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babblingbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Murder and Confinement
Minor: War, Forced institutionalization, and Gun violence
steveatwaywords's review against another edition
- 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
The two young investigators (who will of course fall in love) find themselves in no less than a hunt for a WWI secret document which may cause the fall of the British government. Scotland Yard and other persons of society have never made much progress in finding it, but they quickly--bizarrely--enlist the confidence of these two amateur youngsters her wander haplessly into their midst. The other characters make a number of public assessments of the two (cleverness, intuitiveness, and the like) and this is how characterization is formed, because very few of these qualities are witnessed from them along the way. Instead, circumstance and luck find them discovering and surviving most dangers--but it's all in the clean fun of the read. We don't worry overmuch about their peril (no matter how much Christie dangles it before us), and we don't worry either about it all coming out okay in the end.
The great twist or mystery that has made her work so famous is also here, though readers are unlikely to be much surprised by it; we can see the truth of what is happening about half-way through, though it takes our heroes a tad bit longer. What is left, the clever escape, is unfortunately done in the way her critics have often accused--simply denying readers access to the information necessary. If we don't tell what a character is doing while they are not currently being narrated, we can have them do just about anything and keep it a secret. But worry not: the puzzle will all be filled in at a celebratory dinner party at the end.
As and early genre piece, then, there is nothing particularly unique about this first of a series of mysteries, but then, nothing entirely unsatisfying, either. Harmless (if quite dated) fun.
Moderate: Murder and Gun violence
pedanther's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
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
- 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
Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Gun violence, and Confinement
poirot's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Confinement, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence and Gun violence
Minor: War, Car accident, and Misogyny
bringmybooks's review
- 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
Graphic: Classism, Death, Confinement, Sexism, Misogyny, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Cursing, Torture, and Xenophobia
elaineberaldo's review against another edition
- 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
Minor: Suicide, Kidnapping, and Murder
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: War
caterina's review
- 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
Graphic: Confinement, Murder, Death, and Kidnapping
Minor: Racial slurs, Misogyny, Gun violence, and Incest
grimviolins's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Incest