The ABC Murders

Product Description <br/>This BBC Radio FullCast dramatization of one of Agatha Christie's most imaginative mysteries stars John Moffatt as the great Belgian detective, Simon Williams as his faithful sidekick Captain Hastings, and Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp. <br/><br/>Alice Asher, a poor, elderly shopkeeper, is murdered in Andover. Betty Barnard, a young waitress, is strangled with her own belt at BexhillonSea. Next comes Carmichael Clarke, collector of Chinese art, clubbed to death in Churston. Only in Doncaster does the pattern vary: the man found stabbed to death in the Regal Cinema is called George Earsfield. But each time, an ABC railway guide is found by the dead bodies, and each time, Poirot is warned in advance by a taunting letter from someone signed ''ABC''.<br/><br/>Who is ABC? And can Poirot find out in time to prevent the death of a whole alphabet of victims? The police doubt him and the public are in a state of panic, but Poirot is convinced that the murderer's luck will turn, and sooner or later he will make a crucial mistake. And Poirot will be there when he does . . .<br/><br/> Cast includes: Hercule Poirot: John Moffatt / Captain Hastings: Simon Williams / Chief Inspector Japp: Philip Jackson / Inspector Crome: Tom George / Franklin Clarke: John Rye / Lady Clarke: Jane Wendham / A. B. Cust: Ioan Meredith / Thora Grey: Lucy Paterson / Mary Drowner: Gemma Saunders / Megan Bernard: Beth Chalmers / Also with Christopher Kelham, Zeina HardingRoots, and Tim Treloar<br/><br/><br/> Review <br/>“There is no more cunning player of the murder game than Agatha Christie.” (Sunday Times (London))<br/><br/>“An entirely original idea.” (Daily Telegraph (London))<br/><br/>“Mrs. Christie has invented an entirely new plot for a detective story—a difficult thing in these days; she is to be congratulated on the perfection of her invention.” (The Times (London))<br/><br/>“Her best yet. Where does she get hold of these brilliant notions?” (Bristol Evening Post)<br/> About the Author <br/>Dame Agatha Christie (1890-1976) was a British crime writer best known for her detective novels and short stories. According to <br/>Guinness World Records, she is the bestselling novelist of all time, her novels having sold over four billion copies and having been translated into over one hundred languages. The Agatha Award for best mystery and crime writers was named in her honor.<br/> From the Back Cover <br/>There’s a serial killer on the loose, working his way through the alphabet and the whole country is in a state of panic.<br/>A is for Mrs. Ascher in Andover, B is for Betty Barnard in Bexhill, C is for Sir Carmichael Clarke in Churston. With each murder, the killer is getting more confident—but leaving a trail of deliberate clues to taunt the proud Hercule Poirot might just prove to be the first, and fatal, mistake.<br/> From AudioFile <br/>Fans of the BBC television series based on Agatha Christie's famous Belgian detective will recognize Hugh Fraser as the actor who plays Poirot's likable sidekick, Captain Hastings. In addition to his superb portrayal of the Captain, Fraser easily makes the transition as Hercule Poirot and the multitude of characters always present in an Agatha Christie mystery. Poirot is on the trail of a killer whose victims are seemingly chosen by the place of their names in the alphabet. Although Fraser's narration is flawless, the somewhat choppy abridgment leaves characters underdeveloped. For a slight difference in price, listeners might prefer the unabridged version, also recorded by Hugh Fraser. K.M.D. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine--<br/>Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine