And no conceited little Belgians in this one! However, Dame Agatha’s plotting is as complex and clever as always. If it were set on stage it would make a great farce. The tone of The Secret of Chimneys is lighter than most other Christie mysteries. A Herzoslovakian Baron does strange things to English word order and Prince Michael’s valet is very gothic. Lord Caterham’s daughter Bundle manages her father and drives far too fast. The unimposing Lord Caterham attempts to take it easy but is plagued by the zealous politician George Lomax, who is hilarious in his pomposity. Virginia may look delicate but she actually enjoys being blackmailed for the sake of experience and has the guts to deal with a murderous situation. His past is mysterious, as no one seems to know exactly what he’s been doing, but a little mystery just adds to his charm. He doesn’t worry about things, he simply deals with them. He’s witty, funny, chivalrous and never loses his cool in sticky situations. (No, I am not exaggerating.)Īnthony Cade has become my yardstick to measure heroes by. The Secret of Chimneys has an endearing naïve charm that still entertains me no end, even though the plot is well familiar to me after dozens of rereads. You just have to read it for yourself to appreciate all the twists and surprises. I don’t want to reveal more of the plot since that would ruin it. Unfortunately there’s a murder and Anthony Cade and Virginia get mixed up in the case.

Rumors fly that famous jewel thief King Victor is also around. The British government supports the restoration of monarchy in Herzoslovakia, and Prince Michael, whom they hope will be the new king, has come to Chimneys, Lord Caterham’s stately home, to discuss these plans. The memoirs may contain scandalous revelations that would seriously affect the future of Herzoslovakia, a politically unstable country where several kings and presidents have been assassinated. He also has to deliver an important set of memoirs to a publisher. He has to return a bundle of indiscreet love letters for a woman called Virginia Revel who apparently has been blackmailed about them. I’ve adored The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie since I was thirteen and I’m not about to stop.Īnthony Cade travels from Africa to England incognito on an errand for a friend of his.

It has everything: mystery, romance, humorous parody, a hero to remember and more twists than an album of Chubby Checker hits. If I could take only one book with me to the deserted island this would probably be it.

The secret chimneys agatha christie