2026 is the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Agatha Christie. Poirot and Marple are perennial favourites and all her work continues to be republished the world over. This month we have a new edition of The Seven Dials from Harper Collins and a new TV production on Netflix. GJ Williams, author of the Tudor Rose Mysteries and Mark Ellis, creator of DCI Frank Merlin, have taken a look at both for us and come to a similar conclusion, this is not Christie’s finest work.
The novel:
The Seven Dials Mystery follows on from The Secret of Chimneys that introduced most of the key characters. It is telling that there were only ever two books in the series and the main protagonist – the doughty Bundle, never reached the fame of Ms Marple.
The story starts during a weekend at a country house – Chimneys – being rented by industrialist Lord Oswald Coote and his long-suffering wife, Lady Coote. Their guests are a gaggle of young things having a very jolly time sleeping in, messing on the water, and greeting the servants with, ‘Topping morning, eh?’ Within a page you feel as if you are in a Bertie Wooster novel, which frequently dips in tone into Enid Blyton, with chapter headings such as ‘Bundle’s Adventures.’ The group are largely vacuous 1920s gay young things, though one, ‘Pongo always did have brains.’ In a jolly caper to make one of their gang get up before midday, they buy eight alarum (sic) clocks and sneak them into his room as he sleeps. Unfortunately, the clocks go off with a clatter in the morning and fail to raise the now dead man. Seven clocks are lined on the mantelpiece – seven dials. Unfortunately, this is the only really sinister scene in the book and it is lost.
And there begins the tale of secret clubs, ‘foreigners’, suspicious servants, a mysterious countess, old-fashioned Lords and MPs, butlers who simply go out and buy semi-automatic guns on request, dropped packages, and a predictably solid and stern Superintendent with an equally predictable name of Battle. The mystery is mainly investigated by Lady Eileen Caterham, affectionately known as Bundle, who races around in her Hispano, pluckily demanding all she wants – and getting it. This character puts the jolly into hockey sticks as she demands lists of secret societies from the police, ventures into ‘rather slummy areas of London’, hides in cupboards, and generally orders around the men who, though ‘decorous employees of the foreign office’, spend much of their time blushing over pretty women.
However, the story is fun. The pace of the novel is fast and the reading easy. Nearly every chapter ends with a ‘ta-da’ or a nudge by the narrator that something is ‘suspicious.’ If you can get your memory to incorporate the dizzying caste of 26 characters, most of whom are in place by page 29, you can enjoy the fact that they add up to a veritable shoal of red herrings. The twist at the end is truly unexpected – mainly because Christie did not give a smidgeon of a hint through the story. The way all the herrings are pulled together into a feast of whodunnit is classic complex Christie, but does not have the cleverness of her great mysteries.
So where would I put this in my reading pile? In the ‘what to read when you want to give your brain a very easy afternoon’ pile. It is little wonder that this book was not met with critical acclaim. In fact, it was trashed by the New York Times. I would not go that far but, at the risk of upsetting all fans of Ms Christie, I had to push myself to give this even five stars out of ten. And let us pray that anyone who reads this as their first Christie novel, forgives it and finds the brilliance of her classics.
GJ Williams author of The Cygnet Prince
Agatha Christie Wikicommon
The Seven Dials new TV Production
A brand-new Agatha Christie adaptation. The 1920s. Glorious scenery, wonderful production values, an excellent cast made up of bright newcomers and proven performers like Martin Freeman and Helena Bonham Carter. What’s not to like? Unfortunately there’s a slight problem – the story is not very good. I have to say I haven’t read the book. Maybe the original is better and Christie deserves no blame, but the tv version is a mess.
I suppose one might say the plot has elements of Rider Haggard and John Buchan in it. Perhaps a bit of Edgar Wallace too. An African scientist invents an indestructible metal. Governments and industrialists want the formula. Their agents and avaricious freelancers on the make vie to obtain it, which mostly involves them in chasing around beautiful stately homes or picturesque English countryside. People die as the chase progresses. A stereotype brash rich industrialist becomes involved, as does a mysterious Scotland Yard detective. A sinister secret organisation, The Seven Dials of the title, is also very interested in the formula.
I don’t think it fair to reveal any more about the plot save say that there are two great reveals at the end. Convincing or not? Not, in my view.
Despite my plot reservations I can’t say there was no pleasure to be derived from The Seven Dials. The production values and locations made the programme a feast for the eyes and I particularly enjoyed the performance of the young actress, Mia McKenna-Bruce, who clearly enjoys herself as the plucky upper-class main protagonist, ‘Bundle’ Brent. I read somewhere that Christie modelled Bundle after herself.
The Seven Dials was the second Christie book to feature Bundle Brent. Apparently, the intent is to make this programme the first of a new TV series. Whether that means the first Bundle book will be adapted or that there will be brand new stories is not clear. If there are more programmes, I may overcome my reservations and give them a go on a night when I’m looking for an escapist and unchallenging watch. No doubt the productions will be entertainingly super-glossy and who knows, maybe the stories will be improved.
Mark Ellis author of Death of an Officer