From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Secret Adversary (Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries, #1)

Agatha Christie

Start date: July 15, 2024

Finish date: August 6, 2024

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: By member request, the first in the Tommy and Tuppence series.
[close] By member request, the first in the Tommy and Tuppence series.

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What Members Thought

May 18, 2012 Becky rated it liked it

I enjoyed The Secret Adversary. I have read Agatha Christie's novels out of order, without much of a plan. So I've read many of her later novels first. This is my first Tommy and Tuppence novel, however.

I definitely liked it. It has a certain charm to it, I suppose. This first novel introduces readers to the two characters, and introduces a romance between the two. A romance that perhaps seems obvious, but, a somewhat sweet romance nonetheless.

World War I has not been over that long when the n ...more

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Mar 04, 2009 Laura Anne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, mystery, british-isles, espionage, adventure

4.5 stars Reread 2021: I read this when I was a child, and I still adore it. Tommy and Tuppence are so much fun.

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Jan 30, 2016 Tamara rated it liked it · review of another edition

Not some of Christie's best work, but still a fun mystery. ...more

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Mar 28, 2011 Carol Evans rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

Fun. Tommy and Tuppence make such a great couple.

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May 09, 2017 Nanosynergy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries-thrillers-espionage, series, reviewed, fiction, british, fiction-1920s, 2017read

The Secret Adversary, published in 1922, is a bit Nick and Nora meets Nancy Drew. Almost a 'young adult' book. Lifelong friends Tommy and Tupennce stumble into being detectives in pursuit of gainful employment after the end of the war, realize they are in love, eventually marry and become husband/wife detective team. Despite their inexperience, the plucky duo plunge headlong into solving the mystery, surviving life-threatening situations with innate cleverness and a bit of help along the way. ...more

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May 28, 2008 Jenn Estepp rated it really liked it

Shelves: sleuths-and-gumshoes

So, I've totally read the Tommy and Tuppence books out of order; thankfully, it doesn't lessen my enjoyment of it. They are such great characters and have such an engaging relationship, that it's really lovely to observe it. No, it's not the most compelling of mysteries per se - personally, I kept going back and forth between the two suspects who developed fairly early; glad it turned out to be who it was - but it's still scads of fun. ...more

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