Everyone knows the big names—maybe you’ve watched an old Poirot or Miss Marple episode, or caught one of the recent movie adaptations. But beyond Murder on the Orient Express and And Then There Were None, there’s a huge back catalog of other mysteries featuring different detectives.
Netflix recently turned one of these lesser-known works into a new series, introducing one of Christie’s most underappreciated sleuths.
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials follows Eileen “Bundle” Brent, a young 1920s socialite and spirited heiress with a bob that—using modern lingo—is definitely on point. After losing her brother and father in WWI, she lives in a large manor with her slightly agoraphobic mother (a perfect casting choice in Helena Bonham-Carter).
Her life seems poised to change when a charming Foreign Office worker (Corey Mylchreest) hints he’s about to propose. But Bundle’s hopes shatter when he’s found murdered in his bed the next morning. It’s officially ruled a suicide, but Bundle sets out to find the real culprit—and gets tangled in a vast conspiracy involving scientific advances, secret societies, and family secrets.
Seven Dials comes from British showrunner Chris Chibnall, creator of the hit murder mystery Broadchurch and former head of Doctor Who—so he knows how to take the (admittedly straightforward) plot of the Seven Dials book and turn it into a launchpad for more stories. That’s why it’s a series, not a movie—there’s easy potential for future seasons of Bundle’s adventures, maybe adapting other overlooked Christie works.
The show’s star more than proves she can handle more seasons. Mia McKenna-Bruce brings the slight naïveté needed for the role, plus a joyfulness that often gets lost in high-stakes stories. If Poirot’s modern equivalent is Columbo and Miss Marple’s is Jessica Fletcher, then Bundle is Poker Face’s Charlie Cale—a carefree detective who feels more like your best friend than an untouchable genius.
While there’s clear room for more Bundle mysteries ahead, there’s no sign of a Season 2 yet. But if you want to see a new face join the Agatha Christie adaptation lineup, check out this lighthearted 1920s adventure.