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The Witness for the Prosecution: an Agatha Christie Short Story
When an elderly and wealthy spinster Emily French is found murdered, suspicion falls on Leonard Vole, the man to whom she hastily bequeathed her riches before she died.
Leonard assures his solicitor that his wife, Romaine Heilger, can provide him with an alibi. However, when questioned, Romaine informs the police that Vole returned home late that night covered in blood. During the trial, Ms. French's housekeeper, Janet, gives damning evidence against Vole and, as Romaine's cross-examination begins, her motives come under scrutiny in the courtroom. One question remains, will justice prevail?
Librarian's note #1: this is the original short story. It was published in the print anthologies, The Witness for The Prosecution and Other Stories, and The Hound of Death and Other Stories. It first appeared in Flynn's Weekly under the title of Traitor Hands in 1925. The author adapted it into a play in 1953 with additional material following the original ending, which became the basis for the 1957 film of the same name with Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich.
Leonard assures his solicitor that his wife, Romaine Heilger, can provide him with an alibi. However, when questioned, Romaine informs the police that Vole returned home late that night covered in blood. During the trial, Ms. French's housekeeper, Janet, gives damning evidence against Vole and, as Romaine's cross-examination begins, her motives come under scrutiny in the courtroom. One question remains, will justice prevail?
Librarian's note #1: this is the original short story. It was published in the print anthologies, The Witness for The Prosecution and Other Stories, and The Hound of Death and Other Stories. It first appeared in Flynn's Weekly under the title of Traitor Hands in 1925. The author adapted it into a play in 1953 with additional material following the original ending, which became the basis for the 1957 film of the same name with Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich.
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 1925
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About the author
Agatha Christie
5,786 books74.8k followersAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 415 reviews
October 9, 2021
What appears to be a cut and dried case of murder against Leonard Vole, is something that his lawyer will struggle to disprove. His lawyer is good, but is he good enough to secure a not guilty verdict.
Really enjoyed this one, I never knew which way it would go, and there was a terrific twist at the end!
Really enjoyed this one, I never knew which way it would go, and there was a terrific twist at the end!
September 11, 2025
Agatha Christie is the author who made me start reading. Before that, I had never read fiction out of my own will.
But after a while, my opinion began to change a little—I knew that whichever of her books I picked up, it would definitely keep me interested until the end, but nothing beyond that. One of the obstacles was that I often figured out the criminal quite a bit before the ending. I owed this to the fact that she is the queen of the genre, and people have been borrowing from her work for almost 100 years (well, a bit less, but “100” sounds more elegant :D). In short, I had already seen every type of case slightly altered somewhere else. But luckily, this story/play made me notice something I hadn’t realized until now.
Let’s begin.
Usually, we are used to Agatha Christie’s books having a crime, and Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple being the ones to solve it by the end. Until now, I hadn’t really thought about it, but I actually love both of them. They are balanced, observant, with a sense of humor. Even though they catch the criminal, they don’t judge them—of course, they also don’t justify them. Despite the crime, they manage to create a certain coziness. No matter how complicated everything seems, as long as they’re around, there’s no problem.
In The Witness for the Prosecution, it’s a bit different because we are in the head of the lawyer, Mr. Mayherne. Because of his profession, he cannot be quite like the characters I mentioned above. His goal is not simply to be the smart person who happens to stumble upon a crime. He has to be a lawyer, and this is where the big difference lies. 🕵️♂️
With Poirot and Marple, the coziness comes from the fact that they always hold control in their hands—no matter how grim the crime is, you feel there’s someone who will put the puzzle together. With Mr. Mayherne in The Witness for the Prosecution, we don’t have that same sense of calm. He is a man of the law, bound by the framework of evidence, witness testimony, and procedural rules. His mind is sharp, but there’s a constant tension between his desire to believe his client and his professional duty to remain objective.
What struck me is how Agatha Christie uses the lawyer as a mirror for the reader. While Poirot hands you the solution like a teacher who already knows the answer, with Mr. Mayherne you’re right inside his doubts. You pass through his hesitations, his attempts to make sense out of fragmented clues, and most importantly—you feel the uncertainty of whether truth can ever truly be reached.
And that’s the strength of this text—it’s less of a cozy puzzle and more of a moral trap. There are no clean lines between good and evil, but rather a human fate, where every word, every smile, and every pause in court can tip the scales. By the end, you’re left not so much with intellectual satisfaction, but with the question: “Would I even recognize the truth if I saw it?”
After this story, I’ll most likely pick up another Christie book soon, because this time I’ll focus more on the other things, not just on the crime itself.
Pre_read
I’ll be traveling by train and I want something short to read. I think this will do a great job.
But after a while, my opinion began to change a little—I knew that whichever of her books I picked up, it would definitely keep me interested until the end, but nothing beyond that. One of the obstacles was that I often figured out the criminal quite a bit before the ending. I owed this to the fact that she is the queen of the genre, and people have been borrowing from her work for almost 100 years (well, a bit less, but “100” sounds more elegant :D). In short, I had already seen every type of case slightly altered somewhere else. But luckily, this story/play made me notice something I hadn’t realized until now.
Let’s begin.
Usually, we are used to Agatha Christie’s books having a crime, and Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple being the ones to solve it by the end. Until now, I hadn’t really thought about it, but I actually love both of them. They are balanced, observant, with a sense of humor. Even though they catch the criminal, they don’t judge them—of course, they also don’t justify them. Despite the crime, they manage to create a certain coziness. No matter how complicated everything seems, as long as they’re around, there’s no problem.
In The Witness for the Prosecution, it’s a bit different because we are in the head of the lawyer, Mr. Mayherne. Because of his profession, he cannot be quite like the characters I mentioned above. His goal is not simply to be the smart person who happens to stumble upon a crime. He has to be a lawyer, and this is where the big difference lies. 🕵️♂️
With Poirot and Marple, the coziness comes from the fact that they always hold control in their hands—no matter how grim the crime is, you feel there’s someone who will put the puzzle together. With Mr. Mayherne in The Witness for the Prosecution, we don’t have that same sense of calm. He is a man of the law, bound by the framework of evidence, witness testimony, and procedural rules. His mind is sharp, but there’s a constant tension between his desire to believe his client and his professional duty to remain objective.
What struck me is how Agatha Christie uses the lawyer as a mirror for the reader. While Poirot hands you the solution like a teacher who already knows the answer, with Mr. Mayherne you’re right inside his doubts. You pass through his hesitations, his attempts to make sense out of fragmented clues, and most importantly—you feel the uncertainty of whether truth can ever truly be reached.
And that’s the strength of this text—it’s less of a cozy puzzle and more of a moral trap. There are no clean lines between good and evil, but rather a human fate, where every word, every smile, and every pause in court can tip the scales. By the end, you’re left not so much with intellectual satisfaction, but with the question: “Would I even recognize the truth if I saw it?”
After this story, I’ll most likely pick up another Christie book soon, because this time I’ll focus more on the other things, not just on the crime itself.
Pre_read
I’ll be traveling by train and I want something short to read. I think this will do a great job.
May 30, 2025
LOVE THE ENDING!
This one is juicy.
A rich old lady is found dead and all signs point toward Leonard Vole, a young man who has been paying her special attention, as she had apparently changed her will and he stands to inherit a good deal of money.
Did he kill her?
All signs point to yes.
But his attorney, Mr. Mayhew, isn't convinced that he's actually guilty. Especially once he pays a visit to Leonard's wife, Romaine. <--yes, like the lettuce
Leonard swears she can give him an alibi for the time of the murder, but when Mayhew speaks to her, it's obvious to him that she's a bitter woman who can't wait to see her lover hanged.
Even if she has to lie on the witness stand to do it.
The ending to this one was abrupt and shocking - and I loved it!
WHAT?!
Published in Flynn's Weekly in 1925, the story was originally titled Traitor's Hands. Christie was unhappy with her ending so when she later turned it into a play, she changed it up .
However, I prefer the shock of the original.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
This one is juicy.
A rich old lady is found dead and all signs point toward Leonard Vole, a young man who has been paying her special attention, as she had apparently changed her will and he stands to inherit a good deal of money.
Did he kill her?
All signs point to yes.
But his attorney, Mr. Mayhew, isn't convinced that he's actually guilty. Especially once he pays a visit to Leonard's wife, Romaine. <--yes, like the lettuce
Leonard swears she can give him an alibi for the time of the murder, but when Mayhew speaks to her, it's obvious to him that she's a bitter woman who can't wait to see her lover hanged.
Even if she has to lie on the witness stand to do it.
The ending to this one was abrupt and shocking - and I loved it!
WHAT?!
Published in Flynn's Weekly in 1925, the story was originally titled Traitor's Hands. Christie was unhappy with her ending so when she later turned it into a play, she changed it up .
However, I prefer the shock of the original.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Read
October 3, 20259/30/25: Reread for Fall 2025 Detective Fiction Class, one of my favorites.
8/8/24: Listened to this story read by Christopher Lee and loved it after last night watching again the Billy Wilder film based on it, and also loved it, one of the all time great films, with Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich, in anticipation of reading the story in my Detective Ficti0n class in Fall 2024.
Original Review, 11/29/17: I took a break from reading Christie’s Hercule Poirot novels to listen to Christopher Lee read this Christie short story. I have read some of her stories, but had made the decision not to read all of her Poirot short stories in addition to her novels. I guess in general at the moment I just had preferred the novels. But after reading dozens of these often overlong novels in a row, where you sift through what you know to be more than 200 pages of red herrings, cul-de-sacs and so on, well, sometimes it’s time for a short story, eh? This one, “Witness for the Prosecution,” is one of her best known, and one of her best, I think, though apparently Christie didn’t like the ending. She found the ending too abrupt, and she also knew that the stage audience would be shocked at the original ending.
Leonard Vole is arrested for the murder of Emily French, a wealthy older woman. The evidence seems overwhelmingly damning, which usually means he didn’t do it. The wife of the accused, Romaine, takes the stand at one point, but actually as a witness for the prosecution! She, of the title, yup. Of course I can’t reveal what happens, but you will not be surprised that it was adapted for the stage and film, a critical and popular success. Then Charles Laughton in the trailer for the film forbids you to reveal the ending to anyone, so who am I to confront Charles Laughton, even decades later?
If I think the novels go on too long, so I am leaning into studying rhe stories more. I think this story could have been a bit less reported, more enacted, with a bit more actual dialogue, but when you do get dialogue it is very good. And then, I, racing through Christie, committed, this time, to outsmarting her, fall short of the finish line once again, and again, three or four times, outsmarted in this one story! Oh, go ahead, smartie! I challenge you to anticipate what she is going to do to twist your brain inside and out. Oh, I am sure you are [not] smarter than that old stuffy lady mystery writer!
Listen to it yourself (it will take only 27 minutes) here:
https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/rev...
Now wasn’t that great!? Oh, and without the goofy Belgian Poirot, the tone is so different here, with Mr. Mayhew as the brilliant solicitor of the accused. But even better with Charles Laughton as Mayhew! It was kind of refreshing not to have Poirot in this one. And horror actor Lee as the reader: Delicious.
8/8/24: Listened to this story read by Christopher Lee and loved it after last night watching again the Billy Wilder film based on it, and also loved it, one of the all time great films, with Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich, in anticipation of reading the story in my Detective Ficti0n class in Fall 2024.
Original Review, 11/29/17: I took a break from reading Christie’s Hercule Poirot novels to listen to Christopher Lee read this Christie short story. I have read some of her stories, but had made the decision not to read all of her Poirot short stories in addition to her novels. I guess in general at the moment I just had preferred the novels. But after reading dozens of these often overlong novels in a row, where you sift through what you know to be more than 200 pages of red herrings, cul-de-sacs and so on, well, sometimes it’s time for a short story, eh? This one, “Witness for the Prosecution,” is one of her best known, and one of her best, I think, though apparently Christie didn’t like the ending. She found the ending too abrupt, and she also knew that the stage audience would be shocked at the original ending.
Leonard Vole is arrested for the murder of Emily French, a wealthy older woman. The evidence seems overwhelmingly damning, which usually means he didn’t do it. The wife of the accused, Romaine, takes the stand at one point, but actually as a witness for the prosecution! She, of the title, yup. Of course I can’t reveal what happens, but you will not be surprised that it was adapted for the stage and film, a critical and popular success. Then Charles Laughton in the trailer for the film forbids you to reveal the ending to anyone, so who am I to confront Charles Laughton, even decades later?
If I think the novels go on too long, so I am leaning into studying rhe stories more. I think this story could have been a bit less reported, more enacted, with a bit more actual dialogue, but when you do get dialogue it is very good. And then, I, racing through Christie, committed, this time, to outsmarting her, fall short of the finish line once again, and again, three or four times, outsmarted in this one story! Oh, go ahead, smartie! I challenge you to anticipate what she is going to do to twist your brain inside and out. Oh, I am sure you are [not] smarter than that old stuffy lady mystery writer!
Listen to it yourself (it will take only 27 minutes) here:
https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/rev...
Now wasn’t that great!? Oh, and without the goofy Belgian Poirot, the tone is so different here, with Mr. Mayhew as the brilliant solicitor of the accused. But even better with Charles Laughton as Mayhew! It was kind of refreshing not to have Poirot in this one. And horror actor Lee as the reader: Delicious.
March 23, 2017
A gold-digging man is accused of murdering a wealthy old woman who took a shine to him. He says he’s innocent but the evidence looks damning. Did he or did he not dunit? His defence lawyer sets out to uncover the truth.
This writer - Agatha bloody Christie! - always makes me feel like a fool and I love it! She effortlessly leads me by the nose, taking me exactly where she wants me to go while making me think I’m totally in charge and know where things are going. I thought I knew where the story was headed, just like I do with every Agatha Christie story I read, and then old Aggie pulls the rug out from under me with that terrific final twist. Wrong again, buddy! And, like most twists, it seems so obvious in retrospect but there lies the genius.
The Witness for the Prosecution was a thoroughly entertaining murder mystery with some clever misdirection and lots of great dialogue – easy to see why it was adapted for the stage and keeps being made into movies. Dame Agatha the Queen of Crime strikes again!
This writer - Agatha bloody Christie! - always makes me feel like a fool and I love it! She effortlessly leads me by the nose, taking me exactly where she wants me to go while making me think I’m totally in charge and know where things are going. I thought I knew where the story was headed, just like I do with every Agatha Christie story I read, and then old Aggie pulls the rug out from under me with that terrific final twist. Wrong again, buddy! And, like most twists, it seems so obvious in retrospect but there lies the genius.
The Witness for the Prosecution was a thoroughly entertaining murder mystery with some clever misdirection and lots of great dialogue – easy to see why it was adapted for the stage and keeps being made into movies. Dame Agatha the Queen of Crime strikes again!
November 1, 2025
This short story is right up there with Dame Agatha's greatest and she packs surprises and twists into it as only she can do.
It has also been presented as a play and a film (1957) which I have seen. Of course, there was much padding in the film or it would have only been about 10 minutes long! But it is well done with an extra surprise that is not in the short story. I suggest that you read this original version first and follow it up with the movie.
Because of it's brevity, a review is difficult without adding spoilers, so I will just say that the ending may take you by surprise. It is a five star winner!!
It has also been presented as a play and a film (1957) which I have seen. Of course, there was much padding in the film or it would have only been about 10 minutes long! But it is well done with an extra surprise that is not in the short story. I suggest that you read this original version first and follow it up with the movie.
Because of it's brevity, a review is difficult without adding spoilers, so I will just say that the ending may take you by surprise. It is a five star winner!!
November 5, 2018
Review tonight, honest :)
So I watched the recent (last year ?) TV adaptation starring Toby Jones as John Mayhew, having NOT previously read this short story and quite enjoyed it. He is an amazing actor.
Having just read this short story for the first time, I am astonished that the program I watched is even the same story. Maybe that's an exaggeration, but they certainly padded the TV program which was 2 hours long (without adverts). Some of what they added was pertinent to the story and I now realise some was completely irrelevant. But thats TV for you.
All of that said, the short story is very clever with a real twist (NOT a spoiler as lot of Christie's books contain twists), which was also in the TV adaptation.
So I watched the recent (last year ?) TV adaptation starring Toby Jones as John Mayhew, having NOT previously read this short story and quite enjoyed it. He is an amazing actor.
Having just read this short story for the first time, I am astonished that the program I watched is even the same story. Maybe that's an exaggeration, but they certainly padded the TV program which was 2 hours long (without adverts). Some of what they added was pertinent to the story and I now realise some was completely irrelevant. But thats TV for you.
All of that said, the short story is very clever with a real twist (NOT a spoiler as lot of Christie's books contain twists), which was also in the TV adaptation.
August 15, 2017
Oh, that Agatha Christie is one clever, clever girl! Loved it as usual.
January 6, 2017
Wait...what?! Dang it! I've been duped again!
A man accused of murdering an old woman for her money must rely upon his wife to set him free. Seems simple enough until it's discovered that the wife is not so reliable.
This is one of those stories that plays well with modern readers with its twists aplenty. Highly recommended for all, especially mystery lovers looking for a quick fix!
A man accused of murdering an old woman for her money must rely upon his wife to set him free. Seems simple enough until it's discovered that the wife is not so reliable.
This is one of those stories that plays well with modern readers with its twists aplenty. Highly recommended for all, especially mystery lovers looking for a quick fix!
January 25, 2021
The Witness for the Prosecution is an interesting murder-mystery short story written by the queen of mystery. Truly, her gift of creativity is incredible.
This short story unfolds in the manner of a prosecution for murder. The solicitor for the defense is the key figure who collects evidence to prove the innocence of his client. Amidst the damaging evidence, he believes in his innocence. However, in the end, although things go favourable to the solicitor, the truth leaves him completely stunned, and so are the readers! The plot twist of the story left me stupefied. Seriously, I never saw that coming and didn't even hazard a guess as to its probability.
The story, although short, was powerfully written and well-executed without betraying the mystery till the end. A genius piece of work by Agatha Christie. I enjoyed it very much.
This short story unfolds in the manner of a prosecution for murder. The solicitor for the defense is the key figure who collects evidence to prove the innocence of his client. Amidst the damaging evidence, he believes in his innocence. However, in the end, although things go favourable to the solicitor, the truth leaves him completely stunned, and so are the readers! The plot twist of the story left me stupefied. Seriously, I never saw that coming and didn't even hazard a guess as to its probability.
The story, although short, was powerfully written and well-executed without betraying the mystery till the end. A genius piece of work by Agatha Christie. I enjoyed it very much.
September 12, 2021
The Witness for the Prosecution is a 35-page murder mystery published in 1933, though original published a few years earlier under a different name. Later, it was rewritten as a play with an enhanced ending. It’s been adapted to film, theatre, television, radio, and audio. The totality of the works is evidence of its worth!
It’s about a man whose been accused of murdering a wealthy elderly friend, and this man, Leonard Vole, is adamant that he’s innocent of the crime despite finding out he will profit from the death. He relies on his wife, Romaine, to substantiate his alibi. Romaine, who becomes the witness for the prosecution, gets creative with her testimony. There’s no slack in the pacing from start to end. I enjoyed the unexpected twist in the story but would pick the enhanced film ending as my favorite!
Until recently, I never considered that AC might have written short stories. When the high rating on the 1957 film adaption caught my attention as I was scrolling through available movies, I just had to check it out. With excellent casting, this film matched the rating. I couldn’t find anything not to like, especially the melodramatic ending – it was so satisfying.
Once the film finished, I found the story to read. So, I went about the usual book to film process backwards. The different ending – film vs. story – would provide for fun book club discussions.
Fans who enjoy nontraditional classic mystery endings will be suited for the short story. If you relish vengeance, be sure to watch the film.
It’s about a man whose been accused of murdering a wealthy elderly friend, and this man, Leonard Vole, is adamant that he’s innocent of the crime despite finding out he will profit from the death. He relies on his wife, Romaine, to substantiate his alibi. Romaine, who becomes the witness for the prosecution, gets creative with her testimony. There’s no slack in the pacing from start to end. I enjoyed the unexpected twist in the story but would pick the enhanced film ending as my favorite!
Until recently, I never considered that AC might have written short stories. When the high rating on the 1957 film adaption caught my attention as I was scrolling through available movies, I just had to check it out. With excellent casting, this film matched the rating. I couldn’t find anything not to like, especially the melodramatic ending – it was so satisfying.
Once the film finished, I found the story to read. So, I went about the usual book to film process backwards. The different ending – film vs. story – would provide for fun book club discussions.
Fans who enjoy nontraditional classic mystery endings will be suited for the short story. If you relish vengeance, be sure to watch the film.
April 21, 2017
Long ago, as this is a very old book, this was made into a Billy Wilder film and remains one of my favorites to this day. It has a jaw-dropping ending, and hopefully no one has spoiled it for any of you who haven't seen it yet. I found this short available as a 52 minute audio book and couldn't resist it. The ending still puts me in awe of Agatha Christie's mind.
Well worth an hour or so of anyone's time, I highly recommend this, particularly if you like old films, courtroom dramas, and/or Ms. Christie. Hitchcock lovers also should love it, as he often has been (incorrectly) identified as the director. It has a definite Hitchcockian darkness to it.
A legal expert could probably find some facts to niggle about, but then that would ruin the fun. The film is available on youtube and probably as a free ebook pdf, but I haven't verified the quality of either. The audio book was excellent.
Well worth an hour or so of anyone's time, I highly recommend this, particularly if you like old films, courtroom dramas, and/or Ms. Christie. Hitchcock lovers also should love it, as he often has been (incorrectly) identified as the director. It has a definite Hitchcockian darkness to it.
A legal expert could probably find some facts to niggle about, but then that would ruin the fun. The film is available on youtube and probably as a free ebook pdf, but I haven't verified the quality of either. The audio book was excellent.
February 15, 2021
The Witness for the Prosecution is one of Agatha Christie's most famous short stories. The story has been adapted for the stage, radio, television and film. The story was originally published in the US in 1925 (Flynn's Weekly as The Traitor's Hands). It was included in The Hound of Death short story collection in the UK in 1933 and in The Witness For the Prosecution and Other Stories (US, 1948). The stage play was published in The Mousetrap and Other Plays (1993).
Agatha Christie wrote the stage play version in 1953, and the story was made into a movie starring Marlene Dietrich in 1957. Radio City Playhouse presented a radio drama of the story in 1949. It has been adapted for television multiple times...the latest in 2016. And BBC4 Radio "modernized" the story for a radio drama in the early 2000s. I'm sure there are other adaptations of this story that I have missed, as this tale has been retold many, many times in just about every format possible. I wonder if Christie realized that she was writing a classic when she first penned this story?
For a story to be adapted so many times, it has to be good! But...I have to admit that I have avoided reading, watching or listening to this story for a very stupid reason. When I was in high school, I acted and sang in every school production right down the line. I designed sets, helped block scenes, and really put my heart into every production. Then....my junior year, I was so delighted that the drama club was going to put on Witness for the Prosecution! But....the head of the drama department had been replaced by a former English teacher of mine who really didn't like me, and made no attempt to hide it. She really went out of her way to be....horrible. For no reason. I always did my work. I was respectful. I was always active in class. She just (for whatever reason) couldn't stand me. Even fellow students commented on it. And....she was in charge of auditions. I gave my best audition....followed her directions, read every line, discussed why I wanted to be in the play (Christie was my favorite author!). And three days later when cast and crew were posted ---- I was completely left out. Not even on the stage crew. This teacher stood outside her classroom door as I looked at the list and just smiled at me....a catty, nasty smile. And then she laughed. Seriously -- she smiled and LAUGHED. I learned years later that this teacher did not like my mother, and I suppose whatever issue they had trickled down down to me. After being totally left out of the play and that weird animosity from a teacher.....I just avoided this story. Never watched the film....avoided any television episodes....refused to read it. Silly I know.....but the whole event really pissed me off. She even left me off the stage and set crew assignments!!!!
So....36 years later....it's time to get over it! People will be people....it was unfortunate, but that's no reason to avoid a classic story by my favorite author! I finally decided to break my boycott of Witness. It's not Agatha Christie's fault that I was slighted when I was 16 years old.
I'm so glad I finally read this story! It's excellent! And it definitely has that famous Christie twist! I also watched the 2016 television adaptation. It was very very good! There were some pretty big changes to the story, but they were fleshing it out into an almost 2 hour movie. I have the BBC4 Radio dramatization as well. I haven't listened to it yet....I will amend this review when I have. I will read and review the play once I get to it in my travels through Christie in publication order. Got a couple decades to go first! I do know that Christie changed the ending when she wrote the stage play. She was dissatisfied with how the short story left things....so she revamped the ending for the play.
I listened to an audio version of this short story (Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories, HarperAudio). The audio for all of the stories in the collection that were originally published in the Hound of Death story collection were read by Christopher Lee. They were obviously pulled from an audio book of Hound of Death, as Christopher Lee also read all the HOD stories in the audio book of The Golden Ball and Other Stories that I listened to (it even still had Lee's intro before the first story that he was reading Hound of Death by Agatha Christie). So glad that Lee read Christie's strange tales that were collected into HOD -- his voice just caters to horror/supernatural/bizarre stories. While Witness isn't supernatural or bizarre, it is diabolical. Lee was a perfect narrator!
On to the next!
Agatha Christie wrote the stage play version in 1953, and the story was made into a movie starring Marlene Dietrich in 1957. Radio City Playhouse presented a radio drama of the story in 1949. It has been adapted for television multiple times...the latest in 2016. And BBC4 Radio "modernized" the story for a radio drama in the early 2000s. I'm sure there are other adaptations of this story that I have missed, as this tale has been retold many, many times in just about every format possible. I wonder if Christie realized that she was writing a classic when she first penned this story?
For a story to be adapted so many times, it has to be good! But...I have to admit that I have avoided reading, watching or listening to this story for a very stupid reason. When I was in high school, I acted and sang in every school production right down the line. I designed sets, helped block scenes, and really put my heart into every production. Then....my junior year, I was so delighted that the drama club was going to put on Witness for the Prosecution! But....the head of the drama department had been replaced by a former English teacher of mine who really didn't like me, and made no attempt to hide it. She really went out of her way to be....horrible. For no reason. I always did my work. I was respectful. I was always active in class. She just (for whatever reason) couldn't stand me. Even fellow students commented on it. And....she was in charge of auditions. I gave my best audition....followed her directions, read every line, discussed why I wanted to be in the play (Christie was my favorite author!). And three days later when cast and crew were posted ---- I was completely left out. Not even on the stage crew. This teacher stood outside her classroom door as I looked at the list and just smiled at me....a catty, nasty smile. And then she laughed. Seriously -- she smiled and LAUGHED. I learned years later that this teacher did not like my mother, and I suppose whatever issue they had trickled down down to me. After being totally left out of the play and that weird animosity from a teacher.....I just avoided this story. Never watched the film....avoided any television episodes....refused to read it. Silly I know.....but the whole event really pissed me off. She even left me off the stage and set crew assignments!!!!
So....36 years later....it's time to get over it! People will be people....it was unfortunate, but that's no reason to avoid a classic story by my favorite author! I finally decided to break my boycott of Witness. It's not Agatha Christie's fault that I was slighted when I was 16 years old.
I'm so glad I finally read this story! It's excellent! And it definitely has that famous Christie twist! I also watched the 2016 television adaptation. It was very very good! There were some pretty big changes to the story, but they were fleshing it out into an almost 2 hour movie. I have the BBC4 Radio dramatization as well. I haven't listened to it yet....I will amend this review when I have. I will read and review the play once I get to it in my travels through Christie in publication order. Got a couple decades to go first! I do know that Christie changed the ending when she wrote the stage play. She was dissatisfied with how the short story left things....so she revamped the ending for the play.
I listened to an audio version of this short story (Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories, HarperAudio). The audio for all of the stories in the collection that were originally published in the Hound of Death story collection were read by Christopher Lee. They were obviously pulled from an audio book of Hound of Death, as Christopher Lee also read all the HOD stories in the audio book of The Golden Ball and Other Stories that I listened to (it even still had Lee's intro before the first story that he was reading Hound of Death by Agatha Christie). So glad that Lee read Christie's strange tales that were collected into HOD -- his voice just caters to horror/supernatural/bizarre stories. While Witness isn't supernatural or bizarre, it is diabolical. Lee was a perfect narrator!
On to the next!
October 31, 2021
3.5 stars
A man is accused of murdering an old lady he befriended, and his only defense lies with his sneaky wife. Will she or won't she help him beat the murder rap?
The premise and conclusion of the story are brilliant, but the details are not fleshed out enough to make it clear exactly how things fit together. It felt rushed, but such is the nature of short stories.
A few days ago I watched the 1957 movie made from this short story, with Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. I didn't know it was an Agatha Christie story until the opening credits. So of course I had to read the story to see how closely the film stuck to the original. Many of the basics remain the same, but the story is so short it would have been thin gruel for an entire movie script. So a lot of characters and subplots were added, and I think the movie was much better for those additions. Especially with regard to the antics of the character played by Charles Laughton. He steals the show.
January 1, 2018
I think it's one of my reading resolutions this year that I will be able to brag that I figured out an AC mystery before the big reveal. However, it won't be today! In this stand alone short story, a young man stands accused of killing an older woman and his lawyer truly believes in his innocence. I won't say anymore except that the score so far is AC 3 versus Me 0.
May 1, 2019
Awesome! Agatha Christie is always ready to surprise you with her magical writings.
August 25, 2012
Probably best known for the 1957 Oscar-winning film it produced, Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution is fine in its own right, a short story that packs quite a punch. It is easy to see why this had the makings for the big stage and Hollywood, as it relies heavily on moments of suspense and tension, a slow build up to the resolution as we await the verdict in court. There’s also a little misdirection carefully placed by Christie towards the conclusion that, to me, make the mystery and ultimate unraveling of events that much more clever and impressive.
As far as the story, it involves a man, Leonard Vole, who comes to an attorney after being charged with the murder of an elderly woman, Emily French. As the case seems to build against Vole, the lawyer begins to call in alibis and evidence that will clear his defendant. He looks for help in Vole’s wife. The story builds up to the trial, but things get a little off the track when an unexpected witness turns up.
Witness for the Prosecution is a fine example of Christie’s skill and mastery at mystery in short story form. If you haven’t read her works, this is an excellent place to start. The aforementioned 1957 film is also superb.
As far as the story, it involves a man, Leonard Vole, who comes to an attorney after being charged with the murder of an elderly woman, Emily French. As the case seems to build against Vole, the lawyer begins to call in alibis and evidence that will clear his defendant. He looks for help in Vole’s wife. The story builds up to the trial, but things get a little off the track when an unexpected witness turns up.
Witness for the Prosecution is a fine example of Christie’s skill and mastery at mystery in short story form. If you haven’t read her works, this is an excellent place to start. The aforementioned 1957 film is also superb.
December 5, 2025
5 Stars. One of the most famous short story mysteries of all time. Deservedly so. Concise at 29 pages, but it packs a wallop. It's only after one reads it a second time that Christie's craft becomes evident as she adroitly fashions characters, action, and reader reaction. It comes with lessons that resonate today in both private and public life. Ask yourself, what is a sociopath? Or a pathological liar? What is gullibility? And where does responsibility lie on these points in critical situations? The story opens with a young man, Leonard Vole, meeting with his solicitor, Mr. Mayherne. Vole has been charged with murdering an elderly woman for her money, Miss Emily French. He had rescued her from a possible mishap and befriended her. She had reciprocated by bequeathing her wealth to him. Mayherne initially believes the police have got their man, but he knows his duty to put up a defence. Vole's story may be plausible as he assures Mayherne that his wife Romaine will attest he was home at the time of the murder. The solicitor interviews her but finds her far from supportive. She may even be a witness for the prosecution. Not helpful. A must read for all. (Ja2022/De2025)
May 7, 2022
Having watched the latest Sarah Phelps adaptation of this story, I was intrigued to see how the original compared. As this is only a short story, there is not much time to allow the story to develop, and I think Christie could have made quite an excellent novel with this plot. I will not spoil the twist ending for anyone who has not read the story, but I think it is one of Christie's best, and I look forward to reading it the play version which I also own.
October 1, 2018
Accidentally read November's classics group short story for Oct. I liked this. I'm surprised this take on a witness hasn't been used more in literature and film.
February 26, 2018
This was my first Agatha Christie story (not including television adaptations) and I really, really enjoyed it. I've been meaning to read some Christie for years and, now I've finally got around to it, I wish I hadn't waited so long! I'll definitely be reading some more soon.
June 28, 2020
Good old Agatha, what a cracking little short story!
September 11, 2023
4.5
I did guess where it was going, but it was very clever.
I did guess where it was going, but it was very clever.
December 26, 2016
In light of the new BBC adaptation being aired on Boxing Day, I thought it was high time I read this short story.
Don't let the format deceive you - short, yes, but powerful! Christie takes on a different path, following the lawyer John Mayhew in his efforts to save his client Leonard Vole, accused of murdering Emily French, an older, rich socialite. Normally the author turns all her characters into potential culprits/killers, but here the focus is on the defense instead. Is Vole guilty or innocent? The other defining aspect is the darkness permeating the tale. Written in 1925 (converted into play in 1953), you can very much feel the effects of the WWI on society. Ultimately, however, it is the psychology that shines and shocks! Brilliant!
Audio: Christopher Lee's rendition is of course excellent.
Don't let the format deceive you - short, yes, but powerful! Christie takes on a different path, following the lawyer John Mayhew in his efforts to save his client Leonard Vole, accused of murdering Emily French, an older, rich socialite. Normally the author turns all her characters into potential culprits/killers, but here the focus is on the defense instead. Is Vole guilty or innocent? The other defining aspect is the darkness permeating the tale. Written in 1925 (converted into play in 1953), you can very much feel the effects of the WWI on society. Ultimately, however, it is the psychology that shines and shocks! Brilliant!
Audio: Christopher Lee's rendition is of course excellent.
February 6, 2019
What! I'm just...I can't...what?!
The Witness for the Prosecution is being made into a movie, so I thought I'd read it before it came out. Short story- about 25 pages in length. At page 24, I shaking my head wondering what on earth anyone ever saw in this story. How did it even make it to print. At page 24.5, it made sense. And then the last sentence, my eyes popped out. EXCELLENT little story. Well done, once again, Agatha Christie.
I'd rate this book a PG for dark themes and some references to violence and adult themes.
The Witness for the Prosecution is being made into a movie, so I thought I'd read it before it came out. Short story- about 25 pages in length. At page 24, I shaking my head wondering what on earth anyone ever saw in this story. How did it even make it to print. At page 24.5, it made sense. And then the last sentence, my eyes popped out. EXCELLENT little story. Well done, once again, Agatha Christie.
I'd rate this book a PG for dark themes and some references to violence and adult themes.
October 23, 2025
Did not see that TWIST coming 😵💫!!
One of Agatha’s best short stories ever.
One of Agatha’s best short stories ever.
December 30, 2018
This was brilliant!
November 20, 2018
This was fantastic! I have never read a Christie book, but I might do so now. In something like 30 pages or so, she threw in at least 2 plot twists. In the end, I knew where this was going, but it didn’t make it any less fun to read. Also, all these years later, I’m wondering why current authors are taking the lazy way out — “alcoholic woman in a bad marriage who has frequent blackouts” will never be better than the plot device I just read here and am not sure I have ever read before.
November 8, 2022
Enjoyed this very much
March 30, 2018
This was such a fun little read really entetainging I loved the story and oh my god that ending HAHA i love agatha Christie 💕
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