First Quarter Faves | Top picks since we began our mission in January!

(image from our instagram!)

We started this project right after New Years 2016, and we cannot believe that we've already read almost 30 #GASP of Dame Agatha's iconic mysteries! So today we wanted to go ahead and report on our quarterly favorites (though there's no telling how many more favorites we might develop as the year goes on). For those of you who are just getting started with your foray into Agatha-dom, this could be a good starting list!

EMILY'S TOP THREE FAVES #SOFAR
These are in no particular order, b-t-dubs...
1)  The Man in the Brown Suit
GIANT SURPRISE right? I mean, I loved this one. So caper-y and adorable (and caper-y like cute adventures not like the salty food accessory [though no one here is demeaning capers they are wonderful, especially when combined with lox, cream cheese, and red onions I DIGRESS]).

From the book: "I would put all my eggs in one basket. 'First class,' I said. I was now definitely committed to the adventure." - The Man in the Brown Suit, p. 46

From the YOA review: "There's something fresh and sprightly about these early stories where the main character (in this case, narrator) is a plucky young girl whose curiosity and yen for romance and adventure gets the better of any sense of practicality. Agatha does such a nice job of creating these clever girls who remind me of no one so much as Clara Oswald from Doctor Who: the smartest, most charming, and cutest girl in the room but no one can help but like her anyway #soufflegirl."

2) The Secret Adversary
Again, another major surprise, but I LOOooOOOooVE Tommy & Tuppence, and especially this, their first appearance in print. They're charming and clever and fun, and keep you on the edge of your seat!

From the book: "You must stifle this longing for vulgar sensation, Tuppence. Remember that if Mr. Brown is all he is reported to be, it's a wonder that he has not ere now done us to death. That's a good sentence, quite a literary flavor about it." "You're really more conceited than I am--with less excuse!" - Tommy & Tuppence banter exhibit 4 million from The Secret Adversary, p. 57

From the YOA review: "In her autobiography, Agatha mentions how one of her grandmothers was always complaining of some vague ailment or another, which Agatha eventually divined was really just an act to demonstrate the feminine frailty deemed attractive in the 19th century. Agatha recognized this as an antique mentality; 20th century girls were made of heartier stuff. In Tuppence she created a leading lady who not only embraced the bobbed hair and ankle-baring fashions of her day but also the why-not-me spirit of the post-war girl."

3) IT'S A TIE! HaHA! The Secret of Chimneys and The Mystery of the Seven Dials
I didn't want to pick between these two, because they are both so fun and perplexing and have terrific protagonists, then I realized that since they were both set in the same place, the country estate of Chimneys, maybe it was cool for them to be a tie! So convenient.

From the book (Chimneys): "He was still some distance from the house. Not a sound could be heard anywhere. Some fast yellowing leaves detached themselves from one of the trees overhead and fell with a soft rustling sound that was almost sinister in the stillness. Anthony started; then smiled. 'Nerves,' he murmured to himself. 'Never knew I had such things before.'" - The Secret of Chimneys, p. 226

From the YOA review (Chimneys): "One thing about this story that really kept the intrigue going was the narrator situation. Even though the story wasn't written in the first person, we mostly see things through Anthony's perspective. We filter the red herrings, the scary home invasions, the mysterious gunshots, and the tense situations through his lens. But all the while, Agatha drops hints that there's something Anthony knows that he isn't telling us."

From the book (Seven Dials): "I never faint," said Bundle. "But you might as well get me a cocktail. I shall certainly need it. Then lock the door of the room again -- don't forget -- and take all the door keys back to their proper doors. And, Alfred -- don't be too much of a rabbit. Remember, if anything goes wrong, I'll see you through." - The Seven Dials Mystery, p. 109

From the YOA review (Seven Dials): "Despite people (men) constantly fussing that she shouldn't be involved with solving the mysteries at hand on account of DANGER, Bundle takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of things. When trying to track the baddie, she puts on her riding pants and climbs down a trellis (after being told to stay safely ensconced in her room while the  men handle things). When she can't figure out what the mysterious Seven Dials entails, she insists on hiding in their lair to figure it out straight from the source (despite a fella telling her she musn't risk it; she just asks for a gimlet [both cocktail and tool varieties]."

AUDREY'S TOP THREE FAVES #SOFAR:

1) The Thirteen Problems
This was a surprise favorite for me. I had never read this first introduction to Miss Jane Marple before, and, as someone who is not historically a fan of short stories, I assumed it would not be up my alley. HOWEVER, I totally fell in love with the premise, and delightful Miss-Marple-ness of each story.

From the book: "'I know human nature,' said Miss Marple. 'It's impossible not to know human nature living in a village all these years.'" -The Thirteen Problems, p. 198

From the YOA review: "In Thirteen Problems, Miss Marple is at first seen as a background observer (muttering to herself as she counts her knitting stitches) to a group game of Raymond, Sir Henry, and a few others as they each present a sort of cold case they observed or heard about from their past, with the idea that their brain powers combined can deduce the culprit. However, it's unassuming Miss Marple who schools everyone with the correct solution every time (#madrespect #yaskween)." 

2) The Murder at the Vicarage
I always thought I was a Poirot girl, but I think the last four months might have turned me into more of a Miss Marple fan! When I was reading The Murder at the Vicarage I found myself literally laughing out loud, quoting long passages to my family and friends, and ready to pack up and move to St. Mary Mead.

From the book: "If I were at any time to set out on a career of deceit, it would be of Miss Marple that I should be afraid." - Leonard Clement, The Murder at the Vicarage, p. 194

From the YOA review: "Agatha seemed to take particular pleasure in writing Miss Marple, and her readers found a connection with her new character as well. Vicarage is considered one of Agatha's best works and even her contemporary, Dorothy L. Sayers, wrote to #DameAgatha to give her approval: "Dear old Tabbies [speaking of Miss Marple and her old lady cronies] are the only possible right kind of female detective and Miss M is lovely...I think this is the best you have done - almost.""

3) Sad Cypress
Though sans Hastings, Poirot is a somber delight in this novel. The case is more serious, but still so wonderfully clever. I have a feeling this will stay on my favorites list throughout the year.

From the book: "One does not practice detection with a textbook! One uses one's natural intelligence." -Hercule Poirot, Sad Cypress, p. 166

From the YOA review: "Agatha is said to have thought this book would have been better without Poirot. I highly disagree. I enjoyed this book immensely, and it made complete sense to have Poirot as the investigating mind to prove Elinor Carlisle guilty or not guilty, because this is just the kind of case he would enjoy solving."

Have you read any of our faves? Thinking of picking one up after perusing this post? We think any of these titles would be a great place to start.

-A. & E.

In Your Eyes: The Secret of Chimneys | 1925

"He was still some distance from the house. Not a sound could be heard anywhere. Some fast yellowing leaves detached themselves from one of the trees overhead and fell with a soft rustling sound that was almost sinister in the stillness. Anthony started; then smiled. 'Nerves,' he murmured to himself. 'Never knew I had such things before.'" - The Secret of Chimneys, p. 226

I had seen the movie version of The Secret of Chimneys before, which is altered into being a Miss Marple story, (the book is not). It's also altered in a number of other ways including one of the central plot points, the main character-ness of more than one of the main characters, the identity of the killer, the addition of a ton of melodrama, a really dramatic real estate issue, and the establishment of a completely fictional Eastern European country [Hail Herzoslovakia! A whole new world. Or at least a whole new Eastern block.] All that to say, basically this was a whole new story for me, which was great because I was definitely wondering who-dunnit. 

The Sum of It All:

Before attempting to summarize, I will say that I understand why the people who made the movie version felt that they needed to simplify the story. There is A LOT going on here, and there are A LOT of characters, several of whom have sinister sounding Russian-style names mainly composed of consonants (one of them gets nicknamed Baron Lollipop because his name is just too complicated. That's Agatha's joke, that's not even mine!). 

This one doesn't include any of Agatha's familiar detectives, and it's written in the third person, which is also not super typical (at least so far). There is, however, a main character who borders on a narrator role: the handsome, daring, and charming Anthony Cade. We meet Anthony in South Africa, where he's bored and flirting with the biddies on the tourist bus for which he's responsible. When his friend proposes an adventure that involves delivering a mysterious manuscript to some publishers back in jolly old England, Anthony is intrigued. His curiosity grows when he finds out that the manuscript is linked to the legendary Herzoslovakian Count Stylptitch and he soon sets off to England. The pal also has a secondary mission for him: to return a packet of love letters to a lady named Virginia Revel that some dude was using to blackmail the poor woman. 

Once he gets to England, Anthony quickly realizes that the manuscript he's carrying is a valuable document to a few different people, including representatives of the Herzoslovakian nobility, the British government, and a socialist revolutionary group. When a sneaky Italian waiter sneaks sneakily into his hotel room at night to rifle through his bag and steals the letters (but can't find the manuscript), Anthony goes to find the lady associated with them, Virginia Revel, and develops a big ol' crush on her. Naturally, almost directly after that, she finds a dead guy in her house and Anthony agrees to help her deal with it. 

Gawd, this is so complicated to summarize but ANYHOW, Virginia's cousin George is a mamby-pamby government minister who is on the lookout for Anthony and the manuscript, which could have dire political consequences, so he invites Anthony to a country house, Chimneys, for a bit of a summit. Also attending will be a Herzoslovakian prince in disguise, a famous financier, and some British government officials who would be backing said prince in a bid to regain the throne of the imaginary and oil-rich country. They are also trying to keep secret a missing diamond that was lost at Chimneys during the last diplomatic get-together there. The home's owner, the grumbly but loveable Lord Caterham, has also invited his daughter Bundle (ohh British people) and some of his friends, including Virginia and an American sporting Agatha's favorite last name -- Fish. 

Confused yet? I'm trying here, people. Anyhow, then comes MURDER #deadprince. Anthony and Virginia start working with the Scotland Yard detective team that shows up and gradually piece together the mystery both of the dead prince and the missing diamond. There are a couple surprise twists related to the crimes, but also a surprise twist or two about our almost narrator, Anthony, which are worth hanging around for. 

The YOA Treatment: 

This one really didn't have a theme to tease out, though some of the now-old-standbys are there: a flirty, crime solving relationship, mysterious foreigners, Americans who say "sonny" in every sentence, a plucky, captivating lady, etc. etc. I'm not saying it wasn't enjoyable, because honestly I really liked it and had no trouble devouring it in two days.

One thing about this story that really kept the intrigue going was the narrator situation. Even though the story wasn't written in the first person, we mostly see things through Anthony's perspective. We filter the red herrings, the scary home invasions, the mysterious gunshots, and the tense situations through his lens. But all the while, Agatha drops hints that there's something Anthony knows that he isn't telling us. Why is he so uncomfortable when the dead prince's loyal valet declares his new allegiance is Anthony's? Why is he still nervous around the Scotland Yard detective even after we think he's confessed all his secrets? You think you know what's going on, and then in the end when Agatha ties everything up in a nice bow you're like OH RIGHT THAT is why I had a little nagging feeling that I was missing something, like the mom in Home Alone before she realizes they forgot Kevin #iforgotmyreadingglasses. This clever little device is yet another way Agatha figured out to keep things fresh while she adjusted to her new status as a genuine lady of mystery, can't wait to see what else she's got in store for us!

-E.