Uncover the origin of the nickname “Bundle” for Lady Eileen Brent in Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials Mystery, the Bright Young Things, and the character’s psychology.
Seven Dials, the TV show released on Netflix in January 2026, has reawakened curiosity about one of Agatha Christie’s most peculiar books. Published in 1929 and famous for receiving negative reviews at the time of its release, The Seven Dials Mystery (its original title) has actually made a great impression on Netflix. The series presents some significant differences from the book, but much of the plot remains faithful to the original idea of the ‘Queen of Crime.’ The characters are portrayed with great insight—psychologically robust and interesting to explore.
One of the most widespread curiosities regarding Seven Dials concerns the female protagonist, Lady Eileen Brent: why is she called ‘Bundle’? What does this nickname mean? The answer lies in Agatha Christie’s writing style and the hidden message the writer often hides behind her most beloved characters.
Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent and Agatha Christie’s Passion for Nicknames
“Bundle” is the nickname given by Agatha Christie herself to Lady Eileen Brent in the two books where this sharp female character appears: The Secret of Chimneys (1925) and The Seven Dials Mystery (1929). It is, therefore, an original choice by the author, faithfully inherited by the Netflix series.
Giving bizarre and childish nicknames to sharp and intelligent characters was a well-known narrative device often used by Agatha Christie. Her fans will remember other cases, such as the nickname “Egg” given to Hermione Lytton Gore in Three Act Tragedy, or “Bunch,” the nickname of Diana Harmon in A Murder Is Announced. Agatha Christie never explicitly explained the meaning of these nicknames, but once you delve into the characters’ psychology, it becomes easy to decode their origins.
In the case of Lady Eileen Brent, it’s easy to guess that “Bundle” alludes to her being a “bundle of energy” and, in many ways, a “bundle of trouble.” As we see in Seven Dials on Netflix, Lady Eileen has a rebellious spirit as well as a sharp mind that never stands still. She never follows the advice of those who ask her to slow down and never stops in front of any obstacle. She goes straight on her way, undeterred until she reaches her goal.
“Bundle” represents the archetype of a noble family’s daughter who doesn’t naturally fit into the aristocratic lineage of her name. For this character, Agatha Christie was inspired by the “Bright Young Things,” an expression particularly popular in the 1920s used by the media to indicate young people from wealthy families who made headlines for their rebellious and flamboyant lifestyles. You can find a good collection of them on Wikipedia.
Lady Eileen Brent’s adventurous side emerges in the way she chases the truth behind the Seven Dials mystery, through car chases and daring escapes. “Bundle” is a chaotic force that cannot be contained. Hence, the curious nickname they call her in the books.
The Nickname as a Mask and the Character Evolution
From a certain point of view, a silly nickname like “Bundle” might seem like a risky move that could invite readers not to take the character seriously. In reality, it’s not like that: reading Agatha Christie’s books, there is no doubt about the exceptional abilities of a woman like Lady Eileen Brent—so much so that it pushes the secret group of the Seven Dials to invite her to join them. Rather, a childish nickname serves as a mask for the character, a disguise that allows her to act undisturbed in the society of the time without attracting too much attention. This device allows these apparently innocent individuals to always be where the action takes place, ready to gather the necessary information.
Lady Eileen Brent had already appeared in a previous Agatha Christie novel, The Secret of Chimneys. In that book, she was younger—a reckless 19-year-old who stopped at nothing. With The Seven Dials Mystery, Bundle grows and evolves into an adult woman who acts in the name of justice and a sense of duty. She remains uncontrolled and wild, like an indomitable force of nature, but now aims in a rational and morally mature direction.
“Bundle,” therefore, is not a random nickname for Lady Eileen Brent: it represents the symbol of an unstoppable force that many are initially led to underestimate. By giving her this simpleton nickname, Agatha Christie poses a challenge to readers from the very beginning: just try to contain a character like this behind such a childish label.
