Join us for a chat about Saltburn, the black comedy thriller that had everyone talking in 2023. Emerald Fennel's film tells the story of Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), a scholarship kid at Oxford who befriends the charming, fabulously wealthy aristocrat Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). When Oliver's father dies unexpectedly, Oliver is reluctant to return home to his mother, who struggles with substance problems and mental illness, and so Felix kindly invites him to stay over summer at his family home, Saltburn. It's there that Oliver meets Felix's unconventional family, and he soon finds himself irresistibly drawn into an intoxicating world of sex, death and hedonism.

In the podcast today, we're talking nostalgia and vibes as we reminisce about the good old days of 2007, when indie music ruled the world and the height of teenage fashion was a Topshop dress or a Jack Wills hoodie. Does Saltburn signal a vibe shift back to the sounds and sights of the early 00s? And does the film succeed in its attempt to portray dark desires, complex relationships and psychological depth, or is it all just style over substance?

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Mr Shaitana had a reputation for hosting the best parties in London. That is, until he throws a 'murder party', which ends up being his last. Guests at the murder party include four people Shaitana suspects of murder (his 'collection of murderers') and four sleuths: private investigator Hercule Poirot, crime novelist Ariadne Oliver, secret serviceman Colonel Race and Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard. During a game of bridge, Mr Shaitana is stabbed to death while he sleeps in an armchair by the fire, in full view of the four murderers. It's up to the four sleuths to figure out who is responsible for the crime.

Today we're talking about Agatha Christie's 1936 novel Cards on the Table, which contains some of Agatha Christie's most daring murders! In the episode, we'll be talking about the colourful characters who populate the story, including petty thieves, dashing explorers, dodgy doctors and top bridge players. We'll also be discussing the 2006 ITV production of Cards on the Table, starring David Suchet.

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We review Agatha Christie's world-renowned play The Mousetrap. We recorded this as a special spoiler-free episode, so that everyone can enjoy the episode, even if they haven't seen the play! In keeping with the famous tradition of The Mousetrap, we won't be talking about anything that happens in the play beyond the initial set-up, the characters and the setting.

The production we went to see was at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield on 3 June 2023, and it was part of the 70th anniversary tour of The Mousetrap.

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It's Halloween season, so today we're bringing you a spooky Halloween special all about Kenneth Branagh's latest Poirot film, A Haunting in Venice, which is based on Agatha Christie's 1969 novel Hallowe'en Party.

The film joins Poirot (played by Branagh) as he navigates the narrow streets of creepy post-war Venice. Soon Poirot finds himself embroiled in a horrifying murder mystery at the home of Rowena Drake, a famous opera singer whose daughter Alicia tragically fell from her balcony and drowned in the canal below. After Rowena Drake holds a séance with the famous medium Joyce Reynolds (played by Michelle Yeoh), guests are horrified to find Reynolds brutally murdered after she hints that she may know the truth about the mysterious death of Alicia Drake.

In today's pod, we talk spooky hallucinations, haunted houses, creepy children and ghostly bees. We'll also be offering up our opinions of Branagh's Poirot and Tina Fey's Ariadne Oliver, and chatting about the (very loose) source material and how the book compares with the film.

Join us as we discuss all this – and more!

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As Agatha Christie’s esteemed detective Hercule Poirot often says, ‘murder is a habit’. But the murderer we’re talking about today takes this to a whole other level...

In this episode, we’re talking about Agatha Christie’s 1936 novel The ABC Murders. In this novel, Poirot comes face to face with a mysterious serial-killer adversary who goes by the name of ABC. ABC commits murders in alphabetical order, beginning with Alice Ascher in Andover, then Betty Barnard in Bexhill-on-Sea, then Sir Carmichael Clarke in Churston… But are these killings the work of a senseless sadist, or are they carefully planned murders, designed to conceal a sinister motive?

Join us for a deep dive into this classic mystery novel – more a thriller than a classic whodunnit. We talk about serial killers, motives and murder methods. We also discuss the structure of crime novels, as well as some of the adaptations of The ABC Murders, including the ITV production with David Suchet and the more recent John Malkovich production for the BBC.

As ever, a warning: this episode contains spoilers for The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie.

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Join us as we head to the mean streets of 1930s LA for an episode all about Raymond Chandler's hardboiled detective story The Big Sleep.

In The Big Sleep, we meet tough guys, petty criminals and dangerous femme fatales as we follow jaded PI Philip Marlowe in his quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding the wealthy Sternwood family.

In this episode, we discuss the character of Philip Marlowe – the prototype of the cynical detective, whose hard-drinking, wisecracking exterior conceals a somewhat more sensitive side – and we look at Chandler's writing style, which came to have an immense impact on popular culture. We also chat about the book's extremely complex and convoluted plot as we struggle to get our heads around exactly what happens in The Big Sleep.

We conclude with a discussion of the 1946 film adaptation starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

To donate to The Crime Fiction Casebook Podcast, please head to www.ko-fi.com/crimefictioncasebook. Thank you for your support!

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Today, we're looking at Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, a new comedy mystery film, which is available to stream on Netflix.

Glass Onion stars Daniel Craig as gentleman detective Benoit Blanc. Other big names include Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson and Edward Norton. The film puts a contemporary spin on the classic Golden Age whodunnit genre, so – of course – we had to give it a go!

The story begins when a close-knit group of wealthy celebrities and socialites retire to billionaire Miles Bron's private island for a murder mystery party. But soon the fun is brought to an abrupt halt when (surprise, surprise) a real murder takes place! Luckily, Benoit Blanc is here to save the day and make sure that the murderer is brought to justice before they can strike again.

We'll be chatting about the film and whether it fits comfortably into the classic whodunnit genre. We also talk about the character of Blanc and Daniel Craig's much-discussed Southern accent. We also raise some questions. Is Benoit Blanc a modern-day Lord Peter Whimsey, or is he more of a Poirot? Do all crime films need to have a big twist? And can a film ever have too many explosions?

Warning: This podcast contains spoilers for Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and the original Knives Out film.

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It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid... Unless you're Simeon Lee!

Hercule Poirot's Christmas tells the story of rich tyrannical businessman Simeon Lee, who is brutally murdered on Christmas Eve, just as his relatives are gathering to spend a lovely family Christmas together at Gorston Hall.

This Agatha Christie has everything you need for the cosy festive season: a creepy country house, uncut diamonds, shifty valets, fake moustaches and mysterious strangers from faraway places.

In this Christmas special, we take an in-depth look at this classic mystery. We discuss the novel's very colourful cast of characters, the seasonal setting of the novel and one of Agatha Christie's most gruesome murders. We also consider why murder mysteries are so popular at this time of year, and what it is that makes the mystery genre so incredibly cosy.

So grab a tasty mince pie, pour yourself a cup of mulled wine and join us as we go on a festive journey with our favourite detective, Hercule Poirot.

Warning: this podcast contains spoilers for Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie, so please proceed with caution if you haven't read the book.

References:

'The Making of Toy Balloons and Pigs' (Sunday 17 September, 1905), Brooklyn Daily Eagle (can be accessed on the Brooklyn Daily Eagle's archive site through the Brooklyn Public Library at https://bklyn.newspapers.com/paper/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle/1890/)

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In this episode, we review Lucy Worsley's fantastic new documentary mini-series Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen, which is available now on BBC iPlayer.

This series was like catnip to Agatha Christie superfans like us, so we just had to do a deep dive into it!

In the podcast, we discuss Agatha's life, including her childhood, her relationships and marriages, and her infamous 1926 disappearance. We consider how Agatha Christie, who presented herself as an 'ordinary' woman, became one of the greatest novelists of all time.

We also debate some of the most pressing issues surrounding Agatha Christie's work. Who was the best (and worst) on-screen Poirot? Exactly how big is Poirot's moustache? And should Poirot ever have a love interest?

Warning: This episode does contain spoilers; however, these are clearly signposted, so you can just skip ahead if you don't want to hear them.

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In this episode, we'll be chatting about Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie. Lord Edgware Dies transports us to the glamour and fantasy of London high society between the two world wars – a world of bohemian actors, dazzling movie stars and wealthy aristocrats. In the novel, Poirot teams up with his good friends Captain Hastings and Inspector Japp to solve the grisly murder of the cruel and vindictive Lord Edgware.

Join us as we unpick the story, exploring how Christie creates an immersive sense of place and crafts colourful characters who stay with you long after you read the book. We also chat about the book's humour, including a few of Poirot's quirkiest moments. As a special treat, you'll also get to hear me do an American accent.

Warning: this episode contains spoilers for Agatha Christie's Lord Edgware Dies. Please proceed with caution if you haven't read the book.

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