The Seven Dials Mystery

Lending library find - this was a good palate cleanser to the 2-star romances. Christie was taking a turn at blending her typical murder mystery with a spy thriller, but I think I prefer her usual. I actually picked up an edition that has two of her other novels in it, so I'm looking forward to reading those. The forward noted that Christie's portrayal of German and Russian spies in this one hasn't aged particularly well, but...German and Russian spies in the between-war period were up to no good! I also agree 100% with their observation that Christie spares no one, especially the British upper class, in her satiric sweep: this novel is full of aimless young men of means, and Lord Caterham in particular is Wilde-ean in his absurdity. The standout here is for sure the heroine (in another skewering of social mores, she is ridiculously nicknamed Bundle), who is equal parts zany and disciplined. Forget Superintendent Battle; this should have been the start of the Bundle series.

Not an ordinary mystery, this one is more “international spy” thing :-D

I didn't expect the twist. Good :-)

Reminds me a lot of Wodehouse. Slightly silly boys, very accomplished girls. I like that. :-D (Though, of course fatherly men try to keep girls out of the action, being such gentle, fragile things. Fainting and all.) Agatha didn't keep the girls safe, nor out of action. I like that, too :-D

Once again the maestro has dumbfounded me, I never know where she is going to go! Delightfully fun, enjoyable characters with plenty of deaths and daring.
Great to see a plucky, young female take the lead and lots of very funny moments. Dialogue was sharp as a whip and there were plenty of twists and turns.
As with all the Christie novels I've read so far it is far removed from the reality of that time. Everyone has plenty of money and all the time in the world for sleuthing and playing golf. But it's a lovely piece of escapism which is, sometimes, all you want from a book!