The Secret Adversary

Agatha Christie Graphic Novels #5

by François Rivière (Adapter), Frank Leclercq (Illustrator)

Graphic Adaptation of THE SECRET ADVERSARY

Genres: Mystery, Agatha Christie, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Crime, Bande Dessinée

48 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2003

About the author

Romancier et journaliste, il s’est fait une spécialité des adaptations en bande dessinée d'Agatha Christie chez Emmanuel Proust Editions. Chez le même éditeur, il a également publié Un Drame en Livonie, et les deux tomes de Voyage sous les eaux, d’après Jules Verne.

Reviews

[StrictlySequential · Rating 4 out of 5]

UK English Harper Edition = 2008 = £9.99

It's possibly the most difficult English series to be able to get a bunch of for under $15 each but my dedication always pays off because my dozen or so have all been great!

The art isn't stunning but gives the characters a certain dimension that I cannot explain but adored.

François Rivière is totally the Roy Thomas of French bd. Excellence.

[Clare Snow · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was confusing with how much was left out. I've read others of these graphic novels and they leave in enough to understand the story.

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie – Magister Ludi, author of http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/06/m... Murder on The Orient Express and other classics of the genre

9 out of 10





I am not a fan of the detective story, unless we talk of Crime and Punishment http://realini.blogspot.com/2020/06/c... by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, which is registered as a ’crime novel’, fundamental, and to be seen as much else, but there is a murder at the center



One of these days, one standard entry into the note must be included to alert potential readers on the hazards involved in looking at these lines, because there has been a comment recently, which complained that I am moving off subject, and this is a habit – confirmed here by the quote ‘we are what we regularly do, excellence is thus a habit, not an act’, said to belong to Aristotle, but maybe it was Will Durant who is the author

Agatha Christie has five books on the list of 1,000 Novels Everyone Must Read http://poemeglume.blogspot.com/2023/0... all in the crime section, one of them is the entertaining, captivating The Secret Adversary, which is also a spy story, with a romance or two in it



The Murder of Roger Ackroyd http://realini.blogspot.com/2018/08/t... is another one of the 1,000 Novels compilation, and might be the one that surprised me most – spoiler alert for Ackroyd, just in case you read all the way to here and then want to take that story later…

We have a doctor telling readers what has happened, how Roger Ackroyd was killed, the timing, who could have been, how the physician was called to see to the patient that has become a cadaver, we have speculations, alibis, or lack thereof, and eventually, right at the end, as it should be, we find that the killer is…the narrator



And Then There Were None http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/06/a... is found on the aforementioned list, impressed this reader when we was about fifteen or so, the teenager could not see how characters disappeared, that is they were dispatched by the assassin…

As there were three, two left, you could only see that it must me one of the two - let us keep putting those spoiler alerts, however preposterous, gratuitous it may seem, indeed, the reason why that comment was negative is because I had not thought people would really read or watch the videos, so what is the point of warning, when there is no one to set on guard, and the ‘style, chaos, lack of target’ is clear from the start



Although we have just two personages angry with each other, for now they know the other is the killer, or they are sure that is the only conclusion to draw from the situation, everybody is dead, we are just two left, and I have not killed anyone – oops, actually, they have been all gathered, invited to this place, for what is a vigilante operation, retribution for people who have committed a murder, or more, but the justice system could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they had done it, our Avenger knows and acts on it

Only surprise, surprise, the real killer has only staged his departure for other worlds, or into nothingness, and he is in fact out there, operating with greater freedom now…this title has been used the other day by Rahm Emanuel, American Ambassador to Japan, to refer to the disappearance of the Chinese minister for defense, the latest casualty of the would be emperor, the tyrant in Beijing…



Some months ago, a tennis player said she had been abused by a high ranking official, and then she disappeared, a few months back, it was the minister for foreign affairs, and now another one has attracted the wrath of a rather incompetent leader, who had blamed corruption and other things on his predecessors, but what about now, he has appointed these two, so he is not good at selecting and leading.

Thus, Rahm Emanuel said ‘and Then There Were None’ to highlight the tendency of apparatchiks (and others) to be missing in action – and to come back to The Secret Adversary –in the beginning, we find about some documents of extreme importance that are in the possession of a passenger on the Lusitania, and just before it sinks, the man passes these secrets on to a young woman, Jane Finn, asking her to take care of them, for she is much more likely to survive, because women and children have a priority for the life boats.



Tommy and Tuppence are the main characters of the narrative though, they have no money and are willing to do (almost) anything to get cash, and this is how they get entangled in the efforts to find Jane Finn and the secret documents she might have, both the good and the bad boys are determined to get their hands on the papers, and the young man and woman that play detectives in this narrative might have their own chance

This is a change from the novels where we have Hercule Poirot doing the investigation – incidentally, a new film was launched recently, based on Agatha Christie also, which has Kenneth Brannagh at the helm, and in the role of maybe the best known detective, one that for this cinefile does not suit him, indeed, Brannagh irritates me as Poirot, he is sublime as Henry V, he gave as a couple of years ago the magic Belfast, other Shakespeare adaptations, and yet, he chooses to be this flamboyant, annoying (as rendered in Death on the Nile, Orient Express) – and it is refreshing to follow Tuppence and Tommy to the end



Now for a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se



As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...



From To The Heritage:

‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life. As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality. Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’

‚parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus’

“the Meaning of Life...Well, it's nothing very special. Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
This was very confusing to say the least, but I think it's only because it was a graphic novel. These types of books are much easier to understand when being read as an actual novel.
However, the overall story was good and though it seems unlike other people I didnt see the identity of "Mr Brown" until it was revealed. But I guess a thirteen year old, tired person cant be expected to work out much😂 I love Agatha Christie's work although I've only seen some films (I know its terrible) and this did not change that.
but it was very difficult to follow as a graphic novel, I kept forgetting who the characters were but after everything was revealed it was very easy to understand. I saw how everything fit in although I dont understand how there was a creaking sound when the killer was in the room but that might have just been a cover.
I didnt want to spoil much so I'm sorry if this didnt make much sense, I recommend reading for a confusing read that will fool you until the last second!

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a interesting book to say the least. The language was a bit different. I loved Tommy and Tuppence. What happens between these on a an adventure is far from a simple location of a women. It soon becomes dangerous for the two. It seemed it took a long time to find out what happens to Tommy. I felt at times that they had given up. One of the characters a Sir James Peel Edgerton was helping, but also warning Tuppence. I did like Julius the millionaire.
I was turning the pages quick to see what happens. Twist and turns be sure. I found a copy of this book in a used book store.

[Bert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did guess the villain, but it was still a fun rollicking adventure. I think Tommy and Tuppence are my favorite serial characters to flow from Ms. Christie's pen. They are old friends who met up again in the aftermath of WWI. They then fall head over heels into intrigue and adventure. B.J. Harrison's narration was spot on.

I highly recommend this tale.

Listened using Chirpbooks.com.

[Dixie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tommy & Tuppence were a pretty fun team, but I wouldn't say this is anything like the best Christie book I've read. It was too easy to put down, and the villain wasn't too difficult to guess by about halfway through.

[Magali Najarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Tommy and Tuppence and all their spywork and political intrigues. And this graphic novel is so beautifully drawn. It was such a delight to read

[Lara Zuberi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed it as all other AC books. This one had an added layer of spies and government secrets intermingled with the murder mystery. Suspense, wit, drama, all packaged into one quick read.

[Berna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the Turkish translation.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here’s another classic that slipped by me, published in 1922 it’s the first appearance of Tommy and Tuppence (Christie’s only married detectives; she only wrote 5 books featuring the couple).
It is 1915, the RMS Lusitania is sinking, a man quietly gives important papers to a young American woman, as she is more likely to survive the sinking ship. In 1919 London, Tommy Beresford meets an old friend Prudence "Tuppence" Cowley, both out of work and money. They form the "The Young Adventurers, Ltd", planning to hire themselves out with no unreasonable offer refused." They are overheard by a Mr. Whittington who offers Tuppence a position. But with the assignment comes a bribe to keep quiet, a threat to her life, and the disappearance of her new employer. Who is the mysterious man known as Mr. Brown who seems to be one step ahead of them? And what happened to the American woman, named Jane Finn, is she alive?

[Meli]

beautiful as always..☺

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pada tahun 1920-an di Inggris, sepasang anak muda memutuskan untuk membentuk agen detektif pribadi bernama "Dua Petualang Muda". Tugas pun dimulai. Saat melakukan pengejaran terhadap seorang wanita Amerika yang membawa dokumen penting, mereka harus berurusan dengan Tuan Brown yang misterius, pemimpin gangster internasional. Bahaya pun menanti mereka ...

Selalu ada persoalan mengadaptasi, dalam hal ini dari sebuah novel detektif menjadi sebuah komik yang tidak lebih panjang dari 50 halaman. Ceritanya sangat dikondensasi, bahkan di beberapa bagian seperti fragmen putus yang sukar dipahami karena seolah tak berhubungan. Berhubung novel "Musuh Dalam Selimut" adalah salah satu dari sedikit karya Agatha Christie yang belum kubaca, maka membaca komik ini jadi terasa lebih rumit daripada yang seharusnya.

[Laurie Kazmierczak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Agatha Christie book I've read. Very enjoyable with a lighthearted style yet a serious plot. Tommy and Tuppance are thrown into the mysterious disappearance of a not so plain Jane and the whereabouts of important papers. Downloaded for free and will certainly be on the lookout for more of the Agatha Christie mysteries.

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first graphic novel, chosen as part of a personal challenge. I picked an Agatha Christie as I'm familiar with her books, although I hadn't read this one before. It was an interesting way of reading, and I'd pick more graphic novels, but of course this was much shorter, condensed into about 50 pages so probably lots of the original details missed off.

[Aliya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't read fiction, so I bought this graphic novel thinking I'll enjoy Agatha Christy. It was a chore to read, because it was just not interesting enough. The sketches were dark and gloomy and I struggled to finish the book.

[Nojood Alsudairi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good try but I feel that the story lost a lot when transferred to a comic book. It does not look like Agatha Christi any more!

[DeAnna Knippling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reread.

Of of Agatha Christie series, the Tommy & Tuppence ones are the ones least interesting to me, or were. Fun and playful. I wonder what about me changed?

[Karol Mesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me es muy grato que a estas alturas de mi relación con la Sra. Christie no haya podido yo dar con la identidad de Mr. Brown. ¡Maravillosas aventuras las de Tuppence y Tommy, los amé!

[Kathy Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

good story good graphics