The Complete Annotated Secret Adversary

A world war is over but Great Britain is still menaced by its enemies. Recently released from their wartime service, Tommy and Tuppence are young, energetic . . . and broke. Joining forces, they advertise that they’ll do anything for money. When they’re hired by the government to hunt for a missing treaty, they discover a plot led by the mysterious “Mr. Brown” to destroy the nation! Can Tommy and Tuppence defeat Bolshevists, Sinn Feiners, trade unionists and Labourites and save Britain in her hour of peril? Agatha Christie created intricate stories of murder and mayhem that have enchanted millions of readers worldwide. Bill Peschel, author of “The Complete, Annotated Mysterious Affair at Styles,” “The Complete, Annotated Whose Body?” and “Writers Gone Wild,” reads between the lines of Christie’s first thriller and tells the fascinating stories behind it. “The Complete, Annotated Secret Adversary” contains more than 700 footnotes describing words, idioms, people, places and contemporary events; essays on Agatha Christie:, her battles with the tax man and her 11-day disappearance that shocked the nation; essays on the times, including flappers, spy scandals, and the world after World War I. The book also contains a detailed chronology of Christie’s life and a list of all of her books.

Romance, politics, mystery, and murder collide at a British country home In this lengthy annotated edition of the classic Agatha Christie novel, adventurer Anthony Cade returns to Britain to deliver a politician’s memoirs and to rescue a woman from a blackmailing scheme. But when he arrives, he finds himself enmeshed in international intrigue and murder. The answer to these mysteries, as well as his pursuit of a beautiful spirited woman leads him to Chimneys, the country home. There, another murder puts him in the middle of the investigation that will require all of his wits and intelligence to keep him from the gallows. Meanwhile, the forces of Scotland Yard and the French Sûreté converge on Chimneys in pursuit of a master criminal, a missing British crown jewel, and the ultimate Secret of Chimneys. Published in 1925, “The Secret of Chimneys” was hailed as “a capital detective story,” “bright and cleverly written” and “an engrossing and entertaining yarn.” This new annotated edition, edited by Bill Peschel comes more than 30,000 words in footnotes and essays that delves into the background of the story and the life of its author. Learn about Abney Hall, the inspiration of all of Christie’s country homes, the real-life manor where major Hollywood productions are filmed, and the life of Agatha Christie during her most happiest time, before it all fell apart. “The Complete, Annotated Secret of Chimneys,” the fifth book in Peschel Press’ Complete, Annotated series, will entertain, educate, and enlighten you. You’ll see an Agatha Christie at her wittiest and in a way you’ve never seen her before.

The Secret Adversary is the second published detective fiction novel by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in January 1922 in the United Kingdom by The Bodley Head and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company later in that same year.

This fully annotated edition of “Murder on the Links” includes: * 20,000 words in the footnotes describing words, historical events, and cultural references * Essays on Agatha Christie’s life, the French judicial system, golf novels, and the murderous inspiration of “Links” * Maps and illustrations of objects and places mentioned in the novel * Character list, French phrase list, and a full bibliography * Numerous photos and illustrations A dangerous threat. A mysterious woman. A murderous past. Hercule Poirot is hunting a killer! Responding to a hunted man’s desperate plea, Hercule Poirot and his friend Captain Hastings travel to the coast of France, only to find him murdered outside his home, the Villa Marguerite. Joining the investigation despite the opposition of a rival detective, he uncovers evidence that leads to the arrest of an innocent man. Poirot must prevent a deadly miscarriage of justice, but how can he succeed when even his close friend is working against him? The Belgian detective must tax his celebrated “little grey cells” to the utmost to uncover what happened that deadly night on the grounds of the Villa Marguerite. The Complete, Annotated Murder on the Links contains hundreds of explanatory footnotes — 20,000 words in all! — by Christie expert Bill Peschel. They describe in detail aspects of British and French culture unfamiliar to readers. They define cultural and historical events, define unfamiliar French and English words, and now-forgotten celebrities. Learn why red lipstick was seen as a sexual signal, who Christie dedicated the book too and why, and links in the story to other Christie works. When you’re done with the novel, dig into these essays — 12,000 words in all by Bill Peschel — that expand the world of Links and Agatha Christie: * The Woman Behind Murder on the Links Meet Marguerite Steinheil, the wealthy adventuress whose affair with the president of France ended in his death, and her involvement in a double murder (of her husband and mother) that put her on trial for her life! * England vs. France Why the two nations get like a longtime married couple who barely understand each other, but stay together anyway. * The British Invasion Links is set amid the English expatriates on the Boulogne coast. Why did they come to France, and what was the Christie connection? * The French Police The way French police investigate crimes is far different from their English counterparts. What is the difference between the Sûreté, the gendarmerie, and the municipal police? Read this and find out. * Agatha Christie in 1921 What was she doing and why was this her most happy time? * Education Of an Author Agatha Christie learned a lot about the publishing business during this time. Why did she drop her first publisher and move to Collins? * The History of Hastings Mystery’s second most celebrated sidekick gets an essay about him, describing why he was useful and why Christie dropped him. * Murder on the Golf Course Although Links didn’t have much to do with the game, there were plenty of mysteries taking place on the golf course. This overview describes the most notable ones of the 1920s and ’30s. * Editing Agatha There were numerous changes made in the book between its first publication and its final edition, including whole paragraphs omitted. This essay describes what was changed. Plus two maps created for the book, a list of French phrases, translated, and a list of characters.

For Anne Beddingfeld, Southern Africa holds the key to a mystery, if she lives! Young Anne Beddingfeld came to London with a small inheritance and a taste for travel and adventure. She gets more than she bargained for when a stranger falls from the tube platform and is electrocuted on the rails. A man in a brown suit examines the body, but flees before the police arrive. It was an accidental death, but Anne is intrigued. Why did the dead man startle? Why did he have a note regarding an empty house owned by a high-ranking government official? Who was the man in the brown suit who examined him and fled? What is the secret in the cryptic message he left behind: “17-122 Kilmorden Castle”? The mystery deepens when a woman is found strangled in the official's empty house. Anne’s investigation leads her to a cruise ship heading for sunny South Africa, followed by a treacherous journey into Rhodesia. Anne encounters danger, daring escapes, romance, and uncovers a conspiracy that could shake the foundation of the British Empire. Published in 1926, The Man in the Brown Suit was praised for its ingenious plotting and unique narrative structure. This new annotated edition, edited by Bill Peschel, comes with more than 40,000 words in footnotes and essays that delves into the background of the story and the life of its author. The Complete, Annotated Man in the Brown Suit, the sixth book in Peschel Press’ Complete, Annotated series, will entertain, educate, and enlighten you. You’ll see an Agatha Christie at her wittiest and in a way you’ve never seen her before.

Reunited in 1919 London, demobilised soldier Tommy Beresford and nurse Prudence "Tuppence" Cowley, out of work and money, form the "The Young Adventurers, Ltd." planning to hiring themselves out as "adventurers ... [w]illing to do anything, go anywhere ... [n]o unreasonable offer refused." They are overheard by a Mr. Whittington who offers Tuppence a comfortable position, but he is shocked when she randomly gives her name as "Jane Finn", a name Tommy in turn had overheard him use and mentioned during the same conversation. Whittington believes Tuppence is blackmailing him and sends her away with some money. Convinced that they can get further money out of Whittington if they play their cards right, Tommy and Tuppence prepare to shadow him, only to discover that he has closed his office and disappeared without a trace. To find out why, they place an advertisement, asking for information regarding Jane Finn. One response is from a Mr. "Carter," whom Tommy recognises as a leading figure in a British intelligence agency and who provides the background to Jane Finn, all of which was earlier revealed to the reader in the book's prologue. Jane Finn was a passenger on the RMS Lusitania when it sank four years earlier in 1915. An American man, knowing he would not be on the lifeboats entrusted her with getting a secret, draft treaty to the American embassy in London, should she survive the sinking and be rescued. Since that time, neither Jane Finn nor the draft treaty have been found. At the same time, publication of the treaty's contents would compromise the current British government, potentially leading to a bolshevik coup. Tommy and Tuppence agree to work for Carter on an unofficial basis, with the aim of recovering the treaty and foiling the bolshevists and their puppet-master, an elusive though hands-on figure known as Mr. Brown who is said to have an exceptional capacity for blending in the background. Carter agrees to cover all their expenses as well as pay them a large sum in the hope that amateurs may succeed where intelligence services failed.

This fully annotated edition of “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” includes:
* Nearly 15,000 words in the footnotes describing words, historical events, and cultural references
* Essays on Agatha Christie’s life and how she found love again, what to look for when rereading Ackroyd, the controversy over a claimed Scandinavian inspiration, what you’ll find in a doctor’s black bag, Christie’s legacy as a fictional character, a review of the Poirot episode, and what the reviewers thought of the book at the time
* Maps and illustrations of objects and places mentioned in the novel
* Character list, cover gallery, and a full bibliography
* More than 30 photos and illustrations

Agatha Christie’s most controversial novel

In this annotated edition of the groundbreaking Agatha Christie novel, Hercule Poirot retires to the village of King’s Abbot to raise vegetable marrows. But when his friend Roger Ackroyd is found stabbed to death in his study, Poirot is asked to investigate. Many people would benefit from the death of the country squire, but none of them could have done it, except for the man who vanished!

With the help of Dr. Sheppard, who narrates the tale, Poirot examines the evidence, but each clue raises more questions. Whose finger wore the wedding ring before it was tossed into the lake? Who visited the summer-house in the middle of the night? Who left muddy footprints on the window sill? What secrets are being kept from Poirot by the Ackroyd family and servants?

Published in 1926, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd established Christie as the premiere mystery novelist of her time, and her 11-day disappearance after its publication spread her name worldwide. This new annotated edition, edited by Bill Peschel, contains an additional 30,000 words in footnotes and essays describing unfamiliar words, expands on the story, and delves into the novel’s background and the life of its author.

The Complete, Annotated Murder of Roger Ackroyd, the seventh book in Peschel Press’ Complete, Annotated series, will entertain, educate, and enlighten you. Learn about Agatha Christie during her greatest crisis and how she rebuilt her life and found a second chance at love.

Rich in authenticity, The Longman Annotated Editions for Developing College Readers presents complete works -- as written by the author -- in a format that is accessible to developing college readers. Experienced faculty from across the nation have been chosen to "edit" world-renowned works of literature by presenting comprehension and vocabulary building skills to make the work more user friendly and interactive through lively discussion topics, logical thinking skills, and challenging essay writing assignments.