Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials review: Netflix adaptation is forumla-busting – and that’s a problem

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It’s both surprising and not surprising that Agatha Christie remains so popular and her books are still widely read today.

Christie’s enduring popularity as a fiction author – and the fact that her books are often turned into movies and TV shows – comes down to the quality of her storytelling. Simply put, her stories are excellent.

Agatha Christie’s stories have seen a surge in adaptations recently. Since 2020, six English-language versions of her work have appeared on screen, including the TV series The Pale Horse, Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?, Murder is Easy, and Towards Zero, as well as the films Death on the Nile and A Haunting in Venice.

As a long-time Agatha Christie fan, I’ve seen a lot of adaptations, and honestly, they’ve been hit or miss. But what’s really exciting me lately is that TV is finally starting to explore some of her less famous novels. It’s refreshing to see them digging deeper instead of just constantly revisiting the stories everyone already knows.

While there’s usually a good reason why certain stories aren’t famous, after watching Netflix’s ‘Seven Dials,’ the newest adaptation of Agatha Christie’s work, it makes you question if these lesser-known tales are simply not as strong as her more popular ones.

I’m really excited about this new Agatha Christie adaptation, ‘Seven Dials’! It’s being written by the same guy who did ‘Broadchurch,’ which is a great sign. The story follows Lady Eileen ‘Bundle’ Brent, played by Mia McKenna-Bruce, and she sounds like a fascinating character – a bit of a rebel in 1920s England. I’m expecting a really stylish and intriguing mystery!

Like many Agatha Christie mysteries, this story revolves around murder, mistrust, and betrayal. It begins the morning after a weekend gathering at a country house, where a guest is discovered dead. While it seems someone played a prank on the victim – setting off seven alarm clocks in a row – most of the attendees believe the death isn’t suspicious. However, one guest, Bundle, suspects otherwise.

Driven by a desire for justice, she begins her pursuit, only to discover a much larger and more complex plot than she initially expected.

Like many adaptations of Agatha Christie’s work, this version boasts a talented cast, with Martin Freeman, Helena Bonham Carter, and Alex Macqueen playing key characters.

The film is visually stunning, with beautiful settings and a lively style. It moves quickly and features energetic performances, along with charming details that bring the period to life. It’s an easy, enjoyable watch – perfect for relaxing and letting the story unfold.

However, there’s a problem preventing Seven Dials from being a truly compelling mystery, like a classic Agatha Christie story, and from fully captivating the audience. This issue stems from the mystery’s plot itself.

Agatha Christie wrote mysteries in many different styles, but her most famous and popular books generally follow a classic “who done it?” pattern, cleverly adapted to unique and challenging situations.

The story begins by presenting a group of potential suspects and hinting at how they connect with each other. Because they all frequent the same locations, it’s simple to follow their movements and quickly establish that each of them had the chance to commit the crime.

The story typically begins with a murder, and it soon becomes clear that several characters had strong reasons to commit the crime. This is followed by an investigation, led by either a professional detective or an enthusiastic amateur. Finally, all the suspects are gathered, the killer is revealed, and order is restored.

Seven Dials doesn’t quite stick to the classic mystery formula. While there are several suspects, they feel underdeveloped and hard to connect with, especially because the story jumps around without giving enough focus to any one of them.

It’s true that the patterns in Christie’s books can feel predictable, but readers clearly enjoy them, and that predictability is a big reason why. There’s a satisfying and captivating quality to her stories – it’s like watching something perfectly smooth and efficient in action.

Watching Seven Dials, I realized I wasn’t invested in solving the murder. I knew there was a mystery, but I didn’t connect with any of the characters or really understand who the possible suspects were.

The story introduced characters and details unexpectedly, making it difficult to follow. Neither the author, Bundle, nor Freeman’s detective, Superintendent Battle, seemed to guide the reader, unlike truly great fictional detectives.

Despite its flaws, the show’s ending still works well, unfolding during an exciting and engaging scene. There are some genuine surprises, although the explanations behind the characters’ actions and details of the crime itself felt unnecessary and didn’t really add to the story.

However, it all does feel like too little too late.

A quick look into the history of Agatha Christie’s novels reveals that The Seven Dials Mystery wasn’t one of her most popular books. When it was first published, it wasn’t well-received, and it hasn’t gained much recognition since then.

It makes you question if this story ever really needed to be changed in the first place. While it’s natural to want to update things for a modern audience, changing a weaker source isn’t likely to create a great final product.

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Ultimately, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials is simply enjoyable. It feels like a well-suited match between Christie’s work and the Netflix format.

Okay, so this new show definitely looks like an Agatha Christie adaptation – all the familiar trappings are there, and I think fans will appreciate that and keep watching. But here’s the problem: the actual mystery is…well, kind of weak. It’s so convoluted that trying to follow along while you’re also scrolling through your phone or checking social media? Forget about it. You’ll be totally lost.

It’s decent entertainment, with good production values and acting, but the mystery isn’t as engaging as even average Agatha Christie adaptations – which actually makes the story’s sense of urgency feel fitting.

I just added Agatha Christie’s ‘Seven Dials’ to my watchlist on the TopMob ‘What to Watch’ app – I downloaded it because it gives me daily TV recommendations and other cool features. I’m really excited to check it out!

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a global TV production company. He has a BA in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a journalism diploma.

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2026-01-15 11:07