Discover Best Sellers Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

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Title: Murder on the Links

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Hugh Fraser

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-12-07

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

An urgent cry for help brings Poirot to France. But he arrives too late to save his client, whose brutally stabbed body now lies face downwards in a shallow grave on a golf course. But why is the dead man wearing his son's overcoat? And who was the impassioned love-letter in the pocket for? Before Poirot can answer these questions, the case is turned upside down by the discovery of a second, identically murdered corpse.

©1923 Agatha Christie; (P)2003 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London UK

Members Reviews:

A surprisingly complex plot

Would you listen to Murder on the Links again? Why?

Hugh Fraser's narration, as always, breathes real life into the characters of this book.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

This book's plot is significantly more complex than many other of Agatha Christie's works I chuckled with every twist!

Which character as performed by Hugh Fraser was your favorite?

The gardener.

Hugh Fraser is a Master Narrator

Would you consider the audio edition of Murder on the Links to be better than the print version?

Yes, as it brought the story to life.

What did you like best about this story?

Intriguing story. Very enjoyable.

What about Hugh Frasers performance did you like?

Hugh Fraser is superb. His voice is beautiful, and he is brilliant at all the different accents and voices

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, indeed.

Any additional comments?

Please get Hugh Fraser to read more books.

Yawn....

As with many Christie books, there are so many characters, it is hard to keep track of who is who and who has done what! At least with the TV/Film adaptations there is a face to the name.

This was the 6th Christie book I had "read" and it may be sacrilege to say, but I found it a little dull and to be fair, if you had all the information on the who-done-it, it would be easy to detect the killer.

I was disappointed. I was determined to read or listen to all of her books this year as a personal challenge and I have given up after 6 - dare I say it??

Yes - I dare. They are boring!

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Title: Taken at the Flood

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Hugh Fraser

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-07-07

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 33 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Shortly afterwards, Hercule Poirot receives a visit from the dead man's sister-in-law, who claims she has been warned by "spirits" that Mrs Underhay's first husband is still alive. Poirot has his suspicions when he is asked to find a missing person guided only by the spirit world. Yet what mystifies Poirot most is the woman's true motive for approaching him.

Critic Reviews:

"Told briskly, vivaciously, and with ever-fertile imagination." (Manchester Evening News)

"One of the best...her gift for blending the cosy with the macabre has seldom been more in evidence than it is here." (Tatler)

Members Reviews:

Really Good Mystery Very Well Told

Hugh Fraser was a fantastic story teller as always and Agatha's story was intruiging and thrilling. Very enjoyable.

christie classic

If you are a fan of Agatha Christie and the Poirot tv adaptations this is a great way to introduce you to one of the books.

Twists and turns

I thought I had read all the Poirot cases and was pleased to find this one. It did not disappoint.

Taken at the Flood

If you like Christie generally then you'll enjoy this. It doesn't quite have you on the edge of your seat but Hercule is as charming as ever and the plot is not too taxing. Quite a twist at the end, worth the wait.

Escapism with violence

Hugh Frasers Irish accent doesnt seem as good as his usual representations of characters from different backgrounds.

Its a change for Christie to be so precise about time: just after WWII.

The story is improbable of course- the idea of a man without even a ration card to identify him stretches credulity! Even I, born in 1952, had a ration card!!

I suspect Christie had a degree of irony in regard to the characters she portrays. Or at least I hope so!

The social milieu that she describes is the best argument for revolution (or at least the Atlee government) that could be made!

Even with the natural bias of an outsider in respect of a more numerous and richer people who live next door, I cannot actually believe the English were quite so obnoxious- at least not all of them!!

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Title: Passenger to Frankfurt

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Hugh Fraser

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-07-07

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 18 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Their paths are to cross again and again, and each time the mystery woman is introduced as a different person. Equally at home in any guise in any society, she draws Sir Stafford into a game of political intrigue more dangerous than he could possibly imagine.

In an arena where no one can be sure of anyone, Nye must do battle with a well-armed, well-financed, well-trained, and invisible enemy.

Critic Reviews:

"Marvellously entertaining." (Observer)

Members Reviews:

Boring

One of the most boring books ever: and I normally love Agatha Christie books! I have read most of her books.

Not a traditional Agatha Christie

If you are after a traditional Agatha Christie murder mystery then this audiobook is not for you. Passenger to Frankfurt is a thriller that focuses on concepts of youth revolution, and, whilst as well written as all Agatha Christie works are, it does at times get bogged down in expounding theories of international politics. It came across to me more as the personal musings of an 80 year old woman trying to make sense of the 1970s world around her, than as a fast-paced thriller. More theory and concept, than action and adventure. Not a bad book by any means, but just don't expect a cosy Poirot country house murder mystery.

Boring

If this book wasnt for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Somebody in need of sleep.

Would you ever listen to anything by Agatha Christie again?

Yes, I have quite a few of her books, both audio, Kindle, and in paperback.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Hugh Fraser?

I love Hugh Fraser, he is almost as good as Ian Carmichael, which is high praise from me.

What character would you cut from Passenger to Frankfurt?

All of them.

Any additional comments?

I gave up at the half way mark, so am asking for a refund.

tedious plot

I love Christie but struggled to get to the end of this one. The plot was so far fetched it simply was too unbelievable and I didn't engage with the characters. Rather disappointing.

Not a clue.

A very different Christie story. I was totally confused from beginning till end. Good Narrator though.

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Title: The Pale Horse

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Hugh Fraser

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-16-07

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 22 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Was it the savage blow to the back of Father Gorman's head? Or was it when the priest's assailant searched him so roughly he tore the clergyman's cassock? Or could it have been the priest's visit, just minutes before, to a woman on her death bed? Or was there a deeper significance to the violent squabble that Mark Easterbrook had himself witnessed earlier?

Wherever the beginning lies, Mark and his sidekick, Ginger Corrigan, may soon have cause to wish they'd never found it.

Critic Reviews:

"The acknowledged queen of detective fiction." (Observer)

"Wholesale murder by black magic...highly ingenious, wholly enjoyable." (Evening Standard)

Members Reviews:

If you like an old fashioned 'Who Done It'

This was a great listen to one of Agatha's mysteries that does not involve Miss M or Msr Poirot. Expect that all is not fully revealed until the end, though it is fun to guess. And this a story where you could perhaps guess.

A woman asks to see a priest. She dies, he dies. So it begins.

Wonderful

Hugh Fraser does Agatha Christie proud with this performance.

Better as an unabridged version, don't know why others have played with it before, it's great as it is.

Another great Agatha Christie!

Another great story from Agatha Christie. One of the things I found interesting about this is the contemporary details as to 1960s fashion and appearance. Was this simply the main character's view or was it Christie's as well? A good who (and how) dunnit!

Outstanding performance from Hugh Fraser-

Gripping story with many twists and turns. Quite spooky at times. Enjoyable and flawless narration with many characters voices - none overdone.

My dog is worn out as I walked much further than I expected to see what happened next! Got me miles!

I'd say this is amongst Agathas finest works-Loved it!

One of her best

Great premise and storytelling. Some of Christie's more fully formed characters. Very enjoyable and even sparks the imagination.

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Title: Endless Night

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Hugh Fraser

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-10-07

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 18 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Gipsy's Acre was a truly beautiful upland site with views out to sea, and in Michael Rogers it stirred a child-like fantasy. There, amongst the dark fir trees, he planned to build a house, find a girl, and live happily ever after. But as he left the village, a shadow of menace hung over the land, for this was the place where accidents happened. Perhaps Michael should have heeded the locals' warnings: "There's no luck for them as meddles with Gipsy's Acre." Michael Rogers is a man who is about to learn the true meaning of the old saying "In my end is my beginning".

©1967 Agatha Christie Limited, a Chorion Company. All rights reserved; (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London, UK

Critic Reviews:

"One of the best things Agatha Christie has ever done." (Sunday Times)

"A surpassing mystery...ingenious...dazzling." (The New York Times)

Members Reviews:

Twist in the tale

This is an excellent short mystery thriller, easy and enjoyable to listen to. It is not in the usual Agatha Christie style, with comfortable old friends like Poirot and Miss Marple on hand to solve the crime.

There doesn't seem to be any crime, at first, just a hope of romance for young Michael Rogers and a long held dream of a beautiful house. But suppose he ignores the gypsy's warnings?

Suspicious characters, twists and turns and an unusual ending. All read beautifully by Hugh Fraser who just seems to find the right voice for each person every time.

A very different Christie

Having read most of Christie's detective books I found this one a major change. Still a mystery though with no detective taking the lead. Written in first person the husband takes us on a journey with a great twist - just loved it. Hugh Fraser is amazing. So may characters I had to keep reminding myself they were all the work of one man.

I had no idea Agatha Christie had written books such as this, so it is with excitement I head back into the Audible catalogue to search for more of her unexpected and unusual works.

A good story

A well read story by Hugh Fraser - he makes a great narrator as well as a great Hastings on TV. Read this many years ago and I think it is not only a good mystery but a little creepy too.

Wow-Agatha does it again!

No spoilers !

I am blown away...

Amazing performance from our dear Hugh Fraser- eery.story....Oh so eery!

endless night

such a creepy story I couldn't stop listening to it Agatha Christie is surely a master storyteller.

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Title: Hickory Dickory Dock

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Hugh Fraser

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-10-07

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 39 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

The list made absolutely no sense at all. But, reasoned Poirot, if this was merely a petty thief at work, why was everyone at the hostel so frightened?

Critic Reviews:

"Poirot's return to the happy hunting grounds of detective fiction is something of an event...The thumbnail sketches of the characters are as good as ever and in spite of the over-elaborate nature of the puzzle there is plenty of entertainment." (Times Lite)

Members Reviews:

Enter Miss Lemon!

What did you like best about this story?

I love that the indefectible Miss Lemon (Poirot's secretary) not only gets a backstory but finally makes a mistake. Of all the minor characters Agatha Christie weaves into her narratives (she's in most Poirot novels) Miss Lemon and her filing system has always appealed to me as the perfect match for Poirot's meticulous nature. Agatha Christie clearly had a ball destroying Poirot's calm and he sets out to solve a clever case of theft just to get his well-ordered domain back. But before long there's murder thrown into the mix...

What does Hugh Fraser bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Many Poirot fans will recognise Hugh Fraser's voice from some of the TV adaptations as Captain Hastings.

Lacks the characteristic Christie zing.

Any additional comments?

Agatha Christie was always an excellent writer and this book is good a story, and it is well read by "Captain Hastings", although his French-Belgian accent could be improved. However for me as a long standing Christie fan, these more recent books are definitely not as good as those set in earlier periods. I would think that as she got older and times and morés changed, Christie was less in touch with the era, and her characters and story don't have quite the same power as those set in the pre war period.

Hickory Dickory Dock

The ever rffient miss Lemming makes 3 simple errors! Poitiers finds some sterling facts about her she has a sister who is having problem's the at a youth hostel she works at can Poirot help

Good story - high body count for a Christie

As usual, great narration by Hugh Fraser. Poirot in his later years, a nice little plot with plenty of twists.

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Title: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Joan Hickson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 04-10-07

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 35 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Marina's frozen expression suggested she had witnessed something horrific. But, while others searched for material evidence, Jane Marple conducted a very different investigation: into human nature.

Critic Reviews:

"The pieces finally drop into place with a satisfying click." (Times Literary Supplement)

Members Reviews:

Another twisted mystery from Christie

Another excellent Agatha Christie mystery, ably read by Joan Hickson. The to-be-expected whiplash moment is present, as just when you think you have it all solved, she turns everything on its head.

Joan Hickson delivers another solid performance, bringing her vocal range and subtlety to bear on a rather wide cast of characters. She manages to convey character with the pitch and pace she gives to the various members of the "cast", and makes each of them unique.

Very pleased with this purchase, always an excellent combination, this narrator and author.

How did she do it ?

I've just finished listening to the wonderful reading by Joan Hickson of Agatha Christie's The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side. I am in awe of the Grand Madam of Mystery and Murders ability to have me totally enthralled and constantly wavering as to who committed which murder. Her characters are drawn so finely and yet with very little descriptive prose, the motive is not easily derived, the method is simple, and the denouement is so satisfactory that I can never get quite enough of her writing.

Miss Marple's uncanny ability to get at the truth using her experience of and understanding of people's frailties and nature, means that she doesn't even have to be at the scene to gain the insights and knowledge of who did it and why. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery, and enjoys Joan Hickson's wonderful voice . You won't be disappointed !

Exquisite narration for an exquisite tale

Joan Hickson is THE Miss Marple - her ability with spoken dialogue is fabulous. Id found the recording of her version of Nemesis slightly hard to hear; it was also wonderful but some of the sounds were a bit fuzzy and hard to make out. Not so with this. It was clear as a bell!

Another excellent Crime Story

Agatha knows intrege and Joan keeps the listener listening both a credit to their profession

Mirror cracked from side to side

Excellent, the story tells your past never stays in the past, famous actress retires, to St Mary Mead, they hold a fete, to meet the local community St John's Ambulance service, a special group are invited in, one lady meets the actress, and tells a story then 5 minutes later , she's dead!!!!! be prepared for the twists

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Title: The Secret Adversary

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Penelope Dellaporta

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-01-07

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 61 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Tommy and Tuppence know that Jane Finn was carrying top secret documents when she disappeared five years ago. What they don't know is that a killer is targeting a sinister older woman because she knows all about Jane. And soon Tommy and Tuppence are themselves in grave danger.

Editorial Reviews:

Originally published in 1922, the story finds Tuppence and Tommy reacquainting themselves and grappling with various spies in their first adventure. While neither a very well-known nor very well-respected series, the two are rather cute, and Penelope Dellaporta portrays a sense of this without going over the edge. She gives an enthusiastic narration, and if her rendition of an American accent occasionally becomes distracting, she otherwise bounds happily around this complex story, admirably tackling the many different forces that were part of England between the Wars. She does an especially effective job with the spirited Tuppence, although when the plot falls into the particularly improbable, she is unable to raise it with her narration.

Members Reviews:

Vintage Intrique Romp

I enjoyed the story and had no problem with the narration. Think of this one as RETRO! Anglophile style. It's also nice to read an early Agatha Christie story.

The story is pleasantly convoluted. The naiveté of the principals is charming.

This is not today's hard-edged mystery.

Terrible Narration!

I had read this years ago I thought it would be a fun and nostalgic listen. The book does suffer from some cringe-producing dialogue (especially with Christie's attempts at American lingo), but listening to the audio version was torturous. If the plot didn't have the usual Christie twists and suspense, I wouldn't have been able to get through it. The narrator does such a terrible job I just can't understand why she was chosen for this project. She sounds like she must be a much older woman and yet all the main characters are young twenty and thirty-somethings. An older woman attempting to sound like young men just comes off as simply ridiculous and really distracts from the story. It would be bad enough if the problem was only with the younger male characters, but she even puts on a false, high-pitched, sing-songey voice for Tuppence! Instead of making Tuppence sound young (which I assume is the intent) it makes her come off like a high strung old lady! It would have been far better if the narrator had just read the book without any attempts to "act" it out.

Great Christy! (Not Great Narration)

The story is typically Christy - interesting and enjoyable! I found the narration annoying, especially Tuppence's loud exclamations and shrill squeaky voice. Ugh.

Don't overlook this book

I loved this book. It was refreshing to hear an Agatha Christie novel that I hadn't ready seen on tv and with new characters. I was kept guessing until the end.

Terrible narrator

What made the experience of listening to The Secret Adversary the most enjoyable?

As always, an excellent story from our Queen of Crime, but truly terrible narration. Try to rise above it

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Title: Dead Man's Folly

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: David Suchet

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 01-03-07

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 56 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Sir George and Lady Stubbs, the hosts of a village fête, hit upon the novel idea of staging a mock murder mystery. In good faith, Ariadne Oliver, the well known crime writer, agrees to organise their murder hunt. Despite weeks of meticulous planning, at the last minute Ariadne calls her friend Hercule Poirot for his expert assistance. Instinctively, she senses that something sinister is about to happen. Beware: nobody is quite what they seem!

©1956 Agatha Christie Limited. A Chorion Company. All rights reserved; (P)2002 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London UK

Critic Reviews:

"The solution is of the colossal ingenuity we have been conditioned to expect." (Times Literary Supplement)

"The infallibly original Agatha Christie has come up, once again, with a new and highly ingenious puzzle-construction." (New York Times)

Members Reviews:

Surprisingly predictable

There was supposed to be a fake murder, it becomes real. How much more predictable does it need to get? Throw in also the murder mystery writer. With such cliched premises, it is hard to save the plot after that, no matter what twists there are.

Masterful Suchet

Even if you know the story and have seen the televised version, this book is a must just to hear David Suchet's masterful rendition of every single character. Sometimes you have to remind yourself you are not listening to a dramatized radio play, his variations and subtleties of character are so brilliant. A must-have just to marvel at a great actor on top of his form.

Fantastic

The fact that it has been years since I read this book and couldn't remember who the killer definitely added to my enjoyment however this was just an added bonus as David Suchet had me hooked from the very beginning and I shall be listening to it again very soon no doubt.

Dead man's Folly

With no idea what Miss Oliver wants him for he goes to Devon where he finds out what the problem is .

llots of intrigue and red herrings ,but I never expected the ending.

Wonderful

Suchet breathes life into Christie's work. With a wide range of voices and accents, Suchet makes this a joy to listen to.

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Title: The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Hugh Fraser

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-27-06

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 37 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

First came a sinister warning to Poirot not to eat any plum pudding...then the discovery of a corpse in a chest, but what can link these baffling cases? The little grey cells of Monsieur Hercule Poirot! Feast yourself on these intriguing crime mysteries from the distinctive hand of the queen of crime fiction. Stories include:

Critic Reviews:

"There is irresistible simplicity and buoyancy of a Christmas treat about it all." (Times Literary Supplement)

Members Reviews:

Hugh Fraser is enjoyable as always

What did you love best about The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding?

A different kind of Christmas tale in true Agatha Christie style. LOVED it. As I loved all her books.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Little Bridget strikes me as a forceful young lady in the making.

Which scene was your favorite?

The Christmas dinner where the pudding was eaten and each found their little trinket. So aptly, HP received the bachelor's button!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, definitely.

Any additional comments?

No one but Hugh Fraser (or perhaps Dan Stevens) should be given AC mysteries to read. As Hastings in the ITV series, Hugh is a master at recreating the emotion of each story he reads.

perfect holiday listening

Good short stories, Hugh Fraser excellent at reading almost like having David Suchet himself! easy to navigate each of the five plots and some interesting twists and turns.

Incredibly Comforting

Like an old friend, Hugh Fraser lets you relax comfortably in your favourite arm chair as he regales you with familiar tales. A perfect antidote to the rush and bustle of the festive season. Escape from crowds or parties to your own fireside and into these stories; bring a mug of something steaming or a glass of something warming and you'll feel returned to the equilibrium we grave in the bleakest of mid-winters.

ADVENTURES OF OF THE CHRISTMAS PUDDING

great tape audio book

5 of Poriot struggles short stories it is an easy to listen to

Bravo! Hugh Fraser. Bien joué.

I couldn't think of a finer narrator for the Poirot mysteries than Captain Hastings himself, Hugh Fraser. Well done and I will certainly listening/reading more. Merci beaucoup, as the little detective would say.