The Crackler: A Short Story

Tommy & Tuppence #2.09

by Agatha Christie

Previously published in the print anthology Partners in Crime.

Tommy and Tuppence sleuth after a clever counterfeiter who has been flooding both sides of the Channel with phony bills. In a dark alley, Tommy finds chalked Xs over all the doors—but what do they mean?

Genres: Agatha Christie, Mystery, Short Stories, Crime, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

25 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 13, 2013

About the author

Agatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.

This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.

Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute Tommy & Tuppence mystery!
First published in the magazine The Sketch in 1924.
Inspector Marriot sets the duo on the trail of someone or a gang of someones who are passing fake money. And since bills crackle, Tommy hilariously decides to refer to the unknown leader as The Crackler.
Really, tommy?



In most of the other T & T shorts, Agatha Christie gives a nod to another literary detective. This one is slightly different in that it references the British crime writer and playwright, Edgar Wallace, who is actually now best known for his part in creating the legendary King Kong.



Anyway, Tommy decides they're going to need to add more shelf space in order to study the detecting methods used in his books.
Tuppence and Mr. Tuppence get sucked into the world of high-stakes gambling and have quite a fun adventure before they uncover the ringleader of the forgers.
This was one of my favorites, mostly due to the interactions of the adorable married detectives.

Read as part of the short story collection Partners in Crime.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tommy and Tuppence are recruited by Scotland Yard to break a counterfeit ring. There is a French woman and her father who are suspects when in fact it turns out to be the American who is the leader of the ring.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening. ✨🎎🎉

This kindle e-book novella is from Amazon for $0.99.

As a fan of Agatha Christie I enjoyed this novella.

Tommy and Tuppence are approached by Scotland Yard to find the source of counterfeit money. The join the club where it appears to be coming from. They uncover the source leading to the arrest by Scotland Yard.

I would recommend this quick read to fans of Agatha Christie. 2024

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of Agatha Christie’s better Tommy and Tuppence stories. Tommy and Tuppence go under cover to infiltrate a counterfeit ring, but they get jealous of each other’s under cover role and argue. Tommy seemingly stumbles on the counterfeit mastermind rather than solves the case, and Tuppence doesn’t help at all.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tommy & Tuppence 02 Partners in Crime

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent short!

I really liked this short story, but then I have never read anything by Dame Christie I have not liked. The plot is easily followed, the characters are vastly fun and interesting, and the ending quite clever. I highly recommend this book!

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun mystery. I love the interplay between these two.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here we have another Tommy and Tuppence story. Here it is focussed on Tommy who looks into breaking a money laundering scheme.

[Joop · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weer een zwak T&T verhaaltje

[itchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as part of the collection Partners In Crime, 21April2022.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It’s a pleasure to see two young people enjoying life as much as you two do.”

[Rolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tommy and Tuppence solve a forgery case. Their dialogue remains clever and fun.

[Kristen Bouma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun

[Alif · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was good! liked the ending!

[Zaira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiolibro.

[Ivan Jovanović · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prica koja nas vodi do laznih novcanica i slucaja koji je razveselio Tommyja i Tuppence. Zabimljiv novi izraz smo ovdje dobili - Suskalo.

[Abeer Albossany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautifully done! although the whole mystery was somewhat clear all along.