The Secret Adversary

I have read lots of Agatha Christie books over the years, and I enjoy them. However, there is usually a super-detective who knows before everyone else who the killer is. In fact, they know who did it the second that they see the body. It is fine, but all the same, it gets a bit tired after a while. This story had lots of crazy running around and the main characters not knowing who the bad guy is. It was a nice change of pace. However, the best parts were the characters of Tommy and Tuppence and their slang. I loved Tuppence saying "He's a duck!!" over and over again. The characters are so fun that I definitely look forward to reading about them again.

God, this is bad. I’m not sure I’m going to bother to finish it. Last night I went and read the Wikipedia entry to confirm my guess about who the Adversary is. Basically, I wanted a spoiler so I could find out without having to actually read the book. Tommy and Tuppence are feckless and foolish and profligate and can’t see what’s right in front of their faces. I can tell I’m supposed to be charmed by them but is just not working.

Tommy and Tuppence #1. A good story, first one with little bit of romance :)

I liked the plot even though i didnt get clue on what was there in those precious documents (so that England could burn it!!!!), neglecting that, the twists were awesome... It was a good read :)

This was fantastic. This mystery was strong and had me guessing with all the twists and turns and drama. I didn't see it coming. Well written, fast paced and humorous. The characters - wow. I LOVED Tommy and Tuppence. Tommy is down to earth, logical and calm. Tuppence is headstrong, quickwitted and severe. I loved how practical and honest Tuppence is - and she has such a sense of adventure. Afterall their inital partnership is thus named The Young Adventurers, Ltd -

‘Two young adventurers for hire. Willing to do anything, go anywhere. Pay must be good. No unreasonable offer refused.’

Christie, Agatha. The Complete Tommy & Tuppence Collection (Tommy & Tuppence Mysteries) . William Morrow Paperbacks. Kindle Edition.

The banter between them is adorable. They've known each other since childhood and are great friends and it's clear in every interaction that they have a long history and feel comfortable around one another. Tuppence may be strong willed and imaginative but Tommy is no push over - he's more than willing to call Tuppence out on her crap.

“There wouldn’t be the least difference if you were caught!”

“Perhaps not. But I shouldn’t be caught. I’m so clever.”

“Modesty always was your besetting sin,” remarked Tommy.

Christie, Agatha. The Complete Tommy & Tuppence Collection (Tommy & Tuppence Mysteries) . William Morrow Paperbacks. Kindle Edition.

Together they make one hell of a team.

And I don't think I've read any other book set in this time where the female character is so badass. I mean she tackles a guy.

“Just a word with your pretty friend here.” He stretched out an unsteady hand, and clutched Jane by the shoulder. Tuppence heard other footsteps behind. She did not pause to ascertain whether they were friends or foes. Lowering her head, she repeated a manœuvre of childish days, and butted their aggressor full in the capacious middle. The success of these unsportsmanlike tactics was immediate. The man sat down abruptly on the pavement. Tuppence and Jane took to their heels.

Christie, Agatha. The Complete Tommy & Tuppence Collection (Tommy & Tuppence Mysteries) . William Morrow Paperbacks. Kindle Edition.

I mean sure I've read heroines outsmarting people. Thinking for themselves. Being proactive when faced with danger. But I think it's a first to read one who's willing to physically take on an attacker in such a manner. Belting someone over the head with a candlestick yes. Rugby tackling no. And it was freaking awesome!

The romance is very abrupt and somewhat disjointed but the friendship between them is really special and makes it easier to ignore. The other characters were interesting but my favourite was Albert.

Especially how he's taken in by the idea of spies and criminals and whatnot. It was adorable to read Tuppence buying threepenny detective novels to make sure she had more cliches ready for him. Plus when Tommy and Albert commando crawl unnecessarily to undertake surveillance. It was awesome.

Overall a solid read. 4.5 stars, rounded to 5.

#1: THE SECRET ADVERSARY

This was fantastic. This mystery was strong and had me guessing with all the twists and turns and drama. I didn't see it coming. Well written, fast paced and humorous. The characters - wow. I LOVED Tommy and Tuppence. Tommy is down to earth, logical and calm. Tuppence is headstrong, quickwitted and severe. I loved how practical and honest Tuppence is - and she has such a sense of adventure. Afterall their inital partnership is thus named The Young Adventurers, Ltd -

‘Two young adventurers for hire. Willing to do anything, go anywhere. Pay must be good. No unreasonable offer refused.’

The banter between them is adorable. They've known each other since childhood and are great friends and it's clear in every interaction that they have a long history and feel comfortable around one another. Tuppence may be strong willed and imaginative but Tommy is no push over - he's more than willing to call Tuppence out on her crap.

“There wouldn’t be the least difference if you were caught!”

“Perhaps not. But I shouldn’t be caught. I’m so clever.”

“Modesty always was your besetting sin,” remarked Tommy.

Together they make one hell of a team.

And I don't think I've read any other book set in this time where the female character is so badass. I mean she tackles a guy.

“Just a word with your pretty friend here.” He stretched out an unsteady hand, and clutched Jane by the shoulder. Tuppence heard other footsteps behind. She did not pause to ascertain whether they were friends or foes. Lowering her head, she repeated a manœuvre of childish days, and butted their aggressor full in the capacious middle. The success of these unsportsmanlike tactics was immediate. The man sat down abruptly on the pavement. Tuppence and Jane took to their heels.

I mean sure I've read heroines outsmarting people. Thinking for themselves. Being proactive when faced with danger. But I think it's a first to read one who's willing to physically take on an attacker in such a manner. Belting someone over the head with a candlestick yes. Rugby tackling no. And it was freaking awesome!

The romance is very abrupt and somewhat disjointed but the friendship between them is really special and makes it easier to ignore. The other characters were interesting but my favourite was Albert.

Especially how he's taken in by the idea of spies and criminals and whatnot. It was adorable to read Tuppence buying threepenny detective novels to make sure she had more cliches ready for him. Plus when Tommy and Albert commando crawl unnecessarily to undertake surveillance. It was awesome.

Overall a solid read. 4.5 stars, rounded to 5.

#2: PARTNERS IN CRIME

I loved the first book and I enjoyed the second although I was kind of sad they were no longer the Young Adventurers. Tommy and Tuppence are the best. I love them separately and I adore them together. I really like that marriage hasn't changed the banter and friendship between them. Or dulled Tuppence's thirst for adventure, quick wits or sass. Not that any books with married couples actually comes to mind. I'm not sure I've read any others - romance is always the end goal rather than the starting point.

So the second book is about Tommy and Tuppence taking over a detective agency. The format of this is kind of unique though because it's a short story collection - just all the stories revolve around the detective agency - each one being a case. I thought the general premise being the detective agency gave it a more cohesive feel and allowed for a depth that tends to be missing in short stories. I don't usually enjoy short story collections - too often half of them suck - but I loved this.

I liked that each story tackled different cases and that Tommy and Tuppence both played equal roles in solving them. I really liked getting to see the different cases they worked and how they solved them. Particularly when they emulate famous detectives.

I love how into it Tommy, Tuppence and Albert get. Each of them give 110% to their parts. And it amuses me how much of a production it all is. Typewriter to be typing when someone comes in. Albert to deny access to the boss because he's 'on the phone with Scotland Yard' and his quiet remarks about secret official business. It was hilarious.

Overall a solid read. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. I can't wait to read the next step in their journey.

2.1: A FAIRY IN THE FLAT: Six years later, Tommy is working for the Secret Service (office work though) and Tuppence is stuck buying hats because she might have money but she's bored and itching for adventure. Mr Carter comes to the rescue when he suggests that Tommy take a leave of absence and become a manager of a suspect detective agency, taking on the name of Theodore Blunt. Tuppence jumps at the chance to investigate. I liked that Albert is still around. And that he goes to the movies and then emulates what he sees.

2.2: A POT OF TEA: Their first major case involves an Earl who is in love with a shop girl that disappears and he want her found.

LMFAO. Tuppence orchestrates some much needed publicity by organising for the girl to go missing. Turns out the girl is an old friend. She talks up their agency to the girl who tells the Earl and then Tuppence cons the Earl into paying double for their 24 hour guaranteed results special. Tommy is appalled.

God I love Tuppence. She's freaking hilarious. Albert would be a close second. They're both so utterly dramatic and it's perfection. Tommy is the perfect foil to their craziness. This one was brilliant.

2.3: THE AFFAIR OF THE PINK PEARL: Being amateurs to detecting, Tommy comes up with a plan to get some technique by trying out different fictional detective styles just as they get a new case. A pink pearl has gone missing and they're hired to find it. Lol they're so full of shit. They bluff their way through before Tommy brilliantly solves the case.

It's the French maid who is actually a thief and hides the pink pearl in a cake of soap. He snaps a picture of her and takes it to Scotland Yard.

2.4: THE ADVENTURE OF THE SINISTER STRANGER: Ooh spies! Someone has caught on that something is not right at the International Detective Agency and they send some people to check. I didn't like this as much as the others. Although it was kind of funny

with Tommy pretending to be Francis and having it confirmed because he pocketed a present Tuppence had for her friend Francis.

.

2.5: FINESSING THE KING: Tommy and Tuppence decide to branch out with the detective skills - choosing to emulate some American detective styles. They end up following a newspaper ad to a ball where a woman winds up dead. Just before she dies though she says Bingo. This case continues in The Gentleman Dressed in Newspaper.

2.6: THE GENTLEMAN DRESSED IN NEWSPAPER: Inspector Marriot arrives with the husband of the dead woman, Sir Arthur. He is unconvinced that Bingo Hale could have murdered his wife. Tuppence manages to solve the case when Tommy makes an offhand remark that sparks her little grey cells.

The husband killed her because the wife was planning to run off with her lover, Bingo Hale and he would be cut off from her money. She said Bingo because her husband was in costume at the time - and Bingo was tricked into not going to their arranged meeting.

I didn't really like this one.

2.7: THE CASE OF THE MISSING LADY: A fiancee returns for his beloved only to find she's nowhere to be found. He hires Tommy and Tuppence to find her.

They find her but are appalled when they do - she's not missing, she's panicking. Her fiancee hates fat women and in the two years he's been gone she's put on weight. Still, I liked this;

“Come on,” said Tuppence, with determination. “What are you going to do?” “I’m going to climb over the wall and see if I can’t get up to the house quietly without being seen.” “Right. I’m with you.”

The dedication to his wife. I mean at that point they didn't know she was fat. They thought she was in real danger.

2.8: BLINDMAN'S BUFF: In this one they're busy practising their detective skills by pretending to be blind and making deductions. When they go for lunch they are accosted by the mysterious ham merchant they've been on the lookout for. They manage to escape and catch the bad guys. It was amusing to see them play the detective games - I liked how into they all got.

2.9: THE MAN IN THE MIST: Tommy and Tuppence meet an actress who asks for their help. When they go to meet her they find her dead. For all it was longer I didn't really like this one all that much. And I think I've read something very similar before - not that I can remember where but still.

2.10: THE CRACKLER: Inspector Marriot needs some help. One of his cases involves counterfeit money and the people he needs to get close to are friends of friends of Tommy and Tuppence. So he sends them in undercover.

I enjoyed the ending to this one. Marking the door with chalk but dropping a bottle of valerian (which apparently cats love) in front of the door so that the police weren't relying on the chalk cross but the neighbor of cats.

2.11: THE SUNNINGDALE MYSTERY: Tommy and Tuppence discuss a man who was murdered on a golf course by a woman with a hatpin. I liked the creativity of this one. It sounded like a pretty clever way of murdering someone.

There's outfit changes and all. And I liked Inspector Marriot ribbing them about the string and their reading habits.

2.12: THE HOUSE OF THE LURKING DEATH: Lois Hargreaves comes to see them when she suspects a member of her household is trying to kill her. This was alright, not my favourite though.

2.13: THE UNBREAKABLE ALIBI: A woman (an Australian!) makes a bet that she can construct a perfect alibi and the man she bet needs help to break it. I loved this one. I guessed the solution pretty quickly but I enjoyed the story nonetheless.

2.14: THE CLERGYMAN'S DAUGHTER: A clergyman's daughter inherits a haunted house. She hires Tuppence and Tommy to get to the bottom of it. Case continued in The Red House.

2.15: THE RED HOUSE: Tommy and Tuppence visit the Red House and figure out why someone would want to make everyone believe it's haunted.

It was the maid. And her nephew. Because the old lady who died hid her wealth on the estate. I kind of wanted Monica to drive the price of the house up further and then sell and have the money from the treasure and the house.

2.16: THE AMBASSADOR'S BOOTS: The ambassador asks Tommy and Tuppence to investigate a small puzzle - why someone would want to steal his kitbag and then return it.

I didn't see the conclusion of this one. Well the bit about why the bag was taken. Or given rather. I liked Albert lassoing the guy. Like out of all the ways you can subdue someone he's reading up on and practising lassoing. I guessed why Tommy was delaying them with stories about a taxi and people following and that Tuppence was to follow and beat them there. But the rest was a nice surprise.

2.17: THE MAN WHO WAS NO. 16: The Russian superspy No. 16 makes an appearance. Or appearances as the case may be.

I liked the conclusion to this - No. 16 had hidden Tuppence inside the bed. On the other hand, it annoyed me that Tuppence was taken out and had little to do with it. I prefer it when they both display brilliance. Or Tuppence manages to mostly save herself and Tommy gets there while she's escaping or something. I did like that Albert cheered Tommy up and reminded him that Tuppence is indestructible. I also liked that she's thought of as such.

#3: N OR M?

I adore Tommy and Tuppence. They're freaking hilarious. Tuppence in particular is a legend.

“You know,” said the young man with enthusiasm, “I think you’re splendid, simply splendid.” “Cut out the compliments,” said Tuppence. “I’m admiring myself a good deal, so there’s no need for you to chime in.

I love that they're both still happily married and as in love as they ever were. You don't really see many books about happily married couples where their falling in love is the beginning of the story - not the end. Plus they're still full of snark and banter and it was perfection. I also adore that Tuppence hasn't lost her thirst for adventure or her tendency for mischief.

Pulling one over Mr Grant had me in hysterics.

Succinctly, Tommy narrated what had occurred. He did not dare look at the other. He carefully kept out of his voice the pride that he secretly felt. There was a silence when he brought the story to an end. Then a queer noise escaped from the other. Grant was laughing. He laughed for some minutes. He said: “I take my hat off to the woman! She’s one in a thousand!” “I agree,” said Tommy.

And that Tommy is still as supportive of her as ever.

“And Mrs. Blenkensop.” More knitting—an untidy dark head which lifted from an absorbed contemplation of a Balaclava helmet. Tommy held his breath, the room spun round. Mrs. Blenkensop! Tuppence! By all that was impossible and unbelievable—Tuppence, calmly knitting in the lounge of Sans Souci. Her eyes met his—polite, uninterested stranger’s eyes. His admiration rose. Tuppence!

“How on earth did you get here, Tuppence?” murmured Tommy. “It’s a miracle—an absolute miracle.” “It’s not a miracle at all—just brains.” “Your brains, I suppose?” “You suppose rightly.

They have such a great relationship and I love that give and take between them - they're a real partnership. And Tommy recognises it and endorses it.

That was what his life with Tuppence had been and would always be—a Joint Venture. . . .

The mystery was fantastic. I loved the twists and turns and the doubts and the clues. I enjoyed finding out who was N and M and how they went about it. It amused me how they were dismissed for being too old (at forty six) but totally went ahead and foiled a major national security plot. And Albert makes an appearance!

Overall 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

#4: BY THE PRICKING OF MY THUMBS

I love Tommy and Tuppence. How could I not? Together, apart, they come off the page. I wasn't sure at first about a series where the main characters significantly age with each book - a series where marriage is the beginning of the story, rather than the end. But it works.

And I mean, the mysteries are great but the relationship between them is truly something special.

“All right, all right,” said Tommy, “be realistic. But if you really want to be noble and come with me—” “I want to come with you,” said Tuppence. “After all, I married you for better or for worse and Aunt Ada is decidedly the worse. So I shall go with you hand in hand.

I love that they're always so supportive of one another and that the love and affection between them is so readily apparent. I love that they're not just husband and wife but best friends too. Plus they're hilarious - the snark, the banter it's perfection. And Tuppence is such a drama queen and I totally rate it.

“All the same—” said Tommy. “I know,” said Tuppence, “I know. All the same you feel it’s your duty and so you’ve got to go.” “Don’t you think I’m right?” “Unfortunately,” said Tuppence, “I do think you’re right. Absolutely right. And I’ll come too,” she added, with a slight note of heroism in her voice. “No,” said Tommy. “Why should you? She’s not your aunt. No, I’ll go.” “Not at all,” said Mrs. Beresford. “I like to suffer too. We’ll suffer together. You won’t enjoy it and I shan’t enjoy it and I don’t think for one moment that Aunt Ada will enjoy it. But I quite see it is one of those things that has got to be done.”

The only one who cracks me up more than Tuppence is Albert. They really are quite a pair with their mysteries and clues and adventures. Well and their sneaking and snooping.

“And now, I suppose,” said Tommy, “you want to hear everything.” “Matter of fact, sir,” said Albert in a slightly apologetic tone, “I know most of it. You see, seeing as it was a question of the missus and all that, I took the liberty of lifting up the extension in the bedroom. I didn’t think you’d mind, sir, not as it was the missus.”

Overall another strong addition to the series. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

#5: POSTERN OF FATE

This is either pure genius or total insanity. And I honestly don't know which one I'm leaning towards.

I've loved all four of the Tommy and Tuppence novels. They've been well written, hilarious, strong mysteries and I've adored every minute. This one had moments of that but it was also fairly scattered.

Did Christie plan that? It was apparently the last book she wrote. She would've been 82 years at the time and she was experiencing dementia. Tommy and Tuppence are also of advanced age and experiencing dementia. Did Christie get confused while writing? Or did she plan for the writing to emulate the behaviour of herself and her characters?

It made it hard to follow but it also accurately captured the forgetfulness that plagues the elderly.

I'm sad that there weren't more Tommy and Tuppence because they were terrific - smart, brave, funny and with a knack for solving crimes. They were supportive of one another and were still as in love by the end as they were from the very start.

This might not have been the best Agatha Christie novel but it wasn't a terrible read - just not quite up to the high standards she'd set for the majority of her career. 3 stars.

NOTE: All references refer to the following omnibus edition. Christie, Agatha. The Complete Tommy & Tuppence Collection (Tommy & Tuppence Mysteries) . William Morrow Paperbacks. Kindle Edition.