13 at Dinner

BBC Radio 4 Poirot

by Michael Bakewell (Adapter), Agatha Christie

"Monsieur Poirot, somehow or other I've just got to get rid of my husband!" No sooner had she uttered these words than Lady Edgware's husband was dead, brutally stabbed in the neck. The evidence against her is overwhelming, the case cut and dried. But what is the truth behind it all? What enemies lurked in the background of the victim's life? Hercule Poirot is on the case, intrigued once more, ready to investigate murder in the library.

John Moffatt stars as the great Belgian detective in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatization. It was first broadcast from 18 March to 15 April 1992.

2 CDs. 2 hrs 20 mins.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Agatha Christie, Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

2 pages, Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Michael Bakewell (7 June 1931 – 11 July 2023) was a British radio and television producer and radio playwright.

His work included adapting The Lord of the Rings (with Brian Sibley) into a 1981 radio series for the BBC and a series of 27 adaptations of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot stories broadcast between 1985 and 2007 by BBC Radio 4.

He was born in Birmingham, England. After graduating from Cambridge in 1954, he was recruited by the BBC's Third Programme. He became the first Head of Plays at the BBC in the 1960s.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't my favorite Agatha Christie novel. It was enjoyable, but Hercule Poirot was very prideful in this story and often flaunted his knowledge and superiority over the other characters (particularly often telling Hastings how his brain is inferior) and that was annoying. The plot was also a little too twisty to the point where I got lost figuring out how things all worked out and how Poirot discovered the murderer. I liked how Agatha Christie presented so many different types of people and the psychology of people, but the story itself, I felt, was lacking a little in coherency.

[Mary Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read.
Dr. Watson has an undeserved reputation for not being that bright, but Hastings...get a clue man. Hahaha...

[Zana · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Agatha Christie book. And I have to say, I'm impressed. Not that I expected anything less from her. I love Hercule Poirot, I really like the way he thinks and how he can read a person so quickly. I wish I had a mind like he does... He really is a perfect main character for detective books. Can't wait to start another Agatha Christie book, this one really left me wanting for more.

[Taiga]

This was a very entertaining read and I would recommend to all that share my interest in mystery novels.

Overview
Agatha Christie, your work is simply put, immortal. The depth of mystery in every one of your novels, including this one, is astonishing. Every chapter is well developed and captivating. The plot is very consistent and detailed. My favorite favorite part of the series is how there is no set story arc, therefore every novel becomes an original. With the exception that our favorite detective Hercule Poirot is the main detective in every one. In my opinion, this adds a stronger connection to the characters of the book. I love this aspect.
As I started reading this book the foreign language, and the old English discouraged me from reading any further. However, this novel did not fail in to least to capture my full attention after a few pages.

 At first it seemed very obvious that the first victim of murder, Lord Edgware had been killed by his wife Jane Wilkinson. However, after Jane Wilkinson also became a victim of murder my perspective as a reader had been changed. This added a entire new layer of mystery to the novel.
 Hastings. He was a good friend of detective Poirot, and narrated the entire book. This added a very positive outlook to the novel, making it capture my interest even more.
 Another favorite part of the book was how easily and quickly Hercule Poirot is able to read every other character’s intentions. This made him seem very knowledgeable, while also seeming respectable.

Agatha Christie, I wish you were still alive to see how the success of your series of well crafted novels continues to grow even today.
I look towards reading more of your mysterious novels.

[Courtney Sexton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first ever Agatha Christie novel. I don't read a lot of fiction generally (trying to change that this year) and mystery novels are even another step outside my usual reading fare so this was very new and different for me.

My approach to fiction (both movies, shows, and books) is usually pretty immersive. I enter into the story rather than standing outside it and trying to notice things or figure things out. This makes it fun because I almost never see anything coming. 😂 Let's just say that for me, willful suspension of disbelief comes pretty naturally. Reading a classic mystery though, I felt like I SHOULD be at least trying to solve the mystery along with Poirot. But whatever. I enjoyed this mystery as a Courtney would, just along for the ride.

Reading this book had me reexamining what I look for in a novel - what makes a book a favorite, one that I'll be thinking and pondering on for years. For me, it's all about a good character study - a character that can grow and change through the story with strengths and weaknesses that challenge me and make me think about what kind of person I want to be. This book was more a light, easy read but I'd think if you have a brain that likes to try to solve mysteries you might enjoy it more than I did! It was fun for what it was but I don't know that I feel a drive to go read more anytime super soon.

[A.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poirot warns that a murderer will kill again when no one is particularly upset that Lord Edgware has been stabbed at his desk.
His daughter, his nephew, his estranged wife - all wanted him dead and said so.
Oddly, the murderer said she was Lady Edgware and marched right into the house, but she was at a dinner party and with twelve people to confirm her alibi, it cannot be her. And given the Lord told Poirot he would grant her divorce the day before, why did she need to murder him?
And how does it have anything to do with the overdose death of the performer Carlotta Adams, the missing money and the absent butler?
The Lady also had a dumped movie star ex who wants revenge; originally the divorce was needed to marry him but now Jane has met the Duke of Merton and wants to trade up.
“Her ladyship is very keen on position” her maid Ellis says.
Indeed.
But Poirot is very keen on his reputation, and being sent to speak to Lord Edgware and being lied to about an odd man with a gold tooth annoyed him no end.
Sadly they cut out Poirot nearly being run over by a car… lol. Too hard for an audio production so he had to have his revelation another way.
3 stars

[Karah Ritter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very good actually. Lots of plot twists and mind-boggling questions that are very confusing until it is revealed at the end. Good characters with in-depth backstories. The amount of detail is impeccable as well which adds to the mystery. The only criticism I can say is at the beginning of the book. It is when we are introduced to the characters and setting for the book. Yes, very important but it can be slow and almost boring. But when you get past that (to about chapter 4 or 5), the story picks up and I couldn't put it down. Overall, a really good book and I would highly recommend it!

[Sahar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same as all other Agatha Christie books. Entertaining and a good distraction from the real world. This was the first book I read from her in original language (english). It’s very easy to read. In all the translated versions I had read before, it was merely mentioned that Poirot has a Belgian accent when speaking English. To my surprise, you realize it’s more than that when you read the text in English. He’s consistently making grammatical and vocabulary mistakes. I found it cute and at the same time quite disappointed that this detail was lost in translation.

[Jonathan Lack · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first time reading Agatha and probably not the best one to start with, but it was part of an omnibus and was the first. I enjoyed it a lot and am definitely going to try more.
Loved the writing style and the pacing for the most part. Got to know poirot and Hastings really well. The various characters all kept my interest and it gave a great feeling of the time.
Loved the outcome, but there were a few too many twists and the final explanation was lengthy, but justified.

Cracking good yarn and I enjoyed it for my first go around with this classic author.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poirot and Hastings go up against the artsy set in this tale of murder and impostors in the theatre crowd. An unrelenting villain, unrepentant to the end. Several red herrings, some "anglo-catholic" plot devices and a special delight for Poirot who takes the opportunity for a bit of revenge for having been made a "cat's paw"... Poor Hastings doesn't have much to do in this one except some select plot summary.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Agatha Christie mysteries. They are clean and yet quite grusome in a mental picture kind of way. She can make a mystery exciting and page turning in a simple fun way. 13 at Dinner was exactly that. An actress, impersonator, friends at the right place, and someone who is so much more intelligent than meets the eye. A mix that can only be explored and read about.

[Tibor · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second novel by Agatha Christie, didn't like it as much as the first one ( Murder on the Orient Express), but it was still interesting and well written.

[Jenny Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hercule Poirot is such a great character. I've read a few of his detective stories and feel that I get a better grasp of his personality each time. I do better listening to these mysteries than reading them. As usual, Agatha Christie did a great job.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

As my first Agatha Christie mystery, I really wanted to love this book, but I found it difficult to truly immerse myself in the story and the characters. Overall I enjoyed it, but it was not all that I had expected.

[Conina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best one so far in my opinion! I loved it!

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of twists and turns in this tale !

[Stephanie Ricker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overdrive only has one more BBC radio 4 Christie dramatization left that I haven't read, and I'll be sad to finish them. Good twist on this one!

[Jack Laschenski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twists and turns.

Clever quips.

Poor Hastintgs.

Great Agatha.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel I am binge reading Agatha Christie books. This one was difficult to discern who committed the murder. I had to wait until the last few pages before Poirot figured it out.

[Printable Tire]

I listened to a BBC audiobook adaption at the gym. Convoluted middle part although I thought the solution was fairly obvious. No idea why it's named 13 at Dinner .

[Sheryl Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but difficult to enjoy Library for Blind's narrator Tom Martin.

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good mystery that investigates so many avenues but is still complex and surprising. This BBC dramatization was done very well and great to listen to.

[Gundrada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun and a clever mystery, but the final murder requires such a suspension of disbelief that I can't award a full five stars.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot believe I've been sleeping on these bite-sized Poirots

[sabisteb aka callisto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Schauspielerin Jane Wilkinson bittet Poirot, dass er ihren Mann, den vierten Baron Edgware, darum bittet, sich von ihr scheiden zu lassen, damit sie den, Duke of Merton heiraten kann. Leider hält Baron Edgware nicht viel von Scheidung, er weigerte sich schon, seine erste Frau freizugeben, die sich von ihm wegen Grausamkeit trennte, denn der Baron liebt es, Menschen auf die eine oder andere Art zu quälen. Widerwillig stimmt Poirot zu, den eigentlich ist das nicht sein Metier. Er wird aber hellhörig, als er erfährt, dass Edgware bereits vor Monaten in eine Scheidung eingewilligt hat, aber seine Frau hat diesen Brief nie erhalten. Jane Wilkinson ist überglücklich. Am selben Abend wird Lord Edgware von jemandem ermordet, der sich selbst als Jane Wilkinson ausgibt, die jedoch zu diesem Zeitpunkt auf einer Party ist, was dreizehn weitere Gäste bestätigen können.
Am gleichen Abend geschah noch ein zweiter Mord: die mit Jane Wilkinson befreundete Schauspielerin Carlotta Adams starb an einer Überdosis Veronal.

Ein Toter, der es verdiente zu sterben, und der dementsprechend viele Feinde hatte und keinen, der wirklich um ihn trauert. Verdächtige sterben, bevor sie befragt werden können und andere Verdächtige haben Alibis und viele Zeugen. Ein gelungenes Verwirrspiel, das für mich einen Hacken hat. Kann man wirklich zwei Personen so einfach miteinander verwechseln, besonders, wenn sie so berühmt berüchtigt und bekannt sind wie Jane Wilkinson? Aus der Ferne sicherlich, das ist glaubwürdig, aber bei einer Dinnerparty, auch wenn man nur Kerzenlicht verwendet, es bleiben doch zu viele Merkmale, die eine Verwechslung für mich eher unglaubwürdig erscheinen lassen, wie Stimme, Gesicht, Muttermale (ich denke bei Tisch hat man sicher den Hut abgenommen). Da hackt die Geschichte für mich und verliert an Glaubwürdigkeit. Das Motiv ist soweit nachvollziehbar, aber warum so ein Aufhebens, warum ein so dermaßen überkonstruiertes Verbrechen? Das wäre doch auch einfacher und deutlich unauffälliger gegangen. Überhaupt, warum der dritte Mord. Woher wusste der/die Mörder/in von diesem Zeugen? Vielleicht kommen diese Verständnisschwierigkeiten durch ungeschicktes Kürzen beim Hörspiel, das wäre durchaus möglich.
Überhaupt, das Motiv. Da soll jemand mehr Probleme mit einer Scheidung als dem Job der Schauspielerin haben, das halte ich doch für fragwürdig, aber Gläubigen sind ja nicht gerade dafür bekannt, nach logischen Gesichtspunkten zu handeln.
Insgesamt wieder einmal typisch überkonstruiert, aber immerhin werden diesmal keine wirklich wichtigen Fakten verschwiegen und so dem Zuhörer und Leser die Chance genommen mitzurätseln. In diesem Fall setzt die Autorin auf ein (mäßig glaubwürdiges) Verwirrspiel.

Erneut ein Hörspiel mit dem wunderbaren John Moffatt als Hercule Poirot. Alle Sprecher sind sehr gut und einfach an ihren Stimmen zu unterscheiden. Der Fall ist in sich abgeschlossen und kann einzeln gehört werden. Das Hörspiel wurde vom BBC zum ersten Mal im März 1992 gesendet und kann seitdem immer wieder mal wieder auf BBC Radio 4 Extra gehört werden.
Der Fall ist unter zwei unterschiedlichen Titeln bekannt: Lord Edgware Dies und Thirteen at Dinner manchmal auch unter Mord à la Carte.

[Richard Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of Dame Christie's greater works but the voice cast is excellent.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hercule Poirot mystery. In London, Poirot is approached by a well known actress to be her intermediary to talk her husband into divorcing her. She laos vocally comments about killing him if necessary to obtain her freedom so that she can marry someone else. The woman is very self centered and largely amoral in terms of running her life. Soon after the husband is found murdered and as Poirot investigates, an elaborate plot and plan is behind all that happened and subsequence murders.

Typical Poirot investigation with some false starts in his reasoning which takes him off track and myriad of possible suspects.

[Alysia · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason I couldn't quite get into this book. It wasn't a badly written story, I just couldn't get into any of the characters. Periot stories are good, but sometimes he can be a litle too vague, and you almost feel lost until the last chapter when he seems to magically pull everything together into a tight, neat little story.

[Doron Yam · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was my first Christie's book and I have to say that I enjoyed it very much.
Even though I knew who the murderer was from the very begining I didnt quite see how the pices are attached together until the very end. It was masterfuly done and masterfuly written.
Indeed, a Recomended one!