The Seven Dials Mystery

Rating:
Summary: TIMELESS MYSTERY
Review: Arguably the most famous mystery writer in the world and, most likely, the most beloved, Agatha Christie's English language books have sold over a billion copies. Her total sales in numerous foreign languages also reach that enviable number.

Also an accomplished playwright, Ms. Christie's iconic drama "The Mousetrap" is one of the longest running plays in the history of the theatre. Her imagination knew no bounds nor did her energies.

Time has not diminished the unique quality of her work as is evident in "The Seven Dials Mystery" expertly read by Jenny Funnell.

With this story rather than Miss Marple or the eccentric Hercule Poirot our heroine is Lady Eileen "Bundle" Brent. An intended practical joke on Gerry Wade turned out not to be funny at all but murder. "Bundle" and her cohort Jimmy Thesiger are put to the test in trying to discover the meaning of seven clocks found at the murder scene. Their detective work leads them to a nightclub, the Seven Dials Club, which is a cover for a secret society.

What is "Bundle" to do now?

- Gail Cooke

Rating:
Summary: Amusing But Not Greatly Memorable
Review: In many respects THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY is typical of both Christie's "master criminal" novels of the 1920s and popular thriller fiction of the same decade--which is to say extremely improbable from start to finish. But Christie has a distinct tendency to approach such material in a very tongue-in-cheek manner, and with this novel she is clearly less interested in weaving one of her celebrated mysteries than she is in tossing off some frothy fun.

DIALS revisits characters first met in THE CHIMNEYS, a novel set at the country estate of Lord Caterham and his sprightly daughter "Bundle." On this occasion, however, Lord Caterham has leased the estate to a captain of industry, and when an unexpected death occurs during a weekend house party Bundle finds herself drawn into an adventure that involves two murders, a plot to steal an important invention, and a mysterious association known as "The Seven Dials."

While THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY is amusing to read, Christie doesn't quite manage to capture the madcap mood that makes such similar works as THE SECRET ADVERSARY so much fun to read--and with the exceptions of Bundle and Lord Caterham none of the characters here are greatly memorable. Fans will enjoy it as an ultra-light and ultra-fast read, but this isn't a work that will remain in mind very long after the book has been finished and set aside.

Rating:
Summary: The Secret of Chimneys Part 2
Review: THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY is set 4 years after THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS (1929&1925) and also takes place in that 'Stately Home' Chimneys.

Lord Caterham has taken his family, including oldest daughter 'Bundle' AKA Lady Eileen, abroad in search of peace and quiet after all the excitement that had occured in THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS. He has leased Chimneys to Sir Oswald and Lady Coote who have decided to have one last weekend party before their lease ended. The house is filled with 'bright young things' but one of the party, Gerry Wade has been a difficult guest in that he was consistently late to breakfast. That was bad enough but then he was found dead one morning.

After the Cootes moved out and the Caterhams returned, Bundle found herself bored with country life and decided to return to London. On the way she ran into (literally)a young man, his dying words to her "Seven Dials...tell....Jimmy Thesiger" set Bundle and her friends on the trail of a mystery.

Bundle and Bill Eversleigh (also in THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS) are reunited as they try to solve the murders and the secret of the Seven Dials. False identities, red herrings and secret societies abound until Bundle and Bill, with the aid of Superintendent Battle resolve the mysteries.

This, like THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS, is Agatha Christie a la P. G Wodehouse. Far from the serious mystery that Christie is famous for, this is a comedy with mystery overtones. If you like Wodehouse you'll like this book, but if you are looking for a serious puzzler look elsewhere.