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Colonel Race #1
El hombre del traje marrón
La soñadora Anne Beddingfield buscaba la aventura y encontró la mejor de su vida en ese hombre de ojos grises y nombres diferentes. Con la inocencia de quien no sabe el peligro que corre, presenciará dos muertes en Inglaterra, vivirá los tumultos de Johannesburgo y el amor en una isla rodeada de cocodrilos y se verá envuelta en los turbios manejos de una banda sanguinaria.
243 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 1924
4250 people are currently reading
115574 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,772 books75.6k 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)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,626 reviews
June 3, 2021
Over the last few years, I've been on a quest to read (or reread) all of Agatha Christie's books. So it was with horror that I realized it's been over a year since I've read a book of hers! Obviously, I had to rectify the situation posthaste.
The Man in the Brown Suit isn't your typical Agatha Christie. It reads more like a thriller than a mystery. Instead of a murder and an investigation with a small group of suspects, it's more of a heroine's journey laden with suspicious happenings, close calls, and romantic intrigue.
It starts off with Anne Beddingfeld finding her life to be ever so dull, so she goes off to London to look for adventure. When she inadvertently stumbles onto something suspicious, she's thrilled. She immediately dives headfirst into its murky circumstances in the hopes it will bring her the excitement she so desperately craves.
I see the mixed reviews for this book, and I understand the differing opinions. On the one hand, when you go into an Agatha Christie, there's a certain expectation of what you're getting, and this one doesn't quite meet that. On the other hand, I had great fun with it. Time and again, no one can so consistently pull me into a story the way she can.
The reason I didn't rate this higher is that it isn't as amazing as the rest of her stories, but honestly, that's a high bar she's set for herself. If this were by any other author, I would probably rate it at 4 stars. But since it's Agatha Christie, this highly enjoyable story is just middle of the pack among her books.
The Man in the Brown Suit isn't your typical Agatha Christie. It reads more like a thriller than a mystery. Instead of a murder and an investigation with a small group of suspects, it's more of a heroine's journey laden with suspicious happenings, close calls, and romantic intrigue.
It starts off with Anne Beddingfeld finding her life to be ever so dull, so she goes off to London to look for adventure. When she inadvertently stumbles onto something suspicious, she's thrilled. She immediately dives headfirst into its murky circumstances in the hopes it will bring her the excitement she so desperately craves.
I see the mixed reviews for this book, and I understand the differing opinions. On the one hand, when you go into an Agatha Christie, there's a certain expectation of what you're getting, and this one doesn't quite meet that. On the other hand, I had great fun with it. Time and again, no one can so consistently pull me into a story the way she can.
The reason I didn't rate this higher is that it isn't as amazing as the rest of her stories, but honestly, that's a high bar she's set for herself. If this were by any other author, I would probably rate it at 4 stars. But since it's Agatha Christie, this highly enjoyable story is just middle of the pack among her books.
May 16, 2025
I love Anne Beddingfeld.
So while this may be titled Colonel Race #1, the main character is most definitely the wonderfully independent Anne Beddingfeld. She's easily one of my favorite Agatha Christie heroines.
If I had to describe her in one word, it would be plucky.
Which is such an underused word these days, you know? Let's bring that one back.
Anyway, Anne isn't rich, but she manages to make her way through the world just fine. Thank you very much.
So, where does Colonel Race come into this?
Well, he falls for Anne while they're on a boat to...South Africa? <--don't quote me on that.
They meet while Anne is embroiled in a mystery to find a killer, make a name for herself as a reporter, and save the man she (inexplicably) loves. <--who is not Colonel Race, btw.
So, while Race is there on behalf of England's secret service, also trying to find the above-mentioned killer, our narrator is actually Anne. And it was a lot of fun to be inside of her head for the duration of this mystery. Anne was clever and brave, but also stupid enough to be believable. She's a very smart young woman, but it's not like she's had any training tracking down murderers, so mistakes are made. But she was still wonderful and kept her head through it all. And best of all, she was willing to bend the rules till they broke.
When you see modern books written about an intelligent woman in the past, I feel like there's a lot of 21st-century anger directed towards men that most women of that time just didn't feel. This has the authenticity of what an independent female spirit would have actually been like in the 1920s.
Because, obviously, it was written by a smart, successful woman who was living in the 1920s. There's sarcasm and inward eye-rolling when she is underestimated, but there's also a conventional mindset that marks her as a woman of her time.
And of course, some things never change.
Sir Eustace Pedler is our other narrator and tells the story from his side of things. I absolutely loved him, as well. As petty as he was, his sense of humor was a huge part of why I enjoyed this book so much.
And that's all I have to say about him.
I loved the way this ended.
So sweet & perfect that even my crusty old heart melted a bit.
This was my first time listening to this story, but I'll bet it won't be my last. This is the exact kind of cozy mystery that will make it into my re-read pile again and again.
Highly Recommended.
For more Colonel Race cameos, you can find him in Death on the Nile, Cards on the Table, & Sparkling Cyanide.
So while this may be titled Colonel Race #1, the main character is most definitely the wonderfully independent Anne Beddingfeld. She's easily one of my favorite Agatha Christie heroines.
If I had to describe her in one word, it would be plucky.
Which is such an underused word these days, you know? Let's bring that one back.
Anyway, Anne isn't rich, but she manages to make her way through the world just fine. Thank you very much.
So, where does Colonel Race come into this?
Well, he falls for Anne while they're on a boat to...South Africa? <--don't quote me on that.
They meet while Anne is embroiled in a mystery to find a killer, make a name for herself as a reporter, and save the man she (inexplicably) loves. <--who is not Colonel Race, btw.
So, while Race is there on behalf of England's secret service, also trying to find the above-mentioned killer, our narrator is actually Anne. And it was a lot of fun to be inside of her head for the duration of this mystery. Anne was clever and brave, but also stupid enough to be believable. She's a very smart young woman, but it's not like she's had any training tracking down murderers, so mistakes are made. But she was still wonderful and kept her head through it all. And best of all, she was willing to bend the rules till they broke.
When you see modern books written about an intelligent woman in the past, I feel like there's a lot of 21st-century anger directed towards men that most women of that time just didn't feel. This has the authenticity of what an independent female spirit would have actually been like in the 1920s.
Because, obviously, it was written by a smart, successful woman who was living in the 1920s. There's sarcasm and inward eye-rolling when she is underestimated, but there's also a conventional mindset that marks her as a woman of her time.
And of course, some things never change.
Sir Eustace Pedler is our other narrator and tells the story from his side of things. I absolutely loved him, as well. As petty as he was, his sense of humor was a huge part of why I enjoyed this book so much.
And that's all I have to say about him.
I loved the way this ended.
So sweet & perfect that even my crusty old heart melted a bit.
This was my first time listening to this story, but I'll bet it won't be my last. This is the exact kind of cozy mystery that will make it into my re-read pile again and again.
Highly Recommended.
For more Colonel Race cameos, you can find him in Death on the Nile, Cards on the Table, & Sparkling Cyanide.
October 20, 2018
In the spirit of Read All the Christies, I ordered this after seeing it in someone's feed. Could have been my mood, but I found that it didn't sustain my interest. I've been reading Christie for a long time, so it's not like I opened it with expectations of heart-pumping action. I'd say I gave the first seventy or so pages a solid effort, but it never really caught me.
Part of it was definitely as Miriam noted in her review, that of connection with the lead, a young woman who wants 'adventure.' After witnessing a man collapse on the railway, and another man claiming to be a doctor rifle through the dead man's pockets, she manages to involve herself in investigating the death. It's quite vague, and she needs to become a journalist in order to get access to information. She's quite plucky, and it all feels very modern for a period book. It's got that early Katharine Hepburn feel to it.
I skimmed; there's eventually African adventure, romance, and apparently espionage, which explains it. Christie's thrillers have never particularly worked for me. It makes even more sense when I see in a friend's review that this was written as a serial, which means it was a very different set-up than the normal story. Apparently, isolated country manors and long train rides are where it is at for me.
Part of it was definitely as Miriam noted in her review, that of connection with the lead, a young woman who wants 'adventure.' After witnessing a man collapse on the railway, and another man claiming to be a doctor rifle through the dead man's pockets, she manages to involve herself in investigating the death. It's quite vague, and she needs to become a journalist in order to get access to information. She's quite plucky, and it all feels very modern for a period book. It's got that early Katharine Hepburn feel to it.
I skimmed; there's eventually African adventure, romance, and apparently espionage, which explains it. Christie's thrillers have never particularly worked for me. It makes even more sense when I see in a friend's review that this was written as a serial, which means it was a very different set-up than the normal story. Apparently, isolated country manors and long train rides are where it is at for me.
February 6, 2023
The plucky, fun heroine, Anne Beddingfeld, is one of Agatha Christie's best creations. Anne's father has just died and left her basically penniless and all alone. She wants adventure, having never had any, and stumbles upon a mysterious death, which she is determined to figure out. No one will take her seriously, so she takes her last bit of money and secured passage on a ship on its way to South Africa where the combatants are gathering.
Anne makes several true friends along the way and a few dastardly enemies, but even her enemies admire her bravery and stoutheartedness.
Anne makes several true friends along the way and a few dastardly enemies, but even her enemies admire her bravery and stoutheartedness.
January 8, 2022
Agatha Christie Book Reading Challenge
BOOK 36 :- NOV 2021
3 STARS
BOOK 36 :- NOV 2021
3 STARS
April 25, 2021
So as with all of the non Poirot/Marple books written by Agatha Christie, I hadn't read this before and had no knowledge of the plot. That said I was familiar with one of the main characters, the ex army, secret service man Colonel Race.
This book is based around the daughter of a palaeontology professor who yearns for adventures, and how on the death of her father sets out with little money but a heart full of determination to achieve her goal.
At that point unbeknownst to her, a criminal mastermind, leader of an international gang, is dealing with an annoying problem that threatens his whole operation.
Anne, staying with relatives, has been looking for a job , when she becomes embroiled in an accident in the tube station, when a man falls on the tracks. Anne is a little suspicious of the death and spots a piece of paper fluttering to the floor from the doctor who had briefly attended the dying man.
From there Anne's adventures begin. The dead man had in his pocket papers relating him to a place in the country where a recent murder had occurred. After the inquest, and some heavy thinking, Anne goes to the police with some observations that strike her as odd, but they're not interested so she decided to take further steps. A chance takes her past a travel agents where details on the dropped piece of paper strike a chord and she books a passage to Africa, and as they say the chase is on.
Enjoyable, fun, and a rollercoaster of a ride, with some interesting characters and some great backdrops and locations. Helped and hindered along the way by an interesting cast of characters, Anne becomes involved in far more than just a small mystery.
This book is based around the daughter of a palaeontology professor who yearns for adventures, and how on the death of her father sets out with little money but a heart full of determination to achieve her goal.
At that point unbeknownst to her, a criminal mastermind, leader of an international gang, is dealing with an annoying problem that threatens his whole operation.
Anne, staying with relatives, has been looking for a job , when she becomes embroiled in an accident in the tube station, when a man falls on the tracks. Anne is a little suspicious of the death and spots a piece of paper fluttering to the floor from the doctor who had briefly attended the dying man.
From there Anne's adventures begin. The dead man had in his pocket papers relating him to a place in the country where a recent murder had occurred. After the inquest, and some heavy thinking, Anne goes to the police with some observations that strike her as odd, but they're not interested so she decided to take further steps. A chance takes her past a travel agents where details on the dropped piece of paper strike a chord and she books a passage to Africa, and as they say the chase is on.
Enjoyable, fun, and a rollercoaster of a ride, with some interesting characters and some great backdrops and locations. Helped and hindered along the way by an interesting cast of characters, Anne becomes involved in far more than just a small mystery.
June 14, 2020
4.5 Stars - If it weren't for the elements that get introduced later in the story that require serious CWs for colonialism, racial stereotypes, & intimations of intimate partner violence, I'd have given this the full 5 stars. This book just rang all the bells for me of what I love in a Christie... great tone, memorable characters, fun mystery plot, and strong evocation of time/place. This is the best action adventure type mystery I've read from Christie. I wish the "of its time" elements weren't there, because they really do dampen the shine of an otherwise sparkly book full of fun- they take me out of the book and make me put on my "analyzing this as a historical artifact of a different time" hat on rather than just my "rompy good time" hat.
January 10, 2019
The first in the Colonel Race series, the story began on an intriguing note with a very cryptic discussion about double crossing a spy. We then flip to meeting Anne Bedingfield who becomes involved in the intrigue after witnessing an incident that could be tied to a recent murder. Soon Anne is on a ship bound for South Africa with a host of different characters. One of them being Colonel Race and the other being Sir Eustace Pedler whose diary entries break up Anne's narrative.
This was a slow burn that definitely bored me to tears. Colonel Race didn't really emerge as a character of interest and I didn't like the general way that AC worked the narrative.
This was a slow burn that definitely bored me to tears. Colonel Race didn't really emerge as a character of interest and I didn't like the general way that AC worked the narrative.
September 12, 2025
I yearned for adventure, for love, for romance, and I seemed condemned to an existence of drab utility. The village possessed a lending library, full of tattered works of fiction, and I enjoyed perils and lovemaking at second hand, and went to sleep dreaming of stern silent Rhodesians, and of strong men who always “felled their opponent with a single blow.”
Anne Beddingfield sets out to London to taste true freedom and live her adventure after the sad demise of her father, and falls headlong into a murder mystery that she immediately takes by the horns and starts investigating as a freelance journalist, traveling to other continents to find the suspect The Man in the Brown Suit.
Though Agatha Christie introduces the secret service agent Colonel Race here, the novel is undoubtedly Anne's story, told with the vim and vigor of a lifelong fan of the adventure fiction in the local lending library. The plot and the mystery itself were intriguing, and quite a bit action oriented (though sometimes without forethought).
Colonel Race was really just my ideal of a stern silent Rhodesian. Possibly I might marry him! I hadn’t been asked, it is true, but, as the Boy Scouts say, Be Prepared! And all women, without in the least meaning it, consider every man they meet as a possible husband for themselves or their best friend.
A secret service agent/ spy type protagonist is quite common, though I really prefer Christie's Poirot and Marple a lot more than Race. Most of the characters in the novel, including the protagonists seem to be written to please and be relatable to the target audience, whereas Poirot and Marple are more fully developed. The protagonist Anne has some interesting thoughts, though some of the choices she made by the end didn't seem to take this direction. Nonetheless, Agatha Christie's world-building and character sketches have that vein of authenticity of that era that comes from understanding the people around her, even if I personally am not a fan of them.
“You think you admire moral qualities, but when you fall in love, you revert to the primitive where the physical is all that counts. But I don’t think that’s the end; if you lived in primitive conditions it would be all right, but you don’t—and so, in the end, the other thing wins after all.”
🌟🌟🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; 1/4 star for the characters; Half a star for the plot and themes; 3/4 star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing - 3 stars in total.]
Anne Beddingfield sets out to London to taste true freedom and live her adventure after the sad demise of her father, and falls headlong into a murder mystery that she immediately takes by the horns and starts investigating as a freelance journalist, traveling to other continents to find the suspect The Man in the Brown Suit.
Though Agatha Christie introduces the secret service agent Colonel Race here, the novel is undoubtedly Anne's story, told with the vim and vigor of a lifelong fan of the adventure fiction in the local lending library. The plot and the mystery itself were intriguing, and quite a bit action oriented (though sometimes without forethought).
Colonel Race was really just my ideal of a stern silent Rhodesian. Possibly I might marry him! I hadn’t been asked, it is true, but, as the Boy Scouts say, Be Prepared! And all women, without in the least meaning it, consider every man they meet as a possible husband for themselves or their best friend.
A secret service agent/ spy type protagonist is quite common, though I really prefer Christie's Poirot and Marple a lot more than Race. Most of the characters in the novel, including the protagonists seem to be written to please and be relatable to the target audience, whereas Poirot and Marple are more fully developed. The protagonist Anne has some interesting thoughts, though some of the choices she made by the end didn't seem to take this direction. Nonetheless, Agatha Christie's world-building and character sketches have that vein of authenticity of that era that comes from understanding the people around her, even if I personally am not a fan of them.
“You think you admire moral qualities, but when you fall in love, you revert to the primitive where the physical is all that counts. But I don’t think that’s the end; if you lived in primitive conditions it would be all right, but you don’t—and so, in the end, the other thing wins after all.”
🌟🌟🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; 1/4 star for the characters; Half a star for the plot and themes; 3/4 star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing - 3 stars in total.]
September 1, 2017
It is really a hard life. Men will not be nice to you if you are not good-looking, and women will not be nice to you if you are.
My first encounter with Agathie Christie's work was not a disappointment - although, perhaps, it is not one of her most popular books, it was certainly an enjoyable entry into this genre.
Think Africa and diamonds and adventure and mystery - welcome to 'The Man in The Brown Suit'.
What I liked:
✔︎-The fact that it was set in South Africa. Everybody's heard the famous saying that books allow the mind to travel and see what the eyes would normally not be able to. The hot, African climate and culture were huge assets of this book, creating a very intriguing backdrop to this mystery novel, and although some color connotations of the word 'murder mystery' might be black and grey, maybe darker browns or even white - this book put a complete twist to that stereotype. It was packed with colour and scenery (not too many descriptions), to create a vivid and entertaining read.
✔︎-The travelling aspect. Like I mentioned previously, the setting in this book is marvelous. To be very blunt and save you from needless spoilers, let me just highlight the fact that there will be scenes in London; there will be cruises; and train rides and exploring waterfalls. That's enough you need to know.
✔︎-The friendships (and romance) At one point, in this book our protagonist, Anne Beddingfield, meets a new acquaintance, and their friendship slowly develops over time into true companionship. Also, for those who like a little romance, there is definitely some present. It felt a little 'cheesy' at times, but sometimes, a little extra cheese is what you need. Their relationship was, to put, a little casually, very cute, although maybe it was a bit too much at times (especially when Anne immediately fell in love, claiming she loves him and wants to spend her life with him, when she literally just let him a couple of minutes ago, but still, it was heartwarming).
✔︎-The actual mystery and murderer. Don't threat, I won't spoil the ending for you, but let me just point out, that it was extremely well thought out (cheeky little rhyme there), and nothing is as it seems to be.
✔︎-There were references to things Christie experienced herself. I read a very interesting blog on wordpress (SPOILERS: https://www.google.pl/amp/s/knowingch...) that claimed that some of the characters might have been based on people she met, and there was a particular scene (the one with stray cats) that was loosely based of the time where she had attempted to rescue a dog.
✔︎-Two points of views. This kept the book fast paced and very misleading, although Pedler was extremely sexist and sarcastic - his diary entries were interesting to read, and he was a little hilariously pathetic at times.
The only problem with this book was that:
✘- I, at times, found myself very irritated with Anne and, although, I admit to her being very brace and intelligent - her actions didn't always do her wits justice. Some of her decisions were a little immature, and if not for one special person, I doubt she'd be alive at the end of the novel.
✘- Also, I found myself a little lost with all the clues, but that might be because I am very inexperienced with this genre, and just need to pay more attention. A reread might be in order, although I'm not a big fan of re-reading books.
Overall, my first experience with an Agathe Christie book was a success. Hopefully, I'll be able to read more soon. Murder on the Orient Express, anyone?
My first encounter with Agathie Christie's work was not a disappointment - although, perhaps, it is not one of her most popular books, it was certainly an enjoyable entry into this genre.
Think Africa and diamonds and adventure and mystery - welcome to 'The Man in The Brown Suit'.
What I liked:
✔︎-The fact that it was set in South Africa. Everybody's heard the famous saying that books allow the mind to travel and see what the eyes would normally not be able to. The hot, African climate and culture were huge assets of this book, creating a very intriguing backdrop to this mystery novel, and although some color connotations of the word 'murder mystery' might be black and grey, maybe darker browns or even white - this book put a complete twist to that stereotype. It was packed with colour and scenery (not too many descriptions), to create a vivid and entertaining read.
✔︎-The travelling aspect. Like I mentioned previously, the setting in this book is marvelous. To be very blunt and save you from needless spoilers, let me just highlight the fact that there will be scenes in London; there will be cruises; and train rides and exploring waterfalls. That's enough you need to know.
✔︎-The friendships (and romance) At one point, in this book our protagonist, Anne Beddingfield, meets a new acquaintance, and their friendship slowly develops over time into true companionship. Also, for those who like a little romance, there is definitely some present. It felt a little 'cheesy' at times, but sometimes, a little extra cheese is what you need. Their relationship was, to put, a little casually, very cute, although maybe it was a bit too much at times (especially when Anne immediately fell in love, claiming she loves him and wants to spend her life with him, when she literally just let him a couple of minutes ago, but still, it was heartwarming).
✔︎-The actual mystery and murderer. Don't threat, I won't spoil the ending for you, but let me just point out, that it was extremely well thought out (cheeky little rhyme there), and nothing is as it seems to be.
✔︎-There were references to things Christie experienced herself. I read a very interesting blog on wordpress (SPOILERS: https://www.google.pl/amp/s/knowingch...) that claimed that some of the characters might have been based on people she met, and there was a particular scene (the one with stray cats) that was loosely based of the time where she had attempted to rescue a dog.
✔︎-Two points of views. This kept the book fast paced and very misleading, although Pedler was extremely sexist and sarcastic - his diary entries were interesting to read, and he was a little hilariously pathetic at times.
The only problem with this book was that:
✘- I, at times, found myself very irritated with Anne and, although, I admit to her being very brace and intelligent - her actions didn't always do her wits justice. Some of her decisions were a little immature, and if not for one special person, I doubt she'd be alive at the end of the novel.
✘- Also, I found myself a little lost with all the clues, but that might be because I am very inexperienced with this genre, and just need to pay more attention. A reread might be in order, although I'm not a big fan of re-reading books.
Overall, my first experience with an Agathe Christie book was a success. Hopefully, I'll be able to read more soon. Murder on the Orient Express, anyone?
September 2, 2024
This first book of the Colonel Race series, like that of the first book of the Tommy and Tuppence series, is a thriller than a mystery. It starts on a mystery note, then, scales on to a thriller. First and foremost, this is not a typical Christie book, at least not one I'm used to expecting of her. I've known her as the "queen of the mystery". :) But now, I know that she had written few thrillers in her earlier days, and I've read two of them including The Man in the Brown Suit. Her thrillers are fun reads. They are also fast-paced and adventurous. Personally, however, I prefer her mysteries. They are clever and intelligent. Also, Christie is in her best element when she writes mysteries.
To get back to the book, there were things that I enjoyed. It was a light and fun read, full of antics, and humour. The feisty Anne Beddingfeld was a lovable heroine. In her adventure, she finds her love interest who also turns to be an interesting character. There is a good amount of romance was thrown in making it almost a romantic thriller. :) However, I had some disappointments over the story. The plot was certainly a good one. It was based on a promising premise. But its development was weak and unconvincing. Also, the role played by Colonel Race was obscure till the very end which made his involvement almost secondary.
Overall, it was a pleasant reading experience. Had I not being a partial mystery fan, I may have looked at it from a different eye. :)
To get back to the book, there were things that I enjoyed. It was a light and fun read, full of antics, and humour. The feisty Anne Beddingfeld was a lovable heroine. In her adventure, she finds her love interest who also turns to be an interesting character. There is a good amount of romance was thrown in making it almost a romantic thriller. :) However, I had some disappointments over the story. The plot was certainly a good one. It was based on a promising premise. But its development was weak and unconvincing. Also, the role played by Colonel Race was obscure till the very end which made his involvement almost secondary.
Overall, it was a pleasant reading experience. Had I not being a partial mystery fan, I may have looked at it from a different eye. :)
May 1, 2017
Forget the mystery, forget the complex scheme hatched by a mysterious criminal mastermind, Agatha Christie’s ‘The Man in the Brown Suit’ is really a spoof. Written in 1924 it has the suspense serial, the kind with feisty, flapper heroines at their centre, directly in its sights. But hang on, it's more than that: this was actually written in serialised form as ‘Anne the Adventuress’ and so right from the off it is both satirising the over the top adventure story whilst wholeheartedly being one.
We have here Anne Beddingfield, a recently orphaned, beautiful young woman, who craves adventure. On witnessing a mysterious death at a tube station, she throws herself impulsively into the mystery and before long is sailing to South Africa on the trail of a mysterious criminal mastermind. Peril is never far away for feisty Anne: she is nearly strangled aboard ship, kidnapped by a fake museum curator, and – most incredibly – lured into walking off the side of a ravine. But the indomitable spirit of this courageous Miss can’t be stopped, and she’s back on the trail as tenacious as ever.
This is looser, fresher, funnier Christie than is the norm. It helps that the book half acknowledges that its heroine is a tad dim (if she, and her friends, had a better memory for faces the mystery would be over much sooner), and the result is triumphantly a novel that spoofs the genre, whilst buying into it completely and celebrating it. The mystery falls into the background as we follow Anne through one scrape after another, relishing her ability to regain her poise after every mis-step, whilst wondering at just how it is she makes so many glaring mistakes.
Obviously this being Christie it’s a book locked into the English class structure and the value of colonialism; there are also some views on marriage that might raise a few eyebrows, whilst the assertion at the end that the main victim was “the kind of woman who deserved to die” does seem a bit harsh after the light soufflé of a book which has gone before. But this is a fine self-aware adventure, which knows it’s being absurd even as it’s taking itself seriously, and is without a doubt the most fun I have ever had with Dame Agatha.
We have here Anne Beddingfield, a recently orphaned, beautiful young woman, who craves adventure. On witnessing a mysterious death at a tube station, she throws herself impulsively into the mystery and before long is sailing to South Africa on the trail of a mysterious criminal mastermind. Peril is never far away for feisty Anne: she is nearly strangled aboard ship, kidnapped by a fake museum curator, and – most incredibly – lured into walking off the side of a ravine. But the indomitable spirit of this courageous Miss can’t be stopped, and she’s back on the trail as tenacious as ever.
This is looser, fresher, funnier Christie than is the norm. It helps that the book half acknowledges that its heroine is a tad dim (if she, and her friends, had a better memory for faces the mystery would be over much sooner), and the result is triumphantly a novel that spoofs the genre, whilst buying into it completely and celebrating it. The mystery falls into the background as we follow Anne through one scrape after another, relishing her ability to regain her poise after every mis-step, whilst wondering at just how it is she makes so many glaring mistakes.
Obviously this being Christie it’s a book locked into the English class structure and the value of colonialism; there are also some views on marriage that might raise a few eyebrows, whilst the assertion at the end that the main victim was “the kind of woman who deserved to die” does seem a bit harsh after the light soufflé of a book which has gone before. But this is a fine self-aware adventure, which knows it’s being absurd even as it’s taking itself seriously, and is without a doubt the most fun I have ever had with Dame Agatha.
August 15, 2023
❄️آن بيدنغفيلد هي نموذج لفتاة كانت تعيش مع والدها العاشق للتنقيب عن الأثار وهو محب ومقدر لمهنته إلي أقصي الحدود فيقضي وقتا كبيرا في الإهتمام بالتنقيب وحب الإستكشاف مما أدي إلي نقص الحب والإهتمام الطبيعي بين الأب وابنته بحيث أنه قد مات بعد رجوعه من إحدي رحلاته إثر إصابته بذات الرئة ولكن آن لم تستطع أن تحزن كما هو متوقع عند فراق شخص عزيز .
❄️ومن جهة أخري نري عشق آن للمغامرة ولقصص الجريمة والغموض فأتتها الفرصة بحيث أنها وعندما كانت تنتظر القطار قد لاحظت رجلا واقفا علي بعد منها وقد نظر نحوها برعب ثم وقع علي السكة ميتا إثر رؤيته لشخص ما ورائها وبعدها بساعة تحدث جريمة قتل في أحد المنازل القريبة ولا يوجد أي شخص غير القتيلة فهل هناك علاقة بين الجريمتين أم لا هذا ما ستكتشفه آن .
keyboard laptop
❄️هناك بعض الأسئلة المثيرة للفضول
_من تلك المرأة التي قتلت في المنزل ؟
_من هو الرجل الذي قتل علي سكة القطار ؟
_ما الصلة التي تربطهما معا ؟
_من هم أفراد العصابة المتورطة معهم آن ؟
_من هو رئيس العصابة المدعو بالكولونيل؟
_هل كان الرجل ذو البدلة البنية هو القاتل ؟
_هل الحقيقة هي مانراه أمامنا أم مانحس به داخلنا ؟
❄️تناولت جرعة من الغموض المخلوط مع المغامرة أدي لخلق الإثارة في الأحداث .
April 2, 2024
4.5* re-read of one of my favourite Christies
“I had the firm conviction that, if I went about looking for adventure, adventure would meet me halfway. It is a theory of mine that one always gets what one wants.”
The Man in the Brown Suit, or Anna the Adventurous, was published as a serial in 1923, and is completely over the top! Instead of our ‘usual’ detective story, we have a thriller, involving an international crime organisation with a secret arch-villain at its head, although there is of course murder and mystery. All starts with our intrepid heroine witnessing a man fall to his death at Hyde Park station. Add to this a piece of paper with a cryptic clue, the smell of mothballs, and a man in a brown suit, and our Anna throws herself into the chase, leading her into ever more dangerous situations, and a trip to South Africa!!
You do still get Christie’s sarcastic self, with the wicked wit shining through the descriptions and narration, but this is ultimately ‘just’ a fun adventure. Don’t over think it - just enjoy it, like I did :0)
“I had the firm conviction that, if I went about looking for adventure, adventure would meet me halfway. It is a theory of mine that one always gets what one wants.”
The Man in the Brown Suit, or Anna the Adventurous, was published as a serial in 1923, and is completely over the top! Instead of our ‘usual’ detective story, we have a thriller, involving an international crime organisation with a secret arch-villain at its head, although there is of course murder and mystery. All starts with our intrepid heroine witnessing a man fall to his death at Hyde Park station. Add to this a piece of paper with a cryptic clue, the smell of mothballs, and a man in a brown suit, and our Anna throws herself into the chase, leading her into ever more dangerous situations, and a trip to South Africa!!
You do still get Christie’s sarcastic self, with the wicked wit shining through the descriptions and narration, but this is ultimately ‘just’ a fun adventure. Don’t over think it - just enjoy it, like I did :0)
May 29, 2017
Before there was Miss Jane Marple and very shortly after the birth of Hercule Poirot, there was Anne Beddingfield, the plucky heroine of The Man in the Brown Suit. Dame Agatha Christie included Hercule Poirot in 45 books and Miss Jane Marple in more than a dozen. Even Tommy and Tuppence Beresford appear in four novels and a collection of short stories. But Jane Beddingfield appears only in The Man in the Brown Suit (although another character in this novel, the debonair Colonel Race, went on to appear in three more). More’s the pity! I would trade Tuppence Beresford and three dozen more heroines for Anne any day of the week, and how wonderful it would be to have a dozen Anne Beddingfield novels to read!
Anne Beddingfield, the daughter of a famous but impecunious archeologist, dreams of a life of adventure right out of the Rhodesian romance novels and the cliffhanger film series The Perils of Pamela she adores. On her father’s death, the intrepid orphan is so anxious for adventure that she casts caution to the wind after witnessing the death of one L.B. Carton at the Hyde Park Tube Station. Anne spends her last £86 to travel on the ship Kilmorden Castle to continue her investigation into both Carton’s murder and a related one. Onboard ship, Anne gets enough excitement to satisfy anyone — including any reader lucky enough to get a hold of this book. I know it’s a cliché, but Anne really is plucky, clever, and imaginative, and I fell in love with her immediately. I only wish I could enjoy her in some sequels. Highly, highly recommended.
Narrator Emilia Fox on the Audible edition of The Man in the Brown Suit makes the tale even more sublime.
Anne Beddingfield, the daughter of a famous but impecunious archeologist, dreams of a life of adventure right out of the Rhodesian romance novels and the cliffhanger film series The Perils of Pamela she adores. On her father’s death, the intrepid orphan is so anxious for adventure that she casts caution to the wind after witnessing the death of one L.B. Carton at the Hyde Park Tube Station. Anne spends her last £86 to travel on the ship Kilmorden Castle to continue her investigation into both Carton’s murder and a related one. Onboard ship, Anne gets enough excitement to satisfy anyone — including any reader lucky enough to get a hold of this book. I know it’s a cliché, but Anne really is plucky, clever, and imaginative, and I fell in love with her immediately. I only wish I could enjoy her in some sequels. Highly, highly recommended.
Narrator Emilia Fox on the Audible edition of The Man in the Brown Suit makes the tale even more sublime.
May 13, 2025
The Man in the Brown Suit was an early but good Christie with no professional detective such as a Poirot. Instead there is a plucky 1920s girl who is very amateur but a good character. The plot is more than a little contrived and hard to make sense of at times, but always fun.
The travels to South Africa by cruise ship are 1920s fun and so is the light travel in the South Africa of that time. Espionage, adventure, close calls and romance are thrown in. I felt that the romance was the feeblest part. The book has the virtue of speeding along with humor. Less detection and more “Perils of Pamela,” the serial the heroine likes to watch at the cinema. You go girl!
The travels to South Africa by cruise ship are 1920s fun and so is the light travel in the South Africa of that time. Espionage, adventure, close calls and romance are thrown in. I felt that the romance was the feeblest part. The book has the virtue of speeding along with humor. Less detection and more “Perils of Pamela,” the serial the heroine likes to watch at the cinema. You go girl!
February 16, 2023
It's hard to review this book...
It's not exactly a typical Agatha Christie whodunit. It has a more bizarre thriller feel. And I wasn't as impressed by the reveal as I usually am for her Poirot debriefs.
That said, it was good. For the first part, I fell in love with Anne's character. Her voice was so genuine and strong--I think she just might be one of my favorite narrators that Christie's written. Although, I started liking her less toward the end.
The intrigue was all right, but besides creeping me out at night, it wasn't as haunting as the others I read from her.
It's not exactly a typical Agatha Christie whodunit. It has a more bizarre thriller feel. And I wasn't as impressed by the reveal as I usually am for her Poirot debriefs.
That said, it was good. For the first part, I fell in love with Anne's character. Her voice was so genuine and strong--I think she just might be one of my favorite narrators that Christie's written. Although, I started liking her less toward the end.
The intrigue was all right, but besides creeping me out at night, it wasn't as haunting as the others I read from her.
July 5, 2020
احزنتنى كثيراً اجاثا فى هذة المغامرة
بعد بداية مبشرة و رايت انى امام رواية اخيرا تحدث فى اكثر من مكان و هذا غير معتاد عليه مع اجاثا
و شخصية آن المرحة لكن الرواية جائت مخيبة للامال بشكل كبير
تعودت من اجاثا عل كثرة المشتبه بهم و لكن مع النهاية كان الاشتباء يحوم حول اثنين فقط و اصبح الكولونيل واحد منهم
طبعا الرواية بها مميزات مثل التنقل من انجلترا ل جنوب افريقيا و الرحلة البحرية ف كانت الاحداث عل 3 اماكن و زاد من التمتع بروح القصة
لن احكى عن الرومانسية المبتذلة و السذاجة بعض الاحيان فى الاحداث
لم تعجبنى و يستمر حظى المتقلب مع اجاثا رواية تبهرنى و اخرى تحبطنى
بعد بداية مبشرة و رايت انى امام رواية اخيرا تحدث فى اكثر من مكان و هذا غير معتاد عليه مع اجاثا
و شخصية آن المرحة لكن الرواية جائت مخيبة للامال بشكل كبير
تعودت من اجاثا عل كثرة المشتبه بهم و لكن مع النهاية كان الاشتباء يحوم حول اثنين فقط و اصبح الكولونيل واحد منهم
طبعا الرواية بها مميزات مثل التنقل من انجلترا ل جنوب افريقيا و الرحلة البحرية ف كانت الاحداث عل 3 اماكن و زاد من التمتع بروح القصة
لن احكى عن الرومانسية المبتذلة و السذاجة بعض الاحيان فى الاحداث
لم تعجبنى و يستمر حظى المتقلب مع اجاثا رواية تبهرنى و اخرى تحبطنى
March 19, 2021
This is one of Agatha Christie's best stand alone novels - part mystery, part thriller and part espionage story - which takes us from a London tube station to revolution in Africa. It begins with Anne Beddingfeld, the daughter of a professor who longs for adventure. She spends her day trying to placate creditors and longing to 'step out' with a young man. When her father dies, she takes an opportunity to go to London, where, quite by chance, she witnesses the death of a young man at a tube station. Finding a piece of paper dropped by the 'doctor' at the scene, she believes the death to be linked to that of the murder of a young woman at the house of Sir Eustace Pedlar. With only eighty five pounds to her name, her deductions ignored by the police, she boards a ship bound for South Africa. On board she meets not only Sir Eustace Pedlar but his secretary Guy Pagett, the society beauty Suzanne Blair, the enigmatic Colonel Race and the attractive Harry Rayburn. If she can find out who the man in the brown suit is, seen leaving Sir Pedlar's house shortly after the murder, she hopes for a job on the Daily Budget and life as a journalist.
What follows is more of an adventure than the enterprising Anne could ever have dreamed of when she was tucked away in the quiet countryside. Some of the people Anne meets are certainly not who they appear to be and, before events have sorted themselves out, she will be kidnapped, nearly murdered (more than once!), face criminal gangs, find love and unearth the mysterious 'Colonel'. An excellent introduction to Christie if you haven't tried her books before. Sit back, relax and let the best mystery writer who ever put pen to paper take you on an adventure...
What follows is more of an adventure than the enterprising Anne could ever have dreamed of when she was tucked away in the quiet countryside. Some of the people Anne meets are certainly not who they appear to be and, before events have sorted themselves out, she will be kidnapped, nearly murdered (more than once!), face criminal gangs, find love and unearth the mysterious 'Colonel'. An excellent introduction to Christie if you haven't tried her books before. Sit back, relax and let the best mystery writer who ever put pen to paper take you on an adventure...
April 5, 2022
Published in 1924, this book introduces readers to Colonel Race, who goes on to feature in Cards on the Table, Death on the Nile, and Sparkling Cyanide.
The plot is less a detective novel and more a crime thriller that centres around a young woman called Anne Bedingfield.
From an incident on the tube, to a cruise ship, and on to South Africa, Anne - whom I liked as a character with spirit and intelligence - is swept up in a murder that sees her begin her adventure. She meets various characters and situations, including attempted murder, deception, and theft with connections to politics and professional criminals all included.
Overall, a enjoyable golden era crime novel.
The plot is less a detective novel and more a crime thriller that centres around a young woman called Anne Bedingfield.
From an incident on the tube, to a cruise ship, and on to South Africa, Anne - whom I liked as a character with spirit and intelligence - is swept up in a murder that sees her begin her adventure. She meets various characters and situations, including attempted murder, deception, and theft with connections to politics and professional criminals all included.
Overall, a enjoyable golden era crime novel.
December 9, 2017
My first Christie without Poirot or Marple and I still enjoyed it, much to my surprise. Anne was a feisty, independent minded protagonist. She was a bit of an insta detective though. A good range of supporting characters. It was also interesting to read about South Africa and Rhodesia: contemporary fiction at the time, and now historical fiction.
You wouldn’t know that this is one of Christie’s earlier novels.
You wouldn’t know that this is one of Christie’s earlier novels.
February 17, 2020
Below average Agatha Christie
Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: January 2, 2020Publisher: AmazonClassics
Language: English
ASIN: B07ZH6HD1M
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 1552
271 pages
This early Agatha Christie novel was published in 1924 between the introductions of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. It reads as though Christie had not yet hit her stride as a mature mystery author. In fact THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT is not strictly a mystery. Instead, it is a rather tame adventure/thriller/romance novel centered around a mystery.
Near the beginning, the future sleuth/adventurer, Anne Beddingfeld engages in a bit of introspective wishful thinking. One of the things she thinks of is the cinematic exploits of Pamela in the movie serial, THE PERILS OF PAMELA: "There was the cinema too, with a weekly episode of “The Perils of Pamela.” Pamela was a magnificent young woman. Nothing daunted her. She fell out of aeroplanes, adventured in submarines, climbed skyscrapers and crept about in the Underworld without turning a hair. She was not really clever, The Master Criminal of the Underworld caught her each time, but as he seemed loath to knock her on the head in a simple way, and always doomed her to death in a sewer gas chamber or by some new and marvellous means, the hero was always able to rescue her at the beginning of the following week’s episode." This quote pretty well sums up this novel. A literary movie serial with a game, enthusiastic young woman who is not quite competent but is very lucky. I read to about 60% through and realized that I didn't care who did what.
Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: January 2, 2020Publisher: AmazonClassics
Language: English
ASIN: B07ZH6HD1M
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 1552
271 pages
This early Agatha Christie novel was published in 1924 between the introductions of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. It reads as though Christie had not yet hit her stride as a mature mystery author. In fact THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT is not strictly a mystery. Instead, it is a rather tame adventure/thriller/romance novel centered around a mystery.
Near the beginning, the future sleuth/adventurer, Anne Beddingfeld engages in a bit of introspective wishful thinking. One of the things she thinks of is the cinematic exploits of Pamela in the movie serial, THE PERILS OF PAMELA: "There was the cinema too, with a weekly episode of “The Perils of Pamela.” Pamela was a magnificent young woman. Nothing daunted her. She fell out of aeroplanes, adventured in submarines, climbed skyscrapers and crept about in the Underworld without turning a hair. She was not really clever, The Master Criminal of the Underworld caught her each time, but as he seemed loath to knock her on the head in a simple way, and always doomed her to death in a sewer gas chamber or by some new and marvellous means, the hero was always able to rescue her at the beginning of the following week’s episode." This quote pretty well sums up this novel. A literary movie serial with a game, enthusiastic young woman who is not quite competent but is very lucky. I read to about 60% through and realized that I didn't care who did what.
August 5, 2019
A great thriller from Christie's earlier writings. Published in 1924, it has traces of the Western world's racial bias against the Africans. The only disappointment is that published just a year after Poirot's great thriller- The Murder on the Links, Christie decided to give him a miss. However overall the pace is racy and you get a good ringside view of South African terrain.
May 29, 2022
Not my favorite Christie mystery but a solid one to say the least.
Written in 1924 so there is some racial insensitivity.
Speaking of dated concepts, I had forgotten that "ejaculate" was a synonym for "exclaim". Thanks for the reminder Agatha. Heads up if you're listening to the audiobook in public.
Written in 1924 so there is some racial insensitivity.
Speaking of dated concepts, I had forgotten that "ejaculate" was a synonym for "exclaim". Thanks for the reminder Agatha. Heads up if you're listening to the audiobook in public.
July 26, 2018
One of Christie’s earlier novels.
Just like most of her stories during the early 1920’s, this is more of an adventure thriller than the traditional Whodunnit that you’d associate with her.
Young Anne Beddingfeld is looking for adventure, when she witnesses what seems to appear as an accidental death on the London Underground it soon leads her travelling to South Africa.
I really loved the set up of this novel, it felt so familiar to many of Christie’s other novels. I was instantly hooked on the mystery.
Even the journey to South Africa had some great intriguing moments.
The majority of the story is told through Anne’s perspective, she’s such an interesting character and was easy to follow her story.
During the second half of the novel the story starts to introduce diary entries which I found to be slightly jarring and disrupted the flow of the story.
Even though I probably won’t recommend this to a Christie novice as an introductory point, I still felt it was the best one out of all her early thrillers.
Just like most of her stories during the early 1920’s, this is more of an adventure thriller than the traditional Whodunnit that you’d associate with her.
Young Anne Beddingfeld is looking for adventure, when she witnesses what seems to appear as an accidental death on the London Underground it soon leads her travelling to South Africa.
I really loved the set up of this novel, it felt so familiar to many of Christie’s other novels. I was instantly hooked on the mystery.
Even the journey to South Africa had some great intriguing moments.
The majority of the story is told through Anne’s perspective, she’s such an interesting character and was easy to follow her story.
During the second half of the novel the story starts to introduce diary entries which I found to be slightly jarring and disrupted the flow of the story.
Even though I probably won’t recommend this to a Christie novice as an introductory point, I still felt it was the best one out of all her early thrillers.
September 8, 2020
2,5 stars. I read the abridged text and listened to the audio 4 times to improve my English.
From www.agathachristie.com: "Pretty, young Anne Beddingfield has come to London looking for adventure. But adventure finds her when a strange-smelling man falls off an Underground platform and is electrocuted on the rails. The police verdict is accidental death. But who was the man in the brown suit who examined the body before running away? Armed with only one cryptic clue, Anne is determined to track him down and bring the mysterious killer to justice.
Drafted and partly inspired by the Christies' Grand Tour of the British Commonwealth, The Man in the Brown Suit was written in her flat in Earl's Court with Agatha Christie evoking exotic African landscapes from memory.
The story features an appearance from Secret Service agent Colonel Race who assists the heroine, and would appear in three further novels: 'Cards on the Table', 'Death on the Nile' and 'Sparkling Cyanide'.
Published in 1924 by 'The Bodley Head', the novel was first serialised in 'The Evening News' under the title 'Anna, the Adventurous'.
Did you know?
The £500 Agatha Christie received for the first publication of this story paid for her first car - a grey bottle-nosed Morris Cowley."
From www.agathachristie.com: "Pretty, young Anne Beddingfield has come to London looking for adventure. But adventure finds her when a strange-smelling man falls off an Underground platform and is electrocuted on the rails. The police verdict is accidental death. But who was the man in the brown suit who examined the body before running away? Armed with only one cryptic clue, Anne is determined to track him down and bring the mysterious killer to justice.
Drafted and partly inspired by the Christies' Grand Tour of the British Commonwealth, The Man in the Brown Suit was written in her flat in Earl's Court with Agatha Christie evoking exotic African landscapes from memory.
The story features an appearance from Secret Service agent Colonel Race who assists the heroine, and would appear in three further novels: 'Cards on the Table', 'Death on the Nile' and 'Sparkling Cyanide'.
Published in 1924 by 'The Bodley Head', the novel was first serialised in 'The Evening News' under the title 'Anna, the Adventurous'.
Did you know?
The £500 Agatha Christie received for the first publication of this story paid for her first car - a grey bottle-nosed Morris Cowley."
June 20, 2009
A great read. As always, Christie is a master of the crime/detective genre, managing to make this a fun and exciting romp without decreasing any of the mystery and sense of the sinister.
All of the characters had their own charms, but Colonel Race really made the book, even though he seemed to stay in the backdrop a lot of the time. I must say I felt rather sorry for his lack of luck with Anne, but I'm looking forward to revisiting his character in the later books. Anne, although not the most likeable heroine, is spunky and fearless, and her romance with Harry is one of the highlights of this book. There's always something attractive about a brave and pretty young lady on an adventure falling in love with a handsome, rugged young man who's been framed for murder. Christie turns this tired old cliche into something that holds your interest and makes you want to turn the page.
The Man in the Brown Suit is a must-read for all Christie fans, and those who fancy a fast and furious bit of reading fun. There's a little of something in it for everyone; a crime (and its solving), unique characters, a spot of romance, and an all-round adventure.
All of the characters had their own charms, but Colonel Race really made the book, even though he seemed to stay in the backdrop a lot of the time. I must say I felt rather sorry for his lack of luck with Anne, but I'm looking forward to revisiting his character in the later books. Anne, although not the most likeable heroine, is spunky and fearless, and her romance with Harry is one of the highlights of this book. There's always something attractive about a brave and pretty young lady on an adventure falling in love with a handsome, rugged young man who's been framed for murder. Christie turns this tired old cliche into something that holds your interest and makes you want to turn the page.
The Man in the Brown Suit is a must-read for all Christie fans, and those who fancy a fast and furious bit of reading fun. There's a little of something in it for everyone; a crime (and its solving), unique characters, a spot of romance, and an all-round adventure.
March 30, 2025
Повече шпионска, отколкото криминална история. Приятна за четене, без да натоварва много.
Определено не е от топ романите на Кристи, но и не разочарова.
И си мисля, че се е забавлявала доста, докато го е писала. 😉
По-ниската ми оценка е заради неприятната метаморфоза на главната героиня - Ан.
Определено не е от топ романите на Кристи, но и не разочарова.
И си мисля, че се е забавлявала доста, докато го е писала. 😉
По-ниската ми оценка е заради неприятната метаморфоза на главната героиня - Ан.
May 8, 2015
Sir Eustace Pedler, M.P.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2021
Anne Beddingfeld is a fun main character, a young woman who is determined to find adventure and of course, a dashing man. So when her paleoanthropologist father kicks the bucket, she packs up her few possessions & pounds and heads to London. Goodreads tells me that this is a Colonel Race novel, but he seems like a secondary character here, rather unfair of Christie. He's a good character, but somehow she lavished her attention on Poirot!
Christie's espionage novels are so entertaining—totally unbelievable, but carried out with such enthusiasm. While reading this one, I thought of M.M. Kaye's Death in … series, published in the 1950s, they could have been modelled on this novel. I was also reminded a bit of Ian Fleming's Diamonds Are Forever, probably mostly because of the diamond angle, and because I know that Fleming was an admirer of Christie's writing.
At least in this novel, Anne gets to spend some time getting to know the man that she has set her heart on rather impulsively. In Kaye's novels (and, frankly, Mary Stewart's) the young women trust far too easily and too soon, committing to men with whom they are barely acquainted. I did like Anne's bravery, even if it did seem foolhardy at times. Really, sailing to South Africa with just a few bucks in her purse!
It was also fun to be reminded of some spots in South Africa that I visited a few years ago. The dusty, hot Karoo and the Kimberley, for instance. All in all, an entertaining couple of evening's reading.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
Christie's espionage novels are so entertaining—totally unbelievable, but carried out with such enthusiasm. While reading this one, I thought of M.M. Kaye's Death in … series, published in the 1950s, they could have been modelled on this novel. I was also reminded a bit of Ian Fleming's Diamonds Are Forever, probably mostly because of the diamond angle, and because I know that Fleming was an admirer of Christie's writing.
At least in this novel, Anne gets to spend some time getting to know the man that she has set her heart on rather impulsively. In Kaye's novels (and, frankly, Mary Stewart's) the young women trust far too easily and too soon, committing to men with whom they are barely acquainted. I did like Anne's bravery, even if it did seem foolhardy at times. Really, sailing to South Africa with just a few bucks in her purse!
It was also fun to be reminded of some spots in South Africa that I visited a few years ago. The dusty, hot Karoo and the Kimberley, for instance. All in all, an entertaining couple of evening's reading.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
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