2001 audio adaptation by Michael Bakewell of Christie's 1940s mystery,
in one 90-minute episode. Newlywed New Zealander Gwenda Reed finds the
house she's just bought in England stranglely, even hauntingly,
familiar, and then breaks down at a performance of The Duchess of
Malfi…
Yes, I know it was published in 1976; as with Curtain for
Poirot, Christie wrote Miss Marple's "last case" during the war,
perhaps in case she didn't survive the Blitz. It's less explicitly a
last case, though, as Miss Marple is alive and well at the end of
it.
Christie uses a particular trick that's uncontentiously regarded as
fair play within the context of mysteries, and does it well – and the
cast carry it off. The only really well-known name here apart from
June Whitfield is Julian Glover, who does a fine job of not taking
over, even if at 66 he's perhaps a little old for the role of Dr
Kennedy.
It all feels a little loose on the scaffolding at times, as the couple
keep digging up a thing then reporting back to Miss Marple to get
their next sub-quest. Still, a pleasing production.
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