Adversary is a Jolly Good Romp

The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

It's easy to understand why prestigious mystery associations have named Agatha Christie the best mystery writer of the century. And why they would equally recognize her detective Hercule Poirot as the best series of the century.

And I wouldn't over-dispute them. I find Hercule Poirot to be fun reading and the works in which he appears great mysteries-no matter how many times I read and re-read the same novel. Likewise, Dame Agatha's other famous creation, Miss Marple, is charming and delightful.

But I'll also confess that neither of those famous detectives are my favorites-not even my favorites of Agatha Christie. That mantle goes to Tommy and Tuppence, a pair of detectives who merited only a handful of novels by Christie. Each one, though, is fantastic.

The first novel to feature them is The Secret Adversary, written in 1922. Both Tommy and Tuppence have been released from war service-he as a soldier, she as a VAD. They were childhood friends and she nursed him during the war. They've now run across each other in a chance meeting in London. She is very "modern" and scornful of all that is sentimental. The two discuss how the end of the war have left them in difficult situations. Since neither of them seem likely to come into a great fortune or marry wealthy, they decide to form the Young Adventurers, Ltd. Partnership and see what they can do to make money.

It doesn't take long at all for adventure to fall their way (if it did, the novel would be rather dull, don't you think?). They are soon on the trail of a mysterious missing woman, Jane Quinn. And at every turn they are foiled by an even more mysterious Mr. Brown, a mastermind criminal whom no one has been able to identify.

While much of the story follows it what would later become trademark Christie, the journey is ambrosial. Tommy and Tuppence are characters who seem fresh even 80 plus years later. They have a rapport that is fun to read and instantly endears the reader to them. We share their anxiety when they are separated and catch on where their true affections lie long before they do themselves.

It is also impressive that though the book was written 80 years ago, there is no anachronistic feel to it. Yes, it is very obvious a period piece, but that has little effect on the themes or characters. Tuppence is a strong female character despite it being 1922, but Christie doesn't draw overmuch attention to that fact. It's just the way it is and it would seem silly to Christie as it does to us now to question that. Yes, the word "girl" is used almost exclusively, but it is a term easy to forgive-even by modern sensibilities. Stereotyping is much more common when it comes to Americans. The one American is wealthy, throws his money about, is loud, and jovial. He's brash, but loyal and fierce. He is almost like a big bulldog who overwhelms the British with his overt emotionalism. It is a stereotype that shows up often in Christie's work.

This first book not only introduces the two detectives who will continue to make sporadic appearances in Christie's novels over the next couple decades, it also introduces several other important characters. An Inspector Japp, Poirot's slow-thinking inspector counterpart, makes a brief appearance, though he says very little. We meet the ubiquitous Mr. Carter, a faked name for someone who is supposedly too famous to name within the novel. He is a key part of the British intelligence and will show up in later books to give Tommy and Tuppence more assignments.

The Secret Adversary also establishes the charming relationship between these two young people, a relationship that we'll get to witness in later books at a wide range of years in their life. While Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple never change significantly in age, these two characters do. The only thing that doesn't change is their indomitable spirit and plucky outlook on life.