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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic example of the "closed room" genre., , 7 Jan 2007
Also known as _Murder in the Mews_, this unabridged audiobook with Nigel Hawthorne is light entertainment in classic Agatha Christie style. Originally written in 1931, the book reveals the declining country house society and its ways of life following World War I within a clever mystery. Sir Gervase Chevenix-Gore, owner of a sizeable estate, has written to famed French detective Hercule Poirot, demanding that he come to England to meet with him.
Before Poirot arrives, Sir Gervaise is discovered dead, shot in the head, a gun by his hand, and a letter saying "Sorry" on his desk, an apparent suicide. The study and windows are locked from the inside. Numerous relatives, guests, and employees of Sir Gervase are in attendance throughout the weekend, including his ditsy wife, one of his friends (who has always been openly in love with his wife), his adopted daughter, his nephew (the person who will inherit his title) and his girlfriend, a woman hired to write a biography of the family, the estate manager, a private secretary, etc.
As they relate their whereabouts at the time that the shot or champagne cork or car backfire was heard, the immense size and configuration of the estate become clear, and as Poirot investigates the suicide that he is convinced is murder, the listener is struck by the arrogance of Sir Gervase and the expectations of the guests. None have much conception of the outside world, and several have motives for murder. As always, Christie drops small clues, leading the reader to form conclusions about who did what to whom, then springs a surprise ending.
Nigel Hawthorne does yeoman's service playing all the voices on this recording without overacting, reflecting subtle class differences and personalities in the process. His French accent for Poirot is controlled, and his diction is superb. The audio moves quickly, making this a fine, light entertainment. n Mary Whipple
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Poirot at his best., 10 Feb 2001
By A Customer
I'm not really into Agatha Christie's short stories because the beauty of her books many times lies in the development of the characters in a 'standard' novel.However, after reading this book, my impression changed. Hercule Poirot has to be at his best to solve four curious crimes. In 'Murder of the Mews', a widow committed suicide with a shot in her left temple, by the gun was in her right hand. Was it murder? Was the murder intended for another person? In 'The Incredible Theft', the plans of a bomber was mysteriously stolen in the study of Lord Mayfield. Poirot has to uncover the motives behind the guests in the house to discover the shocking truth. In "Triangle at Rhodes', a popular actress with her 'ways with men' was murdered in a bar after taking a poisoned drink intended for her husband, and Poirot must clear the name of the obvious killer. In "Dead's Man Mirror' which is my favourite story in the book, Sir Chevenix-Gore was found dead in his locked study, keys in his pocket and pistol in the room. The key to solving the apparent suicide (which is, in fact, murder) is the broken mirror in the room. Read the book to enjoy a refreshed Poirot experience!
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4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Poirot's short stories, 2 Nov 2002
By A Customer
This is a collection of four short stories featuring Hercule Poirot. I think they are quite interesting. I found the second, 'The incredible theft' particularly interesting and well-written (note that unlike most of Christie's writings, this story does not involve a murder but a theft). The third story 'Dead Man's Mirror' is also quite enjoyable. In general, the whole book will be enjoyed by anyone interested in crime literature.
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