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The Secret Adversary
The Secret Adversary
Set in 1919, young couple Tommy Beresford and Tuppence Cowley form a partnership, hiring themselves out as ''young adventurers''. Their first case, however, is more of an adventure than they expect - working to find documents that, if they were known to the general public, would fuel a communist revolution in Britain.
Book Excerpt
boy. But I can assure you that that sort of thing might touch the heart of an elderly spinster, and she might adopt you, and then there would be no need for you to be a young adventurer at all."
"I don't want to be adopted."
"I forgot you had a prejudice against it. I was only ragging you! The papers are full up to the brim with that type of thing. Now listen--how's this? 'Two young adventurers for hire. Willing to do anything, go anywhere. Pay must be good.' (We might as well make that clear from the start.) Then we might add: 'No reasonable offer refused'--like flats and furniture."
"I should think any offer we get in answer to that would be a pretty UNreasonable one!"
"Tommy! You're a genius! That's ever so much more chic. 'No unreasonable offer refused--if pay is good.' How's that?"
"I shouldn't mention pay again. It looks rather eager."
"It couldn't look as eager as I feel! But perhaps you are right. Now I'll read it straight through. 'Two young adventurers for h
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Big thanks to this website for providing us with her marvelous books!
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This early Christie is a good example of her early style, rambunctious and unsophisticated. As in The Man in the Brown Suit, this rollicking tale abounds in the most unexpected coincidences and improbabilities, which she became more reticent to use as her style developed. A fun read, nevertheless.
07/21/2017
Christie at her prime. My many thanks to "Manybooks" the fee book.
08/31/2013
Toooo good!
01/31/2012
Like a previous reviewer - my first Agatha Christie read. It won't be the last. Excellent!
10/07/2011
Remarkably good fun, sufficiently obscure plot to keep you guessing right up until the end. Highly recommended
01/25/2011
Having read the book and all the reviews above, I have to say I agree with all the other reviewers and find the book an excellent one worth every minute of reading time!
10/01/2010
If you are looking for some serious sleuthing or a cerebral mystery, this probably is not for you. If however, on the other hand, you like things nostalgic and carefree, and a bit of fun, then by all means ....read on.
Jolly good fun, this one
Jolly good fun, this one
06/19/2010
Tommy and Tuppence are two of Christie's best characters, and I always thought it was a pity she didn't write more books about them. Christie's novels hold up exceedingly well -- better than many later mystery writers'.
02/07/2010
Excellent penmanship. But that's what you expect when the name of the author is Agatha Christie. The relationship between Tommy and Tuppence adds to the spirit of the story, which is usually so rare in books written in the post World War I era.
12/25/2009