Written by Agatha Christie
SUMMARY:
Originally published in 1929, this 217-page Bantam paperback reprint (with cover art by Tom Adams) was released in 1987. As a spin-off sequel to 1925’s The Secret of Chimneys, this follow-up stars a spirited Eileen “Bundle” Brent back at her ancestral home. After an alarm clock prank by Bundle and her upper-class pals fails, oversleeping house guest Gerry Wade’s accidental suicide is discovered.
Yet, a far more suspicious death follows, as their mutual friend, Ronny Devereaux, is fatally wounded in a roadway by an unknown sniper. Enigmatic clues hint that the culprit belongs to an ominously masked group dubbed the ‘The Seven Dials Society.’
Determined to find answers, Bundle recruits dapper playboy Jimmy Theisger; the dull-witted Bill Eversleigh; and Gerry’s eager sister, Loraine, to help investigate. Even Scotland Yard’s stolid Superintendent Battle can’t dissuade Bundle from her increasingly dangerous amateur sleuthing. With Jimmy’s help, an intrepid Bundle must dodge more than just bullets and an unwanted marriage proposal to unravel the murderous enigma lurking behind the ‘The Seven Dials.’
REVIEW:
Full of deliberate clichés and a generic cast, it’s apparent that Agatha Christie meant The Seven Dials Mystery as a tongue-in-cheek trifle. Her light-hearted character descriptions (i.e. Jimmy Thesiger) are indicative of this assessment. Further proof is the comedy relief from Bundle’s befuddled dad, Lord Caterham, who dreads his monotonous responsibilities as an old-school British aristocrat.
Hence, their amusing father-daughter banter is one of the book’s most welcome elements, particularly when Bundle reels from a pompous and far-older politician’s hopes of matrimony. Aptly mixing suspense and humor, Bundle’s amateur sleuthing is a welcome treat after her minimal role in The Secret of Chimneys. The best part awaits in the final few chapters, as a few knock-out twists (including Battle’s ulterior motive) compensate for this story’s duller stretches.
Even if it isn’t one of Christie’s better works, The Seven Dials Mystery makes a decent bedtime read.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
