There are obviously things to enjoy here: it's not a book that really blows you away or anything but the plot is well designed and satisfying as a mystery and the dialogue is lively and flows well. It has light elements of the political thriller type novel, mostly in terms of the background, although it's still firmly a sedate golden age mystery style. There's some mild complexity to it that's handled well and it's hard to imagine getting confused or anything. Christie's writing style and handling of mysteries is so all round solid it's really hard to fault her in any way on those specific things. The ending ties everything together with no loose ends in a way that everything feels "right".

But... it's impossible to get away from the racist, colonial, aristocratic entitlement that pervades the book. A financier with a blatantly Jewish name is referred to as "yellow skinned" multiple times which is clearly some kind of racist stereotype that's antiquated now and there's a few other anti semitic allusions surrounding him. The brunt of the racism, though, is directed at the inhabitants of the country of Herzoslovakia, whose situation forms the entire motivation of the book. Of the characters, their names are mocked regularly, their appearance is described negatively, and even their dangerous revolutionary secret paramilitary is treated as a comedic joke rather than serious villains. Their country is presented as one of brigands and ignorant peasants and both a supposed conservative attachment to the monarchy behaving properly and their new democratic government are presented as contemptible. It's not every page, but when the subject is such a major part of the book it's hard to get it out of your mind.

The colonialism starts from the first page, where the action starts with our main character being a tour guide for a bunch of English people touring modern-day Zimbabwe and finding it distasteful except for picture postcards and going to see Cecil Rhodes' tomb! The British government is involved in Herzoslovakian politics because there's recently been oil discovered there and they want to be the ones to get exclusive rights to it. To that end, they're planning on deposing the current republican government and reinstalling a heir to the old royal family. The oil rights are a condition for a massive loan they're going to give him to get him into power. It's such a striking example of British imperialism nakedly destroying lives for British profit and yet there's no moral judgement attached to it at all - and the choice of characters and perspectives we get mean we're supposed to be *on their side*.
( )

DNF - am usually willing to overlook how uncomfortable I am with some of the attitudes AC has, these things being a product of their time, but in return I usually get some sharp plotting and the occasional touch of characterisation. But I just cannot hack her in thriller mode. I get to feel dirty AND bored. Not for me, sorry. ( )

There were two other men in the room. One was Colonel Melrose, the chief constable. The other was a squarely built middle-aged man with a face so singularly devoid of expression as to be quite remarkable.

Christie, Agatha. The Secret of Chimneys (Superintendent Battle Book 1) (p. 109). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

I referred to Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard. A man of the utmost discretion.

Christie, Agatha. The Secret of Chimneys (Superintendent Battle Book 1) (p. 106). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

What seems likes a simple errand to deliver a manuscript turns into a dangerous and perilous journey to right a wrong, find a jewel and crown a King. Anthony Cade undertakes the quest at the behest of his friend Jimmy McGrath and has soon run afoul of Superintendent Battle who is called into investigate the ensuing trouble.

The Secret of Chimneys is the first Superintendent Battle novel and introduces the intelligent, impassive and humorous, Superintendent Battle.

“You’re a man in a thousand, Battle. Either you have taken an extraordinary fancy to me or else you’re extraordinarily deep. Which is it?” Superintendent Battle smiled a little, but did not answer.

Christie, Agatha. The Secret of Chimneys (Superintendent Battle Book 1) (p. 168). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

As always with Agatha Christie, this was a well written mystery with decently complex characters and interesting motives. Battle was a great character. I liked his style - not quite as dramatic and flamboyant as Poirot and not as absent as Colonel Race. He chips away at the suspects and the evidence and uses his own little grey cells to solve the case. And I loved Anthony Cade's easy going nature and his humour and his interactions with Battle were hilarious.

“You know, sir,” he said, “you’ll get into trouble one of these days.” “Then, for the second time, I’m not to be taken into custody?” “We always like to give a man plenty of rope,” said Superintendent Battle. “Very delicately put,” said Anthony. “Without unduly stressing the end of the proverb.”

Christie, Agatha. The Secret of Chimneys (Superintendent Battle Book 1) (p. 209). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

I enjoyed how they worked together to solve the crime and how insistent Mrs Revel was on helping and not being left out. Although she was pretty funny in her own right.

“By the way, Mrs. Revel,” he ended, “I’ve never thanked you for imperilling your mortal soul by saying that I was an old friend of yours.” “Of course you’re an old friend,” cried Virginia. “You don’t suppose I’d lumber you with a corpse, and then pretend you were a mere acquaintance next time I met you? No, indeed!”

Christie, Agatha. The Secret of Chimneys (Superintendent Battle Book 1) (p. 147). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

I got a little confused by the ending - it got very convoluted and there were so many tangled threads. I actually kind of thought Mrs Revel would end up being King Victor - the crime lord. I figured out that Mr Fish was an imposter - but I thought he was going to be the guilty party - not another detective. Although I did guess that the French detective was guilty - I just wasn't sure what of. So it was a bit tangled in my mind, but I enjoyed the reveals.

A well plotted mystery. 3.5 stars, rounded to 3 stars. ( )

I had completely forgotten this first Superintendent Battle mystery. Quite fun with Balkan politics, international jewel thieves, blackmail and possible impostors, not to mention a murder or two!

Hugh Fraser does a marvelous narration. ( )

Terrific AC novel. Outside Poirot/Marple novels Christie enjoys herself. Eastern Europe, Oil, Americans, jewel thieves and, best for last, Lady Eileen's some what lunatic driving. (LE's point of view:- They did not catch Grace Kelly) . ( )