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Non-Series Novels & Stories

For those of you wanting to discuss Agatha Christie's standalone books, such as And Then There Were None. 

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Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

Moderator1 10 Nov 09 at 3:44 p.m. GMT

Bobby Jones is playing a not very good round of golf when he slices the ball over the edge of the cliff.  He doesn't find the ball but does find a dying man who, with his last breath, says, 'Why didn't they ask Evans?'  When Tommy bumps into his friend, the vivacious Frankie, she insists they must try and solve the puzzle, little realising it will put both their lives in jeopardy before the solution is found.

Is this really a Tommy & Tuppence book by any other name?  Do you think Christie might have them in mind when she wrote it but realised they would be too old?  Is the ending a fair bringing-to-justice of the guilty? 

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17 replies

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murder_is_easy123 16 Oct 11 at 10:22 a.m. GMT

A rather confusing and messy story!  I enjoyed the 1980 film (mainly because Connie Booth from Fawlty Towers was in it!) but it went on too long.  Francesca Annis was good as Frankie Derwent, but her character became more dislikable as a posh, spoiled, bossy young woman.  But, the film is well-made and there is a memorable cameo from Joan Hickson as the loquacious Mrs Rivington.  I sometimes forget when re-reading the book that it is not a Tommy and Tuppence novel, as the main characters are ultimately very similar to them!

ErkutSoyer 16 Jul 11 at 7:09 p.m. GMT

There aren't Poirot,Marple or another detective in this book.But It is very excited and funny.Actually I simulate Bobby and Frankie to Tommy and Tuppence.But Bobby isn't more clever than Tommy and Frankie isn't more clever than Tuppence.But book has a different atmoshfere.Book's first pages are boring but exticement increase after Frankie's crash.Don't believe bad comments.Why Didn't They Ask Evans isn't like a Tommy and Tuppence book.Everybody should read this book.Especially in spring.

skull 07 Mar 11 at 6:57 p.m. GMT

I enjoied this one, but something in the final explaination ruined it completely: how the murderer managed to kill the man sitting at his desk, while he was outside...when the airplane passed by...

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Feb 11 at 3:51 p.m. GMT

And Mr Coleman in Murder In Mesopotamia is described as looking like a P.G. Wodehouse Character, sadly for me it is the only saving Grace about that book, I have afew of Wodehouse's books but not readf any yet apart from most of The World of Blandings I have afew of the Audio Cassettes read Brilliantly by Martin Jarvis and Jeeves and he Feudal Spirit and another in Dramatisation form and Damsel In Destress read by John Cecil.

MissQuin 16 Feb 11 at 3:26 p.m. GMT

Thanks for your post Tommy. I've not yet read all the PG Wodehouse books, so I was unaware there was a character called Badger. I think there's a definite nod to Wodehouse in WDTAE.

Tommy_A_Jones 14 Feb 11 at 3:58 p.m. GMT

I am glad you liked the Book, It is one of my Favourites, The Similarity between the book anbd one of Wodehouse's books has been mentioned in the Wodehouse Newsletter, I will dig out the Newsletter I have, Wodehouse has a Character called Badger and a Similar situation, I think Frances, Eileen and Tuppence are all alike but all Different in their own ways, WDTAE was one of the two Non-series books I gave 10 Points to, I don't count the Bundle books as there are more than one of them but I gave The Secret of Chimneys 10 and Seven Dials 9 Why Didn't They Ask Evans is definitely one I will re-read again, I have already read it twice.

MissQuin 14 Feb 11 at 3:20 p.m. GMT

I finnished WDTAE? at the weekend and I found it hard to put down. It was a very enjoyable book. There were a number of plot twists and the pace was quick and it didn't drag.

There was at times an almost Wodehousian feel with the character  bumbling Badger and his mishaps. His failed attempts at a car business and chicken farms both going awry.

I didn't find Frankie like Tuppence. I also have the impresion of the young Tuppence as being quite perky. Wheras Frances was appaled at the thought of anything "too hearty".

knottyceltic 12 Nov 10 at 4:01 a.m. GMT

I enjoyed this book as well and like you Dial M, I thought the "dropping through" was very bizarre but oh well  hahaha...

I didn't like the movie adaptation quite so much as the novel as it was somehow lacking in "momentum" I think.  It just fell a bit flat for me but still worth watching at least once if you are an AC fan. 

Dial_M_for_Marple 12 Nov 10 at 2:09 a.m. GMT

I love this book, but the only thing I didn't really like was at the end when

*SPOILER*

Bobbie & Frankie are trapped, Badger just randomly dropped through the ceiling. it's explained, but I thought it was sorta cheesy. :/

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Aug 10 at 4:26 p.m. GMT

I have just re-read it and it is Wonderful, I wish I had re-read it sooner, The Villain is one of my favourite Villain's I wish AC had just written 1 0r 2 more with Bobby and Frankie, I will definitely return to it at some point.

Mr_Graves 11 Aug 10 at 9:51 p.m. GMT

This book was really fun- a great adventure story with the lovable Frankie and Bobby. Really, the latest adaptation didn't do it justice. 

The villian was so very suave, and smooth, it's hard not to admire him. Solution was very dramatic, and predictable, but a neat story and timeless as well. The excitement in Christie stories never date, probably another reason why she is still so hugely popular today.

Tommy_A_Jones 09 Aug 10 at 4:14 p.m. GMT

I am re-reading the book and I think having a male and female Character pleases trhe Romantics and gives the Writer the chance to right a great Caper where both people in that caper have an equal part to play The Man In The Brown Suit is a caper but Ann Beddingfield is definitely the driving force, They Came To Baghdad is a caper but Victoria is the driving force, Some Poirot's could be called capers like The Clocks but the sleuths are 3 men. 4.50 From Paddington could be called a caper but there is really 1 female sleuth with a Gopher, It would have been lovely if Tommy and Tuppence could have always stayed the same age but they had to grow so AC created Bobby and Frankie and I am pleased she did.

christie_greece 13 Jun 10 at 3:37 p.m. GMT

I think that a woman and a man solving a mystery together is attractive because it's easier to solve the mystery. The one suggests one thing, the other suggests other, and it goes like that. Also they can approach the witnesses easily. I haven't read any story of Tommy and Tupence (and I'm not happy for saying this) but I think that this is probably the way AC thought when she invented them.

In Geece, where I live, the publications didn't translate the title correctly. Instead of "Why did't they ask Evans?" they wrote : "Evans, why didn't they asked?" and this was quite a big problem for someone who haven't seen the original title.

Agathasmykid 03 Jun 10 at 6:52 a.m. GMT

Good summary Puffin, although I would have liked to have seen Sir Peddlar, and/or Basington-ffrench reappear in another AC Book.  They might as there are some of Agatha's books I haven't read yet, although my guess is that they stay hidden.

Okay, for me this book was rather a light, simple, fast-paced mystery.  The suspense held up for me all the way to the end, and I like how it all came together.  There is a bit of a locked room murder in this one which I always like, although the solution given is a bit simple.

  I was a bit put off at how ignorant the main characterts appeared at times.  Bobby forgets to mention that the dying man actually did say something, to the point that he said nothing about it at the inquest, and only later remembers it?  Towards the end when they are heading back to the Vicarage, both Boby and Frankie say several times, "we are not sure why such haste..."  And yet there is a very obvious reason, Ffrench maybe after Evans!   Also, Bobby was poisoned, however there is really nothing much mentioned about any police involvement.  Agatha it seems, wanted as little as police involvement in this one  as possible.

Yes, I will re-read this one again one day, however it is not a book that will sit at the top of my list.  I have now read Edgware Dies, and Evans in a row, and feel neither are among her best work.

Grade of B-

Puffinjill 02 Jun 10 at 3:05 p.m. GMT

I think AC was fond of Tommy and Tuppence and liked to write the kind of fun, fast-paced novel that they had appeared in before. Why Didn't They Ask Evans? is certainly in this vein and I can see that T and T would act as inspiration for Bobby and Frankie. But as Tuppence tells Tommy of an impending happy event at the end of Partners In Crime, they probably had too many other things to do than hare off on another adventure!! So instead Bobby and Frankie make their one and only appearance in this book, which I think is a shame as they are an engaging pair.

Does having the villian of the piece escaping justice at the end spoil the book? No, not for me it doesn't. Roger Basington-ffrench is written in a similar way to Sir Eustace Peddlar in The Man In The Brown Suit and actually manages to pull off a similar escape. They are both villians that are almost likable and even those who hunted them down had a sneaky admiration for them. Besides, I don't think AC was particularly interested in making any sort of statement about justice, I think she just wanted to write some books that didn't dwell on the more serious aspect of crime and give the reader much fun and enjoyment on the way.

Agathasmykid 01 Jun 10 at 10:02 p.m. GMT

Currently half way through this one.  I am surprised there are not more comments about this book.  Will post my thoughts when finished.

Jane101 21 Mar 10 at 12:04 p.m. GMT

I read this for the first time last week and I thouroughly enjoyed it.

Very exciting and a surprising ending (to me). I think Roger Bassington-ffrench escaping justice was the right ending, as he seems to have done this all his life.