What do you think?
Rate this book
Crooked House
With World War II at an end, Charles Hayward is finally free to marry the woman he loves, Sophia Leonides. However, she refuses - the unexplained death of her grandfather, wealthy businessman Aristide Leonides, draws her back to the suffocating environment of her family home.
Charles follows, but his arrival coincides with the discovery that Aristide’s death was murder. The ensuing investigation drags Charles into the dark heart of the family and its deadly secrets and dangers.
Even if Charles escapes with his life, will he survive the corrosive effect of the family itself?
This BBC dramatisation by Joy Wilkinson of one of Agatha Christie’s darkest, most unusual mysteries was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between 8 and 29 February 2008 with Rory Kinnear, Anna Maxwell Martin and Phil Davis.
Charles follows, but his arrival coincides with the discovery that Aristide’s death was murder. The ensuing investigation drags Charles into the dark heart of the family and its deadly secrets and dangers.
Even if Charles escapes with his life, will he survive the corrosive effect of the family itself?
This BBC dramatisation by Joy Wilkinson of one of Agatha Christie’s darkest, most unusual mysteries was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between 8 and 29 February 2008 with Rory Kinnear, Anna Maxwell Martin and Phil Davis.
2 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2008
32 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 6, 2016
This BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of Crooked House has a wonderful cast, including Rory Kinnear, Anna Maxwell Martin & Phil Davis. Unfortunately a great cast cannot make it into a great story. Don't get me wrong.....it is a good Christie novel, but not one to get the pulses racing.
February 9, 2023
Amazingly written story telling the tale of love at the end of the war and the evil that is present in some. I easily predicted the end of this story, but it didn't distract me from my enjoyment of this.
October 17, 2014
Audiobook
This was an audiobook play which I thoroughly enjoyed. Between scenes they played period appropriate music and although I'm only in my 50s, I knew all but one. Wonderful.
The story itself, I had forgotten who did it and when I did it was still a little hard to take.
This was an audiobook play which I thoroughly enjoyed. Between scenes they played period appropriate music and although I'm only in my 50s, I knew all but one. Wonderful.
The story itself, I had forgotten who did it and when I did it was still a little hard to take.
June 30, 2023
Agatha Christie is my favorite writer. I gave this book a 4 star because of the plot and suspense it has; it is amazing how you get involved in the story and the end is mind-blowing.
October 16, 2023
This BBC dramatization was a condensed version of Christie's Crooked House, and at 2 hours listening time was a perfect little spooky season filler when waiting for other books to come in. The slow burn nuances of a Christie mystery was lost with this fast-paced version, but the narrators and other AV effects more than made up for it and it was delightful to listen to. Had me guessing until the very end!
March 29, 2015
Excellent dramatization of Agatha Christie's Crooked House. Set in the days just following the end of WW2. A romantic attachment between Charles Hayward and Sophia Leonides, formed during the War, is put on hold during investigation of her grandfather's death. With a verdict of murder, everyone is under suspicion. Charles questions his own belief in his fiance. Will distrust end their relationship? or are there other family secrets yet to be discovered?
Full BBC cast of characters bring life to the story. Additional colour is added with radio broadcast clips and musical interludes of the era. Good quality recording with evenly controlled volume, identifiable characters, and creative sound effects that add to the drama.
Agatha Christie says -
"This book is one of my own special favourites...practically everyone has liked Crooked House, so I am justified in my belief that it is one of my best."
BBC Audiobooks 2008
Crooked House 1949 Agatha Christie Limited
Full BBC cast of characters bring life to the story. Additional colour is added with radio broadcast clips and musical interludes of the era. Good quality recording with evenly controlled volume, identifiable characters, and creative sound effects that add to the drama.
Agatha Christie says -
"This book is one of my own special favourites...practically everyone has liked Crooked House, so I am justified in my belief that it is one of my best."
BBC Audiobooks 2008
Crooked House 1949 Agatha Christie Limited
February 27, 2015
With the BBC radio drama adaptations of Agatha Christie's work, some are hit and miss. Sometimes it all becomes too muddled and simply just doesn't translate well to a radio drama format. Crooked House is one of the times when the story, the cast and effects all come together to make a brilliant production. It happens to be one of the stories that Agatha Christie considered among her best work, and I'd have to agree. Although there's no Hercule Poirot or any of his charming peculiarities (or Miss Marple, for that matter) to guide the story along, Crooked House proves they aren't necessary to make for a good tale of murder amongst a house teeming with suspects.
February 18, 2016
BBC Radio 4
Cast: Charles - Rory Kinnear, Sophia - Anna Maxwell Martin, Taverner - Phil Davis, Josephine - Grianne Dromgoole, Aunt Edith/Nannie - Judy Parfitt, Philip - Ben Crowe, Magda - Anna Chancellor, Roger - Simon Treves, Clemency - Rachel Sanders, Brenda - Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Laurence - Colin Hoult
Dramatised by Joy Wilkinson
Directed by Sam Hoyle
I read this classic mystery a few years ago, so I still remembered who the murderer was. One of the best Agatha Christie's novels without Poirot, Marple and the Beresfords. A very good dramatization with some good old songs, popular in the 1940s.
Cast: Charles - Rory Kinnear, Sophia - Anna Maxwell Martin, Taverner - Phil Davis, Josephine - Grianne Dromgoole, Aunt Edith/Nannie - Judy Parfitt, Philip - Ben Crowe, Magda - Anna Chancellor, Roger - Simon Treves, Clemency - Rachel Sanders, Brenda - Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Laurence - Colin Hoult
Dramatised by Joy Wilkinson
Directed by Sam Hoyle
I read this classic mystery a few years ago, so I still remembered who the murderer was. One of the best Agatha Christie's novels without Poirot, Marple and the Beresfords. A very good dramatization with some good old songs, popular in the 1940s.
January 6, 2018
So good! I think dramatizations are my new favorite thing! A few month back I couldn't even listen to an audiobook and now the whole new world of art is opened up for me!
As for the story, it was brilliant. Great mystery, as usual with Agatha Christie. The ending was truly stunning. Not that I didn't predict it, but it still was executed really well. I love how in the end it's always the questions of "what is the truth" and "what is right and what is wrong".
4.5/5
As for the story, it was brilliant. Great mystery, as usual with Agatha Christie. The ending was truly stunning. Not that I didn't predict it, but it still was executed really well. I love how in the end it's always the questions of "what is the truth" and "what is right and what is wrong".
4.5/5
April 22, 2012
A very well done dramatization, did justice to the story and made it appropriately creepy.
(I think it's needless to say that Dame Agatha did a great job with the story, herself.)(Also, it must be said that because there was no non-Suchet Poirot in the story (as there was no Poirot in the story…), there was nothing to distract or jar me out of the story.)
(I think it's needless to say that Dame Agatha did a great job with the story, herself.)(Also, it must be said that because there was no non-Suchet Poirot in the story (as there was no Poirot in the story…), there was nothing to distract or jar me out of the story.)
March 22, 2015
Storytechnisch - ich kenne das Buch nicht, nur diese engl. Hörspielversion - funktionierte das Hörbuch für mich sehr gut, ich war übrigens (mal wieder) auf der falschen Fährte.
Die Besetzung ist, wie ich finde, sehr gut und zusammen mit der technischen Umsetzung im Übrigen - insbesondere die wunderbaren Musik-/Songeinspielungen - war das Hörspiel für mich sehr atmosphärisch und gelungen.
Die Besetzung ist, wie ich finde, sehr gut und zusammen mit der technischen Umsetzung im Übrigen - insbesondere die wunderbaren Musik-/Songeinspielungen - war das Hörspiel für mich sehr atmosphärisch und gelungen.
June 28, 2013
I need to read the unabridged version of this story. I couldn't resist the fully dramatized version, though!
January 17, 2016
that was certainly a surprise ending I did not even see that one coming
December 24, 2017
This was a joy to listen to. I love Agatha Christie. She is so clever. I am not so sure that I like who the murderer ended up being, a little disturbing. I would not choose this one to re-read.
February 9, 2018
A very quick read....predictable though.
December 23, 2018
Another ending I didn’t see coming, but should have. There’s nothing like a good Agatha Christie audiobook.
November 18, 2020
quick fun mystery. unusual culprit, it's always the least likely isn't it?
January 23, 2021
9/10: Really enjoyed this dramatic take on the story.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews