The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie, 1929

 

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Series: Superintendent Battle #2 (of 5)

 

Major characters:

• Jimmy Thesiger
• Gerald Wade, the late sleeper, victim #1
• Loraine Wade, his half-sister
• Helen
• Nancy
• "Socks" Daventry
• Bill Eversleigh
• Ronny Devereux, victim #2
• Lord Caterham, owner of Chimneys
• Lady Eileen Brent, "Bundle", Lord Caterham's daughter
• Tredwell, butler
• MacDonald, gardener
• Sir Oswald and Lady Marie Coote, renters of Chimneys
• Rupert Bateman, Sir Oswald's secretary
• George Lomax, "Codders", a cabinet minister

Locale: near London

Synopsis: Gerry Wade was known for sleeping late. At a country house party hosted by Sir Oswald and Lady Maria Coote, Wade's friends decide to play a trick on him and stash eight alarm clocks around his bedroom. He fails to rise in the morning, and is found dead. Seven of the clocks have been lined up on the mantle, and the eighth is found outside on the lawn.

Jimmy Thesinger (Gerry's friend ), Loraine Wade (Gerry's half-sister) , and Lady Eileen Brent, a.k.a. "Bundle" (daughter of the country house owners) team up to try and find the murderer. Bundle is driving to London and thinks she has hit a man (Ronny Devereux) but investigation shows he was shot. 

Review:

You may also enjoy this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block.

April 13 2025: Reading now, please check back. RM

Daughter of Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer, 1930

 

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A free e-book version is available from this page at fadedpage.com.

Series: Dr. Fu Manchu #4

About the author: Sax Rohmer was a pseudonym of Arthur Henry "Sarsfield" Ward (1883 – 1959).  His most popular series of novels featuried the master criminal Fu Manchu. Many of his works were serialized in newspapers and later combined into book editions.

Major characters:

• Sir Lionel Barton, Orientalist
• Rima Barton, photographer, Sir Lionel's niece
• Shan Greville, our narrator, Rima's boyfriend
• Dr. Petrie
• Dr. Forester, chemist
• Ali Mahmoud, headman
• Madame Ingomar, a.k.a. Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu's daughter
• Sir Denis Nayland Smth, Scotland Yard
• Detective-Inspector Fletcher

Locale: Egypt and London

Synopsis: An archeological dig consisting of Sir Lionel Barton, Shan Greville (our narrator), Rima Baron, Dr. Petrie, Dr. Forester, and local guide Ali Mahmoud are working in Luxor, Egypt at a site called Lafleur's Tomb (also called Tomb of the Black Ape) and its access tunnel Lafleur's shaft.  Sir Lionel is found - apparently dead - in his hut. The hut is closed and locked, and upon their return, find his body missing. He is later found comatose inside a sarcophagus in Lafleur's Tomb. Upon injection of an antidote, he revives. 

Suspicion falls on a mysterious woman, Madame Ingomar, who is revealed to be Fah Lo Suee, the daughter of Dr. Fu Manchu. Shan Greville is fascinated by her, although Rima is his steady girl. Shan is captured, drugged, and spirited back to England; where he is kept prisoner under Fah Lo Suee's power - and meets up with her father, the legendary Fu Manchu.

Review: This story has all the fun elements of an Egyptian adventure: tombs, sarcophogi, secret tunnels; along the Chinese elements of mysterious women and of course, Fu Manchu. Shan can't keep his eyes off Fah Lo Suee, and she toys with him mercilessly. It takes until the climax to find out what happens, whether he lives or dies, and with which woman. This is an enjoyable escape with lots of mystical oriental elements. I found myself wanting to go to Chinatown and search the back alleys looking for some Chinese food to complete the experience.