A Pocket Full of Rye: Complete & Unabridged (Audio CD) - Agatha Christie

...Businessman Rex Fortescue was sipping a quite cup of tea in his office when he collapses in pain, claiming he has been poisoned. Rushed to hospital, he suffers a painful death. On later inspection, his pockets were found to contain traces of cereal (rye). The local police in the form of Detective Inspector Neele, suspects that his young wife Adele, whom he believes is having an affair, has poisoned Rex for his money. But when two more deaths occur ...
...Miss Marple series. A previous version with June Whitfield (2005) is also available from BBC Books (via their website) or it may be worth enquiring at your local library. Price: £11.95, it runs for 1 hour 30 mins, over 2 CDs. A DVD version of Pocketful of Rye is also available, starring Joan Hickson as Miss Jane Marple, as seen on television. The original novel was published in 1953.

It emerges that Max Fortescue was a bit of tyrant ... more

As may be expected by any reader familar with Agatha Christie's novels, this vintage mystery rattles along in formidable style. Businessman Rex Fortescue was sipping a quite cup of tea in his office when he collapses in pain, claiming he has been poisoned. Rushed to hospital, he suffers a painful death. On later inspection, his pockets were found to contain traces of cereal (rye). The local police in the form of Detective Inspector Neele, suspects that his young wife Adele, whom he believes is having an affair, has poisoned Rex for his money. But when two more deaths occur in the victim's home, that of the wife and a young servant, the impressionable Gladys Martin, the Inspector receives an unexpected visitor. Miss Marple, the elderly detective lady, once knew the latest victim, and belives that the murders are connected to the well-known childhood nursery rhyme.

This Audio CD is issued by Harper Collins, starring Geraldine McEwan, to tie in with the new TV adaptation of the Miss Marple series. A previous version with June Whitfield (2005) is also available from BBC Books (via their website) or it may be worth enquiring at your local library. Price: £11.95, it runs for 1 hour 30 mins, over 2 CDs. A DVD version of Pocketful of Rye is also available, starring Joan Hickson as Miss Jane Marple, as seen on television. The original novel was published in 1953.

It emerges that Max Fortescue was a bit of tyrant and the family firm is on the verge of financial failure. He has two sons; Lance, who lives in Africa having been accused for forging a company cheque many years ago, whilst Percival worked for his father in the City. Also residing in the Fortescue household is Rex's elderly sister in law, Adele, who has an appartment to herself. Other characters include Vivian Dubois, a golfing playboy, Miss Dove the housekeeper, the Cook and the butler. When Lance returns to England unexpectedly, bringing with him his new wife, he hears news of his father's death whilst on the Cross-Channel steamer. He claims that Rex had asked him to return in order to effect a reconciliation, and that he hoped to claim a partnership in the business.

Matters are further complicated by rumours of a failed venture at the Blackbird Mine in Africa by Rex in his younger days...

Expect plenty of period detail, flamboyant characters that just keep the right side of archetypes and wonderful dialogue - there is always a surprise at the end admist the twists and turns in any Christie novel.
 

...less