From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Secret of Chimneys (Superintendent Battle, #1)

Agatha Christie

Start date: June 1, 2021

Finish date: June 30, 2021

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: Next in our Assorted Christies challenge.
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Group Challenges

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie
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What Members Thought

Aug 26, 2016 Leslie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, owned, mysteries

I had completely forgotten this first Superintendent Battle mystery. Quite fun with Balkan politics, international jewel thieves, blackmail and possible impostors, not to mention a murder or two!

Hugh Fraser does a marvelous narration.

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Dec 12, 2012 BrokenTune rated it it was ok

Shelves: reviewed

Review posted on BookLikes:

http://brokentune.booklikes.com/post/... ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

May 18, 2021 Jill rated it it was amazing

Shelves: agatha-christie

I liked this one of Christie's. I found the characters to be fun with plenty of humour. I have to admit I was guessing at people being a famous jewel thief. I thought I had the right person and then talked myself out of it, only to suspect the person again at a later time. Although Superintendent Battle was supposed to be the main detective I thought he kept rather a low profile in the case, and there were detectives cropping up all over the place, which was funny in it's way. The Red Hand gang ...more

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Jul 26, 2021 Dipanjan rated it liked it

"The Secret of Chimneys" was the book where Agatha Christie introduced the world to Superintendent Battle. Though the setting is briefly in Africa, most of the action takes place in the stately English country house, “Chimneys”. The detection is led by Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard and various international colleagues; Aanthony Cade and several aristocratic acquaintances.

Anthony Cade, international adventurer, comes into a double commission to deliver a politically sensitive Herzoslovak "The Secret of Chimneys" was the book where Agatha Christie introduced the world to Superintendent Battle. Though the setting is briefly in Africa, most of the action takes place in the stately English country house, “Chimneys”. The detection is led by Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard and various international colleagues; Aanthony Cade and several aristocratic acquaintances.

Anthony Cade, international adventurer, comes into a double commission to deliver a politically sensitive Herzoslovakian manuscript of memoirs and a bundle of blackmailing letters to England. Both appear to be in high demand and swap hands several times; two men are shot, and the diplomatic and aristocratic guests at stately country home “Chimneys” are embroiled in multiple mysteries. Hidden identities, a violent revolutionary society, an accomplished jewel thief, a fabulous diamond, coded letters, secret passages and misleading clues… Can anyone be trusted? Is anyone really who they appear to be? And who does beautiful young widow Virginia Revel really love?

The dead bodies are a side plot to this thriller, written, one suspects, with tongue firmly in cheek. What with a butler named Tredwell, an Inspector Badgworthy, and a bumbling politician, one George Lomax – not to mention a stay at the posh Blitz Hotel in London – the author appears to have been having a lot of innocent fun with this one. Another thriller versus an out-and-out murder mystery, for though we have a number of violently killed bodies by the end of the saga, the other players view the deceased with cold speculation versus shocked emotion.

Political intrigue and revolution in fictional Balkan state Herzoslovakia! A commoner queen brutally massacred by a mob along with her royal spouse; a missing prince (or two?); sensitive political memoirs; an aristocratic Englishwoman’s blackmailing letters; a master jewel thief and a missing diamond of fabulous worth; untold reserves of oil (in Herzoslovakia) just waiting for development; several bullet-riddled corpses of swarthy foreigners; and a stately English country home much used to hosting diplomatic gatherings. And then there are the lovely ladies of impeccable breeding and soothing manner, with a thrillingly handsome young man just off the boat from Africa acting as courier to the papers in question.

It was an ok read in a general sense. It had its moments. But very much a product of its time. Very vintage.

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Feb 25, 2021 Tahlia Fernandez rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Delightful! I love the saucy dialogue, Superintendent Battle is awesome as usual, and the twists and turns kept me happily guessing.

After a break in reading Agatha Christie, I now remember why I love reading her so much!

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