Other editions of book Secret Adversary

Agatha Christie's first Tommy and Tuppence mystery adventure, reissued with a striking new cover designed to appeal to the latest generation of Agatha Christie fans and book lovers. Tommy and Tuppence, two young people short of money and restless for excitement, embark on a daring business scheme -- Young Adventurers Ltd. Their advertisement says they are 'willing to do anything, go anywhere'. But their first assignment, for the sinister Mr Whittington, plunges them into more danger than they ever imagined!

The Secret Adversary is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie. It was first published in the UK in January 1922.The book introduces the characters of Tommy and Tuppence, who feature in three other Christie books and one collection of short stories written throughout her writing career. The Times Literary Supplement in 1922 reviewed the story as "a whirl of thrilling adventures", considering the characters Tommy and Tuppence as "refreshingly original". "It's an excellent yarn and the reader will find it as impossible as we did to put it aside until the mystery has been fathomed." - Daily Chronicle

Tom Jones is a foundling discovered on the property of a very kind, wealthy landowner, Squire Allworthy, in Somerset in England's West Country. Tom grows into a vigorous and lusty, yet honest and kind-hearted, youth. He develops affection for his neighbour's daughter, Sophia Western. On one hand, their love reflects the romantic comedy genre that was popular in 18th-century Britain. However, Tom's status as a bastard causes Sophia's father and Allworthy to oppose their love; this criticism of class friction in society acted as a biting social commentary. The inclusion of prostitution and sexual promiscuity in the plot was also original for its time, and also acted as the foundation for criticism of the book's "lowness."

[*Read by Alison Larkin]Award-winning narrator Alison Larkin's reading of Agatha Christie's second novel, The Secret Adversary, set in London in 1919, received glowing reviews.. Publishers Weekly said ''her performance captures that sense of carefree enthusiasm for life before the crash. Her reading is champagne bubbly and engaging throughout. A jaunty, jolly good listen.'' Audiofile Magazine said ''Alison Larkin's crisp, clear narration helps to conjure up the feeling of a bygone era when the class system was at the core of British society. The result is an easy listen of a classic tale of detection.'' The Great War is over, and the roaring '20s are just on the horizon in London. Tommy and Tuppence are charming, broke and in desperate need of work. They decide to set up Young Adventurers Ltd. -- ''willing to do anything, go anywhere.'' They are soon caught up in a dastardly plot to overthrow the government.

Hiring themselves out as “young adventurers willing to do anything” is a smart move for Tommy and Tuppence. All Tuppence has to do is take an all-expenses-paid trip to Paris and pose as someone named Jane Finn. But with the job comes a threat to her life, and the disappearance of her mysterious employer. Now Tuppence’s newest job is playing detective—because if there’s a Jane Finn that really exists, she’s got a secret that’s putting both their lives in danger.

The grand dame of the cozy English murder mystery, Agatha Christie introduced Tommy and Tuppence, her duo of likeable upper-class detectives, in this 1922 novel, her second book. International intrigue, secret treaties, disguises, and blackmail follow this roguishly charming 1920s couple in their globetrotting quest to unravel the riddle of their disappearing client, disappearing diplomatic papers, and a devious plot that goes back to the sinking of the Lusitania. Beloved by Christie fans for their innocence and pluck, Tommy and Tuppence are a delight to spend quality crime-fighting time with. British novelist DAME AGATHA CHRISTIE (1890-1976) wrote more than 80 books, and is most famous for mystery series featuring detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She is the best-selling fiction writer of all time, with more than one billion copies of her books sold in the English language, and another billion in 103 other languages.

This annotated version of The Secret Adversary includes the full original story, an in-depth literary analysis and an author's biography. Enjoy this clever must-read by one of the world's most famous authors about Sherlock Holmes. You should also check out our publisher's page for a wide array of other classics, including other work from Agatha Christie.

The Secret Adversary is the second published detective fiction novel by Agatha Christie, first published in January 1922 in the United Kingdom. The book introduces the characters of Tommy and Tuppence who feature in three other Christie novels and one collection of short stories; the five Tommy and Tuppence books span Agatha Christie's writing career. The Great War is over, and jobs are scarce.