The Seven Dials Mystery.

A group of bright young things rig a joke to cure a friend of oversleeping. By morning the joke has curdled into a corpse, and behind it lies a shadowy circle known only by the name of a London district.

What it's about

Set largely at Chimneys, the grand country house of an earlier Christie adventure, The Seven Dials Mystery follows Lady Eileen Brent, universally known as Bundle, as a lighthearted weekend party takes a fatal turn. Curious, fearless and thoroughly modern, Bundle sets out to untangle a conspiracy involving a mysterious secret society, stolen secrets and a masked assembly that meets in a shabby corner of London. Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard lends his patient professionalism to the chase, but it is Bundle's nerve that drives the story forward.

Themes

This is Christie in her playful thriller mode, delighting in the energy of the postwar generation, fast cars, casual courage and a refusal to take the older order too seriously. Appearances deceive at every turn, and the novel plays constantly with the gap between what people seem to be and what they conceal. Behind the fun lies a firm belief that a sharp mind matters more than rank or reputation, and that a determined young woman can outpace the professionals.

Why it still matters

Christie remains the best-selling novelist of all time, and books like this show why her range extended well beyond the drawing-room puzzle. It is a brisk, witty entertainment full of misdirection, and its final revelation is delivered with the author's trademark sleight of hand. As a portrait of the 1920s, all house parties and slang and social change, it captures a vanished world with affectionate precision. For readers who want the pleasure of a Christie plot with a lighter, more adventurous step, it is a treat.

Who it's for

Great for fans of classic golden-age mysteries, secret-society thrillers and spirited amateur sleuths. Anyone who enjoys Christie's lighter, faster novels, or simply wants a clever page-turner, will find it hard to put down.

Sources and references

Verified references for this edition: Open Library, WorldCat, Agatha Christie on Wikipedia.