The Secret Adversary
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Get 3 months for £0.99/mo
The Secret Adversary
Buy Now for £12.99
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Narrated by:
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Hugh Fraser
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By:
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Agatha Christie
About this listen
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…
© Agatha Christie Mallowan 1951, 2004 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London UKListeners also enjoyed...
Wonderful AC as always!
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Any additional comments?
This, the first Tommy and Tuppence book, is definitely 'of it's time', which I think is often a polite way of saying 'dated'. Yes, of course the speech and attitudes aren't those of today, but they are great fun if you immerse yourself into this brilliant pairing, the more diffident Great War ex-officer, Tommy and the vibrant tackle anything ex-VAD and vicarage daughter, Tuppence.I love these Tommy and Tuppence books, always have, particularly the preposterous plots and coincidences. There was not the slightest need to rewrite the story the way the recent rather dire television series did. Far better to sit back and let the wonderfully mellifluous voice of Hugh Fraser take you through Agatha Christie's unabridged original.
In some ways these are a bit like Famous Five stories for grown ups, as the rather naive but dashing and far from stupid two save the world from dastardly spy rings but reward themselves with dinner at The Ritz rather than with tinned salmon, pineapple and lashings of ginger beer.
Relax, put your feet up and prepare to be transported to another time - it's spiffing stuff!
Another time, another way of life
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Would you listen to The Secret Adversary again? Why?
I'd definitely listen to this again. I first read the book many years ago and to have it on audible just makes it that much easier to read again. I very often re-read books and this one is easy on the ear and fun to listen to.What did you like best about this story?
I like Tommy and Tuppence, I like the way they think. Tommy is the "tortoise", a slow but methodical thinker who nonetheless makes good deductions. Tuppence is the "hare", her bouncy personality can be a bit frivolous as a thinker but her ideas are good. They match perfectly.Which character – as performed by Hugh Fraser – was your favourite?
It's hard to single out just one, Hugh Fraser did a good job on all the characters. The accents are done well too.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes.Any additional comments?
This is the first Tommy and Tuppence book by Agatha Christie. A lot of people will find it dated but as this is one of the periods of crime I love best, I would not hesitate to recommend it. I just don't like the modern crime novels at all so I'm always on the lookout for classic crime. I did guess the answer (or did my subconscious remember it?) about three quarters of the way through the book but this didn't stop my enjoyment of the whole plot.A nice thriller with delightful detectives
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From 1922 til now, it's surprising how much hasn't changed, but it's also sad to realise the pride we've lost nationally too. This book set after "the war to end all wars" reminds me how brave the people were, how normal everyday people fought against horrific cruelty, and that should never be forgotten or belittled. Now, it doesn't even seem to be acknowledged. This book made me realise we should show more pride in our cultural history, our real history of a tiny, courageous nation of normal little people who stood up to help others in trouble, no matter what. History should be about individuals, not governments, and this book, although enormous fun, emphasises that brilliantly.
A thrilling celebration of the plucky little Brit!
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Agatha Christie at her very best!
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