The Secret of Chimneys: The Official Authorized Edition

“There is…a thick fog of mystery, cross-purposes, and romance, which leads up to a most unexpected and highly satisfactory ending.” —Times Literary Supplement (London)

“It is an exciting story with a bewildering array of potential murderers and a curious collection of detectives, amateur and professional, and with a crook of international importance and (alleged) consummate ability.” —Scotsman (Edinburgh)

“Will keep the reader guessing until the very end.” —Literary Review (London)

“The Secret of Chimneys, Christie’s third novel, comes from the period when romance was almost as important to her as crime. Each of the guests at Chimneys, a country estate, is suspected of the murder of a foreign nobleman. Two of the accused, a young widowed aristocrat and a young man of seemingly dubious background, find themselves falling in love as they join forces to solve the case…As wonderful as Hugh Fraser is as Captain Hastings in the television adaptations of the Poirot tales, he is even better as the reader…Highly recommended for popular collections.” —Library Journal (starred audio review)

“Hugh Fraser, known to aficionados of PBS’ Mystery as Poirot’s sidekick, Captain Hastings, is the narrator of this delightful story in which the combined forces of Scotland Yard and the French Surete can do no better than run in circles—until the final murder at Chimneys. Readers might think they’ve picked up a multivoiced performance when they meet Anthony Cade, the witty, and chivalrous hero who never loses his cool in sticky situations; the zealous politician George Lomax, hilarious in his pomposity; Herzoslovakian Baron Lolopretjzyl ,who does strange and amusing things to English word order; Prince Michael’s gothic valet; the intelligent and sensible Superintendent Battle; Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent, who uncovers the ‘secret’ of the title; and Virginia, who sounds so delicate but actually enjoys being blackmailed for the sake of the experience. Listen to this audiobook once for the mystery and parody and again for the wealth of Fraser’s smooth, cultured character presentations.” —AudioFile