Listen to Most Popular Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

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Title: Murder in Mesopotamia (Dramatised)

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: John Moffatt

Format: Original Recording

Length: 2 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-10-10

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 114 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Crime sleuth Hercule Poirot returns in a thrilling BBC Radio 4 dramatisation.

Amy Leatheran has never felt the lure of the mysterious East, but when she travels to an ancient site deep in the Iraqi desert to nurse the wife of a celebrated archaeologist; events prove stranger than she could ever have imagined. Her patients bizzarre visions and nervous terror seem unfounded, but as the oppressive tension in the air thickens, events come to a terrible climax - in murder...

Members Reviews:

Compulsive listening

This adaptation is brilliant achievement that keeps you actively involved from start to end. The acting is wonderfully subtle, offering some new perspectives on very familiar characters. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it with all my heart to those who want to feel good for a couple of days.

Mystery Plus Archeology

Would you consider the audio edition of Murder in Mesopotamia (Dramatised) to be better than the print version?

I enjoyed both versions. The audio edition version has merit because it brings the characters to life. It is like listening to a play.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the nurse who narrated the story. I thought the solution to the mystery was plausible but unexpected.

Have you listened to any of John Moffatts other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to all of his audio book portrayals of this character. He is a very competent Hercules Poirot.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A deadly mix of mystery and archaeology.

Any additional comments?

I like the stories set in exotic locales. I also liked the archaeology aspects of the story.

Great story!

Story is very well written and told and Poirot est magnifique as always. You won't be disappointed.

Great Full Cast Production

Would you consider the audio edition of Murder in Mesopotamia (Dramatised) to be better than the print version?

Another very enjoyable listen from BBC radio collection. John Moffat reads the part of Hercule Poirot very well. I like the addition of music and sound effects. Everything about this recording is top notch.

excellent dramatisation

The characters are all true to the book, the story is well paced and the addition of various background noises and occasional musical interludes add to the overall setting.

John Moffat once again brings the character of Poirot to life in a believable and entertaining way.

The story itself is an interesting mix of archaeology, inter-personal relationships and murder.

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Title: Appointment with Death

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: John Moffatt

Format: Original Recording

Length: 1 hr and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-10-10

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 55 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Among the towering red cliffs of Petra, like some monstrous swollen Buddha, sat the corpse of Mrs Boynton. A tiny puncture mark on her wrist was the only sign of the fatal injection that had killed her.

With only 24 hours available to solve the mystery, Hercule Poirot recalled a chance remark he'd overheard back in Jerusalem: 'You see, don't you, that she's got to be killed?' Mrs Boynton was, indeed, the most detestable woman he'd ever met.

Another Christie classic which takes a series of turns that will keep listeners guessing to the end. Starring John Moffatt as Hercule Poirot.

Members Reviews:

PETRA

I HAD NO DESIRE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO MYSELF

The narration and production are top notch. I have been very happy with the BBC Productions. Although I wonder if the adaptation this time did not take away from Christie's writing. That or this story was just not as interesting as a mystery. I liked some of the other Mysteries better. This seemed to be more about a crabby old woman, then a mystery.

Appointment with Death

Appointment with Death is one of my favourite M. Poirot cases. I can listen to the dramatisation anytime. Very enjoyable.

Great good

Enjoyed this great listen good cast to listen to . great story and Strong characters

Good listen

Story was a little tricky to follow because of various characters. Nice twist towards the end though. Actors good.

Typical Christie

Easy listen, enjoyable yarn, for those days when you need to multitask. This doesn't detract from its old world charm

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Title: The Case of the Perfect Carer (Dramatised)

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: full cast

Format: Original Recording

Length: 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-10-10

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

When the Cowley sisters employ a carer to look after the ailing Carmela, Morag appears to suit their needs perfectly. But after a spectacular jewel theft on the night of the Hunt Ball, it appears that the perfect carer might be implicated.

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Title: The Pale Horse (Dramatised)

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: full cast

Format: Original Recording

Length: 1 hr and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-09-10

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 28 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Father Gorman is called to a dingy rooming house to see a woman who, before she dies, confesses a bizarre tale to him. Leaving the house he is followed and, in the fog, a fatal blow is struck. A piece of paper with nine names written on it is found in the dead priests shoe. The clue leads to The Pale Horse Inn, home of three women: a psychic, a medium, and a witch.

Can Mark Easterbrook and his friend Ariadne Oliver unravel the occult mysteries?

Members Reviews:

Enjoyable one of my favorites

This version is very close to the book. I enjoy it very much. It is one of my favorite stories. The actors did a fine job and they are the voices I hear when I read the full story.

Very nicely dramatised

This was one of Agatha Christie's later books and generally they aren't as involving or convincing as those from the 30's or 40's, but I'm happy to say that I think this one bucks the trend.

The main protagonist, Mark Easterbrook, is played with a convincing mix of suavity and inquisitiveness by Jeremy Clyde, and Ariadne Oliver (here more than ever obviously based on AC herself) is brought to life superbly by Stephanie Cole. I think she brings a sense of exasperation, muddle-headedness and practical common sense to the role - which I think suits the character well.

The story doesn't really lend itself to a full book, which is probably why it works so well here as a dramatisation. There's just enough pointers in the dialogue and in the use of music to hint that the setting is the late 50's, which I think helps with the atmosphere.

This isn't the normal Poirot or Marple story but for someone looking for a fun, engaging cast and a slightly macabre (but not supernatural) play then you should definitely give it a go!

A very enjoyable dramatisation of The Pale Horse

I very much enjoyed this audio book. It's one of my favourite stories. I can listen to the dramatisation of this book on a regular basis. I like the twists and turns of the story and how the actors seem to really connect with the characters.

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Title: Case of the Vanishing Beauty

Author: Richard S. Prather

Narrator: Maynard Villers

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-19-10

Publisher: Books in Motion

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Shell Scott, the shamus who has Sherlock whirling in his grave...the wacky knight-errant of gorgeous gals who leaves a trail of beautiful bodies behind him (not all of em dead)...the private eye who's every killer's public enemy. This is the first book in this action-packed mystery series.

The Case of the Vanishing Beauty began when one beauty vanished from sight and another died in a hail of bullets. Next on the murder list was lovely Lina...Lina who was hotter than a welder's torch...and Shell Scott had left his asbestos suit at home.

Members Reviews:

Problematic reader. Amusing and light pulp parody.

Here's the deal, Mac: You are only likely to "get" this book if you are a fan of mainly old time hard-boiled tough-guy American detective fiction (40s, 50s, 60s) of the pulp/Chandler/Hammett genre. If you are, you will recognize this as more loving parody than the genuine article. That's not knocking it; I enjoyed the book, and actually laughed out loud several times at some of the outrageous examples of hard-boiled dialogue and descriptions. But I almost gave up early on this novel because of the reader, Maynard Villers. I see he reads a lot of genre books, including a number of Shell Scott novels. By the end of the book, I was OK with him, but with an asterisk. His voice was pretty good for the characters, but he is at times an excruciatingly slow reader, not because he talks slowly, but because of long, unnecessary pauses between sentences. It's like he lost the next paragraph, repeatedly. It makes Scott and the scenes seem flat. He was especially bad about this in the first half of the novel, then suddenly seemed to get better. Maybe the audio director said let's move this buggy along. But this is supposed to be a lively, energetic story, and he reads so slowly, that he DE-energizes it. But I found the cure. On Audible, you can change the reading speed. After Villers speeded up his pace in the middle, he was better, but what really helped is when I moved the Audible reading speed to 1.25x. From there on, I hardly noticed the slowness. (Be sure to move it back to 1x for your next book.) Now, back to the book: This is NOT literature, like, say, Chandler. I have read a lot of pulp detective fiction, but this is my first Shell Scott novel by Richard S. Prather, though I was well aware of the books (and their goofy original covers) and that they were considered amusing and light. So I am only reviewing this book, not the whole long series. The detective story here, including plot and twists, was so-so, but the pace and humor were good and I may try another. Scott is an enjoyable character, rugged and a tad cocky, but also likeable and not a belligerent jerk. He loses some fights, and sometimes tries to avoid others. Sexist? Well, yeah, this is written in 1950, and it's a parody, but he does seem to actually like women as people, unlike, say, Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. And they aren't stupid. There was some vaguely implied sexual activity, but Prather was hilariously oblique in describing it, like a 1950s movie. So, this is a mixed bag, and only for those who read lots of old-school, tough-guy detective fiction and don't take it seriously.

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Title: Death at the President's Lodging

Subtitle: An Inspector Appleby Mystery

Author: Michael Innes

Narrator: Stephen Hogan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-01-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 131 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Available to download for the very first time, the first instalment of the fantastic Inspector Appleby series by celebrated crime writer Michael Innes.

Inspector Appleby is called to St Anthony's College, where the president has been murdered in his lodging. Scandal abounds when it becomes clear that the only people with any motive to murder him are the only people who had the opportunity - because the President's Lodging opens off Orchard Ground, which is locked at night, and only the Fellows of the College have keys.

Legendary character Inspector John Appleby of Scotland Yard inspired a lasting vogue for donnish detective fiction. Innes's detective novels are playfully highbrow and rich in allusions to English literature and to Renaissance art.

Critic Reviews:

"It is quite the most accomplished first crime novel that I have read...all first-rate entertainment." (Cecil Day Lewis, Daily Telegraph)

Members Reviews:

must love brit academe 'tween the wars

A Whodunnit with a capital W - if you like (or like satires of) Brit academe, The author seemed to have fun writing this, the wonderful narrator has fun relating it, and if you give it some time to get into the world of the story, it can be a fun listen, even to contemporary ears.

Witty, intelligent, insightful mystery, well read.

This English mystery novel pretends to be quiet and sedate, while unleashing a complicated puzzle of murder in a locked-up college full of people too smart for their own good. The author is obviously fond of all his characters, and the narrator has a different voice for all of them. There's even some Chestertonian wild chases across the countryside. What else can I say? Innes writes winners.

Good, Classic, English Closed Room Mystery

What did you love best about Death at the President's Lodging?

I like that it was written in the Golden Age of detective fiction - the age of Sayers and Christie - and that it takes place at a University. The characters were well thought out, all the clues were there, but I found it challenging to figure out whodunnit.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked the detective.

What about Stephen Hogans performance did you like?

Beautiful voice and phrasing, excellent characterizations

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

It wasn't that kind of story

Any additional comments?

Escapism at its best!

"Snore"

This is the first of Innes's Inspector John Appleby mysteries, the 1937 introduction of a character whose sleuthing continued through the mid-1980s (by which time he was Sir John Appleby).

This book, published in England as "Seven Suspects," is a mystery of the Golden Age Locked Door genre; circumstances dictate that the bizarre crime must have been committed by one (or more) of a limited group of suspects. Innes spends an inordinate amount of verbiage setting up the premise and describing the scene (a walled garden in a fictitious British university), and in introducing the suspects (academic dons who in the 1930s were already living in an outdated fantasy world-- "They teach outmoded subjects using exploded methods" may be the best line in the book).

Once the tedious setup is finally in place, the plot unfolds as a kind of French farce (minus any sex) of mistaken motives and inadvertent eavesdroppers.

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Title: The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Volume 4

Author: Bert Coules

Narrator: Clive Merrison, Andrew Sachs, Full Cast

Format: Original Recording

Length: 2 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-08-10

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 62 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Clive Merrison and Andrew Sachs star in three brand new BBC Radio 4 full-cast adventures. How many times did Dr John Watson tantalise us with a passing reference to a mystery that his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, never wrote about in full? In these full-cast original adventures, Bert Coules, the chief dramatist of BBC Radio 4s celebrated complete Sherlock Holmes canon, has imaginatively fleshed out three such unrecorded cases.

'The Remarkable Performance of Mr Frederick Merridew': A night at the music hall ends in tragedy. Is it possible that Sherlock Holmes has finally met his match?

'The Eyes of Horus': How could a priceless Egyptian artefact vanish from a locked casket in a locked safety-deposit box in a locked vault in a locked bank?

'The Marlbourne Point Mystery': In the bleak beauty of an isolated coastal headland, Holmes and Watson discover death, treachery, betrayal, and a remarkable recluse with an extraordinary friend. Then the enigmatic Mycroft Holmes astonishes his brother as the shocking truth behind the mystery of the politician, the lighthouse and the trained cormorant is finally revealed.

Members Reviews:

Merrison and Sachs are sublime

Growing up and listening to these audiobooks when I was younger, I could feel myself transported back in time and seeing Holmes and Watson hash it out and solve these perplexing crimes. Merrison actually holds the distinction of having performed every story of Holmes and Sachs (who succeeded the late Michael Williams) does not disappoint as Watson.

These stories are part of the original canon. In addition, they draw upon references to stories that Conan Doyle wrote. All of these adoptions are expertly acted (not forced) with incredible sound effects -- making it feel like you are in the room with Holmes and Watson as they solve the case together. I highly recommend these for a long car drive. The stories are absorbing and pull you in. It's only a shame that this particular set of stories signifies the end of Merrison and Sachs taking on Doyle's famous detective. But they are worth the listen.

These pastices are among tbe best.

These pastices and original versions with Merrison and Williams performed by BBC radio dramas are among the best. Well written, acted and folio work second to none.

Sherlock Holmes

This is another excellent Sherlock Holmes audio book. I would definitely recommend this for all Sherlock Holmes fans.

could be conan doyle

excellent audio. Really enjoyed it

Fabulous!

Every bit as good as the original stories. I just wish there were more of them!

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Title: The Complete Steel

Author: Catherine Aird

Narrator: Robin Bailey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-01-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 50 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

There were two things seriously wrong when someone found Mr Meredith in the library of Ornum House and greeted him with a Good morning. For one thing, it was five oclock in the afternoon; and for another, the greeting took the form of a murderous blow to the back of poor Mr Merediths head.

But Inspector Sloan doesnt discover any of this until he finds the weapon, a large primitive club, topped with an iron spike. It is hanging in Lord Ornums armoury, labelled Godentag which, as the Vicar explains, taken literally means good morning.

Members Reviews:

Good story retitled

Would you consider the audio edition of The Complete Steel to be better than the print version?

I was surprised to find this the identical story to one that I knew as "The Stately Home Murder". Oh well, no real problem. I don't mind visiting a good story another time. My only complaint is that the narration is considerably too fast.

Robin Bailey is excellent in this performance

Love listening to Robin Bailey's readings of any of Catherine Aird's books. Simple country house style murder mystery.

What the heck is he saying!

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Can't get through it. Bailey talks so fast and his characters are so poorly delineated that I can't figure out what's going on!. I keep trying to listen but get so confused about who's talking. I think the story might be good, but I can't grasp it. I just don't seem to hear fast enough!

Because I loved the descriptions of the story, I bought 6 more of the Catherine Aird books and am greatly regretting it. I may try another to see if Bailey gets any better or at least slows down. Otherwise, I am going to return them.

What didnt you like about Robin Baileys performance?

First, he simply talks way too fast. That would not be a problem, but he runs one character's dialogue into another's so that you can't tell who is talking at any given time. He reads as if the entire book were one run-on sentence.In addition he doesn't give any personality to his characters. When one visually reads a book, one can see by the change of paragraph and punctuation marks where one character's speech ends and another begins. While reading, the personality of each character becomes clear - not from the descriptions but from the words they use and the pace at which they use them.In an audio book, the listener does not have all those cues so necessary to enjoyment of the story. Instead, we rely on the reader to create the characters, making each one distinctly different and clear. At the very least, we expect the reader to respect the punctuation. Although I like Robin Bailey's voice, his reading is not only annoying, but he makes the story incomprehensible.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Don't know. Can't get through the book

Any additional comments?

I don't know who chooses readers for various books, but I do wish the producers would audition voices for various books. This isn't the first one I've run into where the reader can't communicate the story. One cannot count on a good actor being a good reader, either. Some of the best actors/actresses are the worse readers. Training in oral interpretation would help.

Drawn out story with expressionless reader.

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Title: The Cold Room

Subtitle: Taylor Jackson Series

Author: J. T. Ellison

Narrator: Joyce Bean

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-01-10

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 216 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Homicide detective Taylor Jackson thinks she's seen it all in Nashvillefrom the Southern Strangler to the Snow White Killer. But she's never seen anything as perverse as The Conductor. Once his victim is captured, he contains her in a glass coffin, slowly starving her to death. Only then does he give in to his attraction.

When he's finished, he creatively disposes of the body by reenacting scenes from famous paintings. And similar macabre works are being found in Europe. Taylor teams up with her fiancee, FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin, and New Scotland Yard detective James "Memphis" Highsmythe, a haunted man who has eyes only for Taylor, to put an end to this horror.

Has the killer gone international with his craft? Or are there two "artists," competing to create the ultimate masterpiece?

Critic Reviews:

"Fusing gritty cop drama with dark psychological thriller, Ellison distinguishes herself with exceptional character development, consistently breakneck pacing and a sense of authenticity throughout." (Chicago Tribune)

Members Reviews:

Chilling Spellbinder

What a wild ride this story took me on - I couldn't stop listening and spent many days hurrying through my work so I could resume listening. Loved this book and the narration!

The Cold Room Left Me Cold

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I can't decide if it was the story line or the reader that put me off of this audiobook. The story line threw too much right off at you. The reader's voice was annoying. I didn't finish the book.

Has The Cold Room turned you off from other books in this genre?

NO

What didnt you like about Joyce Beans performance?

Tone of voice not appropriate for this story. Sounds sexist, but a man would have served this story better.

The Cold Room

Looking at the cover of the book I though that it was going to be a good story. I was very disappointed.It lacks the intensity, the mystery and the suspense to keep the listeners on the edge.

Ok Crime Novel...but needs more suspense

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

Yes. Interesting premise

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Flesh out the killer's side of the story. Lots of opportunity for suspense and confrontation, but there was little. .

Have you listened to any of Joyce Beans other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

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

No.

Had it's Creepy Moments...

Would you listen to The Cold Room again? Why?

Probably if I had absolutely nothing new to listen to!

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

The author captured the unusual crime really well and therefore I enjoyed the thrill of the chase.

Have you listened to any of Joyce Beans other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, as she does make the lead character of Taylor her own.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No but it was intriguing in parts.

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Title: The Honourable Schoolboy (Dramatised)

Author: John le Carré

Narrator: Simon Russell Beale

Format: Original Recording

Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-11-10

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 62 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

George Smiley has become acting chief of the Circus, but the credibility of the British Secret Service has been shattered. Smiley's adversary is Karla, the Soviet officer who masterminded the Circus's ruin. His battleground is Hong Kong and his choice of weapons is the Honourable Gerald Westerby.

A brand new Radio 4 full cast dramatisation of the classic George Smiley novel by John le Carre, starring Simon Russell Beale. This is the sixth in the major new series of all eight George Smiley spy thrillers on radio.

Members Reviews:

Disappointing

Haven't read or listened to any of le Carre's novels, but did hear a dramatization of a Murder of Quality, which I thought was quite good. In this one, I found the male voices to be awfully similar and I wasn't always sure who was speaking. Plotwise, I enjoyed the first half, but thought it degenerated into silliness with a ridiculously melodramatic ending. So I can't recommend this dramatization.

Very good.

Beautifully done but was hoping to find an actual reading of the book. These dramatisations only take you so far into the book.

The Honourable Schoolboy

Perhaps the best novel written by John Le Carre. The characters are wonderfully well described and the dialogue is superb. The description of countries I've never seen makes them come alive in my mind.

My most pleasurable read for a while.

A great drama

This a good BBC dramatisation. The story is good and the cast really bring it to life.

Good, but not as good as it could have been

I listtened to this and is starts well and keeps you involved, but then goes a bit haywire nearer the end and I think the ending was lost in the dramatisation. it may have been better if they took a bit more time on itas it seemed a bit rushed in parts and you had to fill in big gaps which was a shame as I love John LeCarre works.