Dead Man's Folly

BBC Radio 4 Poirot

by Michael Bakewell (Adapter), Agatha Christie, John Moffatt (Narrator)

Ariadne Oliver, Queen of Crime Fiction, has been asked to devise a Murder Hunt for a fête at Nasse House, the home of Sir George Stubbs. But she begins to suspect that someone is manipulating the scenario of her game and fears that something very sinister is being planned. She sends for her old friend Hercule Poirot. At first he is not inclined to take her very seriously but soon a series of events propels him to change his mind. Then suddenly all Ariadne's worst fears are realised when the girl playing the part of the murder victim is found strangled in the boat-house. For Hercule Poirot, the Murder Hunt has become a grim reality.

John Moffatt stars as Hercule Poirot, with Julia McKenzie as Ariadne Oliver in this dramatisation by Michael Bakewell. It was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 6 to 27 August 2007.

2 CDs. 2 hrs.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Agatha Christie, Fiction, Crime, Classics

2 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2007

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

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable dramatization!



This is the adapted version of Agatha Christie's Dead Man's Folly, so I won't do another review of the story. I will say that John Moffatt & Julia McKenzie do an excellent job as Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver, and the rest of the cast is great, as well.



If you don't know, dramatized versions of books are shortened into (basically) plays, and include music and sound effects. You aren't getting the full book, but you will get the same story.
Because of that, I'd recommend this to people who have already read and loved the book and would like to experience it in a new and different way, and not those who want to experience the "real" Agatha Christie.
I would also recommend it to people who are on the fence as to whether or not this is their type of story, and want to give it a shortened test run.

[Alyson Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real murder in the Boathouse sets Poirots little grey cells tingling! He only offered to help Ariadne hand out prizes at a murder mystery! No rest for Poirot!

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

These BBC productions are great.

(It is remarkable to me how many times Poirot tells someone, "Hey, I know you did the murder," and then walks away knowing full well that they will commit suicide, and they do. Stone cold, Poirot.)

[Ida · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy these Agatha Christie BBC dramatisations but I'd be interested to read the book now to see how it compares as I found the plot a little far-fetched and rushed at the end.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modest adaptation of a, for me, slightly clumsy Poirot. A fete, a disappearance, a murder of a young girl. The ending of all versions (book, tv adaptation and this full cast dramatization) is slightly too "pulled out of the hat". However, John Moffatt makes, as usual, a frothy Poirot and Julia McKenzie is appropriately scattered as Ariadne Oliver.

[Akhila · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful performances! Love listening to these dramatizations! Can’t wait to read the book now.

[Agnesxnitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of the AC novel I thrifted for £1 - you can't say no!
Really enjoyable and well done, the BBC Drama Department can really pull a classic crime novel off without anything to look at - top job!
Going into my permanent AC collection.

[ReadKnitHoard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't quite remember whether they made changes or if the script is close to the original, but it was entertaining to listen to.

[maria helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Stephanie Ricker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite up to the BBC's usual par, but this wasn't my favorite Christie novel to begin with. Still enjoyable!

[Tamar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why you should not spoil your children