Preceded by: The Mystery of the Blue TrainFirst published: 1929. It seems crazy that that's not far off a century ago. This edition, however, with an introduction by Val McDermid, is a tie-in to the 2026 Netflix series. Which I did watch quite recently, so was interested to see how it compared with the novel. I've read it before, of course - I've read them all at some point in my life - but far too long ago to remember. I think I had it mixed up in my mind with The Clocks, which I guess is understandable, title-wise.
Title: Just "Seven Dials" on the cover, in the new Netflix tie-in edition. But I'll stick with The Seven Dials Mystery, as Agatha intended.
Plot: We're back at Chimneys - oh joy! I'm not sure it merited a revisit, but here we are again with Lord Caterham, his daughter Lady Eileen "Bundle" Brent, Bill Eversleigh, etc.
When young Gerald Wade is found dead in his room at Chimneys, unawoken by the alarm clocks ("alarum" clocks in the text) his friends have placed there as a joke, young Bundle - an energetic young woman with a penchant for danger - suspects something's afoot. (Unlike in the TV series, there's no romantic relationship between them.) The words "seven dials" keep coming up, and soon there's word of another mysterious multinational secret society, which is a bit reminiscent of the Big Four. Soon, Bundle is scampering about right left and centre in the pursuit of what's really going on, from seedy nightclubs to political gatherings. There's definitely surprises along the way - including a hilariously unexpected proposal. The audacity!
Silly names watch: There's a girl known for no apparent reason as Socks (real name: Vera Daventry). Her obsession with using the word "subtle" at every opportunity is quite amusing. Another character, Rupert Bateman, is known as "Pongo".
Acceptable in the 20s? There's the usual patronising attitude to the lower classes. Though the upper classes are mainly dimwits, so. The self-made rich, represented here by Sir Oswald and Lady Coote, are also rather looked down upon, incapable of the "delicate appreciations of life" enjoyed by the upper-class likes of Lord Caterham.
And there're the usual uncomfortable references to people being Jewish, with references to "Jewesses" in a nightclub, and the likes of this -
"I may be an ass," said Jimmy. "I daresay I am. But I won't have Russian Jews saying so."
Verdict: In her autobiography, Christie describes this book as "the light-hearted thriller type", which didn't need too much in the way of plotting. Light-hearted it definitely is - clearly, none of this is meant to be taken too seriously. The adventurey species of Christie books aren't really my favourite - I'm quite often not entirely sure what's going on, or why - but I liked this better than Chimneys or The Big Four, and the solution is both unexpected and fun.
Comparisons to Wodehouse felt a little more justified here than in Chimneys, though Christie isn't as funny a writer (but hardly anybody is). There's a good selection of vacuous young men (one of whom is described as a "purely ornamental excrescence", very Wodehousian!), a dynamic trouble-causing heroine in the shape of Bundle Brent, and some good lines. Some of my highlighted quotes -
"Perhaps George is going to be assassinated," said Lord Caterham hopefully.
And this delightful exchange -
"It's an extraordinary thing" [said Gerry Wade], "but wherever I happen to be staying, I'm always last to be down [to breakfast]."
"Very extraordinary," said Lady Coote.
Acceptable in the 20s? There's the usual patronising attitude to the lower classes. Though the upper classes are mainly dimwits, so. The self-made rich, represented here by Sir Oswald and Lady Coote, are also rather looked down upon, incapable of the "delicate appreciations of life" enjoyed by the upper-class likes of Lord Caterham.
And there're the usual uncomfortable references to people being Jewish, with references to "Jewesses" in a nightclub, and the likes of this -
"I may be an ass," said Jimmy. "I daresay I am. But I won't have Russian Jews saying so."
Verdict: In her autobiography, Christie describes this book as "the light-hearted thriller type", which didn't need too much in the way of plotting. Light-hearted it definitely is - clearly, none of this is meant to be taken too seriously. The adventurey species of Christie books aren't really my favourite - I'm quite often not entirely sure what's going on, or why - but I liked this better than Chimneys or The Big Four, and the solution is both unexpected and fun.
Comparisons to Wodehouse felt a little more justified here than in Chimneys, though Christie isn't as funny a writer (but hardly anybody is). There's a good selection of vacuous young men (one of whom is described as a "purely ornamental excrescence", very Wodehousian!), a dynamic trouble-causing heroine in the shape of Bundle Brent, and some good lines. Some of my highlighted quotes -
"Perhaps George is going to be assassinated," said Lord Caterham hopefully.
And this delightful exchange -
"It's an extraordinary thing" [said Gerry Wade], "but wherever I happen to be staying, I'm always last to be down [to breakfast]."
"Very extraordinary," said Lady Coote.
"I don't know why it is," said Mr Wade, meditating. "I can't think, I'm sure."
"Why don't you just get up?" suggested Lady Coote.
"Oh!" said Mr Wade, The simplicity of the solution rather took him aback.
Up next: Partners in Crime. It's Tommy and Tuppence again!
"Why don't you just get up?" suggested Lady Coote.
"Oh!" said Mr Wade, The simplicity of the solution rather took him aback.
Up next: Partners in Crime. It's Tommy and Tuppence again!
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