The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

 

Title: The Secret of Chimneys

Author: Agatha Christie

Publication: originally June 1925

Format: paperback

Back Cover Description

Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff

Somehow this was my first time reading The Secret of Chimneys and I am fairly certain that it is quite possibly one of my favorite light Christie reads. It was, of course, pre-disappearance and, in general, those do tend to feel a bit lighter than the post-Archie stories. There really isn't anything very strenuous about this one which often ends up with it getting negative reviews. It's a giant mish-mash of political and international intrigue, stolen & mistaken identities, murder(s), blackmail, kidnapping, treasure hunting ... and on and on and so on and so forth. Through it all, though, the story stays engaging in large part thanks to Anthony Cade. He's got the humor:

and he most definitely has the swoon-worthiness:

Please please please do NOT watch the catastrophic episode of the same name put out by ITV & Granada in lieu of reading the book. For one, Miss Marple didn't even exist in the Christie universe at the time. It's not her story ... and the story that was told in the show, even without the plunking in of Marple, is not the story from the book.

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As always, Friday 56 (share a blurb from the 56th page or 56% mark) is hosted at Freda's Voice 

& Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader