Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie Narrator: Hugh Fraser
Series: Hercule Poirot #9
Published by HarperCollins Publishers on 2006 (first published 1933)
Source: Library
Genres: Vintage Mystery
Length: 6 hrs 31 mins
Format: Audiobook
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Poirot had been present when Jane bragged of her plan to "get rid of" her estranged husband. Now the monstrous man was dead. And yet the great Belgian detective couldn't help feeling that he was being taken for a ride. After all, how could Jane have stabbed Lord Edgware to death in his library at exactly the same time she was seen dining with friends? And what could be her motive now that the aristocrat had finally granted her a divorce?
Jane Wilkinson wants to be rid of her husband, Lord Edgware. She asks Poirot to see him, to convince him to grant her a divorce. At the same time, she talks about how she would go about killing her husband if need be. As the title makes it clear, Lord Edgware does die. Jane, however has an ironclad alibi – but she was also observed at the scene of the crime.
As always, Christie gives us several suspects and possible motives and two more dead bodies. She provides us plenty of clues, but also enough red herrings to keep us guessing. This time around we have several characters who are actors, which makes it even more difficult to tell who is lying. The final solution was well done, believable but with a perfect twist.
Hastings is our narrator here, and I read the version narrated by Hugh Fraser, which was perfect. Hastings gets made fun of by Poirot for not understanding, but I actually like Hastings. I have a feeling that Poirot would pretty much treat me the same way.
About Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English crime novelist, short story writer and playwright. She is best known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around her fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world’s longest-running play, a murder mystery, The Mousetrap, and six romances under the name Mary Westmacott. In 1971 she was elevated to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her contribution to literature.
My mom (who’s almost 92) says she loved Christie’s books when she was growing up and just couldn’t believe a woman had written them. How times have changed. I need to try more of her work.
That is an interesting perspective, isn’t it?
I have been engrossed in both Moss Marple and Hercule Poirot
On Acorn TV. They are so well done and so enthralling! Am I wrong or did Agatha Christie writ both of these series?
You’re right. David Suchet will always be Poirot in my mind.
The ones on Acorn are so good! I love them!
Miss Marple not Moss Marple…sorry!
Write…what is wrong with my writing today?
And I just read right over the errors without even noticing.
Whew! That’s good! I think we all do that!
An author I should perhaps read more of but alas isn’t top of my list.
BermudaOnion above makes a great comment about how times have changed. I can’t help wondering whether or not people will one day look at self published books (or indeed those published by small Indie publishers) with as much respect as they do ones published by the ‘big’ publishers in the way that people now respect female authors as much as they do male authors.
I would imagine they will. Even now, self-published books aren’t looked down on as much as they used to be. I would say it also has to do with quality, but some big publishers have some pretty junkie books.