From Library Journal
This novel, written in 1927, is considered the best and most successful of the early mysteries. It met with no small outrage when it appeared, as it uses a plot device many readers thought "unfair." There is a full complement of characters populating the cozy English village of King's Abbot: Major Blunt, Colonel Carter, Miss Gannett, the butler, the housekeeper, the narrator, Dr. Sheppard, and his know-it-all sister (the precursor of Miss Marple, according to Christie), and, of course, the redoubtable Hercule Poirot and his little grey cells. There are clues with a capital C to mislead us, and the listener gets so involved with these red herrings (or not) that the very simple truth eludes the puzzler. Venerable reader Robin Bailey keeps the light, almost comic tone alive, although his voices are not particularly differentiated, and often he rushes the reading of dialog. A classic of the genre and essential for any fiction collection. Harriet Edwards, East Meadow P.L., NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Audio Cassette
edition.
From AudioFile
Combining murder, with rumors and gossip, narrator Nigel Anthony performes this classic Christie mystery with superb pacing and style. Versatility, gender changes, and English accents display his dynamic range of characters and animate the quiet village of King's Abbot. From Poirot's charming, sophisticated humor to Mrs. Ackroyd's snappy, breathless speech, the depictions are true to character and provide plenty of red-herrings for listeners to follow. Poirot's precise deductions lead to blackmail, murder, and a surprising conclusion. The depiction of Dr. James Sheppard, with his clipped, academic voice, lends itself well to dry humor. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine--
Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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