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

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

Author: Agatha Christie

Published in: 1922

Date read: 2nd June 2023

Score: 3/5

Genre: Crime, Detective, Classic

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Secret Adversary," published in 1922, is Agatha Christie's second novel and the debut of her iconic amateur detective duo, Tommy Beresford and Prudence "Tuppence" Cowley. It marks a departure from the traditional whodunit, plunging the young, adventurous protagonists into a thrilling world of espionage and international conspiracy.

The story begins in post-World War I London, a time of economic hardship and social upheaval. Tommy and Tuppence, both demobilised from their war efforts and unemployed, meet by chance in a tea shop. They decide to form the "Young Adventurers Ltd.," an organisation dedicated to hiring themselves out for any task, no matter how unusual.

Their first "case" materialises almost immediately when they overhear a conversation about Jane Howard, a mysterious woman who supposedly vanished from the Lusitania before it sank in 1915, carrying secret documents. These documents, known as "the Treaty," are crucial to preventing a Bolshevik revolution and maintaining stability in Europe.

It is revealed that Jane Howard was entrusted with a list of secret agents and the details of a treaty that, if it fell into the wrong hands, could ignite widespread chaos and war. She managed to escape the sinking ship, but then disappeared, and the powerful, enigmatic Mr. Brown, a ruthless master criminal and the titular "secret adversary," is determined to acquire the list.

Tommy and Tuppence find themselves inadvertently embroiled in this dangerous conspiracy. They are quickly recruited by a mysterious figure known as Mr. Whittington, who offers them a substantial sum to find Jane Howard and the Treaty before Mr. Brown does.

Their investigation takes them through various layers of London society, from respectable homes to dangerous underground hideouts. They encounter a colourful cast of characters, including the beautiful and alluring Jane Finn (who might or might not be the real Jane Howard), the formidable and often intimidating Julius Hersheimmer (an American millionaire also searching for the Treaty), and a network of spies and double agents.

Tommy, with his steady loyalty and common sense, often finds himself balancing Tuppence's impulsive nature and daring schemes. They face numerous perilous situations, including kidnappings, near-death experiences, and close calls with Mr. Brown's ruthless operatives.

The novel is a fast-paced espionage thriller, filled with suspense, chases, and moments of lighthearted banter between the dynamic duo. The climax involves a tense confrontation with Mr. Brown himself, as Tommy and Tuppence race against time to recover the vital Treaty and unmask the true identity of the elusive mastermind before Europe is plunged into further chaos. "The Secret Adversary" is a spirited adventure that established Tommy and Tuppence as enduring figures in Christie's oeuvre.

Comments:
I have to be honest, I am not quite sure what the issue was but something about this book grated on me. I think it was the way that T & T spoke to each other, it really put me off to the point where I didn't enjoy large parts of the book. The story was good but I will have to try again in their next encounter.

Books that we've read by Agatha Christie (8):
The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot, #1) (1920), The Secret Adversary (Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries, #1) (1922), The Murder on the Links (Hercule Poirot #2) (1923), The Man in the Brown Suit (Colonel Race, #1) (1924), The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot, #4) (1926), The Murder at the Vicarage (Miss Marple #1) (1930), The Thirteen Problems (Miss Marple, #1) (1932), And Then There Were None (1939)