09 Apr Book Review: The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie

This one’s a bit of a romp. The Seven Dials Mystery falls somewhere between Agatha Christie’s classic whodunits and her more adventurous, almost spy-thriller territory. It’s got a big cast, secret societies, murder, and just enough snark to keep it fun. While not quite as tight as her best-known mysteries, it’s undeniably entertaining and full of those classic Christie twists.

What’s it about?

The story begins at Chimneys, a grand English country house where a group of bright young things has gathered for a weekend. The house has a bit of history—it featured in an earlier Christie novel, The Secret of Chimneys—and it gives the whole thing a very proper, manor-house-murder kind of vibe.

One of the guests, a young man named Gerry Wade, has a reputation for sleeping in. His friends, deciding to play a prank, set up eight alarm clocks in his room to all go off at once and wake him up in the most annoying way possible. But the joke goes terribly wrong. The next morning, Gerry is found dead—seemingly from an overdose of a sleeping draught.

Initially, it’s dismissed as a tragic accident. But then someone notices something strange: only seven clocks were found in the room. One is missing. That tiny detail—classic Christie—starts the unraveling of a much bigger mystery.

The focus soon shifts to Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent, the spirited daughter of Lord Caterham. Bundle isn’t your typical Christie heroine—she’s sharp, bold, and always ready to poke her nose into trouble. When another guest from the same weekend gathering is found murdered, Bundle becomes convinced that the deaths are connected, and she starts investigating on her own.

Her amateur sleuthing leads her into the world of a secret organization known as the Seven Dials. At first, it seems like the kind of shadowy group that might be up to no good—hooded meetings, coded messages, and all—but as the story unfolds, the nature of the group becomes less clear. Are they criminals? Vigilantes? Something else entirely?

The plot twists its way through blackmail, hidden identities, political secrets, and red herrings galore. At one point, there’s even a car chase. The pace is brisk, and the tone is often more light-hearted than grim. It’s one of those stories where you’re not just trying to figure out who the killer is, but also what game everyone is playing and why.

Eventually, everything circles back to the original death at Chimneys. The missing clock wasn’t just a prank gone wrong—it was a clue. The final reveal ties together the various threads with a flourish that Christie fans will recognize: all the clues were there if you were paying close enough attention.

What This Chick Thinks

This isn’t top-tier Christie for me, but it’s still an absolute blast. The tone is more playful than some of her more famous novels, and while that means the mystery feels a little looser, it also makes the ride more fun. Bundle Brent is a fantastic lead—smart, funny, and never content to sit on the sidelines. She feels like a precursor to some of Christie’s later, bolder female characters.

I also liked that the book doesn’t rely too heavily on Poirot or Marple-style deduction. It’s more about following threads and putting together pieces as they fall into place. The presence of the Seven Dials secret society gives it a bit of espionage flavor, which might not be every reader’s cup of tea, but I liked the change of pace.

One thing to note: the cast is big. There are a lot of names thrown at you in the first few chapters, and if you’re not paying attention, it’s easy to lose track of who’s who. But once the story settles into its groove, it becomes easier to follow.

The ending is a classic Christie twist, and while I saw some of it coming, there were still a couple of reveals that genuinely surprised me. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to go back and reread the beginning to see all the little details you missed.

Final Thoughts

The Seven Dials Mystery is lighter fare from Agatha Christie, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s quick, clever, and full of charm, with a memorable heroine and enough intrigue to keep you guessing. It might not have the tight plotting of her best-known work, but it still delivers that satisfying payoff at the end.

Rating: 7.5/10

Try it if you like

• The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie – Features many of the same characters and settings, and shares the same playful tone.
• Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? by Agatha Christie – Another standalone Christie mystery with a younger, amateur sleuthing duo and plenty of twists.
• The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey – If you enjoy historical puzzles and mysteries that require more mental unraveling than pure suspense.