Scan barcode
thaurisil's review against another edition
4.0
In this book of short stories, Tommy and Tuppence are asked by Mr Carter, whom we met in The Secret Adversary, to pretend to be Mr Theodore Blunt, who runs the International Detective Agency but has now been arrested due to suspicions of contact with Russian criminals with a code surrounding the number 16. Tommy pretends to be Mr Blunt and Tuppence pretends to be Miss Robinson, the secretary. Together they solve a number of mysteries, interspersed with adventures to do with the "16" gang.
Like in The Secret Adversary, Tommy and Tuppence are a fun duo to read. They combine a moderate amount of cleverness, plenty of courage and a handful of luck. Their chemistry and banter, and their knack for taking themselves seriously while doing silly things infuses their adventures with youthful liveliness. Tommy tends to think of himself as the chief detective, but Tuppence is the one with the brains, and they take turns to uncover solutions.
The adventures themselves are not always simple mysteries.
In each case, Tommy pretends to be a literary detective from the golden age of mysteries, and Tuppence plays a long. The ones I recognised were Sherlock Holmes, Father Brown and Hercule Poirot. Many of the others I do not recognise, like Dr Thorndyke, the Okewood brothers, and the old man int he corner. The parodies are an additional playfulness on Agatha Christie's part and a tribute to the writings of her fellow mystery writers. The whole book is a joy to write, both from the standpoint of mixed genres of mystery fiction, and for its entertaining humour and the likeable and amusing Tommy and Tuppence.
Like in The Secret Adversary, Tommy and Tuppence are a fun duo to read. They combine a moderate amount of cleverness, plenty of courage and a handful of luck. Their chemistry and banter, and their knack for taking themselves seriously while doing silly things infuses their adventures with youthful liveliness. Tommy tends to think of himself as the chief detective, but Tuppence is the one with the brains, and they take turns to uncover solutions.
The adventures themselves are not always simple mysteries.
Spoiler
The first isn't even a true mystery. Tommy attempts to solve the mystery of a missing girl, only to find that it was a set-up by Tuppence and her friend to advertise the firm. There's another story that seems to a girl kidnapped by a doctor, until they discover that the girl is secretly undergoing slimming treatments. Another features a client who has been given a case of dual alibis by the girl he is courting, and who asks Tommy and Tuppence to help him solve her riddle. In one story, the pair discuss a mystery case in the news and together come up with the solution. Between these, there are more traditional mysteries of stolen pearls and money, several murders, and espionage-style stories leading to the eventual capture of the man who was no. 16.In each case, Tommy pretends to be a literary detective from the golden age of mysteries, and Tuppence plays a long. The ones I recognised were Sherlock Holmes, Father Brown and Hercule Poirot. Many of the others I do not recognise, like Dr Thorndyke, the Okewood brothers, and the old man int he corner. The parodies are an additional playfulness on Agatha Christie's part and a tribute to the writings of her fellow mystery writers. The whole book is a joy to write, both from the standpoint of mixed genres of mystery fiction, and for its entertaining humour and the likeable and amusing Tommy and Tuppence.
janemarple's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I really enjoy the characters of Tommy and Tuppence but I really don’t like short stories nearly as much as I do a well-developed novel.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs
natalia86's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
Es el primer libro que leo del matrimonio Tommy y Tuppence Beresford, son varios relatos cortos que junto con la dinámica de estos dos protagonistas lo hace muy entretenido, que quieras conocerlos más y por lo tanto de muy rápida lectura.
maisieb14's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
linsey1828's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
karenholmes's review
3.0
Tommy and Tuppence are always a refreshening couple to read about... They are fun, and adventurous even though they are already in the middle of their married life, no longer dreaming of far fetched adventures... well, may be a little.
At the beginning Tuppence longs for change and challenge, but at the end she would settle up for a bit of quiet. The couple are offered to manage a detective agency that's a cover for spy work while keeping an eye on biggish things. And the result is a collection of short stories with the cases they take on. Some bigger than the others, but all of them quite fun.
At the beginning Tuppence longs for change and challenge, but at the end she would settle up for a bit of quiet. The couple are offered to manage a detective agency that's a cover for spy work while keeping an eye on biggish things. And the result is a collection of short stories with the cases they take on. Some bigger than the others, but all of them quite fun.
mborer23's review
4.0
A charming series of short stories about bright young 1920s sleuths Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, each in the style of a different mystery writer. Some of these fictional detectives have since been largely forgotten (Tommy McCarty and Denis Riordan, anyone?) but the stories are still enjoyable reads.
If you're looking for hard-boiled tales of detection, though, you've come to the wrong place. These are strictly for fun, and feature some fantastic deus-ex-machina twists. Highly recommended for cozy mystery fans.
If you're looking for hard-boiled tales of detection, though, you've come to the wrong place. These are strictly for fun, and feature some fantastic deus-ex-machina twists. Highly recommended for cozy mystery fans.
alisiakae's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Xenophobia and Antisemitism
houston_l's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
hillarym's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0