Superintendent Battle

Marking the first appearance of Agatha Christie's character Inspector Battle, The Secret of Chimneys was first published in 1925 and went on to be a hit among readers. This mystery novel follows Anthony Cade, a man who unknowingly finds himself in the middle of an international conspiracy and a murder investigation after accepting a simple delivery job from an old friend. As Cade slowly begins to realize his predicament has potentially put him in danger, he begins his own investigation into the strange series of events just as Inspector Battle of Scotland Yard begins the main, official investigation. As more and more clues begin to pop up-along with even more mysteries-Inspector Battle and Anthony Cade search diligently for the true murderer and uncover the answers to multiple conundrums that plague the characters within the novel.

The Secret of Chimneys A young drifter finds more than he bargained for when he agrees to deliver a parcel to an English country house. Little did Anthony Cade suspect that a simple errand on behalf of a friend would make him the centrepiece of a murderous international conspiracy. Someone would stop at nothing to prevent the monarchy being restored in faraway Herzoslovakia. The combined forces of Scotland Yard and the French Surete can do no better than go in circles – until the final murder at Chimneys, the great country estate that yields up an amazing secret. The Secret of Chimneys marks the first appearance of Inspector Battle and was the last book to be published by Bodley Head, thus fulfilling the terms of Agatha Christie's six book option. While Inspector Battle would only appear in a further four novels, Collins (later HarperCollins) would remain Christie's publisher for the rest of her life. Her new agent Edmund Cork of Hughes Massie had negotiated much more favourable terms with Collins (a £200 advance per title for the next three books). John Lane, then publisher at Bodley Head, had replied that if anyone wished to pay that much for Christie's novels, they were welcome to her. A thick fog of mystery, cross purposes, and romance, which leads up to a most unexpected and highly satisfactory ending. Times Literary Supplement The Secret of Chimneys was adapted by Christie as a stage play in 1931 but its planned performance was mysteriously cancelled. Its world premiere was at the Vertigo Theatre in Calgary, Canada in 2003 when the artistic director John-Paul Fischback "discovered" the manuscript deposited at The British Library over 70 years earlier. It was filmed with the addition of Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple and with multiple plot changes by ITV in 2009.

Gerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper, so the other houseguests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6:30 a.m. But when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank then backfired, with tragic consequences. For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words "Seven Dials" were to take on a new and chilling significance. . . .

Dive into the heart of intrigue and suspense with Agatha Christie's The Seven Dials Mystery. This classic whodunit takes listeners into a web of secrets, mysterious societies, and unexpected twists, where every clue leads closer to danger. When a practical joke at the manor house of Chimneys takes a deadly turn, the discovery of a murdered guest and a strange clock point to a deeper conspiracy. Bundle Brent, a spirited and clever heroine, sets out to unravel the enigma of the Seven Dials Club-a shadowy group whose motives remain shrouded in mystery. As Bundle pieces together cryptic clues and faces growing peril, she discovers that the truth may come at a shocking price. Filled with Christie's signature blend of wit, intrigue, and memorable characters, The Seven Dials Mystery is a masterful tale of deception and discovery. Perfect for fans of classic detective fiction, this audiobook will keep you riveted until its thrilling conclusion.

A lavish weekend party, a practical joke that goes murderously wrong, and stolen state secrets all transpire in The Seven Dials Mystery, by Agatha Christie. Full of her usual sly wit this clever murder mystery is a classic detective story featuring some of the characters from an earlier novel, The Secret of Chimneys: Lady Eileen (Bundle) Brent, Lord Caterham, Bill Eversleigh, George Lomax, Tredwell, and Superintendent Battle. Punting and pranks seem to top the agenda for the party at Chimneys, the historic estate of Lord Caterham which Sir Oswald and Lady Coote have rented for the season. Gerry Wade was a champion sleeper, famous for over-sleeping, so a group of his fellow young houseguests decide to play a practical joke on him by setting eight alarm clocks to go off in his room one after another very early the next morning. When morning arrives, a footman discovers that Gerry is dead and one clock is missing. Despite the arrival of the police, the young friends-led by Lady Eileen "Bundle" Brent and charming "man about town" Jimmy Thesiger, take the investigation into their own hands. When another victim turns up dead, and there are whispers of a secret society called the Seven Dials and talk of stolen state secrets, it all seems to point to a wider plot. Bundle and her friends risk their lives in order to find the murderer before he or she kills again.

"It's odd, isn't it, why farce so often seems to get mixed up with tragedy?" In the sequel to The Secret of Chimneys, Superintendent Battle must solve a practical joke gone horribly wrong. Gerald Wade is among the many invited to the Chimneys estate for a party. Rented by Sir Oswald and Lady Coote for the season, it is rather the place to be. Unfortunately, during his stay there Gerry has garnered the teasing of his friends for a particular talent of his: to oversleep. One day the set decides to "fix" the matter with a little joke. The plan is to set out eight alarm clocks in Gerry's room, all set to different times … as early as 6:30 a.m.! But these alarm clocks don't wake the poor man up. When they go to check on him, his friends discover that Gerry hasn't overslept this time. In fact, he has been murdered. Two things are immediately apparent: there is a draft of chloral on his nightstand, and one of the eight alarm clocks is missing. In solving this mystery, some more familiar faces from The Secret of Chimneys will present themselves. And for them, "seven dials" will take on an entirely new and menacing meaning. "Pure genius." "The quickness of Christie's hand still continues to deceive our eyes."

Read by the star of the upcoming Netflix original series, Mia McKenna-Bruce! A practical joke goes chillingly, murderously wrong in Queen of Mystery Agatha Christie's classic detective story, The Seven Dials Mystery. Gerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper, so the other houseguests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6:30 a.m. But when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank then backfired, with tragic consequences. For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words-Seven Dials-were to take on a new and chilling significance...

In The Seven Dials Mystery, Queen of Crime Agatha Christie reintroduces characters from her earlier novel, The Secret of the Chimneys. This time, it's the murder of Gerald Wade, as well as the seven alarm clocks found in his room the next morning, that set Bill Eversleigh and Eileen Bundle Brent on the trail. From a seedy nightclub to a secret formula being sold to a British Air Minister, this mystery has twists and turns a-plenty!

A quiet English village is plagued by a fiendish serial killer in Queen of Mystery Agatha Christie's classic thriller, Murder is Easy. Luke Fitzwilliam does not believe Miss Pinkerton's wild allegation that a multiple murderer is at work in the quiet English village of Wychwood and that her local doctor is next in line. But within hours, Miss Pinkerton has been killed in a hit-and-run car accident. Mere coincidence? Luke is inclined to think so - until he reads in the Times of the unexpected demise of Wychwood's Dr. Humbleby...

Luke Fitzwilliam does not believe Miss Pinkerton's wild allegation that a multiple murderer is at work in the quiet English village of Wychwood and that her local doctor is next in line. But within hours, Miss Pinkerton has been killed in a hit-and-run car accident. Mere coincidence? Luke is inclined to think so-until he reads in the Times of the unexpected demise of Wychwood's Dr. Humbleby.… This title was previously published as Easy to Kill.

What is the connection among a failed suicide attempt, a wrongful accusation of theft against a schoolgirl, and the romantic life of a famous tennis player? To the casual observer, apparently nothing. But when a house party gathers at Gull's Point, the seaside home of an elderly widow, earlier events come to a dramatic head. As Superintendent Battle discovers, it is all part of a carefully laid plan-for murder.

Two Bestselling Agatha Christie Novels in One Great Audiobook The Secret of Chimneys What is The Secret of Chimneys? A young drifter finds out when a favor for a friend pulls him into the heart of a deadly conspiracy in this captivating classic from Agatha Christie. Little did Anthony Cade suspect that an errand for a friend would place him at the center of a deadly conspiracy. Drawn into a web of intrigue, he begins to realize that the simple favor has placed him in serious danger. As events unfold, the combined forces of Scotland Yard and the French Sûreté gradually converge on Chimneys, the great country estate that hides an amazing secret... The Seven Dials Mystery A practical joke goes chillingly, murderously wrong in Queen of Mystery Agatha Christie's classic detective story, The Seven Dials Mystery. Gerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper, so the other houseguests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6:30 a.m. But when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank then backfired, with tragic consequences. For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words "Seven Dials" were to take on a new and chilling significance....