A Caribbean Mystery

BBC Radio 4 Marple

by Michael Bakewell (Adapter), Agatha Christie, June Whitfield (Narrator)

As Miss Marple sat basking in the Caribbean sunshine, she felt mildly discontented with life. True, the warmth eased her rheumatism, but here in paradise nothing ever happened. Eventually, her interest was aroused by an old soldier's yarn about a strange coincidence. Infuriatingly, just as he was about to show her an astonishing photograph, the Major's attention wandered. He never did finish the story... June Whitfield stars as the sharp-witted spinster sleuth in a BBC full-cast radio drama.

Disk 1: The peace of a beautiful tropical island is shattered by murder. Why is Miss Marple so concerned with a photograph?

Disk 2: Miss Marple continues her investigations, whilst supposedly on holiday. Was Major Palgrave's sudden death accidental, or was it murder? Miss Marple begins to doubt her own conclusions.

Disk 3: Following a death, Miss Marple delves deeper. The authorities have been called in and a murder investigation is under way. How sinister is Molly's behaviour? Miss Marple has her suspicions.

Disk 4: After two deaths, Miss Marple is in need of someone to talk to but what's the Scotland Yard equivalent in the West Indies? Miss Marple needs an ally, but who can she turn to?

Disk 5: Molly recovers from her 'episode' and Miss Marple learns about 'persecution mania'. Two murders and now an attempted suicide - are they somehow linked?

This adaptation was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 - 30 October to 27 November 1997.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Crime, Fiction, Agatha Christie, Summer, Detective

3 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 1997

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

[Jack Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars. A delightful cozy up there with a surreptitious vacation in the sun. Miss Marple's nephew Raymond West has purchased a vacation for her to St. Honore in the West Indies. Did you bring your knitting? Christie based this illusive location on one of the most beautiful tropical islands in the world, one she had visited, Barbados. Along with Miss Marple, we bask in the warmth of the locals and the locale. She is patiently listening to a new acquaintance, Major Palgrave who, in one of his many alcohol-fueled stories, claims to have a snapshot of a murderer. Interesting. "Can you show it to me?" As he's bringing it out, he becomes flushed and flustered. It quickly gets pocketed. Later that evening, he dies. High blood pressure you say? We also meet a memorable character who eventually refers to Miss Marple as the murderer's "Nemesis" - Jason Rafiel, an older businessman. Cantankerous. I caught the novel as an audio dramatization from the BBC. Try it that way and you too can enjoy occasional musical interludes - steel pan from the Caribbean. Lovely, although it doesn't come close to matching a real visit and the Royal Barbados Police Band! (April 2019)

[Alyson Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done dramatisation from the BBC with the ever lively Miss Marple finding the murderer when the list of suspects is long! Lovely setting and a nice bit of steel band music 🎶

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our Miss Marple is sent for a vacation to the Islands. Murder and intrigue ensue. An OK corral of efficient voice actors provide the entertainment. Of special note for the introduction of cranky, wheelchair bound Jason Rafiel, as Marple's sidekick in the solution of the crime. Rafiel serves as the spur for further Marple sleuthing in Christie's later book Nemesis.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great radio theatre 'read'. A little spunky, a variety cast, emotions, plenty of switchbacks and the startling conclusion. A great vacation from reading...while still reading. Enjoy!

[RinTinTin]

Most Miss Marple books you can read out of order without losing much. However, I highly recommend reading this one BEFORE Nemesis, since there are connections between the two. That being said, Nemesis is my preferred of the two.

[Annette Meier · Rating 5 out of 5]

These radio dramas add even more charm to these classic Miss Marple Mysteries. Great story too.

[Brian Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one!

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a dramatized version of A Caribbean Mystery, written by Agatha Christie, and present by BBC Radio with a cast of four. Well done.

[sabisteb aka callisto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um sich nach einer schweren Erkältung zu erholen, schenkt der Neffe von Miss Marple ihr einen Urlaub in der Karibik. Das Ferienresort scheint ein all-inclusive abgeschottetes Areal zu sein, wie man es auch heute noch kennt. Miss Marple hängt jeden Tag mit denselben Leuten ab, besonders mit einem Major Palgrave, der allen mit seinen alten Geschichten auf den Nerv geht, die er täglich mehrfach wiederholt. Diesmal fragt er Miss Marple, ob sie das Foto eines Mörders sehen will. Bevor es jedoch dazu kommt, wird sie von den anderen Bewohnern des Resorts davor bewahrt und kurz darauf ist der Major tot, Herzinfakt aufgrund zu hohen Blutdrucks. Miss Marple zweifelt jedoch an einer natürlichen Ursache, denn das Foto, das sie nun doch brennend interessiert ist weg. Warum lies der Major es in seiner Jacke verschwinden, als die anderen kamen? Erkannte er den Mörder vom Foto wieder? Kurz darauf wird das Hausmädchen erstochen, das behauptete, der Major hätte gar keinen hohen Blutdruck gehabt und nie entsprechende Medikamente genommen. Molly, die Ehefrau des Inhabers des Resorts leidet derweil an psychotischen Schüben und Erinnerungslücken. Ist sie die Mörderin und kann sich nur nicht daran erinnern? Kurz darauf geschieht ein weiterer Mord.

Einer der besten Miss Marple Fälle. Hier gibt es sehr viele Verdächtige und sehr geschickt wird der Verdacht immer wieder auf andere gelenkt. Diesmal sind tatsächlich alle Hinweise von Anfang an vorhanden, nichts wird verschwiegen und jeder hat eine faire Chance, selber herauszufinden wer der Mörder ist. Ein wenig erinnert dieser Fall schon an die Winkelzüge aus Poirots „Appointment with Death“, die Motive sind auch ähnlich, aber dennoch ist dieser Fall insgesamt sehr eigenständig.

Wichtig ist dieser Fall auch, weil Miss Marple in diesem Mr. Rafiel kennenlernt und in die Lösung des Verbrechens mit einbezieht. Mr. Rafiel ist derjenige, der ihr post mortem den Fall Nemesis überträgt. Daher sollte man diesen Fall kennen, bevor man sich Nemesis vornimmt.

Das Hörspiel reiht sich nahtlos in die Reihe der BBC Miss Marple Hörspiele ein. Passende Soundkulisse, kein nerviger Soundtrack, nur die Erkennungsmelodie und erneut spricht June Whitfield in diesem BBC Hörspiel aus dem Jahr 1997 Miss Marple. In weiteren Rollen sind zu hören David Thorpe, Windsor Davies, Carolyn Jones, Christopher Wright, George A Cooper, Yvonne Edgell, Jenny Lee und Alison Pettitt. Der Director ist ebenfalls wie bei den anderen Episoden Enyd Williams.

[Mae Leveson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really enjoying these BBC adaptations of some of Miss Marple’s cases. The full cast production makes them far more interesting than some audio books with only one narrator.

[Andrew]

Clever twists. Rosemary Leach is a perfect reader for this.

[Lotta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very nice BBC version of a classic Agatha Christie whodunnit.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy listen, as always.... love the full BBC cast on the audiobook!