Destination Unknown

First Published: 1954
Setting: The Unit, Somewhere in the North African Desert

Starring: Hilary Craven, Tom Betterton, Mr. Jessop, Andrew Peters

Important Other People: Monsieur Leblanc, Mr. Aristides, the Director

What I like about all of Agatha's espionage books is that they are written from a woman's perspective, and thus a bit softer than Ian Fleming or The Bourne Identity or whatever. Also, there's always a little bit of Agatha-styled romance in them! It's not as intense as other spy thrillers, and everything works out in the end with a minimum of deaths. Which is funny considering how many people die in her other books. 


The whole book revolves around defection to the Soviet Union in the 1950s. It touches on the themes of communism, nuclear fission and atom bombs, and witch hunts such as were happening in the US at the time. It is interesting the different people that were persuaded to join The Unit, leaving their lives behind for the cause of science. But apparently that happened in real life at the time! (see below) From what I gather, the whole essence of defection behind the Iron Curtain (I love when they say that in the book) is because they all want to pool their scientific knowledge. That's a nice thought, but obviously, countries don't always act in the best interest of humanity.


Aristides is said to have yellow hands. Again, we get this theme of yellow = money. Indeed it does, since he funds the entire Unit. 


One last thing, and this is according to Wikipedia (Matthew Bunson let me down this time) is that the book mirrors Agatha's own marriage breakdown after she had a daughter. Her husband, just like Hilary's, left her for a younger woman. Unlike Hilary, her daughter did not die. I also like how Mr. Jessop talked Hilary out of suicide and into espionage. Perhaps that's what Agatha wished had happened to her!

Interesting facts: This is the only book that does not revolve around a murder, or have murders in it. The person who was killed was killed before the time period in the book, and we don't know that the case is being investigated until the end of the book. The book is similar in style to a James Bond book by Ian Fleming, but less intense (and sexual). According to Wikipedia, the scientific defections in the book are reminiscent of two cases during the 1950s: Bruno Pontecorvo and Klaus Fuchs, two scientists who both defected to the Soviet Union. Crazy!

Favorite? Of all of the espionage books, not my favorite. I like it better than a lot of the espionage books without recurring characters, but it's all Cold War stuff. 

Death by: Poison: No deaths during the book, but that has happened before and I've still counted it.

Body Count: 1; Cumulative: 125

The Count: Poirot-24, Miss. Marple-6, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-4, Goby-2, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-2, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: Labels are not always correct. One could bear things so long as there was a reason to bear them. There's always a way. Once you get into the state of mind where the taking of human lives no longer counts, the fact that six other people will die is not even considered. When you cage a bird, if you give it all that it needs, it forgets in the end that it was ever free. One can be absolutely sure of nothing in this world. The old like to remember. 

Up Next: Hickory Dickory Death

N or M?

First Published: 1941

Setting: Leahampton

Starring: Tommy and Tuppence, Albert

Important Other People: Major Bletchley, Commander Haydock, Mrs. Perenna, Sheila Perenna, Mrs. Sprot, Betty Sprot, Carl von Deinim

Tommy and Tuppence, Agatha's husband and wife spy team, come into play at times when patriotism is necessary. We saw them as two young things right after the first World War, and now we see them again, as older, wiser, and with grown-up children. Although the are no longer young and carefree, they still want to do their part in the war. Unfortunately, it is difficult for them to find their niche. They are able, however, to set out on another joint venture, just as they did in The Secret Adversary, one that involves spies, the war, and their marriage.

I like the twists and turns in this book, just as in almost everyone of Agatha's books, but this time everything seems much more urgent. It also seems like everything has a much larger impact than we are used to in her novels. The things Tommy and Tuppence do are so pivotal on a small scale, but it can have a huge impact on the rest of the war. I feel like this novel was helpful to the British public because it gave them something fast-paced and (relatively) lighthearted to become engrossed in, which took their minds off the real danger that was at hand.

From Agatha's autobiography: "...N or M?, a spy story, was in a way a continuation of the second book of mine, The Secret Adversary, featuring Tommy and Tuppence. Now with a grown-up son and daughter, Tommy and Tuppence were bored by finding that nobody wanted them in wartime. However, they made a splendid comeback as a middle-aged pair, and tracked down spies with all their old enthusiasm. I never found any difficulty in writing during the war, as some people did; I suppose because I cut myself off into a different compartment of my mind. I could live in the book among the people I was writing about, and mutter their conversations and see them striding about the room I had invented for them."

Interesting facts: Mr. Carter is mentioned, although does not make an appearance. Actually interesting fact, according, once again, to Matthew Bunson: "Published in 1941, N or M? offered readers in Britain a chance to follow the exploits of two of their favorite characters in a setting very close to home. Britain was in the middle of World War II, and the fun of the book was a welcome relief for fans from the all-too-real daily dangers being posed by the Luftwaffe and the reports of the war overseas. Christie wrote the book in the middle of the frequent bombings during the Blitz."

Favorite? I do love Tommy and Tuppence, and patriotism, and spies. So, yes.

Death by: shooting

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 82

The Count: Poirot-20, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-3, Superintendent Battle-4, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 3, Mrs. Oliver-1, Albert- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: There is a strange anomaly to war. There is respect among adversaries. The young don't see the pity, waste, and horror of war. Being a devoted wife saps the intellect. Anything that mitigates suffering is worthwhile. Anything should be done for construction, not destruction. Flattery should be laid on with a trowel where a man is concerned (I love Tuppence). There is time to weep after the battle.

Up Next: The Body in the Library

Day 10- The Seven Dials Mystery

First Published: 1929

Setting: England

Starring: Bundle, Battle

Important Other People: Bill, Melrose, Lord Caterham

Agatha uses The Seven Dials Mystery to mock the luxurious working life of the upper class- they all seem to have "jobs," but they are able to ditch them at a moment's notice to go chasing secret societies and whatnot. Agatha perhaps felt some scorn towards the upper class at their leisure and need to save face. People throughout the book are just tooling around, relying on their titles to get by.

Bundle's former footman from Chimneys, Alfred, must be a distant relative of Tommy and Tuppence's Albert. Although not as cool at all.

It's hard to read the word "alarum" over and over without pronouncing it like that in your head. Apparently, that's the Shakespearean spelling of the word.

I love Lord Caterham. He really makes the book so much better. I'm sad he doesn't appear in any of Agatha's future books.

Interesting facts: Sequel to Chimneys, though not as well liked by critics.

Favorite? Not really. I like Bundle, though, and I am glad she finds happiness in the end!

Death by: chloral, shooting

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 23

The Count: Poirot-5, Miss. Marple-0, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-3, Japp-2, Colonel Race-1, Superintendent Battle-2, George-1, Goby-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: People must die somewhere. Nobody tells everything. Unfortunate love affairs are highly beneficial to young girls- makes them take their lives seriously. In this life, one never stops learning. Gentlemen who have no sense of humor get to taking themselves too seriously, which leads to mischief. Your children can make life damned unpleasant if you don't give in to them in every way (talking about Rosalind, perhaps?) Never say too much. "What a fatal thing it is to pretend to take an interest in a man's pet subject." Different kinds of danger suit different kinds of people. My personal favorite, from Lord Caterham, "Every child should be brought up to be ambidextrous."

Up Next: The Murder at the Vicarage

The Secret of Chimneys- Day 6

First Published: 1925

Setting: England

Starring: Anthony Cade, Battle, Virginia Revel

Important Other People: Bill Eversleigh, Bundle Brent, Lord Caterham

The most important part of The Secret of Chimneys has got to be the narrative tone it is written in and the implications that it creates. It is written in a much more personal manner than any of her other novels, and it leads us directly to her next novel- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Key point- never trust the narrator! (more to come with the next novel!) Anthony Cade only tells us what he wants to tell us, even though the book is not written in first person. Pay close attention to the language he uses when Boris attaches himself to Cade. I think that Agatha got her idea for Ackroyd at that moment- it's definitely telling.

Another thing mentioned in this book that comes to play in the next novel is the idea of settling down and growing vegetable marrows. Anthony mentions it as a possible 'next step' for him, although we later find that his talents lie in a completely separate direction.

The idea of a fat, yellow face as wealth. I don't know where this came from or what it really means, but it is for sure a huge theme with Agatha. She continually mentions it throughout her books.

The idea that the police are stupid is also made clear in this book, although it is Battle himself who says so. We then read that detective stories are mostly bunkum. It seems as though Agatha is intent on creating a detective who is smarter than the police, can solve murders in a better way, and transcends the British police. Enter Hercule Poirot, who can do all of these things, and certainly with much more style. Touche, Agatha. Touche.

Interesting facts: Prequel to The Seven Dials Mystery. The Marquesses of Caterham might be made up, but there is a Chimneys Guest House in England. (the Chimneys in the book is modeled after Abney Hall in Chesire)

Favorite? No. Too confusing (even though in her autobiography she she says it's lighthearted and there's not a lot of plot planning required...false). Although the idea for the narrative is so important for her next book!

Death by: Gun Shots!

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 6

The Count: Poirot-2, Miss. Marple-0, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-2, Japp-1, Colonel Race-1, Superintendent Battle-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: Men are polygamous (foreshadowing to her husband's philanderings??? I think so!) Regrets are vain. "Never display emotion." (thanks, Battle!) Detective stories are mostly bunkum (a bit self-reflective) Marriage is the biggest adventure. "One can always get anything one wants if one will pay the price" (recurring). Give a man plenty of rope to hang himself with. Nine times out of ten the price is compromise (in marriage).

Up Next: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

The Secret Adversary- Day 3

First Published: 1922

Setting: Mainly London

Starring: Tommy and Tuppence

Important Other People: Mr. Carter, Albert, Julius, Jane Finn

So the most noticeable aspect of The Secret Adversary that makes it different from Agatha's other novels are the chapter endings. Agatha wrote this book as a serialization for a newspaper. Thus, the chapters seem to be adventure after adventure, leaving the reader hanging so as to induce them to read the next installation. The endings seem a bit abrupt compared to her usual chapter endings, and there are also way more plot twists and turns than we might be used to in most of Hercule and Miss Marple's books. The serialization may also explain how things happen that are then explained afterwards, showing that she could not go back and change what she had already written.

Another thing that is really noticeable in this adventure (as well as some of her next novels) is the way that Agatha draws so much of the plot from events that were occurring at the time it was written. From the labor strikes (which still resonate today in some degree) to the Bolsheviks and the Red Scare in general to the talk of supplying the Irish with arms (hints of Roger Casement), Agatha makes good use of what was going on in the world, way more than usually happens in one of her murder mysteries.

Tommy and Tuppence novels are supposed to be different from Hercule and Miss Marple, but in later books, there are more and more similarities between the three. The Secret Adversary really stands out as truly unique, which makes sense as it is technically a different genre. Another thing I like about Tommy and Tuppence as heroes is that they age accordingly with when the books are written, as well as have lives in the meantime that develops them more as characters.

Interesting facts: Japp is briefly mentioned in this book, although I won't give him credit because he is hardly in it at all.

Favorite? Potentially. It's thrilling, and Tuppence is really a wonderful heroine. I also love the Jazz Age feel throughout the book- it's so lighthearted in the midst of the adventure that is going on.

Death by: Cyanide (Mr. Brown)

Body Count: 1; Cumulative: 2

The Count: Poirot-1, Miss. Marple-0, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-1, Japp-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: "Never tell all you know- not even to the person you know best" (direct quote). Trust with a grain of salt. Never underestimate your adversary. Come to develop true love through marriage (same as in Styles).

Up Next: The Murder on the Links