members
of a secret society (headquartered in the Seven Dials Club, situated in
that seedy corner of London) must be discovered, as well as two murders
accounted for. Superintendent Battle has a hand in the solution, and a
major part is played by Lady Eileen ("Bundle") Brent. Lord Caterham
is still owner of Chimneys. The story was made into a TV film in 1981.
Courtesey of: http://stout.physics.ucla.edu/%7eyoder/mystery/christie.html
::READERS REVIEWS::
"Once
again Agatha Christie returns us to the stately home of Chimneys from
her previous novel. We are reintroduced to Bundle, George Lomax, Superintendent
Battle, and others from that earlier work. Lord Caterham has leased his
estate to a wealthy businessman for the hunting season, but becomes distraught
when murder once again strikes his ill-fated home. The plot centers on
the theft of a valuable scientific formula and a crime-fighting society
known as the Seven Dials. Comic elements coupled with brilliant but improbable
plotting make this a satifying Christie read, though not one of her best."
"Dashing
Jim Thesiger and his cohort Bundle head out on the adventure of a lifetime.
They run into spies, mystery, and... murder (not to mention romance).
For a thriller you won't be able to put down, be sure to read The Seven
Dials Mystery."
"I
have read this book and is a pretty darn good one. I would recommend reading
it and other Agatha Christie books. Her books really leave you astonished."
"I
enjoyed this book both as a great depiction of England between the wars
as well as a mystery. Unlike some of Dame Agatha's other works, here I
genuinely was kept in suspense till the end as to the identity of the
criminal. But even more interesting was the characters who make their
second appearance after "The Secret of Chimneys" which was also
entertaining, but less suspenseful. I loved reading about the adventures
of Lord Caterham and Bundle again, both of whom are as funny and sharp
as ever. I would definitely recommend the book to even those Christie
fans who only prefer Poirot and Miss Marple mysteries - it's good enough
to stand on its own."
::YOUR OPINION::
