Rating: 
Summary: Amazing...absolutely amazing
Review: I originally got this book as a gift and DID NOT want to read it...but I was bored one day and decided to go ahead with it. And I am so glad i did! This is pure Christie genius. The characters are all so dazzling...especially the camaraderie between Bundle Brent, Jimmy Thesiger and Bill Eversleigh. I even saw traces of myself in Bundle's character...which made the book even more delightful. The other amazing thing was that after I read this book...I went out and bought it's prequel "The Secret of Chimmneys" which is also very good. You can still grasp the story without reading the "Secret of Chimmneys" though.
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: This Could be Subtitled "Chimneys Revisited"
Review: Once again Agatha Christie returns us to the stately home of Chimneys from her previous novel. We are reintroduced to Bundle, George Lomax, Superintendent Battle, and others from that earlier work. Lord Caterham has leased his estate to a wealthy businessman for the hunting season, but becomes distraught when murder once again strikes his ill-fated home. The plot centers on the theft of a valuable scientific formula and a crime-fighting society known as the Seven Dials. Comic elements coupled with brilliant but improbable plotting make this a satifying Christie read, though not one of her best.
Rating:
Summary: Tennis, Anyone?
Review: The only things missing from this murderous P.G. Wodehouse type lark were Bertie Wooster & Jeeves. Val McDermid contributed an impassioned introduction on the proper appreciation of Dame Agatha's myriad talents. In my case, Ms. McDermid was preaching to the choir. Idle rich young folk are houseguests at country house Chimneys (revisited-see: "The Secret of Chimneys") that is being rented by noveau riche Lord Cootes for the summer. The young men at the party, though uniformly dense, have reasonable names. The young ladies, dashing and beautiful, are called "Bundles" and "Socks" for no particularly good reason except perhaps to annoy the reader. These madcaps play a joke involving multitudes of alarm clocks on one of their sleepy headed fellows, and the joke turns sour when the young man is found dead in his bed. Superintendent Battles is the voice of calm and reason here, but the sleuths are the young people. They roar around in roadsters, take fearful risks and generally have a fine time. The plot is intricate, the red herrings clever and misleading. As usual, Ms. Christie offers up a total surprise at the end. I agree with Ms. McDermid that AC has a particularly sly sense of humor. The larger-than-life trivial and shallow aspects of the characters are meant to amuse, but sometimes grate. However, in honor of splendid plotting and excellent misdirection, "The Seven Dials Mystery" certainly deserves a B.
-sweetmolly- Amazon Reviewer
Rating:
Summary: Tennis, Anyone?
Review: The only things missing from this murderous P.G. Wodehouse type lark were Bertie Wooster & Jeeves. Val McDermid contributed an impassioned introduction on the proper appreciation of Dame Agatha's myriad talents. In my case, Ms. McDermid was preaching to the choir. Idle rich young folk are houseguests at country house Chimneys (revisited-see: "The Secret of Chimneys") that is being rented by noveau riche Lord Cootes for the summer. The young men at the party, though uniformly dense, have reasonable names. The young ladies, dashing and beautiful, are called "Bundles" and "Socks" for no particularly good reason except perhaps to annoy the reader. These madcaps play a joke involving multitudes of alarm clocks on one of their sleepy headed fellows, and the joke turns sour when the young man is found dead in his bed. Superintendent Battles is the voice of calm and reason here, but the sleuths are the young people. They roar around in roadsters, take fearful risks and generally have a fine time. The plot is intricate, the red herrings clever and misleading. As usual, Ms. Christie offers up a total surprise at the end. I agree with Ms. McDermid that AC has a particularly sly sense of humor. The larger-than-life trivial and shallow aspects of the characters are meant to amuse, but sometimes grate. However, in honor of splendid plotting and excellent misdirection, "The Seven Dials Mystery" certainly deserves a B.
-sweetmolly- Amazon Reviewer
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.
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.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent literature!
Review: This book starts out boring until a guy dies in his sleep and then.. Oh sorry better not tell you the whole story but two other people are murdered. Agatha Christie is a good mystery writer for anyone 12 and up. I would definatly recommend the book " AND THEN THERE WERE NONE" previously titled " TEN LITTLE INIDANS".
Rating:
Summary: A great Book!!!!!!!
Review: This is a great book. Sometimes some of Agatha Christie's novels get a bit boring, but this one is Agatha Christie at her best! I found this book really good. The suspense is unbearable at times, but thats what makes this book really good. I really like Agatha Christie's books, but this has got to be one of the best!
Rating:
Summary: Agatha - just a little different!- enjoy the young sleuths!
Review: ~ * * * * ~
~ I liked this book very much, because the style and pacing are just different enough! Very different approach from the "who-dun-it" routine that is wonderful in her Poirot, and Miss Marple series, but can get a little wearying if you are reading a lot of Agatha Christies' best.
~ * * * * ~
The somewhat reluctant sleuths in this story are the fast young crowd who gather at "Chimneys" for a house party. It is somewhat easier to follow if you have read "Secret at Chimneys" first. However, I hadn't read it and this was still very entertaining. Superintendent Battle seems as inscrutable and impassive as ever. Lady "Bundle" is very endearing, as is her friend Bill, especially, as his feelings for her become more apparent.
When a member of their party is killed, and seven alarm clocks left inexplicably on the mantle, the young people grasp for clues: going to the Unsavory "Seven Dials" neighborhood.
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Unlike Poirot, who sits and lets his gray cells work, or Miss Marple, who finds similarities between any current case and remarkable incidents from her life in her small village: these bright dashing young heroes follow the trail head first, putting themselves in awkward positions!
~ - * * * * - ~
This is a nice, enjoyable, satisfying and entertaining mystery- in a style just different enough to be interesting! I really recommend this one for an Agatha Christie slight change of Pace!
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