Seven Dials: New Agatha Christie adaptation a 'fun mystery romp'

Books by "Queen of Mysteries" Agatha Christie have captivated audiences for more than a century, with screen adaptations winning a whole new audience.

The latest adaptation to hit the small screen is Seven Dials, a murder mystery set in the 1920s currently streaming on Netflix.

In this timeless mystery a fearless young aristocrat, Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent, investigates the murder of her love interest at the Caterham family's stately home, Chimneys.

She's played by Mia McKenna Bruce, with Helena Bonham Carter portraying her mother, Lady Caterham, and Martin Freeman in the role of Scotland Yard's Superintendent Battle.

Those who love Agatha Christie will be familiar with this sumptuous country estate type of setting, says reviewer Gayle Edmunds; where in this case a party attended by aristocrats, industrialists and Foreign Office staffers sets the scene for a murder.

Overnight, young Gerry Wade (Corey Mylchreest) from the Foreign Office, apparently overdoses on a sleeping draught.

"Lady Eileen or 'Bundle' doesn't buy it for a minute - she thinks for sure something fishy is going on and she sets off to solve the mystery. This is one of the few among the 66 books that doesn't include Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot. It's Bundle who does the sleuthing and she appears in  a couple of the other books."

Edmunds describes the three-part series as a really fun romp, which is how Christie herself explained Seven Dials.

Aside from the expected twists and turns, she also enjoyed the feminist bent embodied by Bundle, and the beautiful look of the series.

You can catch this three-part series on Netflix.

To listen to Gayle Edmunds in conversation with Amy MacIver on CapeTalk's Weekend Breakfast, click on the audio link below: