Discover Legally Popular Titles Full Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

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Title: Gambit

Author: Rex Stout

Narrator: Michael Prichard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-02-07

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 214 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

The police have a suspect, but his daughter knows he's a pawn. She calls on Nero Wolfe, who checkmates the cops as well as the killer.

Critic Reviews:

"Witty, urbane, conversational." (Publishers Weekly)

"The masterful Michael Prichard gives his all, raising the audio to a tier-one selection." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Favorite Wolfe mystery so far

This was my favorite Wolfe mystery so far. Perhaps it's because of my love for chess that made it all the more enjoyable. It's a great story with some fun twists at the end.

Good, Fair, First-Rate Nero Wolfe Mystery.

The story is good, the author plays fair, I managed to solve it a good bit before the revelation, and the story is clearly told so that solving the mystery is possible. The narration is solid and never gets in the way. The mystery itself is quite good and, if you pay attention, you can solve it before Wolfe. If you want to sample Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe, this is not a bad place to start.

Another great Nero Wolfe story

Another great story that Nero Wolfe solves. As smart as Wolfe is Goodwin carries the intrigue. I love this series.

Slow and tedious

The reader drones on terribly in this book (and he is normally more animated) which does not help the already tedious story. I rarely give up on a book but life is too short for this one. Half way through it was time to stop.

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Title: Champagne for One

Author: Rex Stout

Narrator: Michael Prichard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-02-07

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 191 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Luckily for Archie, his boss knows champagne and other gourmet fare. He also happens to be a genius at deduction. That combination could mean the last call for a killer who spiked the bubbly with cyanide.

Critic Reviews:

"Michael Prichard's resolute and somewhat wry narration is perfectly suited to both the characters and the setting - New York in the 1950s. Wolfe's superiority is captured perfectly, and Prichard is quite believable when reading the women in the story. He also shines as Archie, giving voice to his world-weariness and his resolve that the murderer will be identified. The listener can empathize with both his frustration at having to put up with Wolfe and his admiration for his employer. A solid story, with solid narration. Prichard, like Goodwin, gets the job done with style." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Standardly Great

This is a great standard Nero Wolfe. There is not a lot of development of the series characters, but the story characters and events are well worth the listen. For me, the best Nero Wolfe novels have a great story, great story characters, great twists, and also develop the series characters in unexpected ways. This has the usual great narration, a good story, some nice twists and was a pleasure to hear. This is one they did on the A&E series and I had read before yet I still enjoyed the listen a lot.

Another great Nero Wolfe tale

Would you consider the audio edition of Champagne for One to be better than the print version?

Yes, because Michael Prichard does such an excellent job of bringing the story alive.

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

Yes. It was a great adventure with suspects that all could have done it and had motive and opportunity. Those are the best ones.

Have you listened to any of Michael Prichards other performances before? How does this one compare?

Michael Prichard always reads these books very well. He is the perfect Archie Goodwin, relating their most recent case.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not one in particular, no.

Any additional comments?

I recommend any of the Nero Wolfe audiobooks read by Michael Prichard. They are all fabulous and although my favorite is "A Family Affair" they are all excellent.

Classic Nero Wolfe. Not to be missed.

I can't recommend this series highly enough. It is a treat to listen to with Prichard's entertaining style of reading and Stout's witty dialogue mixed with brilliant deduction.

This is a thinking man's detective!

Loved it! love all the Nero Wolf books. Listen very carefully, think about the actions! See if you can come close to "who done it" Sometimes if I think I missed something I go back to catch the nuance of the page. Think!!

Classic Nero Wolfe

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It's just a good story with all the Rex Stout flourishes.

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

You'll really be hard-pressed to figure out who the murderer is.

Which character as performed by Michael Prichard was your favorite?

There's something wrong with the way Michael Prichard voices Archie. He doesn't come across as streetwise enough. He does Wolfe much better.

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Title: Death of a Dude

Author: Rex Stout

Narrator: Michael Prichard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-01-07

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 210 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

The mountain couldn't come to Wolfe, so the great detective went to the mountain - to Lame Horse, Montana, to be exact. Here a city slicker got a country girl pregnant and then took a bullet in the back. Wolfe's job is to get an innocent man exonerated of the crime and catch a killer in the process. But when he packs his silk pajamas and heads west, he finds himself embroiled in a case rife with local cynicism, slipshod police work, and unpleasant political ramifications.

Stout fellow: listen to all of our

mysteries, including classic radio programs!

©1997 Rex Stout; (P)2000 Books on Tape Inc.

Critic Reviews:

"Nero Wolfe [is] part of our folklore." (The New York Times)

Members Reviews:

Wolf and Archie in the Wild West

Would you consider the audio edition of Death of a Dude to be better than the print version?

Both audio and print versions are excellent

What was one of the most memorable moments of Death of a Dude?

Wolf's arrival in Montana

What does Michael Prichard bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Prichard makes the characters' voices take on their personality.

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

I already knew the story pretty well, so I was not as compelled to keep listening to get to the end in a hurry. Instead, I savor the setting and the characters.

Any additional comments?

I love Archie, Nero, Fritz, Inspector Cramer, Saul, Fred, Orrie (sort of), Sgt. Stebbins, Lily, and all the regular characters in the Wolf stories. Most of them are absent in this one, but the local characters that were introduced were great fun.

Unusual Just OK Nero Wolfe

This is a very OK Nero Wolfe, but far from one of my favorites. It is unusual in a number of ways. The mystery takes place in Montana not New York and the details of the event dont come out until half way through; indeed Nero Wolfe has a much smaller role than usual. Although the story specific characters are nicely developed there is not a lot of interplay between the regular series characters. I rarely have a quibble with the characterizations of story specific characters in Nero Wolfe novels, but in this one there were a few cases where the regional vernacular seemed overly contrived. For example there was a comment of a local comparing people to a herd of cattle. This was colorful, but did not ring true. There are some interesting scenes, events, and twists, but overall I was left unsatisfied.

A great Nero Wolfe novel

I enjoy Nero Wolfe mystery books. This was an excellent read. Although some parts were a bit hard to follow.

1 of rare Wolfe-leaves-home books

And even more rare, he leaves the state of New York.

Another one of those greatest of Archie & Nero books, wherein, The satisfaction is not so much in the solving of the mystery, as in the comeuppance of a jerk cop.

This is a classic example once again, of how the murder mystery is truly a McGuffin, merely to propel the story forward to give some people who need it a slap in the face. But there's never as satisfying a slap in the face as when Nero Wolfe delivers it.

I typically great performance from Michael Prichard.

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Title: Murder in the Mews

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Nigel Hawthorne

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-27-06

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 29 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

How did a woman holding a pistol in her right hand manage to shoot herself in the left temple? What was the link between a ghost sighting and the disappearance of top secert military plans? How did the bullet that killed Sir Gervase shatter a mirror in another part of the room? And who destroyed the "eternal triangle" of love involving renowned beauty, Valentine Chantry? Hercule Poirot is faced with four mystifying cases, "Murder in the Mews", "The Incredible Theft", "Dead Man's Mirror", and "Triangle at Rhodes", each a miniature classic of characterisation, incident, and suspense.

©1937 Agatha Christie Limited. A Chorion Company. All rights reserved; (P)1984 Music for Pleasure Ltd. This edition (P)1999 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London UK

Critic Reviews:

"All four tales are admirable entertainment...her solutions are unexpected and satisfying." (Daily Mail)

Members Reviews:

also includes Hugh Fraser

Only the first story is read by Nigel Hawthorne. Which is just as well, as, in my opinion, his Poirot characterisation is absolutely atrocious and at times the accent sounded more German than anything else. It was most distracting. Thankfully the other stories were read by the always-excellent Hugh Fraser.

The running order is as follows -

Murder in the Mews

The Incredible Theft

Dead Man's Mirror

Triangle at Rhodes

THREE GOOD TALES

You get three good mysteries on this download all convincingly Christie who takes you to the last page with false trails only to surprise you by then revealing the perpretator

Murder in the Mews

Nigel Hawthorn did a great job of narrating this book. I'm not use to hearing him narrate but he did a good job

This audio book was outstanding there was a bit of everything for everyone.

I have really enjoyed listening to this audio book.

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Title: The Mysterious Mr. Quin

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Hugh Fraser

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-27-06

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 30 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

So far, it had been a typical New Year's Eve house party. But Mr. Satterthwaite, a keen observer of human nature, sensed that the real drama of the evening was yet to unfold. So it proved when a mysterious stranger arrived after midnight. Who was this Mr. Quin? And why did his presence have such a pronounced effect on Eleanor Portal, the woman with the dyed-black hair?

©1930 Agatha Christie Limited. A Chorion Company. All rights reserved; (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London UK

Members Reviews:

Better to read than listen

For some reason, this collection of stories is much better read than listened. I would recommend picking up the book instead.

Hugh Fraser is wonderful as always but the stories have too much detail that even a moment of inattention ruins it.

"Ah Love Could thou and I with Fate conspire.."

These are stories of murder and mystery where Mr Quin inspires an older batchelor of some means to alter a seeming Fate. Again and again. A delightful listen. For me this is a very different Christie. Having written that, there still are, the trip to Egypt, the country homes, weekend guests, young Americans doing Europe, a troupe of robbers, rural hotels, motoring through the countryside, thunderstorms, a Duchess, quiet islands in the sun and Casino. And then some.

Good listen

I love anything by Agatha Christie and if your a fan you will love it too. I was'nt expecting lots of short stories, I'm not sure if it tells you this in the description, but it is still a great book by the Crime Queen.

Short Story Gems

Mr. Harley Quin is one of Agatha Christie`s most engaging characters together with Mr.Satterthwaite who appears in each story as the vehicle by which wrongs are righted and justice is done. The stories are intriguing and entertaining. This is Agatha Christie at her short story best and one laments that there are not more of them. Hugh Fraser`s narration is, as always, excellent.

Mysterious Mr Quinn

I'd never heard of this book but I took a chance on it

Well narrated by Hugh Fraser really brought the characters to life it was a intresting storyline with lots of different ways of things happening I actually enjoyed the book it was really intresting a totally different way of seeing Agatha Christie books.

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Title: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Hugh Fraser

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-21-06

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 22 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

The dentist was found with a blackened hole below his right temple. A pistol lay on the floor near his out-flung right hand. Later, one of his patients was found dead from a lethal dose of local anaesthetic. It's a clear case of murder and suicide. But why would a dentist commit a crime in the middle of a busy day of appointments? A shoe buckle holds the key to the mystery. Now, in the words of the rhyme, can Poirot pick up the sticks and lay them straight?

©1940 Agatha Christie Mallowan; (P)2002 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London, UK

Critic Reviews:

"A real Agatha Christie thriller....A swift course in unflagging suspense that leads to a complete surprise." (New York Times)

"This is major Christie." (New York Herald Tribune)

Members Reviews:

1 2 buckle my shoe

loved it great storyline

Poirot has the world on his shoulders he's got to go to the dentist.

once out he's relieved till 3 hours later when he's told his dentist is dead.

Classic Agatha Christie

Any additional comments?

Typical Agatha Christie, very well performed and read, good listen, not overly long, not disappointed and would recommend if you like her work.

Poirot has to make a moral choice.

The story is as usual ingenious but improbable, the characters fairly stereotypical (fat chance of identifying with any of Christies creations, since even mon ami Hastings (absent in this novel) lacks the modest charm and intellect of Watson.)

Christie is the exponent par excellence of ignoring the elephant in the room- as Basil Fawlty later said in a saying which entered UK English Dont mention the war!

This book was published in November 1940, fourteen months into WWII, by which time France had fallen, Dunkirk had been evacuated as well as possible, and even if Christie didnt care too much about Poland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, she can hardly have failed to have noticed that this country is at war with Germany!

The best detective in the world has not twigged that his country has been occupied- again- though he arrived in the UK as a refugee in the earlier 1914-18 war. Not so astute our Hercule!

I imagine that Christie was concerned about maintaining US sales, and, more honourably, avoiding undermining morale at a time when the UK alone stood against the Nazi bulldozer.

I dont want to get too carried away with my opinions of the Christie Weltanschauung.

Will Poirot do the right thing?

good plot well narrated

Not her best but a very enjoyable listen. Frazer narrates beautifully, sounds like the characters should.

Death at the dentist's...

Any additional comments?

The thing is if Hercule Poirot ever threatens to visit you, make an excuse and then flee to the other side of the world because no one is safe around that man! In this book he visits his dentist, Mr Morley, for a routine check-up. By the end of the morning, Mr Morley is dead. Later, one of his patients is found dead and another has gone missing. Let's hope Poirot didn't have a doctor's appointment that afternoon!

At first, Inspector Japp thinks Mr Morley, who was found shot dead with a gun beside him, has been murdered, but when one of his patients dies later that day of an overdose of the Procaine used to numb his mouth, it's assumed Mr Morley made a mistake and then in a fit of remorse killed himself.

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Title: The Moving Finger

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Joan Hickson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-13-06

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 21 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Lymstock is a town with more than its share of shameful secrets - a town where even a sudden outbreak of anonymous hate mail causes only a minor stir. But all that changes when one of the recipients, Mrs Symmington, commits suicide. Her final note said, "I can't go on". Only Miss Marple questions the coroner's verdict of suicide. Was this the work of a poison-pen? Or of a poisoner?

©1943 Agatha Christie Mallowan; (P)1998, Re-issue 2002 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London, UK

Critic Reviews:

"Beyond all doubt the puzzle in The Moving Finger is fit for experts." (The Times)

Members Reviews:

Great Story

I love the story and love joan Hickson but her reading was somewhat slurred which slightly marred the reading.

Not the right narrator

Any additional comments?

A good, solid Agatha Christis story, but as it is told in first person by a young male protagonist, Joan Hickson really isn't the right narrator. Miss Marple does appear, but only in what amounts to a cameo role near the end. Some of her voices, in particular the younger female ones, sound very peculiar. It is not helped by the fact that Joan Hickson sounds rather as though she is recovering from a bad cold, and occasionally mumbles her words. I would have enjoyed this more if it had been narrated by Hugh Fraser or someone similar.

Excellent reading of a classic mystery novel...

This is my top favourite of all of Agatha Christies books, and this reading by the marvellous Joan Hickson is pretty much perfect.

Although this is a Miss Marple tale, she doesnt in fact appear until the last quarter of the book. The story is told in the first person by injured airman Jerry Burton who, accompanied by his sister Joanna, has moved to Lymstock to recuperate in the peace and quiet of village life. But theres no such thing as peace in a Christie village. Spiteful gossip, anonymous letters, jealousy, resentment and murder not quite what the doctor ordered. However, as always with Christie, theres plenty of humour, likeable lead characters and a little bit of romance. And when the vicars wife finally calls in Miss Marple to act as an expert in wickedness, we know shell dig the truth out from under the pile of red herrings that Christie has carefully strewn in our path.

Listening to Joan Hickson is like being read to by a favourite grandmother. This is a straight reading she doesnt act the various parts, but her tone is full of expression and her rather old-fashioned accent is perfect for the period of the novel. Sometimes when listening to an audio book I find my attention wandering a bit but not with this one. Ms Hickson sucked me in (despite the fact that I know the book so well) and held my attention throughout. She brought out the lightness and humour that make Christies books such a pleasure and her obvious affection for the book was contagious.

This is an excellent reading of one of the very best of classic mystery novels highly recommended.

Joan Hickson is Miss Marple.

A wonderful reading of one of my favourite characters by the only actress who has ever come close to the character as written. Joan Hickson reads this story perfectly and as I listen I can picture her reactions.

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Title: The Valley of Fear

Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrator: John Bolen

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-29-06

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 49 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Does the mystery have something to do with the "interesting" relationship between Cecil Baker, Douglas' only friend from his obscure past, and the surprisingly merry widow? There are plenty of clues, including a brand mark on the deceased's arm and the fact that his wedding ring is missing, but not the ring that he always wore above it.

Members Reviews:

Worst reading EVER!!!

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

NOBODY would enjoy this.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Valley of Fear?

There were none.

What didnt you like about John Bolens performance?

His reading was terrible. The "accent" he used was sooo false and affected-sounding, it completely took away from the most excellent Sherlock Holmes story.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Valley of Fear?

I would never allow this narrator to read a Sherlock Holmes story.

Sometimes the narrator is enough

Struggling to finish this. I have started over numerous times. The good news is the narrator and pace is pleasant; I play audible on this one instead of listening to tv. Today, I begin to listen to the story again. Like the old joke, there must be a pony in there.

Don't purchase!

I can't accurately rate the story because the narration was SO bad it distracted me from the plot completely. Awful accents that were all over the place. Definitely don't waste a credit on this, and even at a discounted price I'm sorry I purchased it.

Automatic computer reader would be better

What disappointed you about The Valley of Fear?

The reader mispronounces words, and does so in a fake English accent. It was too excruciating to listen to for more than a few minutes. I am glad this was discounted. It's very disappointing; I am new to Audible and listened to the phenomenal Branagh read of Heart of Darkness and excellent Kent read of Island of Dr. Moreau and am now being surprised by some very flat, and in this case unlistenable-to, audible book. I picked up a number of others at low cost that are read by the same reader;these were cheap, and maybe he does not add the fake English accent in the other books; guess I will see.

A Great Novel Poorly Performed

What disappointed you about The Valley of Fear?

The novel itself is great. I have read it before. What killed this version was the performance.

Would you be willing to try another one of John Bolens performances?

Emphatically NO. He had a wooden, robotic performance and very little range. I was bored from the beginning with what has been one of my favorite of the Holmes novels. I don't really see why this production is still available to hear. Why does a Holmes novel have to be a drag? This is one of the most exciting ones - or should have been.

Any additional comments?

Just don't bother.

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Title: Murder by Moonlight and Other Mysteries

Subtitle: The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Author: Anthony Boucher, Denis Green

Narrator: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce

Format: Original Recording

Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-27-06

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 42 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

From 1939 to 1946, Americans gathered around their radios to listen to The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, featuring Basil Rathbone as the high-strung crime solver and Nigel Bruce as his phlegmatic assistant, Dr. Watson.

Witty, fast-paced, and always surprising, these great radio plays, written by the prolific writing team of Anthony Boucher and Denis Green, are as fresh today as they were then.

The latest audio technology has been employed to bring the best audio quality and fidelity to the original performances, which feature nostalgic wartime announcements, original commercials and vintage radio narrations.

This audio program includes the following Sherlock Holmes adventures:

Members Reviews:

Wonderfully Entertaining

As a true fan of the Sherlock Holmes movies, I found Murder By Moonlight and Other Mysteries a wonderful collection to my radio programs. The stories are great and introduce a new Sherlock Holmes in Tom Conway. A delight to listen to. I hope that Audible can get a hold of many more of the Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce, Sherlock Holmes Radio Programs.

Sherlock Holmes

A great set of shows that never age if your a fan of Holmes and radio you will enjoy these without doubt ...

Absolutely dreadful

This is farcical more about what the Americans had to put up with during the Second World War or repetitive advertising, ghastly! Very little to do with Sherlock or drama,

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Title: They Came to Baghdad

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: Emilia Fox

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-25-06

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Into this explosive situations appears Victoria Jones, a girl with a yearning for adventure who gets more than she bargains for when a wounded Carmichael dies in her arms in her hotel room. Now, if only she could make sense of his last words "...Lucifer...Basrah...Lefarge..."

Critic Reviews:

"A very human heroine, whose powers of invention, just like those of her creator, never fail her." (Times Literary Supplement)

Members Reviews:

Fun story and easy to listen to

This is one of Agatha Christie's adventure stories, so if you're looking for her traditional "whodunnit?" this won't be it, but it is still a lot of fun and surpassed my expectations.

Emilia Fox's performance was excellent. I only gave her four stars because her male voices don't sound like real men! haha, but this is an issue with almost all narrators performing voices of the opposite sex.

Not an obvious Christie tale.

Love this slightly silly story, very 1950s paranoia/spy type narrative with a charming and humorous heroine in Victoria Jones. Unfortunately it is occasionally let down by some of Emilia Fox's accents and voices (something I've heard before in her other adaptations, (it is a shame the publishers couldn't overcome their gender expectations and just use Hugh Fraser for all of the Christie adaptations).

Like an Eric Ambler, but with a heroine

Leaves behind typical English bourgeoisie setting, and leads with a bright, resourceful, working class heroine. Very enjoyable and gripping, my new favourite among all the Christie novels I've read.

Narrator seems to think that women over 40 talk in shrill braying tones, but other than that bit of sexism and racism, is pretty good

Not Christie's best but still worth a go

Being a major fan of both Christie and Fox cannot I'm afraid blind me to the fact that this is not one of Agatha Christie's more stellar works. The story really lacks any of the suspense or urgency of her other crime novels and some of the characters are a bit slack.

However like all her work it is laced with divine comical satire and brillant observations of human nature through said characters. Plus the heroine Victoria Jones - while perhaps a bit silly - is absolute fun and a peasure to identify with and travel along with on her wacky adventure filled trip to Baghdad.

Another great read from Emilia Fox

Excellent story, brilliantly read by Emilia Fox as she makes the characters really live. Its almost like a drama production! Highly recommended, you won't be disappointed if you like Agatha Christie.