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Superintendent Battle #1
The Secret of Chimneys
Little did Anthony Cade suspect that an errand for a friend would place him at the center of a deadly conspiracy. Drawn into a web of intrigue, he begins to realize that the simple favor has placed him in serious danger.
As events unfold, the combined forces of Scotland Yard and the French Sûreté gradually converge on Chimneys, the great country estate that hides an amazing secret…
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1925
4037 people are currently reading
19023 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,783 books76.1k followersAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,902 reviews
July 7, 2023
3.5 stars
A fun mystery within a mystery story!
However, it does take a little while to start to get going and make sense.
This is one was written in 1925 and one of her earliest books, so I don't think she'd quite perfected her particular style. Still, for anyone who loves Christie, I'd recommend giving this one a shot.
Also. There sadly are no chimneys in this book.
The main character is a somewhat shady dude named Anthony Cade. You're not really sure if he's a con man, kingpin, or killer, but you're pretty sure he isn't exactly who he says he is.
Or is he?
Anthony has been entrusted with delivering the supposedly scandalous memoirs of Herzoslovakia's now-dead king to a newspaper. But before he can hand them over, several interested parties attempt to coerce him into giving the papers to them instead.
Of course, this is before they are stolen.
Virginia Revel is a clever and beautiful society widow that catches the eye of almost every man she meets, including Mr. Cade. She and Anthony team up when the dead body of a man (who was trying to blackmail her with letters that weren't hers) is found in her home.<-- the dead dude is one of the ones who tried to get the memoirs from Anthony, so he gallantly steps in and...
Well, helps her hide the body.
Superintendent Battle is the kind detective that stands back and interrogates people with a twitch of his eyebrows. He's there. Quietly working behind the scenes to sniff out not only the murderer but also whatever other secrets people are trying to keep from him. And while this is the first book he appears in, it is not the last.
On a somewhat unrelated note, this was apparently made into an episode of Miss Marple. She does not appear in the book, so if you're a fan of the little old lady from St Mary Mead, you will want to look elsewhere for your literary fix.
In the end, I'd say this is one that isn't perfect because of the slow/weird beginning. But it still has a lot of charm, so if you can make it through the first bit of the book, you'll probably like the ending.
Dreamscape Media, LLC
read by Charles Armstrong
A fun mystery within a mystery story!
However, it does take a little while to start to get going and make sense.
This is one was written in 1925 and one of her earliest books, so I don't think she'd quite perfected her particular style. Still, for anyone who loves Christie, I'd recommend giving this one a shot.
Also. There sadly are no chimneys in this book.
The main character is a somewhat shady dude named Anthony Cade. You're not really sure if he's a con man, kingpin, or killer, but you're pretty sure he isn't exactly who he says he is.
Or is he?
Anthony has been entrusted with delivering the supposedly scandalous memoirs of Herzoslovakia's now-dead king to a newspaper. But before he can hand them over, several interested parties attempt to coerce him into giving the papers to them instead.
Of course, this is before they are stolen.
Virginia Revel is a clever and beautiful society widow that catches the eye of almost every man she meets, including Mr. Cade. She and Anthony team up when the dead body of a man (who was trying to blackmail her with letters that weren't hers) is found in her home.<-- the dead dude is one of the ones who tried to get the memoirs from Anthony, so he gallantly steps in and...
Well, helps her hide the body.
Superintendent Battle is the kind detective that stands back and interrogates people with a twitch of his eyebrows. He's there. Quietly working behind the scenes to sniff out not only the murderer but also whatever other secrets people are trying to keep from him. And while this is the first book he appears in, it is not the last.
On a somewhat unrelated note, this was apparently made into an episode of Miss Marple. She does not appear in the book, so if you're a fan of the little old lady from St Mary Mead, you will want to look elsewhere for your literary fix.
In the end, I'd say this is one that isn't perfect because of the slow/weird beginning. But it still has a lot of charm, so if you can make it through the first bit of the book, you'll probably like the ending.
Dreamscape Media, LLC
read by Charles Armstrong
December 12, 2019
Unlike other books, I reacted more strangely than usual in two ways. First, I checked previous reviews here. I had to because there was no guessing how received and how viewed this book was. Secondly, I had personal feelings in the matter of the hero. I almost never feel annoyance or jealousy at a Mary Sue, but here I thought of poor Bill and how he never had a chance.
The fact that Agatha Christie tried to give even him a happy ending - that came out wrong - is slightly annoying. The story tried to juggle an awful lot of balls in the air. My rating of it reflects how it all came together. I knew there would be twists galore at the end but still the latter was unsatisfying. This is the longest Agatha Christie story I've read. She didn't yet know how to trim the fat. That would come later.
Despite the poor climax, the racial tones, the vile hero, and the meandering red herrings, it was the lack of coziness which determined my final opinion. This book is not Big Four bad, but reserve it when you've exhausted all of the author's classics.
The fact that Agatha Christie tried to give even him a happy ending - that came out wrong - is slightly annoying. The story tried to juggle an awful lot of balls in the air. My rating of it reflects how it all came together. I knew there would be twists galore at the end but still the latter was unsatisfying. This is the longest Agatha Christie story I've read. She didn't yet know how to trim the fat. That would come later.
Despite the poor climax, the racial tones, the vile hero, and the meandering red herrings, it was the lack of coziness which determined my final opinion. This book is not Big Four bad, but reserve it when you've exhausted all of the author's classics.
November 24, 2025
This is one of Agatha's best stories if not the best.
A wonderful storyline set in a privileged environment, but one where the characters are believable, well off, but not obnoxious.
I read this one in two days as the writing was so straightforward and uncomplicated.
A wonderful storyline set in a privileged environment, but one where the characters are believable, well off, but not obnoxious.
I read this one in two days as the writing was so straightforward and uncomplicated.
March 14, 2022
The Secret of Chimneys, the first Superintendent Battle novel, is more a thriller than a murder mystery. I'm a mystery fan, so I'm a bit on the slow side to appreciate her thrillers. Most of her thrillers are national and international political intrigues, which she doesn't write well. All the more reason to feel negatively towards her thrillers. However, I was surprisingly pleased with this thriller. There were things I felt remiss, of course, but overall, things were good enough to keep me engaged.
I'll simply say what I liked about this novel. I liked the hero and heroine - Anthony Cade and Virginia Revel. It was an instinctive liking, and they didn't disappoint me. And I thoroughly enjoyed the humour. The story, however, was far-fetched, almost amounting to a fairy tale, but it still held a certain fascination for me. I'm a person who goes for plausible plots, proper mysteries, and solutions. :) But nothing mattered here. What mattered were the characters and the humour.
What I wasn't pleased about, however, is the minor detective role of Inspector Battle. This may be a peculiarity of mine, but when it comes to a series, I expect the protagonist to play a prominent role in the story of the series. I was disappointed on that score here, for Inspector Battle plays a relatively minor role as a detective to Anthony Cade - our amateur detective.
It was an enjoyable read overall. And although this may not be a cleverly written novel by Christie, it certainly is an amusing one.
I'll simply say what I liked about this novel. I liked the hero and heroine - Anthony Cade and Virginia Revel. It was an instinctive liking, and they didn't disappoint me. And I thoroughly enjoyed the humour. The story, however, was far-fetched, almost amounting to a fairy tale, but it still held a certain fascination for me. I'm a person who goes for plausible plots, proper mysteries, and solutions. :) But nothing mattered here. What mattered were the characters and the humour.
What I wasn't pleased about, however, is the minor detective role of Inspector Battle. This may be a peculiarity of mine, but when it comes to a series, I expect the protagonist to play a prominent role in the story of the series. I was disappointed on that score here, for Inspector Battle plays a relatively minor role as a detective to Anthony Cade - our amateur detective.
It was an enjoyable read overall. And although this may not be a cleverly written novel by Christie, it certainly is an amusing one.
June 24, 2017
Rather silly at times - sometimes intentionally, sometimes not - The Secret of Chimneys is not one of Agatha Christie's finest works. It is, however, an enjoyable enough read for mystery fans who like a throwback.
When a rather dashing young drifter accepts a friend's job on the prospect of quick cash, he gets himself into a deep bit of doo-doo. This murder mystery amongst the upper classes draws in political intrigue at a lord's estate. A random and playfully portrayed cast of characters populate the novel and give it a life that elevates it above the serviceable plot.
It was interesting to read a Christie book with a detective other than Poirot. Superintendent Battle does not figure as prominently in the story as Poirot usually does and Battle doesn't have half the charisma of the diminutive Belgian. The aforementioned dashing young drifter does most of the heavy lifting in that regard, and in this way the book reminded me of Dorothy Sayer's Lord Peter Wimsey series, the first book of which came out two years before The Secret of Chimneys. Hm, very suspicious...
With all the evidence laid out before us, I would deduce that what we have here is a perfectly fine read and anyone who's already a fan of Christie's will enjoy it, so I should think.
When a rather dashing young drifter accepts a friend's job on the prospect of quick cash, he gets himself into a deep bit of doo-doo. This murder mystery amongst the upper classes draws in political intrigue at a lord's estate. A random and playfully portrayed cast of characters populate the novel and give it a life that elevates it above the serviceable plot.
It was interesting to read a Christie book with a detective other than Poirot. Superintendent Battle does not figure as prominently in the story as Poirot usually does and Battle doesn't have half the charisma of the diminutive Belgian. The aforementioned dashing young drifter does most of the heavy lifting in that regard, and in this way the book reminded me of Dorothy Sayer's Lord Peter Wimsey series, the first book of which came out two years before The Secret of Chimneys. Hm, very suspicious...
With all the evidence laid out before us, I would deduce that what we have here is a perfectly fine read and anyone who's already a fan of Christie's will enjoy it, so I should think.
January 16, 2019
دوستانِ گرانقدر، این کتاب از 243 صفحه و 29 فصل تشکیل شده است... البته احتمال میدهم که این کتاب ترجمه ای از همان کتابِ مشهورِ " راز چیمنیز" باشد که البته مترجم در کتاب نامی از عنوانِ اصلی نبرده است.... در هر حال، مطمئن باشید اگر این کتاب را بخوانید، یکی از پیچیده ترین و رازآلودترین داستان هایی خواهد بود که تا به حال خوانده اید... یادِ نویسندهٔ هنرمند و نابغه «آگاتا کریستی» همیشه زنده و گرامی باد
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اگر نخواهم به نکته های ریزِ داستان و حاشیه ها بپردازم باید بگویم که اصلِ داستان در موردِ سرقتِ "الماسِ کوه نور" میباشد و همچنین دستگیری دزدِ سابقه دار و باهوشی به نامِ «سلطان ویکتور» که استادِ تغییر چهره است و بارها با تغییرِ چهره، خود را به جایِ شخصیت هایِ مهم جا زده است و به کمکِ زنی به نامِ «آنژل» که بازیگری فرانسوی بوده، سرقت هایِ خود را انجام میداده است
شبی در قصرِ چیمنی که متعلق به «لرد کاترهام» میباشد، یک میهمانی برگزار شده بود که در آن «کنت ابلوویچ» که به کمکِ انگلیسی ها به پادشاهیِ هرزوسلاواکی رسیده بود، بتواند به قول و وعده اش به انگلیسی ها عمل کرده و قراردادِ نفتی کشورش را با آنها به امضا برساند... ولی به طور عجیبی «کنت ابلوویچ» با تفنگ به قتل میرسد
شخصیتِ باهوش و مغزِ متفکرِ داستان، مردی به نامِ «آنتونی کید» است که آن شب در قصر بوده و البته یکی از مظنونین نیز میباشد... حال «آنتونی» باید غیر از ثابت نمودنِ بیگناهیِ خویش، به کمکِ «کارگاه باتل» هم پرده از رازِ قتل بردارد و هم در میانِ جمعِ میهمان ها «سلطان ویکتور» را پیدا کند و هم اینکه "الماس کوه نور" که در همین قصر مخفی شده است را بیابد
عزیزانم تا فصلِ پایانی، شما نمیتوانید از هویتِ اصلیِ میهمان ها آگاه شوید... و زمانی که از شخصیت ها و هویت هایِ اصلی آنها مطلع میشوید، شک نکنید که باورتان نمیشود
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امیدوارم از خواندنِ این داستانِ بسیار زیبا، لذت ببرید
«پیروز باشید و ایرانی»
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اگر نخواهم به نکته های ریزِ داستان و حاشیه ها بپردازم باید بگویم که اصلِ داستان در موردِ سرقتِ "الماسِ کوه نور" میباشد و همچنین دستگیری دزدِ سابقه دار و باهوشی به نامِ «سلطان ویکتور» که استادِ تغییر چهره است و بارها با تغییرِ چهره، خود را به جایِ شخصیت هایِ مهم جا زده است و به کمکِ زنی به نامِ «آنژل» که بازیگری فرانسوی بوده، سرقت هایِ خود را انجام میداده است
شبی در قصرِ چیمنی که متعلق به «لرد کاترهام» میباشد، یک میهمانی برگزار شده بود که در آن «کنت ابلوویچ» که به کمکِ انگلیسی ها به پادشاهیِ هرزوسلاواکی رسیده بود، بتواند به قول و وعده اش به انگلیسی ها عمل کرده و قراردادِ نفتی کشورش را با آنها به امضا برساند... ولی به طور عجیبی «کنت ابلوویچ» با تفنگ به قتل میرسد
شخصیتِ باهوش و مغزِ متفکرِ داستان، مردی به نامِ «آنتونی کید» است که آن شب در قصر بوده و البته یکی از مظنونین نیز میباشد... حال «آنتونی» باید غیر از ثابت نمودنِ بیگناهیِ خویش، به کمکِ «کارگاه باتل» هم پرده از رازِ قتل بردارد و هم در میانِ جمعِ میهمان ها «سلطان ویکتور» را پیدا کند و هم اینکه "الماس کوه نور" که در همین قصر مخفی شده است را بیابد
عزیزانم تا فصلِ پایانی، شما نمیتوانید از هویتِ اصلیِ میهمان ها آگاه شوید... و زمانی که از شخصیت ها و هویت هایِ اصلی آنها مطلع میشوید، شک نکنید که باورتان نمیشود
---------------------------------------------
امیدوارم از خواندنِ این داستانِ بسیار زیبا، لذت ببرید
«پیروز باشید و ایرانی»
February 14, 2021
I know that a lot of people don't care for Christie's thrillers, preferring the murder mysteries. I guess I'm in the minority, because I find them highly entertaining. The main character in this one, Anthony Cade, reminded me a bit of Anne Beddingfeld’s love interest in The Man in the Brown Suit. I suppose even the shady characters of the world need a bit of love. I must confess to rather adoring Victoria Revel, who describes herself as a wicked widow and professes polyandrous tendencies. Her sharp intelligence and adept handling of the men in her reach is delightful.
I enjoyed Cade's dialog a lot, his many wryly humourous observations on the matter at hand. It makes me anxious to read another biography of Christie to see if I can get a better estimation of the woman. If one was to believe her autobiography, she just bumped along, being surprised by the actions of those around her. This I just do not believe of the woman who created the ultra-observant Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. It is my belief that she hid behind a façade, much as Miss Marple pretended to be a dotty older woman.
If my calculations are correct, with this book copyrighted in 1925, it would have been written during the turbulent period just before Christie's divorce. In both this novel and the previous one, the female characters pledges themselves to men with murky histories and remain tremendously loyal. By all accounts, Agatha did not want a divorce and felt her own loyalty had been abused. Perhaps that accounts for some of the dramatic pairing up that occurs in these novels? If you can't have it, at least your main characters can?
At any rate, this was a secret well worth reading for. And I pat myself on the back that I figured out M. Lemoine, even if I missed the significance of Boris.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
I enjoyed Cade's dialog a lot, his many wryly humourous observations on the matter at hand. It makes me anxious to read another biography of Christie to see if I can get a better estimation of the woman. If one was to believe her autobiography, she just bumped along, being surprised by the actions of those around her. This I just do not believe of the woman who created the ultra-observant Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. It is my belief that she hid behind a façade, much as Miss Marple pretended to be a dotty older woman.
If my calculations are correct, with this book copyrighted in 1925, it would have been written during the turbulent period just before Christie's divorce. In both this novel and the previous one, the female characters pledges themselves to men with murky histories and remain tremendously loyal. By all accounts, Agatha did not want a divorce and felt her own loyalty had been abused. Perhaps that accounts for some of the dramatic pairing up that occurs in these novels? If you can't have it, at least your main characters can?
At any rate, this was a secret well worth reading for. And I pat myself on the back that I figured out M. Lemoine, even if I missed the significance of Boris.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
October 16, 2023
3.5 stars. reading vlog - https://youtu.be/aDnUQEYBXBQ
October 11, 2024
Lunchtime Listen September/October 2024
Well I have to say this was really fun lunchtime listen, brilliantly read as ever by the great Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser).
I realise that my previous “read” resulted in a very short and sweet review considering I gave it 5 stars. So why change a thing ha ha.
Seriously it is a really well crafted story that drags you along quite happily. The absence of a Poirot or Marple is not a problem as Superintendent Battle and to an extent Anthony Cade fill their shoes as the central characters.
I have to say that Hugh Fraser just reinforces what a brilliant book this is with his reading, making it thoroughly enjoyable.
Ad hoc read 2021
So having read this in June of 2021, I am now finally attempting to catch up with my unwritten reviews in late October 2021.
So here goes, hmm now what was it about ? Oh yes a manuscript , and erm spies and a couple of n'er do wells, a British country house and a disguised Prince, oh and a swap of identity. Yep thats about it.
All in all a really enjoyable read that rushes headlong from Africa to the "Home Counties", and all points in between and as ever with Christie is a story with some great characters locations and the normal twists and turns
Well I have to say this was really fun lunchtime listen, brilliantly read as ever by the great Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser).
I realise that my previous “read” resulted in a very short and sweet review considering I gave it 5 stars. So why change a thing ha ha.
Seriously it is a really well crafted story that drags you along quite happily. The absence of a Poirot or Marple is not a problem as Superintendent Battle and to an extent Anthony Cade fill their shoes as the central characters.
I have to say that Hugh Fraser just reinforces what a brilliant book this is with his reading, making it thoroughly enjoyable.
Ad hoc read 2021
So having read this in June of 2021, I am now finally attempting to catch up with my unwritten reviews in late October 2021.
So here goes, hmm now what was it about ? Oh yes a manuscript , and erm spies and a couple of n'er do wells, a British country house and a disguised Prince, oh and a swap of identity. Yep thats about it.
All in all a really enjoyable read that rushes headlong from Africa to the "Home Counties", and all points in between and as ever with Christie is a story with some great characters locations and the normal twists and turns
January 12, 2025
Jedna z bardziej skomplikowanych książek Agaty, bardzo mi się podobała!
April 5, 2012
I was really surprised to see that this review has an average rating of almost 4 stars.
I like most Agatha Christie books but when Christie deviates from her standard mysteries into political and international intrigue-type stories she doesn't do it well (see also "They Came to Baghdad" which I actually thought was better than this). The characters are fake and the conspiracies and coincidences are way too fantastic to be believed. At multiple points I considered putting the book down and not finishing it. I prevailed but really wish I hadn't wasted my time.
I'll continue reading Christie but will try to avoid these types of books in the future.
Props for the name though!
I like most Agatha Christie books but when Christie deviates from her standard mysteries into political and international intrigue-type stories she doesn't do it well (see also "They Came to Baghdad" which I actually thought was better than this). The characters are fake and the conspiracies and coincidences are way too fantastic to be believed. At multiple points I considered putting the book down and not finishing it. I prevailed but really wish I hadn't wasted my time.
I'll continue reading Christie but will try to avoid these types of books in the future.
Props for the name though!
November 18, 2025
„Тайната на имението“ е много добър и заплетен роман! Агата Кристи елегантно е съчетала криминална мистерия и международни политически интриги, разказвайки за премеждията на загадъчния Антъни Кейд.
„Без съмнение сте запознат с произведенията на Шекспир и знаете размислите му, че е важно не името, а уханието на розата. Е, нашият случай е същият. На вас ви трябваше човекът, у когото се намираха мемоарите. Този човек бях аз...“
„Без съмнение сте запознат с произведенията на Шекспир и знаете размислите му, че е важно не името, а уханието на розата. Е, нашият случай е същият. На вас ви трябваше човекът, у когото се намираха мемоарите. Този човек бях аз...“
October 3, 2023
A errand for a friend leads to danger, murder - no spoiler as this is Agatha Christie after all - and a political intrigue affecting nations.
Written in 1925 this is a typical AC mystery with country houses, hotels, villains, landed gentry and high-end politicians all thrown together as suspects and bystanders.
Overall, it is an enjoyable and fun read. Does the boy get the girl? Well read on and see.
Written in 1925 this is a typical AC mystery with country houses, hotels, villains, landed gentry and high-end politicians all thrown together as suspects and bystanders.
Overall, it is an enjoyable and fun read. Does the boy get the girl? Well read on and see.
July 24, 2020
It's like Agatha Christie was given a plot outline by P.G. Wodehouse and decided to run with it.
Read
July 24, 2020Hmph. Very early Christie, and very much in the pulp adventure genre rather than murder mystery. International conspiracies, jewel thefts, comedy mittelEuropeans, everyone pretending to be someone else, modern gels, really incredibly obvious Drama Plot Twist, and all the fun of the fair, but rendered unlovable by spectacular racism and antisemitism throughout. Read early Patricia Wentworth instead.
April 22, 2024
A light-hearted thoroughly enjoyable classic Agatha Christie mystery
Anthony Cade is a typical good-natured, rather shiftless upper crust British gentleman drifter. He always seems to have enough cash for smokes, a drink or two and a little travel and adventure but he never seems to actually DO anything. When Jimmy McGrath, a buddy in Africa, offers him the opportunity to earn some easy cash by delivering the memoirs of a recently deceased European count to his publisher in London, Cade simply can't resist the opportunity. But his discovery that the papers are far more sinister than a simple set of memoirs leads Cade and his friends into a twisted merry international romp that includes murder, blackmail, international intrigue, romance, mistaken identity and diplomatic shenanigans revolving around an improbable fictional nation called Herzoslovakia.
THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS is classic Agatha Christie on the light hearted side - a twisted mystery with convoluted humour and romance worthy of the best comedic mix-ups and farces ever concocted by Shakespeare in his lighter plays. The characters are magnificently developed British classic stereotypes - Anthony Cade, the manly, inimitable and absolutely unflappable male lead; Virginia Revel, the strong, quite beautiful and clever heroine; George Lomax, the well-meaning but entirely too procedure bound, earnest civil servant; Bill Eversleigh, the rather more hapless British gentleman hopelessly infatuated with a lady who wants only to be his friend; the Marquis of Caterham, the laughably pompous and long-suffering, utterly hidebound British aristocrat who sniffs his way through life wondering what the world is coming to; and, of course, an entire army of swarthy foreigners intent on furthering their nefarious political goals by whatever nasty means are presented.
Although not quite as well-known as Agatha Christie's more famous creations, Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple, Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard, another of Christie's recurring characters makes his first investigative appearance here in THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS.
The cast is crowded and the twists and turns in a convoluted plot are plentiful but, like Shakespeare's A COMEDY OF ERRORS or ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL, everything turns out in the end and all of the loose ends are neatly tied. THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS is vintage Christie and a mystery that any fan of the genre will enjoy thoroughly. Highly recommended. (And if you enjoyed this one, much of the cast returns for an encore performance in THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY).
Paul Weiss
Anthony Cade is a typical good-natured, rather shiftless upper crust British gentleman drifter. He always seems to have enough cash for smokes, a drink or two and a little travel and adventure but he never seems to actually DO anything. When Jimmy McGrath, a buddy in Africa, offers him the opportunity to earn some easy cash by delivering the memoirs of a recently deceased European count to his publisher in London, Cade simply can't resist the opportunity. But his discovery that the papers are far more sinister than a simple set of memoirs leads Cade and his friends into a twisted merry international romp that includes murder, blackmail, international intrigue, romance, mistaken identity and diplomatic shenanigans revolving around an improbable fictional nation called Herzoslovakia.
THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS is classic Agatha Christie on the light hearted side - a twisted mystery with convoluted humour and romance worthy of the best comedic mix-ups and farces ever concocted by Shakespeare in his lighter plays. The characters are magnificently developed British classic stereotypes - Anthony Cade, the manly, inimitable and absolutely unflappable male lead; Virginia Revel, the strong, quite beautiful and clever heroine; George Lomax, the well-meaning but entirely too procedure bound, earnest civil servant; Bill Eversleigh, the rather more hapless British gentleman hopelessly infatuated with a lady who wants only to be his friend; the Marquis of Caterham, the laughably pompous and long-suffering, utterly hidebound British aristocrat who sniffs his way through life wondering what the world is coming to; and, of course, an entire army of swarthy foreigners intent on furthering their nefarious political goals by whatever nasty means are presented.
Although not quite as well-known as Agatha Christie's more famous creations, Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple, Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard, another of Christie's recurring characters makes his first investigative appearance here in THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS.
The cast is crowded and the twists and turns in a convoluted plot are plentiful but, like Shakespeare's A COMEDY OF ERRORS or ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL, everything turns out in the end and all of the loose ends are neatly tied. THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS is vintage Christie and a mystery that any fan of the genre will enjoy thoroughly. Highly recommended. (And if you enjoyed this one, much of the cast returns for an encore performance in THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY).
Paul Weiss
December 20, 2022
A good Agatha Christie. Excellent fun.
May 13, 2025
Inspector Battle Begins
A review of the Diamond Books Kindle eBook (October 19, 2024) of The Bodley Head hardcover original (June 1925).
This is part of my ongoing binge of the early Agatha Christie books. Separate from the early Hercule Poirots, I had never read the Inspector Battles so I took the opportunity to grab a few of the cheap public domain edition eBooks in order to fill that gap.
We are definitely more in serial adventure territory here with mysterious dashing heroes, spunky damsels holding their own, Crown Princes and revolutionary conspiracies and assassins, cryptic messages, hidden treasure and of course murder! As opposed to the active interviews and deductions of Hercule Poirot, Inspector Battle plays a much more reserved role. The adventurer Anthony Cade does most of the legwork while still periodically checking in with the authorities.
The front cover of The Bodley Head (1925) original edition. Image sourced from Wikipedia.
The setting is the Chimneys estate of Lord Caterham and his daughter Lady Eileen Brent (known as Bundle). Foreign Office magnate George Lomax has asked Caterham to invite select guests to stay at Chimneys in order to promote financial dealings with the (fictitious) Balkan country of Herzoslovakia. Meanwhile, adventurer Anthony Cade is on a mission to deliver the secret memoirs of a Herzoslovakian minister to publishers in England along with a batch of love letters purportedly written by a Virginia Revel. Blackmail and murder soon follow and all are in place at Chimneys when Inspector Battle arrives to investigate.
The coincidences and cliffhangers pile up and build a mountain of unbelievability, but it is all in good fun and of course in the end there is a (possibly not unexpected) surprise reveal.
The Secret of Chimneys (1925) was Agatha Christie's final book in her 6-book deal with The Bodley Head which she had agreed to before securing a literary agent. A better advance and royalties deal was signed with William Collins & Sons leading to her huge breakthrough novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot #4 - 1926) the following year.
Christie returned to the setting of the Chimneys estate along with several of the same characters in The Seven Dials Mystery (Inspector Battle #2 - 1929).
Trivia and Links
The Secret of Chimneys is in the public domain in the USA and can be read at various online sources such as Standard eBooks, Wikisource and Project Gutenberg.
Poster for the TV adaptation. Image sourced from IMDb.
The Secret of Chimneys was adapted as a feature length episode for the TV series Agatha Christie's Marple. Despite being an Inspector Battle book, it was adapted for Miss Marple as Season 5's Episode 2 in 2010. Julie McKenzie plays the role of Miss Marple. The adaptation makes considerable changes to the plot, although several of the character names are the same.
A review of the Diamond Books Kindle eBook (October 19, 2024) of The Bodley Head hardcover original (June 1925).
This is part of my ongoing binge of the early Agatha Christie books. Separate from the early Hercule Poirots, I had never read the Inspector Battles so I took the opportunity to grab a few of the cheap public domain edition eBooks in order to fill that gap.
We are definitely more in serial adventure territory here with mysterious dashing heroes, spunky damsels holding their own, Crown Princes and revolutionary conspiracies and assassins, cryptic messages, hidden treasure and of course murder! As opposed to the active interviews and deductions of Hercule Poirot, Inspector Battle plays a much more reserved role. The adventurer Anthony Cade does most of the legwork while still periodically checking in with the authorities.
The front cover of The Bodley Head (1925) original edition. Image sourced from Wikipedia.
The setting is the Chimneys estate of Lord Caterham and his daughter Lady Eileen Brent (known as Bundle). Foreign Office magnate George Lomax has asked Caterham to invite select guests to stay at Chimneys in order to promote financial dealings with the (fictitious) Balkan country of Herzoslovakia. Meanwhile, adventurer Anthony Cade is on a mission to deliver the secret memoirs of a Herzoslovakian minister to publishers in England along with a batch of love letters purportedly written by a Virginia Revel. Blackmail and murder soon follow and all are in place at Chimneys when Inspector Battle arrives to investigate.
The coincidences and cliffhangers pile up and build a mountain of unbelievability, but it is all in good fun and of course in the end there is a (possibly not unexpected) surprise reveal.
The Secret of Chimneys (1925) was Agatha Christie's final book in her 6-book deal with The Bodley Head which she had agreed to before securing a literary agent. A better advance and royalties deal was signed with William Collins & Sons leading to her huge breakthrough novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot #4 - 1926) the following year.
Christie returned to the setting of the Chimneys estate along with several of the same characters in The Seven Dials Mystery (Inspector Battle #2 - 1929).
Trivia and Links
The Secret of Chimneys is in the public domain in the USA and can be read at various online sources such as Standard eBooks, Wikisource and Project Gutenberg.
Poster for the TV adaptation. Image sourced from IMDb.
The Secret of Chimneys was adapted as a feature length episode for the TV series Agatha Christie's Marple. Despite being an Inspector Battle book, it was adapted for Miss Marple as Season 5's Episode 2 in 2010. Julie McKenzie plays the role of Miss Marple. The adaptation makes considerable changes to the plot, although several of the character names are the same.
April 15, 2024
I completely forgot this one in last week's sunday wrap up. Maybe because I was still wondering if I liked it or not - I settled for a medium rating.
What surprised me at the very beginning of this book was the racism : Jewish are yellow faced people with hooked noses and I learned the word "dago", which I'd never encountered before (Italian, Spanish or Portuguese people). The anti-French racism in British literature, I'm used to it - as I've already mentioned, the reverse can be found in French literature. The Jewish character' s intelligence later received some praise, but I guess that's how British men back then (nowadays still ?) would consider a wealthy, powerful man, whatever his origins. So that bothered me, but I guess I'll have to put it on those days and age... But what surprised me most is that I didn't remember this from my first reading.
That being settled, let's move on to the story. The novel was published in 1925 and we're still in Agatha Christie's pulp period. Espionage, Arsène Lupin-type uncatchable thief, twists and turns and all that. Not my favourite period of hers. My feelings toward the end of the book were lukewarm : I remembered how it ended, no surprise for me, in typical "pulp" style.
However, in the middle, I enjoyed myself, especially with the caracter of Lord Caterham (a sort of comic relief) and his daughter. The other characters were not extraordinarily original but they fitted the plot.
So, not my best Agatha Christie experience, but the best is yet to come ! My next re-read will be "The murder of Roger Ackroyd" : I remember who the murderer is, but I expect to have fun with it !
What surprised me at the very beginning of this book was the racism : Jewish are yellow faced people with hooked noses and I learned the word "dago", which I'd never encountered before (Italian, Spanish or Portuguese people). The anti-French racism in British literature, I'm used to it - as I've already mentioned, the reverse can be found in French literature. The Jewish character' s intelligence later received some praise, but I guess that's how British men back then (nowadays still ?) would consider a wealthy, powerful man, whatever his origins. So that bothered me, but I guess I'll have to put it on those days and age... But what surprised me most is that I didn't remember this from my first reading.
That being settled, let's move on to the story. The novel was published in 1925 and we're still in Agatha Christie's pulp period. Espionage, Arsène Lupin-type uncatchable thief, twists and turns and all that. Not my favourite period of hers. My feelings toward the end of the book were lukewarm : I remembered how it ended, no surprise for me, in typical "pulp" style.
However, in the middle, I enjoyed myself, especially with the caracter of Lord Caterham (a sort of comic relief) and his daughter. The other characters were not extraordinarily original but they fitted the plot.
So, not my best Agatha Christie experience, but the best is yet to come ! My next re-read will be "The murder of Roger Ackroyd" : I remember who the murderer is, but I expect to have fun with it !
May 27, 2021
First published in 1925, this is the first Christie novel to feature Superintendent Battle (he appeared in a further four novels: The Seven Dials Mystery, Cards on the Table, Murder Is Easy and Towards Zero.
The novel is in many ways a typical country house farce, involving many aliases, royalty, blackmail, secret assignations, jewel thieves, murder and general confusion. The story begins when Anthony Cade is given a manuscript to deliver to London by his old friend Jimmy McGrath, along with some letters to be returned to a blackmail victim. Along the way Cade is attacked, robbed, has to dispose of a dead body and becomes involved with some high level meetings at the country house Chimneys involving the royal family of Herzoslovakia. Virtually nobody is who they are supposed to be and the plot is almost too involved to explain. However, the whole thing is great fun and people take the most astounding events with great calm and English reserve, making this a very enjoyable read indeed.
The novel is in many ways a typical country house farce, involving many aliases, royalty, blackmail, secret assignations, jewel thieves, murder and general confusion. The story begins when Anthony Cade is given a manuscript to deliver to London by his old friend Jimmy McGrath, along with some letters to be returned to a blackmail victim. Along the way Cade is attacked, robbed, has to dispose of a dead body and becomes involved with some high level meetings at the country house Chimneys involving the royal family of Herzoslovakia. Virtually nobody is who they are supposed to be and the plot is almost too involved to explain. However, the whole thing is great fun and people take the most astounding events with great calm and English reserve, making this a very enjoyable read indeed.
July 16, 2024
What a fun change of pace from what I've been reading lately. I need to confess The Secret of Chimneys is my first true mystery and my very first locked door mystery. I loved the characters and the many twists and turns that were written into the story. What a wild ride!
I randomly picked The Secret of Chimneys for my first Agatha Christie read because I had received it in a blind grab bag of paperbacks. I figured that even though I had never heard of the book, there was no way I could go wrong with Agatha Christie. And I was absolutely right.
I'll read more pure mysteries going forward, maybe even some cozy mysteries. Of course, I'll continue my trend of thrillers and horror. I can't drop the heart of my reading joy completely! But the brightness of Chimneys brought a smile to my face.
And no, I had no idea what the solution to the mystery was. Actually, there were two intertwined mysteries in this book. I was surprised by both solutions! I give The Secret of Chimneys four out of five sleuthing stars.
I randomly picked The Secret of Chimneys for my first Agatha Christie read because I had received it in a blind grab bag of paperbacks. I figured that even though I had never heard of the book, there was no way I could go wrong with Agatha Christie. And I was absolutely right.
I'll read more pure mysteries going forward, maybe even some cozy mysteries. Of course, I'll continue my trend of thrillers and horror. I can't drop the heart of my reading joy completely! But the brightness of Chimneys brought a smile to my face.
And no, I had no idea what the solution to the mystery was. Actually, there were two intertwined mysteries in this book. I was surprised by both solutions! I give The Secret of Chimneys four out of five sleuthing stars.
February 14, 2016
Finished it in one day. The amount of suspense and intrigue and the innumerable suspicious foreign characters had me racing through the pages. This was the first Superintendent Battle and he is the epitome of the British stiff upper lip- an impassive mask of a face in the most disastrous situations . The hero Anthony Cade with his nonchalant humor simply steals the show( I was reminded of Bertie Wooster of P.G.Wodehouse.). But the end left me with a tinge of disappointment. I sort of anticipated it. Still a highly enjoyable read and hats off to the Queen of Mysteries
November 14, 2020
The queen of crime is her title forever ...
A woman whose father laughed at her efforts and whose mother used to say: words related to crime are not very appropriate.
A woman whose father laughed at her efforts and whose mother used to say: words related to crime are not very appropriate.
January 11, 2025
A lot of fluff and nonsense, but a super example (1925) of early Golden Era detective novels.
Berengaria, there is a female character who reminds me very much of your Charlotte Wynthorpe!
Berengaria, there is a female character who reminds me very much of your Charlotte Wynthorpe!
March 24, 2021
4,5⭐
Πολύ ευχάριστο.
Από τα αγαπημένα μου της Αγκάθα πλέον.
Πολύ ευχάριστο.
Από τα αγαπημένα μου της Αγκάθα πλέον.
June 14, 2022
**4.5 stars**
What a witty book. I laughed out loud from beginning to end. Engaging characters and a really good plot. This was really early in Dame Agatha's career and although we have her usual great twists (I figured out the best one though) it's not what you would call typical Christie - there was something about the style that reminded me of Dorothy Sayers. It was so much fun though, specially if you like dry humor, and the narration by Hugh Fraser was simply marvelous. Probably the best he's ever done and I've listened to 30+ Christie books narrated by him.
Some quotes that made me laugh out loud.
The charming Mr. Cade
"So that's how you pronounce it, is it? A cross between gargling and barking like a dog. I don't think I could say it myself - my throat's not made that way. I shall have to go on calling him Lollipop."
The enticing Mrs. Revel:
"It gives one such a noble feeling to suffer for one's silhouette."
"He was doing it so beautifully - blackmailing me, I mean - I hate to interrupt an artist when he's doing his job really well."
"Of course you're an old friend. You don’t suppose I’d lumber you with a corpse, and then pretend you were a mere acquaintance the next time I met you? No, indeed!"
"That's the worst of this attractive young women with affectionate dispositions. They'll say anything and they mean absolutely nothing by it."
The Apprehensive Lord Caterham
"The French police are up to all sorts of dodges. Put india rubber bands and then reconstruct the crime and make you jump, and it's registered on a thermometer. I know when they call out 'Who killed Prince Michael?' I shall register a 122 or something perfectly frightful, and they'll haul me off to jail at once."
The manservant
"He looks a murderous sort of fellow. The housemaids I believe, scream when he passes them in the passages."
What a witty book. I laughed out loud from beginning to end. Engaging characters and a really good plot. This was really early in Dame Agatha's career and although we have her usual great twists (I figured out the best one though) it's not what you would call typical Christie - there was something about the style that reminded me of Dorothy Sayers. It was so much fun though, specially if you like dry humor, and the narration by Hugh Fraser was simply marvelous. Probably the best he's ever done and I've listened to 30+ Christie books narrated by him.
Some quotes that made me laugh out loud.
The charming Mr. Cade
"So that's how you pronounce it, is it? A cross between gargling and barking like a dog. I don't think I could say it myself - my throat's not made that way. I shall have to go on calling him Lollipop."
The enticing Mrs. Revel:
"It gives one such a noble feeling to suffer for one's silhouette."
"He was doing it so beautifully - blackmailing me, I mean - I hate to interrupt an artist when he's doing his job really well."
"Of course you're an old friend. You don’t suppose I’d lumber you with a corpse, and then pretend you were a mere acquaintance the next time I met you? No, indeed!"
"That's the worst of this attractive young women with affectionate dispositions. They'll say anything and they mean absolutely nothing by it."
The Apprehensive Lord Caterham
"The French police are up to all sorts of dodges. Put india rubber bands and then reconstruct the crime and make you jump, and it's registered on a thermometer. I know when they call out 'Who killed Prince Michael?' I shall register a 122 or something perfectly frightful, and they'll haul me off to jail at once."
The manservant
"He looks a murderous sort of fellow. The housemaids I believe, scream when he passes them in the passages."
March 5, 2017
I have been re-reading a lot of Agatha Christie over the last couple of years, some have stood the test of time better than others and this is one of the better ones. It would be three and a half stars if possible.
In The Secret of Chimneys, Christie once again forsakes her 'traditional' heroes of Poirot and Miss Marple, while it is listed in compilations as 'Inspector Battle #1' Battle himself is not a central character at all, rather he is a foil for the main characters.
Chimneys is an ingenious, intricate intrigue of international politics by (Somewhat bumbling) British politicians and (entirely reluctant) English lords, all beautifully described by Christie at her best. Christie gets to use he favourite Balkan country of Herzoslovakia and weave one of her better intrigues.
Young Anthony Cade is in Africa, following his chosen life style of random adventuring when an old friend asks him to do a favour: Can he return to England in his place to deliver the memories of a dead man, and blackmail letters to a lady? Of course he can, traveling under his friends name of course.
This was very enjoyable, but in some ways it has dated considerably. Modern readers who like reading the fun parts of recent history will enjoy the descriptions of clothes, daily life in an English country manor house and the customs in general. More sensitive modern readers my be a bit aghast at the rampant racism which describes most foreigners as 'dagos', the complete failure to portray an accurate American and the insularity regarding any place that is not England. This book is however published in the 1920's and as such is almost one hundred years old and can easily be regarded as historical fiction.
In The Secret of Chimneys, Christie once again forsakes her 'traditional' heroes of Poirot and Miss Marple, while it is listed in compilations as 'Inspector Battle #1' Battle himself is not a central character at all, rather he is a foil for the main characters.
Chimneys is an ingenious, intricate intrigue of international politics by (Somewhat bumbling) British politicians and (entirely reluctant) English lords, all beautifully described by Christie at her best. Christie gets to use he favourite Balkan country of Herzoslovakia and weave one of her better intrigues.
Young Anthony Cade is in Africa, following his chosen life style of random adventuring when an old friend asks him to do a favour: Can he return to England in his place to deliver the memories of a dead man, and blackmail letters to a lady? Of course he can, traveling under his friends name of course.
This was very enjoyable, but in some ways it has dated considerably. Modern readers who like reading the fun parts of recent history will enjoy the descriptions of clothes, daily life in an English country manor house and the customs in general. More sensitive modern readers my be a bit aghast at the rampant racism which describes most foreigners as 'dagos', the complete failure to portray an accurate American and the insularity regarding any place that is not England. This book is however published in the 1920's and as such is almost one hundred years old and can easily be regarded as historical fiction.
July 20, 2022
No ha estado mal, no es de lo mejor, pero tampoco de lo peor, es un libro un poco diferente.
En este caso no tenemos ni a la querida chismosa, ni al bigotes, si no al superintendente Battle.
La investigación la lleva como en un segundo plano ya que no es el la voz principal del libro si no otro personaje llamado Anthony.
Hay intrigas políticas, asesinatos (como no!!), multiples sospechosos, trama que se complica, bandos de un país enfrentados, los monárquicos y los opositores; posible implicación de un ladrón muy famoso de talla mundial...
Unas cartas que son más de lo que aparentan, unas memorias muy jugosas...
Pues con estos mimbres arrancará esta historia.
Sinopsis: Cuando un viejo amigo le encomienda la tarea de entregar las polémicas memorias de un político balcánico a un editor de Londres, Anthony Cade, que se encuentra en África, ve la posibilidad de hacerse con algo de dinero y regresar a su Inglaterra natal. Pero el paquete contiene, además, unas cartas de amor que han servido para chantajear a la viuda de un diplomático, que ahora quiere recuperarlas. Lo que parecía un trabajo rápido y limpio acaba convirtiéndose en una peligrosa aventura para Anthony, que se ha inmiscuido en un conflicto político de escala internacional debido a la importancia de los documentos que acarrea. Una inesperada invitación a una mansión llamada Chimneys y el misterioso magnicidio que en ella tiene lugar acaban por poner en entredicho la inocencia del mensajero. Aunque no acudió a la cita en Chimneys, el superintendente de Scotland Yard sospecha de Anthony, por lo que éste deberá investigar por su cuenta para hallar las pistas que le conduzcan al auténtico criminal.
6/10
En este caso no tenemos ni a la querida chismosa, ni al bigotes, si no al superintendente Battle.
La investigación la lleva como en un segundo plano ya que no es el la voz principal del libro si no otro personaje llamado Anthony.
Hay intrigas políticas, asesinatos (como no!!), multiples sospechosos, trama que se complica, bandos de un país enfrentados, los monárquicos y los opositores; posible implicación de un ladrón muy famoso de talla mundial...
Unas cartas que son más de lo que aparentan, unas memorias muy jugosas...
Pues con estos mimbres arrancará esta historia.
Sinopsis: Cuando un viejo amigo le encomienda la tarea de entregar las polémicas memorias de un político balcánico a un editor de Londres, Anthony Cade, que se encuentra en África, ve la posibilidad de hacerse con algo de dinero y regresar a su Inglaterra natal. Pero el paquete contiene, además, unas cartas de amor que han servido para chantajear a la viuda de un diplomático, que ahora quiere recuperarlas. Lo que parecía un trabajo rápido y limpio acaba convirtiéndose en una peligrosa aventura para Anthony, que se ha inmiscuido en un conflicto político de escala internacional debido a la importancia de los documentos que acarrea. Una inesperada invitación a una mansión llamada Chimneys y el misterioso magnicidio que en ella tiene lugar acaban por poner en entredicho la inocencia del mensajero. Aunque no acudió a la cita en Chimneys, el superintendente de Scotland Yard sospecha de Anthony, por lo que éste deberá investigar por su cuenta para hallar las pistas que le conduzcan al auténtico criminal.
6/10
March 23, 2025
Rezist cât rezist la răsturnări de situație, dar aici deja a fost prea de tot. La un moment dat m-am așteptat ca niciun personaj să nu fie cine zicea că este. Prea mult! Avem trădare, minciună, crimă, dragoste, foame de putere și bani și un interes crescut pentru un manuscris misterios, lăsat în urmă de un conte. Este în joc restaurarea monarhiei în Herzoslovacia, așa că orice mișcare greșită costă.
Mai avem și câteva scrisori compromițătoare scrise de o doamnă care cu siguranță și le-ar dori înapoi.
Apoi avem niște personaje decedate care se pare că nu sunt chiar așa de moarte. Prea multe păcăleli pentru gusturile mele. 😐
Mai avem și câteva scrisori compromițătoare scrise de o doamnă care cu siguranță și le-ar dori înapoi.
Apoi avem niște personaje decedate care se pare că nu sunt chiar așa de moarte. Prea multe păcăleli pentru gusturile mele. 😐
January 22, 2026
"Do you talk?" asked Bundle. "Or are you just strong and silent?"In my review post for the previous Christie book I read ('The Golden Ball and Other Stories'), I noted the somewhat-rare appearance of the author's humor (esp. in the first half of the book). Here we have another early-career entry that offers evidence of Christie's lighter nature.
"Talk?" said Anthony. "I babble. I murmur. I burble--like the running brook, you know. Sometimes I even ask questions."
As a thriller, 'Chimneys' does have a serious bent, but it's not all that serious - and it has just enough comedy in it to remind you that its main goal - like most of AC's work - is entertainment.
The lightness in its touch comes through adventurer protagonist Anthony Cade and the main supporting characters of delightful society wit Virginia Revel:
"If I had to marry someone - simply had to - I mean if it was in a book and a wicked mandarin said to me 'Marry someone or die by slow torture,' I should choose you at once..."and tomboyish royalty daughter Bundle.
(Virginia is yet another incarnation of the life-of-the-party type that I sense the reportedly shy Christie sort of lived through vicariously.)
These rather nonchalant characters find themselves in a winding international plot that systematically grows - and grows - in complication. In terms of plot points, this is one of Lady Agatha's most involved creations. There's a lot going on.
But that doesn't mean you have to feel thrown at any given point. It mostly means that, out of all of the Christie books, this one belongs to the group of them that might be just as much fun reading a second time. (That group might also include 'And Then There Were None' and 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd'.)
The pacing is brisk. The combination of elements (including the key one of identity deception) is such that, if its intelligence as a thriller weren't in place, the novel might want to try its hand at being a French farce.
It's a first-rate piece of brain-teasing work. The setting and some of the characters would later return in 'The Seven Dials Mystery' - which I now look forward to... unless I re-read this one first.
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