The Adventure of the Sinister Stranger by Agatha Christie

Silver Cigarette Case (1920's).

I’d put The Adventure of the Sinister Stranger somewhere in Agatha Christie’s mid-tier category. It’s a quick read and somewhat entertaining but definitely not the crown jewel of the Tommy and Tuppence collection. In fact, among their stories, this one is on the weaker side and mostly forgettable. 

Business is slow at the International Detective Agency, and Tommy and Tuppence are itching for a real case instead of another day of shuffling letters and staring at the wall. Then a mysterious blue envelope with a Russian stamp drops into their lap, kicking off a plot full of deception, mistaken identities, and the ol' bait-and-switch. It all sounds more exciting than it actually is.

There’s not much suspense, and the mysterious letter left me more confused than intrigued. There’s also a silver cigarette case with an inscription that ends up being important, but even that reveal didn’t do much to liven things up. I found myself struggling to care about any of it.

Maybe if I caught all the nods to classic detective fiction, the story would have left more of an impression. As it stands, it’s a pleasant enough diversion but we know Agatha Christie can deliver so much better.