The Floating Admiral

By: Agatha Christie, Simon Brett - preface, Dorothy L. Sayers - introduction, G. K. Chesterton - prologue

Narrated by: David Timson

Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, G.K. Chesterton and nine other writers from the legendary Detection Club collaborate in this fiendishly clever but forgotten crime novel first published 80 years ago.

Inspector Rudge does not encounter many cases of murder in the sleepy seaside town of Whynmouth. But when an old sailor lands a rowing boat containing a fresh corpse with a stab wound to the chest, the Inspector's investigation immediately comes up against several obstacles. The vicar, whose boat the body was found in, is clearly withholding information, and the victim's niece has disappeared. There is clearly more to this case than meets the eye – even the identity of the victim is called into doubt. Inspector Rudge begins to wonder just how many people have contributed to this extraordinary crime and whether he will ever unravel it…

In 1931, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and ten other crime writers from the newly-formed ‘Detection Club’ collaborated in publishing a unique crime novel. In a literary game of consequences, each author would write one chapter, leaving G.K. Chesterton to write a typically paradoxical prologue and Anthony Berkeley to tie up all the loose ends. In addition, each of the authors provided their own solution in a sealed envelope, all of which appeared at the end of the book, with Agatha Christie’s ingenious conclusion acknowledged at the time to be ‘enough to make the book worth buying on its own’.

The authors of this novel are: G. K. Chesterton, Canon Victor Whitechurch, G. D. H. Cole and Margaret Cole, Henry Wade, Agatha Christie, John Rhode, Milward Kennedy, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ronald Knox, Freeman Wills Crofts, Edgar Jepson, Clemence Dane and Anthony Berkeley.

©1931, 2011 The Detection Club (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"The plotting is ingenious, the pace sustained, the solution satisfying." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Amazingly, the story steers along very well despite so many different hands at the tiller. Christie's solution is typically ingenious." (Mark Campbell, The Pocket Essential Agatha Christie)

"These members of the Detection Club collaborate with skill in a piece of detection rather more tight-knit than one had a right to expect. There is enough to amuse and to stimulate detection; and the Introduction by Dorothy Sayers and supplements by critics and solvers give an insight into the writers' thoughts and modes of work." (Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor, A Catalogue of Crime)

Excruciatingly tiresome!

While the narrator did a superb job and the idea for this book was no doubt brilliant, in reality, it is tedious enough to bring tears to the listener. Each section is apparently written by one of the famous authors but the stream of consciousness which goes over, and over, and over, and over, each of the facts is unlike any of the works I have read by these authors. A major disappointment. It works well to put me to sleep at night but for entertainment, it doesn't fit the bill.

great concept. great puzzle mystery

An unusual book. each chapter is written by a different famous mystery writer. i was afraid the story would be disjointed wi th different writing styles but its very smooth. at the end authors give thier own different solution based on their chapter and the preceding chapters. what i found interesting were the similarities between the solutions.

strangely hilarious, yet captivating

I have done similar excercise before write a story with a group of others and pray it is coherent. so its strangely funny to me to see how the plot plays out. very captivating in the end. only downside is the narration can sometimes be a little bit monotonous

Fun & intriguing

A great concept, an enjoyabke book and well produced and read, but I but prefer Wimsey and Father Brown

Delightful

A delightful mystery from the best minds and era of mystery fiction. Loved it! I imagine being part of the Detection Club and having to figure out how on earth to tie up all the many clues and possibilities.

Fascinating progressive fiction

to have the pleasure of reading a piece of fiction such as this which is a result of a collaboration by incredibly talented mystery writers of the earlier 20th century is fantastic. it must be said though that it is sometimes convoluted as each author picks up the pieces left to him or her and intends a new path. I would still recommend this novel.

did not enjoy

This was confusing and difficult to follow, not enjoyable, would not recommend to a fellow reader :(

Boring,Boring

Endless permutations, lackluster, dull, uninspired characters, this was forced listening . A waste of time and money.

The whole is less than the sum of the parts

The combined illustriousness of the authors and the lovely voice acting do not make up for the meandering, patchy nature of this story. I gave up halfway.
Attempt only if you need something to put you to sleep.

Ho hum....

Dated and rather dreary. Should have been better. Story ponderous. So easy to daydream rather than listen...