A Fairy in the Flat and A Pot of Tea: Two Tommy & Tuppence Short Stories

Tommy & Tuppence #2.01-2.02

by Agatha Christie

At the request of Tommy Beresford's boss in the UK Secret Service, he and Tuppence take over the running of the International Detective Agency, but don't seem able to attract any clients. Unexpectedly, a trip to a hat shop leads to a missing person case.

Librarian's note #1: the two stories, "Fairy in the Flat" and "A Pot of Tea," can be seen as two parts of a whole.

Librarians note #2: these classic Agatha Christie short stories are available for the first time as an eBook. They are two of 17 stories from the print anthology, "Partners in Crime."

Genres: Agatha Christie, Mystery, Short Stories

30 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1929

About the author

Agatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.

This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.

Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)

Reviews

[Jack Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars. Light, frivolous and fun. These are the first two shorts of the 17 in Partners in Crime. Christie released the book in 1929. It's one part mystery and one part the amusing interplay between a mid-to-late 20s married couple. Why two stories in the same review? The first is just the intro to the following 16, especially the second, A Pot of Tea. The two go together - as do Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. They are bored, especially Tuppence. It's an important decade for women, and she has no desire to be stuck at home. "I want things to happen. Exciting things." Her husband works for the Secret Service in the UK but at a desk job. His boss visits; the Chief, Mr. Carter, wants the them to take over the management of Theodore Blunt's International Detective Agency. Apparently Blunt had been a double agent siphoning information to the Bolsheviks (soon to be called the Soviets) in Moscow. Carter's idea is that Tommy and Tuppence may be able to draw foreign spies into the open. But little happens in the 2nd other than a lovelorn man asks for help because his young lady has disappeared. Excitement must wait. (Aug2026)

[Nicey Nice · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rip off to sell me part of a book - the first two chapters only. No idea about this at point of sale. Presume it is meant as a taster but as I’ve read the book it just was a way of stealing my money.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two fun short stories from the Tommy and Tuppence series in her book of short stories “Partners in Crime”

[Susan Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another interesting short story narrated by Jason Fraser.