This book made for a cozy, seasonal experience: all mystery, atmosphere, and a touch of the uncanny with a soupçon of the ridiculous.
I actually think the Tommy and Tuppence stories from Agatha Christie’s world don’t get nearly as much attention as they deserve, which is a shame, because By the Pricking of My Thumbs is a particularly good one.
In this story, we meet Tommy and Tuppence as a slightly older, middle-aged couple who once worked as agents during the war, but are now settled into a more peaceful existence.
The mystery begins when they visit Tommy’s Aunt Ada in a nursing home. While there, Tuppence becomes intrigued and unsettled by another resident, Mrs. Lancaster, and by her hints that something sinister might have happened in the past. Who does she mean by the child in the fireplace?
When Tommy goes away on business, Tuppence’s curiosity turns into a solo investigation involving a mysterious painting, a forgotten village, and some truly menacing figures.
The plot itself grows a little fantastical at times
(it’s not Christie’s most plausible mystery), but it’s wonderfully entertaining. What I loved most was the sense of adventure and the focus on Tuppence as a woman rediscovering her curiosity and courage later in life. The early scenes in the nursing home are especially strong, setting up a tone of quiet unease that lingers throughout.
Altogether, it’s an underrated, atmospheric mystery that feels perfect for autumn reading: a touch eerie, a touch nostalgic, and very Agatha Christie.
One word: thrilling.
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