The Secret Adversary: A Book Review

Title: The Secret Adversary

Author: Agatha Christie

Genre: Mystery

Reading Level: 10 and up

Summary:Two bright young characters of the Jazz Age start out looking for adventure and wind up saving England in Agatha Christie’s The Secret Adversary. Childhood friends Tommy Beresford and Prudence “Tuppence” Crowley have hit hard times. It’s 1920, and the Great War is blessedly over. But the peace has left staid old England in upheaval and the young veteran and the pretty former nurse flat broke. In the free spirit of the age, the two advertise themselves as “Young Adventurers,” hoping for enjoyable as well as profitable employment. Their first client, a British Army Intelligence officer, promises both when he hires them to find a missing woman, and the charming duo are soon involved in a case of international intrigue, mistaken identities, and, ultimately, romance.

My Review: This is the 1st in Agatha Christie's Tommy and Tuppence mystery series, and also her second novel. I have all of the books in the Tommy and Tuppence series now, thanks to a large book sale at my library. Anyway, this is a fun lighthearted read. I loved it personally, but then I love detective couple's, and now dear Tommy and Tuppence are 2nd on my list only surpassed by Nick and Nora Charles who came after them chronologically, but whom I met first. Tommy and Tuppence are a great dynamic couple, Tommy is the thinker, and Tuppence is the girl of action. They both have a fun witty banter going throughout the book, and even though they're separate for most of the plot (funny I just noticed that) you can still sense how much they care for each other. There are ton's of great character's in this book besides the two main. The villain is the mysterious Mr. Brown, a person whom no one has really seen, but that everyone is afraid of. He could be anyone in the novel, and Christie's writing certainly make's you jump from suspect to suspect trying to find him.
As far as plot goes this was very basic, national intrigue, missing people, and secret paper that could destroy the world if in the wrong hands. I was still shocked in the end, but it was more of a "AHA I KNEW IT!!" sort of shock for really if you pay close attention this is a fine one to solve on your own, for it is relatively easy, without being boring. This is the 1st one in my suspense thriller challenge. I think it count's because I was in suspense.
Content: Just some curse word's.
Rating: 4 stars out of5
Recommend: For fan's of light fun mysteries, and Agatha Christie (Not all of her mysteries are light, see And Then There Were None one of my personal favorites)