The Complete Annotated Secret Of Chimneys

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.

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.

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.

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.

In 1923, the young reporter James Thurber was given a half a page in the Sunday Evening Dispatch of Columbus, Ohio, every week to fill with anything he wanted. For most of that year, he turned out book reviews, humorous commentary, jokes, stories, and even literary criticism. He also wrote a series of 13 short Sherlockian parodies — 10,000 words in all — starring Blue Ploermell, a “psychosocial” detective with a fondness for animal crackers. Aided (and occasionally impeded) by his Chinese manservant, Gong Low, Ploermell investigates cases marked by his cock-eyed deductions, loopy logic, and a knack for leaping to the wrong conclusion. These juvenilia represents Thurber’s first attempts at learning the craft of humor writing. Looking back at this work years later, he even considered publishing the Ploermell stories. The Cases of Blue Ploermell, for the first time in a century, collects the 13 stories. Edited and annotated by Bill Peschel, they show Thurber trying his hand at characterization, story structure, ethnic humor, and serial writing in a style rarely seen at any newspaper. In addition to the annotations, Peschel wrote essays on Thurber’s years in Columbus, Ohio; journalism in the 1920s; the state of Sherlockian parodies; and depictions of Chinese men and women in American popular culture. Note: The 13 stories are very short, and take up 40 pages of this 200-page book. The rest of the book consists of these essays: “Becoming James Thurber” (39 pages); “Journalism in Thurber’s Time” (4 pages); “Sherlockian Parodies in the 1920s” (8 pages); “The Ancestors of Gong Low” (13 pages); “The Chinese in Popular Culture” (35 pages); movie reviews (19 pages); chronology (9 pages); lists (7 pages). SHORT DESCRIPTION: In 1923, a young James Thurber wrote 13 short Sherlockian parodies (10,000 words) for his newspaper in Columbus, Ohio. They starred Blue Ploermell, a “psychosocial” detective with a fondness for animal crackers. Aided by his Chinese manservant, he solves cases with his cock-eyed deductions and a knack for leaping to the wrong conclusion. This book contains the stories plus essays about Thurber.

Why Would People Drink Strychnine For Their Health? What Does ‘English Beef and Brawn’ Mean? What Are Land Smocks? Spill Vases? Patience Cards? What Did Agatha Christie Think Of Jews? How Did A 25-Year-Old Woman Create One Of Mystery’s Greatest Detectives? Best-selling mystery writer Agatha Christie created intricate stories of murder and mayhem that have enchanted readers worldwide. Bill Peschel, author of "The Complete, Annotated Whose Body?" (by Dorothy L. Sayers) and "Writers Gone Wild," illuminates the obscure references in Christie’s debut novel and tells the fascinating stories behind it and its creator. "The Complete, Annotated Mysterious Affair at Styles" contains: ● Nearly 500 footnotes describing words, idioms, people, places and contemporary events. ● Essays on Christie’s life and the world of Styles. ● A detailed chronology of her life and work. ● Lists of her novels and short-story collections, organized by year of publication and by detective. ● A bibliography of resources, including books about Christie that will delight fans. “Though this may be the first published book of Miss Agatha Christie, she betrays the cunning of an old hand.” — The New York Times, Dec. 26, 1920

When Anthony Cade is asked by his friend, Jimmy McGrath, to deliver a manuscript and a bunch of letters to a woman, little does he know that he will be involved in a high level political intrigue involving murder, false identities, diplomatic intrigue and theft of precious jewellery… This thrilling novel figures the debut of Superintendent Battle and the plot was suggested to Christie by none other than the famous P. G. Wodehouse! Excerpt: "Castle's Select Tour, represented by seven depressed-looking females and three perspiring males, looked on with considerable interest. Evidently their Mr. Cade had met an old friend. They all admired Mr. Cade so much, his tall lean figure, his sun-tanned face, the light-hearted manner with which he settled disputes and cajoled them all into good temper. This friend of his now—surely rather a peculiar-looking man.About the same height as Mr. Cade, but thickset and not nearly so good-looking. The sort of man one read about in books, who probably kept a saloon..."

Agatha Christie's "The Secret of Chimneys" follows adventurer Anthony Cade as he unravels political intrigue and royal secrets in an English estate.