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pedanther's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I have mixed feelings about this book. I found the climax effectively tense, and it successfully kept me guessing about the identity of the eponymous secret adversary when I'd been confident I knew who it was. But a lot of what precedes it is episodic runaround without much depth, and the kind of xenophobic political worldview I've already encountered in other thrillers from this period that I read when I was younger and less discerning and didn't really need any more of.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Sexism, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Classism, Incest, Torture, and War
The incest content note is for mention of marriage between first cousins.ijustreallyliketrees's review
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
4.0
I had no idea what to expect from a non-Poirot/Marple Christie story but ended up really enjoying the characters of Tommy and Tuppence, and even though the plot of this one is a bit all over the place I still had fun reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Gun violence, and Confinement
poirot's review against another edition
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Confinement, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence and Gun violence
Minor: War, Car accident, and Misogyny
bringmybooks's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Confinement, Sexism, Misogyny, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Cursing, Torture, and Xenophobia
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Rating: 5/5 stars
The first in the Tommy and Tuppence series introduces adventuring pair Tommy Beresford and Tuppence Cowley. When the two form a “joint venture” to solve mysteries, they become drawn into a mysterious and dangerous conspiracy orchestrated by an unknown criminal mastermind who calls himself Mr. Brown.
One of my peculiar quirks is that when I’m reading the works of an author who is new to me, I generally prefer to read ALL of them and to read them in publication order. I break this rule frequently for contemporary authors when I want to read their latest and buzziest, but for well-entrenched novelists like Christie, I try to hold firm. This meant that my second Christie read ever had to be the second Christie book ever—that is, The Secret Adversary. I hadn’t heard of it before and honestly wasn’t particularly excited to get to it, but I held fast to my own personal rule, and am SO GLAD that I did.
I don’t say this lightly, but The Secret Adversary has instantly become one of my all-time favorite novels. I loved it from the first chapter—the characters, the plot, the witty dialogue, the lightning-fast pace, and the brilliantly unspooled mystery all come together to make a singularly excellent read, and I could not get enough. I have no idea why it isn’t Christie’s most beloved novel, but if that means that all the big-name bestsellers are as good as this one I DEFINITELY have some treats coming my way.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: mysteries; witty and engaging characters; fast-paced plots.
CW: Abduction/confinement; death.
The first in the Tommy and Tuppence series introduces adventuring pair Tommy Beresford and Tuppence Cowley. When the two form a “joint venture” to solve mysteries, they become drawn into a mysterious and dangerous conspiracy orchestrated by an unknown criminal mastermind who calls himself Mr. Brown.
One of my peculiar quirks is that when I’m reading the works of an author who is new to me, I generally prefer to read ALL of them and to read them in publication order. I break this rule frequently for contemporary authors when I want to read their latest and buzziest, but for well-entrenched novelists like Christie, I try to hold firm. This meant that my second Christie read ever had to be the second Christie book ever—that is, The Secret Adversary. I hadn’t heard of it before and honestly wasn’t particularly excited to get to it, but I held fast to my own personal rule, and am SO GLAD that I did.
I don’t say this lightly, but The Secret Adversary has instantly become one of my all-time favorite novels. I loved it from the first chapter—the characters, the plot, the witty dialogue, the lightning-fast pace, and the brilliantly unspooled mystery all come together to make a singularly excellent read, and I could not get enough. I have no idea why it isn’t Christie’s most beloved novel, but if that means that all the big-name bestsellers are as good as this one I DEFINITELY have some treats coming my way.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: mysteries; witty and engaging characters; fast-paced plots.
CW: Abduction/confinement; death.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: War
caterina's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Entertaining, quick read, and I figured out the secret adversary early on, but Christie did have me doubting myself for a second! I was pretty annoyed with the very negative portrayal of labor rights movements in the book (ah, truly the worst thing that could happen is a labor strike!). Slow and steady Tommy and quick and passionate Tuppence were a bit of a fun pairing, so I might read more of their books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Murder, Death, and Kidnapping
Minor: Racial slurs, Misogyny, Gun violence, and Incest
grimviolins's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Incest
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Book 2 in my complete Agatha Christie read through!
I know I read this one in my teens, and I hazily remembered parts of the twist/reveal, but kept second guessing myself, so in a way I was still surprised. Even if I'd remembered the ending perfectly, I think I still would have enjoyed revisiting this one, and all the fun character interactions. Tommy and Tuppence are some of my favorite Agatha Christie characters!
I know I read this one in my teens, and I hazily remembered parts of the twist/reveal, but kept second guessing myself, so in a way I was still surprised. Even if I'd remembered the ending perfectly, I think I still would have enjoyed revisiting this one, and all the fun character interactions. Tommy and Tuppence are some of my favorite Agatha Christie characters!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Grief, Death, Murder, and Cursing
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