Three Act Tragedy

This 2002 BBC radio drama production has a great cast bringing to life a real twister of a plot. I have only recently begun collecting and listening to these productions and so far have found each one a joy. This particular production has the excellent John Moffatt (born 1922 UK) and a very experienced actor in all fields playing Hercule Poirot (as he does in dozens of such productions). He brings through his characterization a clever detective alive from the pages of Agatha Christie's text. I am going to mention just a couple of other actors and yet this drama is full of very well known voices and faces. George Cole well known from his cinema, television and theatre performances plays Satterthwaite and Clive Merrison (an excellent radio Sherlock Holmes) plays Strange. Put together the fact that these two play an amateur detective and a distinguished nerve specialist and you have the measure of the fun you will have in guessing who did it and why. Good value, nicely packaged with full cast information. Runs for 2 hours and about 10 minutes in total. Lovely sound quality.

Another great Agatha Christie story dramatized for the BBC radio. Complex and full of characters; well acted; directed and produced to the normally high standard. Very pleased to add this cd to my collection. Not new when purchased but in perfect order. My thanks to the seller.

I love this. I had it on tapes and decided it would be better preserved on disk. The story is as most Agatha Christie stories are a step back in time--no computers, mobile phones, life is easy. The characters are enjoyable and likable.I have listened to this over and over and even though I know the end I still get pleasure from listening to it again. Do try it, you'll enjoy it.

Brilliant story as usual from Agatha Christie, we find them really useful when travelling makes the journey a lot bearable

When famous actor Sir Charles Cartwright gives a dinner party, one of the guests dies suddenly after drinking a cocktail. Hercule Poirot is there that evening, and of course suspects foul play. But no poison is found in the glass and it appears that no one could have had a reason to murder the dead man. Then a few months later another death occurs in very similar circumstances, at another dinner party where many of the same people are guests. Poirot sets out to investigate, and so does Sir Charles and his young friend Egg.This isn’t one of Christie’s very best plots, though it has plenty of points of interest and a very original motive for the first murder. However I find it one of her most enjoyable books because I’m very fond of young Egg as a character, and I like the way Christie portrays the May-to-December romance developing between her and the considerably older Sir Charles. Mr Satterthwaite is also involved – a character who turns up occasionally in the Poirot novels and also in the Harley Quinn stories. I prefer him in Poirot where his rather dry lawyerly approach to investigations makes him an excellent sidekick for Poirot, though I still miss Hastings who isn’t in this one. To a large extent Poirot takes a back seat, and allows Sir Charles and Egg to do most of the detecting, but of course it’s Poirot’s little grey cells that work it all out in the end!Great fun and, as always, enhanced by Hugh Fraser’s wonderful narration. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.

Lovely hardback book

Beautifully read, good character voices which gives you real enjoyment. No matter how many times you hear it it is always enjoyable Very happy

This full-cast dramatisation of one of Christie's Poirot mysteries is first class: well-read and acted and a compelling plot to carry the story along. Highly recommended.