Paul Temple & the Conrad Case (Radio Collection) [Audiobook] [Hardcover]

Francis Durbridge (Author)

Book Description

Series: Radio Collection | Publication Date: August 16, 2004

Radio's smoothest sleuth and his glamorous wife solve a case of international mystery From 1938 to 1969 crime novelist and detective Paul Temple and his Fleet Street journalist wife Steve solved case after case in one of BBC radio's most popular serials. They inhabit a sophisticated, well-dressed world of chilled cocktails and fast cars, where the women are chic and the men still wear cravats. And where Sir Graham Forbes of Scotland Yard always needs Paul's help with a tricky case. The case this time involves Dr Conrad's daughter Betty, who has disappeared from her finishing school in Bavaria. Paul is invited by the police to go over there to help trace the missing girl. Initially, though, even he is baffled, since the only clue to the mystery is an unusual cocktail stick found in her bedroom. Can Paul work it out? This CD edition also includes a bonus interview with Francis Durbridge.

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

This serialized case from the long-running BBC radio series featuring detective/fictionalist Paul Temple (Peter Coke) and his journalist wife, Steve (Marjorie Westbury), takes our heroes to Germany and embroils them in espionage, blackmail, and, of course, the obligatory murders. The only clue is an unusual swizzle stick. As usual, the urbane Temples investigate upper-crust suspects, impersonated by "the Beeb's" capable resident ensemble. The very British high-society world of the Temples makes for an attractive, amiable, and unchallenging listen. One never doubts that they will skirt all dangers and solve the crime. Interest lies in the puzzle they unravel and the milieu of cocktails and evening dress so ably evoked by the writer and actors with only minimal help from the serviceable sound effects and music. Y.R. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: BBC Audiobooks (August 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0563524642
• ISBN-13: 978-0563524649
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 4.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,952,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Careering with Cocktails., September 17, 2006

By 

John Austin "[e-mail]" (Kangaroo Ground, Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paul Temple & the Conrad Case (Radio Collection) (Hardcover)

This is the case of the missing girl enrolled at a "finishing school" in Bavaria. Thanks to Francis Durbridge's tight plotting and the magic of BBC radio, after the disappearance has been explained to Paul Temple and his wife Steve, within 5 minutes we are sharing cocktails with them on the terrace of a country hotel, then 5 minutes later we are with them when they stumble on a body in a deserted house, and after another 5 minutes we have flown with them to Munich and are approaching the prestigious "finishing school" in a hired car.

The pace is even hotter when they return to London six episodes later. Steve barely has time to utter, "Oh, Paul, I'm exhausted. I've never known such..." before the chase continues through hotels, nightclubs and cars with time bombs in them.

A meticulous production and highly-skilled actors ensure that this piece of 1950s escapism can still entertain and enthrall. It can bewilder, too. After repeated hearings I still cannot always understand who caused what to happen where. Is that the way of good mysteries?