The Sittaford Mystery

From AudioFile For listeners who know and love Agatha Christie, this BBC Radio production satisfies moderately. For those who know Christie less well, it will satisfy admirably. The story is a classic. In the midst of a Dartmoor blizzard, cocktail-party friends play a table-tipping séance-game during which a murder is announced. What silliness, they think, until they learn that someone was murdered at the moment they were playing their game. Quality British actors render the mix of village characters expertly, and sound effects--from closing doors to crunching snow--add to the pleasure. A couple of complaints: Springtime chirping birds are used repeatedly to signal winter outdoor scenes, and the story's Australian characters sound so English that listeners miss an important plot point. But don't let those problems stop you, as this is a satisfying listen. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine Product Description In a remote house in the middle of Dartmoor, six shadowy figures huddle around a table for a seance. Tension rises as the spirits spell out a chilling message: "Captain Trevelyan ... dead ... murder."Is this black magic or simply a macabre joke? The only way to be certain is to locate Captain Trevelyan. Unfortunately, his home is six miles away and, with snowdrifts blocking the roads, someone will have to make the journey on foot ... Review "The Empress of the crime novel." Sunday Express"An excellent book to take away for a weekend reading." New York Times"You can't go wrong with this one, certainly the best of the always high-grade Christie items in quite some time." Books From the Back Cover In a remote house in the middle of Dartmoor, six shadowy figures huddle around a table for a seance. Tension rises as the spirits spell out a chilling message: "Captain Trevelyan . . . dead . . . murder."Is this black magic or simply a macabre joke? The only way to be certain is to locate Captain Trevelyan. Unfortunately, his home is six miles away and, with snowdrifts blocking the roads, someone will have to make the journey on foot. . . . About the Author Dame Agatha Christie (1890-1976) was a British crime writer best known for her detective novels and short stories. According to Guinness World Records, she is the best-selling novelist of all time, her novels having sold over four billion copies and having been translated into more than one hundred languages. The Agatha Award for best mystery and crime writers was named in her honor.Hugh Fraser is an English actor and theater director who is best known for his portrayal of Captain Hastings in the television series Agatha Christie's Poirot. He studied acting at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and is currently an associate tutor, director, and member of the audition panel at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, specializing in Shakespeare.