Dave’s review of The Seven Dials Mystery (Superintendent Battle #2) > Likes and Comments
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Sometimes I think that Christie wasn't taking things all that seriously and invented the comedy-crime crossover subgenre!
Well, I have the feeling she was just trying different things, especially early on. Adding humor. Setting the stage for Dashiell Hammett to create Nick and Nora. Looking for that blend of murder and silliness. She wrote nothing about the real world events going on, which is fine, She got rich on entertaining the masses. But not to criticize that too much, she was entertaining, indeed. This girl Bundle is fun, and often snarkily funny. But Poe did not do humor, nor did Doyle. I am not sure if there were others before who did crime comedy. I just don't know.
This sounds like fun to me. I'm going to give it a try. Thanks for the excellent review.
My husband's grandfather was born in Seven Dials (London, UK), and moved out about 1924
I watched it on Netflix and ordered the book. I rather liked it but even to someone not knowing he book (yet), it was obvious that they made changes (and often, where). I didn't mind so much because I liked the atmosphere quite a bit. But the books are (almost) always better anyway. ;)
Trish wrote: "I watched it on Netflix and ordered the book. I rather liked it but even to someone not knowing he book (yet), it was obvious that they made changes (and often, where). I didn't mind so much becaus..."
They can do whatever they want with the book in adaptation, but I missed the humor of the original. They cut out Bumble's sassy, cutting commentary on all the condescending, idiotic males who think she must be protected, who say this is too dangerous for girls. The only one who sort of gets the humor in the original is Freeman, who plays things lighter, in spite of the director pushing for a more straight-up, serious tone. It was all right, still. I guess they sort of retained a bit of humor about all the men who ask Bumble to marry her, all iodiots, including (well, this is in the last book, Chimneys) Battle himself! But in this book she agrees to marry so I am glad she does not marry in the tv series, especially because the guy she agreed to marry in the book was such a dope. I thought the whole plot was just silly and ludicrous, so they should have played it for laughs.
Dave wrote: "I missed the humor of the original"
Ha! I somehow knew there would be (even more) humour in the book which is why I ordered it instantly. Interestingly, the Hobbit's humor fell flat for me, but the other bits from other characters were quite nice.
I adore Christie but I don't think her talents lie in the actual writing. She's great of course with plot and character though. Her Americans are always stereotypes but I actually find that endearing.
Katy wrote: "I adore Christie but I don't think her talents lie in the actual writing. She's great of course with plot and character though. Her Americans are always stereotypes but I actually find that endearing."'
Thanks, Katy. She makes stereotypes of all nationalities, I think, but ultimately she is a good person, I think.
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Jan-Maat
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Jul 04, 2025 01:12PM
Sometimes I think that Christie wasn't taking things all that seriously and invented the comedy-crime crossover subgenre!
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Well, I have the feeling she was just trying different things, especially early on. Adding humor. Setting the stage for Dashiell Hammett to create Nick and Nora. Looking for that blend of murder and silliness. She wrote nothing about the real world events going on, which is fine, She got rich on entertaining the masses. But not to criticize that too much, she was entertaining, indeed. This girl Bundle is fun, and often snarkily funny. But Poe did not do humor, nor did Doyle. I am not sure if there were others before who did crime comedy. I just don't know.
This sounds like fun to me. I'm going to give it a try. Thanks for the excellent review.
My husband's grandfather was born in Seven Dials (London, UK), and moved out about 1924
I watched it on Netflix and ordered the book. I rather liked it but even to someone not knowing he book (yet), it was obvious that they made changes (and often, where). I didn't mind so much because I liked the atmosphere quite a bit. But the books are (almost) always better anyway. ;)
Trish wrote: "I watched it on Netflix and ordered the book. I rather liked it but even to someone not knowing he book (yet), it was obvious that they made changes (and often, where). I didn't mind so much becaus..."They can do whatever they want with the book in adaptation, but I missed the humor of the original. They cut out Bumble's sassy, cutting commentary on all the condescending, idiotic males who think she must be protected, who say this is too dangerous for girls. The only one who sort of gets the humor in the original is Freeman, who plays things lighter, in spite of the director pushing for a more straight-up, serious tone. It was all right, still. I guess they sort of retained a bit of humor about all the men who ask Bumble to marry her, all iodiots, including (well, this is in the last book, Chimneys) Battle himself! But in this book she agrees to marry so I am glad she does not marry in the tv series, especially because the guy she agreed to marry in the book was such a dope. I thought the whole plot was just silly and ludicrous, so they should have played it for laughs.
Dave wrote: "I missed the humor of the original"Ha! I somehow knew there would be (even more) humour in the book which is why I ordered it instantly. Interestingly, the Hobbit's humor fell flat for me, but the other bits from other characters were quite nice.
I adore Christie but I don't think her talents lie in the actual writing. She's great of course with plot and character though. Her Americans are always stereotypes but I actually find that endearing.
Katy wrote: "I adore Christie but I don't think her talents lie in the actual writing. She's great of course with plot and character though. Her Americans are always stereotypes but I actually find that endearing."'Thanks, Katy. She makes stereotypes of all nationalities, I think, but ultimately she is a good person, I think.
