Murder Mystery

Agatha Christie Tapes

2008-09-17T07:55:00.002+01:00

Photo Credit: hugovk

On the 118th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s birth (September 15) her grandson Mathew Prichard announced that he had unearthed 27 reels of tape onto which Agatha Christie dictated her autobiography.

The tapes had lain undiscovered in a storeroom at Greenway, Agatha Christie’s Devon mansion, for over forty years and Mr Prichard comments that they would probably still be there had he not decided to have a Spring clean. He also adds ‘The one thing you can always credit Agatha Christie with is an enduring capacity to surprise.’

In the tapes, Agatha can be heard comparing Miss Marple with her grandmother, whom she says always expected the worst of anyone and everything and was, ’with almost frightening accuracy, usually proved right.’ She also comments that a meeting between Miss Marple and Poirot would be out of the question ‘Poirot, a complete egoist, would not like being taught his business by an elderly spinster.’

Many thanks to Jay Ashby for letting me know about the Agatha Christie tapes and for pointing me in the direction of the BBC radio 4 Today show where Mathew Prichard and Laura Thompson, author of Christie: An English Mystery, discuss the importance of the recordings. You can listen to the show which includes extracts from the tapes being played by clicking Here.

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A Free & Comprehensive Guide to The World of Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie Tapes

Georgette Heyer

2008-08-14T18:00:00.000+01:00

Georgette Heyer wrote forty historical novels and it is for this genre that she is primarily known. These are mainly light-hearted romances which are for the most part set in the Regency period, Her heroes are almost always rich, aristocratic, handsome and with magnificent physique, Her heroines, though often feisty and independent are inevitably only too happy to surrender themselves to the safe haven of the arms of the dominant male! These are nice, easy reading and a pleasant way to wile away an hour or two. (And one or two of them, ‘The Toll Gate’ and ‘Regency Buck’ for example, do contain an element of murder and mayhem.)

However, she did write twelve honest to goodness crime novels, which are not at all bad. Some of her characters are wonderful – Vicky and Wally in ‘No Wind of Blame’ for example and her plot lines do keep you guessing. Her detectives, Superintendent Hannasyde and Sergeant (later Chief Inspector) Hemingway are well-drawn, likeable characters and Georgette Heyer’s writing style is relaxed and free-flowing.

I like these books. Although in my opinion they do not have the ‘can’t put down’ quality of a really great whodunit, they are competent, interesting examples of the genre and I would recommend them to any murder mystery addicts.

Georgette Heyer Crime Novel Collection

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Murder Mystery Blog: Towards Zero

2008-08-11T16:37:00.001+01:00

‘TOWARDS ZERO’ – I.T.V. (UK) SUNDAY 3 AUGUST 2008

I have avoided watching the last couple of offerings in ITV’s ‘Marple’ series for the reasons set out elsewhere on this website, but as towards zero is a real favourite with me, I had a sort of masochistic curiosity about it. Because of course, MISS MARPLE DOES NOT APPEAR IN ‘TOWARDS ZERO!!’

Why do they do it?? If Agatha Christie had wanted Miss Marple to solve this case, she would have placed her firmly in the heart of the story, but SHE DIDN’T! Instead she made this a case for Superintendent Battle, assisted (quite unofficially) by a young man called Andrew MacWhirter. Andrew is central to the original plot line, but did not feature at all in this TV version and it suffered hugely because of it, not least because it altered the romantic element of the story. And Superintendent Battle’s psychological approach to the statements of the suspects is a significant factor in the eventual unmasking of the villain and he was missed

It has to be said that the programme makers, apart from the above glaring distortion, stuck pretty well to the original plot and had they left ‘Miss Marple’ out of it, it would have been tolerable, but every time the camera panned to Geraldine McEwan, any feeling of involvement was immediately destroyed. I really wonder what Agatha Christie’s grandson Mathew Pritchard can have been thinking of to allow the programme makers to so sabotage his grandmother’s work.

I await with interest Julia McKenzie’s first outing as Miss Marple and I am trying (honestly I am!) to keep an open mind until I have seen the result.

Watch this space!

Murder Mystery Blog: Towards Zero

The Agatha Christie Theatre Production of "And Then There Were None"

2008-06-25T13:50:00.003+01:00

Some time ago, I went to see the latest production by The Agatha Christie Theatre Company. This was ‘And Then There Were None’ (currently riding high in the website poll for the best Agatha Christie novel).

Now, those of you who have read my book review of and then there were none will note that I commented that I couldn’t understand why the ending of the play had been made to differ from that of the book. (I have seen this play several times and have directed it myself.) I said at that time that I thought the original ending could quite easily be incorporated into the stage version, which lost some of its impact because of the change.

Now far be it from me to suggest that Bill Kenwright or any of the other producers and/or managers in The Agatha Christie Theatre Company read my website, but this latest production actually DOES keep to the original ending!! And benefits greatly from it, too.

Although I enjoyed the production, I have to say I did find it somewhat disappointing and lacking in suspense and atmosphere, I would not discourage anyone from going to see this play which is still on a nationwide tour. I am not a theatre critic and it could well be that what I consider below par acting and directing other people will think excellent. So if the play comes to a theatre near you, go along to see it. It’s certainly worth the price of a theatre seat, and please let me know what you think.

Murder Mystery Blog: Who Will Be The Next Miss Marple?

2008-02-10T11:47:00.000+00:00

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The champagne corks must be popping wherever there is a real Agatha Christie fan - Geraldine McEwan is retiring from the role of Miss Marple – hooray!! (Actually, that statement is a contradiction in terms because she never was Miss Marple!!) Some perky, self confident, intensely irritating busybody – yes, but Miss Marple? Definitely not.

Maybe I’ll be able to start watching again (but not if the powers that be continue to change the stories out of all recognition.) The names of lots of possible contenders have been bandied about – Judy Dench, Prunella Scales, Joanna Lumley to mention a few – and it will be interesting to see who they come up with.

I’ve done quite a bit of acting in my time and I’m about the right age, might try for the job myself! Well, we can all dream!

Whoever gets the part, two things are certain. One, nobody will ever equal Joan Hickson’s flawless portrayal; and two, it would be very hard for anyone to make a worse job of the business than Geraldine McEwan.

So happy retirement Miss McEwan.

The Wonderful Joan Hickson As Miss Marple

Murder Mystery Blog: Who Will Be The Next Miss Marple?

Murder Mystery Blog: Columbo

2007-11-28T21:01:00.000+00:00

Murder Mystery

It is arguable that the ‘Columbo’ TV series has no place in a ‘Murder Mystery’ blog for the simple reason that there is never any mystery about the identity of the murderer. The viewer not only knows right from the start who the villain is, but also sees exactly how the murder is plotted and carried out.

It is amazing to think that such a formula can hold the viewers’ attention over and over again, and yet each episode holds us spellbound as we watch the wily detective piece together the various small discrepancies in an often otherwise perfect crime.

One of the reasons Columbo’s appeal has lasted for nearly forty years, apart from the brilliance of his deductions, is the nature of the man himself.

That his scruffy brown raincoat, clapped-out banger of a car and general air of ineptitude hide a razor-sharp intellect, goes without saying. But there is so much more to Columbo. There is an almost childlike naivety about him that is very lovable – he will become dazzled and shy in the presence of a glamorous film star, thrilled and excited to meet a sporting hero and genuinely fascinated by the workings of a famous illusionist’s sleight of hand. But never at any point will he forget that he is on the trail of a murderer, and woe betide anyone who is taken in by Columbo’s apparent gullibility.

Columbo has a habit, highly irritating to the guilty party, of turning up at often inappropriate moments, to ask yet another question. Having satisfied the detective on this particular point, the suspect will think he is rid of him for the time being, when Columbo will turn at the door with the famous remark, ‘Just one more thing…’

There is so much that goes towards making this fictional detective a TV icon – his humanity (he often genuinely regrets having to arrest a ‘justified’ murderer,) his love for his dog, the wife we never see, his lack of social graces (using a priceless piece of porcelain as an ashtray, for example) and of course his dogged determination to catch the villain. But the main reason for the phenomenal success of this series must be the flawless, brilliant portrayal of the character by Peter Falk. Peter Falk IS Columbo and for better or worse, whatever other parts he plays, he will only ever really be seen as the scruffy, deceptively meek but ultimately infallible Lieutenant Columbo.

Wonderful Columbo Clip

The Columbo Collection

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Murder Mystery Blog: Columbo

Murder Mystery Blog: Sherlock Holmes Podcast

2007-11-26T09:51:00.000+00:00

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(Photo Credit: Joe McIntyre)

I came across an excellent podcast show dedicated to Sherlock Holmes which fans of the great detective should definitely check out. The show is entitled 'I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere' and comes with the great tag line - The podcast for those interested in the life and times of Mr. Sherlock Holmes - where it is always 1895.

The latest broadcast is introduced as follows:

We're pleased to welcome two noted authors to the show this week: Jon Lellenberg and Daniel Stashower. They recently edited a biography about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle along with Doyle's great-nephew Charles Foley. Comprised of hundreds and hundreds of letters, the book is already a critical success and is gaining popularity on both sides of the Atlantic.

To listen to the latest show simply click on the start button on the media player below.

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Book Description

This remarkable annotated collection of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's previously unpublished private correspondence offers unique insight into one of the world's most popular authors. For the first time, Conan Doyle emerges from the shadow of Sherlock Holmes, revealing a man whose character and exploits rival that of his famous creation. In particular, Conan Doyle's correspondence with his mother exposes his endless search for fulfillment and success outside the Holmes stories.

At age sixteen Conan Doyle began studying medicine at Edinburgh University. Just months shy of graduating, he made the adventurous decision to accept a position as a surgeon on a whaling ship heading to the Arctic. He returned to Edinburgh, graduated, and struggled to establish his own medical practice while simultaneously writing and promoting his stories. He suffered years of disappointment as both doctor and author; yet, to his amazement, just two months after the first Sherlock Holmes short stories, he had garnered such a following that he completely abandoned medicine for literature.

As the public clamored endlessly for Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle explored other pursuits: He was a doctor during the Boer War, a World War I correspondent, and the foremost spokesman for Spiritualism. As his life changed, Doyle's correspondence with his mother remained constant. In his letters to "the Mam," Doyle shares the dismay he felt over the critical reception of his other writing, and as his irritation with the Holmes adventures mounts he announces his desire to kill off the character. She is his confidante and trusted counsel throughout her long life.

The editors are known for their expertise and scholarship on the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. Daniel Stashower is an award-winning mystery novelist and author of Teller of Tales, a widely praised biography of Conan Doyle. Jon Lellenberg is the U.S. agent for the Conan Doyle estate and author of The Quest for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Charles Foley is the writer's great-nephew and executor of the estate. Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters will be a must-have collection for readers interested in the author, Sherlock Holmes, and the Victorian era.

For more details and/or to get hold of this fascinating book, just click on the following link.

Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters

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Murder Mystery Blog: Sherlock Holmes Podcast

Murder Mystery Blog: The Unexpected Guest

2007-11-24T09:59:00.000+00:00

Murder Mystery

I recently went to see this Agatha Christie play at my local theatre. This is one of Agatha’s works that I have never previously come across – there aren’t very many of those!

So what did I think? Well, I came away from the theatre feeling vaguely disappointed – this play is not really typical Agatha and although it is clever and has a few twists, it really failed to hold my interest to the extent I was expecting and looking forward to. The friend I was with, also an Agatha Christie fan, was slightly more impressed than I was, so maybe I was just in an unreceptive mood.

The actual production was very good – the Agatha Christie Theatre Company – the staging and the acting all good quality (although I do have difficulty in disassociating former soap stars from their soap characters!)

Please don’t let me put you off going to see this production if you get the chance, as always the opinions I am expressing is purely personal. Oh, and it’s a long time since I have witnessed a better opening to a performance – the audience jumped out of it’s collective skin!

Click Here for information on the Agatha Christie Theatre Company productions, venues and tour dates.

Murder Mystery Blog: The Unexpected Guest

Murder Mystery Blog: Cadfael

2007-11-23T08:35:00.000+00:00

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Anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery yarn and also has a fascination with history, will love the Cadfael novels of Ellis Peters.

Brother Cadfael is a monk in twelfth century Shrewsbury and the restrictions of the monastic way of life do not prevent him becoming regularly embroiled in murder and mayhem. He has taken his vows and valiantly tries to obey them; poverty and chastity he can cope with, obedience poses a constant problem!

Brother Cadfael became a monk late in life; he had lived an adventurous life up to that point, even taking part in the Crusades.
In true murder mystery tradition, this most unlikely of amateur detectives has an unerring knack of finding significance in small points that completely escape the notice of everyone else. And of course, this inevitably leads to the unmasking of the villain.

In the TV series of the same name, Derek Jacobi’s portrayal of Cadfael is excellent and should not offend Cadfael fans.

Ellis Peters was not the greatest murder mystery writer in the world, the stories came to be rather formulaic after a while, but they are an enjoyable read and deserve a place in any true murder mystery lover’s collection.

Clip From The Cadfael TV Series

The Cadfeal Collection

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Murder Mystery Blog: Cadfael

Murder Mystery Blog: Inspector Alleyn

2007-11-22T19:36:00.000+00:00

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Ask anyone to name a famous fictional detective, and the chances are that Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple will be top of the list (and deservedly so.)

The name of Inspector Roderick Alleyn, although well known to murder mystery aficionados, will not immediately spring into the minds of the uninitiated. And yet his creator, Ngaio Marsh produced over thirty detective novels, several of which have been featured in a television series starring Patrick Malahide in the title role.

One should not compare her to Agatha Christie – their styles and their literary creations are completely different. Poirot is more akin to Sherlock Holmes in that neither of them are given much of a background and have virtually no family life – they are unencumbered by domestic concerns. Alleyn, on the other hand, has an aristocratic mother, siblings, an on-going romance with a talented young artist and ultimately, a son. And of course, another big difference is that whilst Christie’s detectives are both amateurs (notwithstanding Poirot’s previous career in the Belgian police force,) Roderick Alleyn is a professional policeman.

Maybe one reason that Roderick Alleyn is not as universally popular as Poirot or Miss Marple is that although one can respect him, it is difficult to feel any great affection for him. There is a remoteness about him (and also about the love of his life Agatha Troy) that prevents the reader from feeling any great degree of involvement

Ngaio Marsh’s plots are clever, though sometimes a trifle convoluted and many of them have a theatrical background. Several are set in her native New Zealand. Although these stories cannot equal the devious brilliance of those of Agatha Christie; nevertheless Marsh’s novels are most enjoyable and will keep the reader guessing.

Inspector Alleyn Selection

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Murder Mystery Blog: Inspector Alleyn

Welcome To The Murder Mystery Blog

2007-11-22T12:26:00.000+00:00

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(Photo Credit: Eifion)

A very warm welcome to the Murder Mystery Blog. My name is Mary and one of my great passions in life is reading. I enjoy all sorts of literature and Dickens, the Brontes and particularly Jane Austen are among the esteemed names, which line my bookshelves, but I have a particular liking for murder mysteries.

Sherlock Holmes, Lord Peter Wimsey, Cadfael – all wonderful amateur detectives; and the professionals – Inspectors Alleyn, Wexford and Morse. Just a few of the many sleuths with whom I have beguiled away many an hour.

But when it comes to murder mystery, it is Dame Agatha Christie who to my mind stands head and shoulders above all the others. So much so that just over a year ago I began building a website dedicated to Agatha Christie.

I fully intend to continue building my personal tribute to the life and writing of Agatha Christie, however, through this blog I would also like to talk about the murder mystery genre in general as well as discussing my other favourite murder mystery authors, films, plays etc.

Contributions, comments and opinions from fellow murder mystery fans are always welcome.

All the very best

Mary

Welcome To The Murder Mystery Blog