The Man in the Brown Suit
by Agatha Christie
Genres: Crime, MysteryPages: 381
Series: Colonel Race #1
Rating:
Synopsis:A young woman investigates an accidental death at a London tube station, and finds herself of a ship bound for South Africa…
Pretty, young Anne came to London looking for adventure. In fact, adventure comes looking for her – and finds her immediately at Hyde Park Corner tube station. Anne is present on the platform when a thin man, reeking of mothballs, loses his balance and is electocuted on the rails.
The Scotland Yard verdict is accidental death. But Anne is not satisfied.
After all, who was the man in the brown suit who examined the body? And why did he race off, leaving a cryptic message behind: ‘17-122 Kilmorden Castle’?
Agatha Christie’s The Man in the Brown Suit is rather different to her Poirot books in style and tone, rather breathlessly narrated by a main female character, Anne Beddingfield. Entangled in a mystery, she falls in love more or less at first sight, and proceeds to have adventures characterised by a fair amount of impulsiveness on her part. If it reminds me of anything, it reminds me most of Mary Stewart’s books, like Madam, Will You Talk?
It didn’t especially stand out to me, I’d say; there are a couple of plot points that are staples of the genre, and it feels like quirks like Sir Eustace Pedler and Suzanne’s enthusiasm are a great part of what carries it. There’s quite a bit of internalised sexism about Anne’s character and the way she, Suzanne, and the love interest all interact.
I’ll admit reading reviews I’m quite surprised it’s so popular. I just thought it was okay.
Rating: 3/5
I’m curious to try this one, since the comparing the Poirot and Miss Marple books is fun — I like seeing what’s similar and different in the two series. I want to read her other books to see if they feel like either of the two series I’ve read, or like something completely different.
I had reservations about this book after reading it this year for the 100th anniversary of its publication: https://www.joyweesemoll.com/2024/09/13/the-man-in-the-brown-suit-bookreview-brifri/