It seems that there is at least one Agatha Christie adaptation released every year, either at the cinema, streaming or on terrestrial TV and the popularity of the world famous murder mystery novelist, who died in 1976, shows no sign of waning.
“Seven Dials” out now on Netflix does not try and invent the wheel. Instead it stays close to the spirit of the novels with upper class protagonists involved in dastardly deeds in privileged surroundings.
What I liked about this story was that the chief character was not only a woman, but a younger one which added a freshness to the proceedings. I love Christies “Miss Marple” series of investigations, but it was fun to spend 3 hours with a heroine who was a similar age to me.
Lady Eileen (the excellent Mia McKenna-Bruce) is at a party in her stately home that is being rented out by her impoverished mother to northern industrialists after her husband death. Eileen believes that she will be proposed to by her late brothers best friend, but instead he winds up dead in his bed.
This leads Lady Eileen to embark on some amateur sleuthing to find the killer, much to the distaste of her mother (the ever reliable Helena Bonham Carter). She is also tracked by a rather shadowy Scotland Yard detective who has motives of his own, played by Martin Freeman who usually I find annoying due to his constant mannerisms.
Not this time though! He is quiet and understated and his slow burning respect for Lady Eileen’s detective abilities is a joy to watch.
So, we have murders, betrayal, family secrets and even spies, secret societies and international power politics. Yes, it is a bit old-fashioned but it is supposed to be!
It’s unreconstructed Agatha Christie and for me that is how it should be. I don’t want knowing and modern takes on my murder mysteries when the writing clearly does what it says on the tin.
Netflix have spent money on the production, with great locations, sets and costumes so that even if u have guessed the killer early on or read the book there is much to enjoy.
Christie wrote a few Lady Eileen investigates novels and I hope that Netflix ignores the critics and gives us another one to enjoy soon.