Review: Secrets From The Agatha Christie Archives by Jared Cole

Synopsis: Dame Agatha Christie reigns supreme as the ‘Queen of Crime.’ Numerous books have been written about the legendary crime writer, focusing on nearly every aspect of her craft. But until now no one has carried out an in-depth investigation into how she conquered the serial market with her thrilling tales of murder and intrigue.

In the UK and US, Agatha Christie’s work was serialized in the most prestigious magazines and newspapers of the day, often under an array of different titles, prior to being published by Collins and Dodd, Mead and Company. Second serial rights could result in a single title being syndicated to over 40 newspapers. Over the decades, numerous records have been lost or destroyed and keeping track of her literary legacy has proved a major challenge for her publishers, literary agents and others until now.

Jared Cade, author of the ground-breaking biography Agatha Christie and the Eleven Missing Days, has unearthed a huge plethora of hitherto unknown facts about the timeline of her publishing history that will delight her devotees and enable future generations to write about her work with far greater authority and accuracy than ever before, especially when correlating her publications to the parallels in her life.

Illustrated with rare pictures, Secrets from the Agatha Christie Archives is destined to become an essential reference tool for fans, librarians, scholars, antiquarian booksellers, broadcasters and others interested in the making of one of the 20th century's most beloved writers.

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Whilst some may have come to this with their own thoughts on what this book was actually about, the author is quite up-front by letting the reader know that this is "an in-depth investigation into how she conquered the serial market" - ergo, it is a study or a chronology of her books vis a vis their publication history.

This is a discourse on each title - publication, inspiration, historical background - and a history of each tome's serialisation. It is about the book (novel, short story, other volumes) and it's journey from the creative mind of Agatha Christie to the printed page and the book held by the reader.

The author finishes this bibliography of Christie's works with a chapter on the parodies and tributes by other authors (1936 - 2017), and also on the novels in which Christie features as a character (1978 - 2025). There is also a list of non-fiction books on Agatha herself.

This is definitely one for the fans of the great Agatha Christie, of which I count myself as one among the many!

Review: The Red House Mystery by AA Milne

Synopsis: The creator of such beloved storybook characters for children as Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore, A. A. Milne was also the author of numerous dramas, essays, and novels for adults — among them, this droll and finely crafted whodunit.

In it, Milne takes readers to the Red House, a comfortable residence in the placid English countryside that is the bachelor home of Mr. Mark Ablett. While visiting this cozy retreat, amateur detective Anthony Gillingham and his chum, Bill Beverley, investigate their genial host's disappearance and its connection with a mysterious shooting. Was the victim, whose body was found after a heated exchange with the host, shot in an act of self-defense? If so, why did the host flee, and if not, what drove him to murder?

Between games of billiards and bowls, the taking of tea, and other genteel pursuits, Gillingham and Beverley explore the possibilities in a light-hearted series of capers involving secret passageways, underwater evidence, and other atmospheric devices.

Sparkling with witty dialogue, deft plotting, and an intriguing cast of characters, this rare gem will charm mystery lovers, Anglophiles, and general readers alike.

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This book was one that I have been wanting to read for eons and now (in 2024) finally took the plunge and picked it up.

First published in 1922, it is rather dated now with its "Jeeves & Wooster" / "Brideshead Revisited" style narrative, so that should definitely be taken into consideration when reading.

A standard though intriguing locked room mystery with all the elements needed to make for an enjoyable read. Set in a typical English "big house" with guests, servants, and a family at odds - did one brother kill the other or is there more to this murder mystery than meets the eye.

A charming read!