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Personal Call
James Brent receives a chilling telephone call seemingly from beyond the grave. His dead wife, Fay, is waiting for him at the very place she met her grisly end. At his new wife’s insistence, they go to meet her as requested and in the process discover a terrifying and disturbing truth.
38 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
About the author
Agatha Christie
6,040 books77.1k 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 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 16, 2026
A Call From Beyond the Grave
A review of the Samuel French / Concord Theatricals online eBook (December 5, 2019) of the BBC Radio Play first broadcast May 31, 1954.
James Brent and his wife Pam are hosting a cocktail party when a personal call comes through for James. The voice on the other end sounds like that of his former wife Fay, who died in a railway accident at Newton Abbot station. The voice insists that James come to meet her. James says that it must be a prank call, but his wife demands that they go and investigate. When they arrive at Newton Abbot station, there is a fateful twist reveal.
This is my second review of one of Agatha Christie's shorter (usually 25-40 minute) plays written as originals or adapted from short stories for BBC Radio back in the day. These are probably the most obscure works of Christie. The usually thorough Wikipedia bibliography of Christie only lists 5 of them. Even the Agatha Christie official website only lists 6 of them. I can find at least 9 (see under Trivia and Links below), although one of those is not publicly available.
This short radio play counts against my Complete Agatha Christie binge read goal, so I have 17 novels (including 4 remaining Westmacotts), 4 short story collections, 10.5 full-length theatrical plays, 6 shorter radio plays) and 1 autobiography left to go.
Trivia and Links
As best as I can currently find there are at least 8 of the shorter radio plays which are available to read or to listen to as of April 2026. A 9th radio play, the original Three Blind Mice (1947), does not have a surviving radio recording or a publicly available script. The dates and timings are from various sources (Official Agatha Christie website, Wikipedia, publishers Concord Theatricals/Samuel French, Audible Audio) with some still to be confirmed. Not all of these plays or anthologies have a separate listing on Goodreads.
I have stroked through those that I have now read or listened to or which are not available. The stroke-throughs are not visible on all platforms, so I have also marked them with an X.
1. The Wasp's Nest (1937) adapted from the same-titled Hercule Poirot short story (1928), also available as part of A Poirot Double Bill- 25 minutes
2. The Yellow Iris (1937) adapted from the same-titled Hercule Poirot short story (1937), also available as part of Murder in the Studio and/or A Poirot Double Bill - ? minutes
3. Three Blind Mice (May 1947), the original radio play version of what later became a short story, and then a full length stage play The Mousetrap, A Play In Two Acts (1952). No recording or publicly available script exists. X
4. Butter in a Lordly Dish (1948), the original BBC audio recording is also available as part of the audiobook Agatha Christie: The Lost Plays (2015) - 30 minutes X
5. Personal Call (1954), the original BBC audio recording is also available as part of the audiobook Agatha Christie: The Lost Plays (2015) - 30 minutes X
6. Murder in the Mews (1955) an adaptation of the same-titled Hercule Poirot short story / novella (1936), there does not appear to be a printed version of this, but the original BBC audio recording is available as part of the audiobook Agatha Christie: The Lost Plays (2015) - 60 minutes [this adaptation is not by Christie herself and therefore may not be considered part of the canon, but it was made in her lifetime so presumably she had some right of approval.]
7. Afternoon At The Seaside (1962) also available as part of Rule of Three - 55 minutes
8. The Patient (year is presently unknown) also available as part of Rule of Three - 40 minutes
9. The Rats (year is presently unknown) also available as part of Rule of Three - 35 minutes
A review of the Samuel French / Concord Theatricals online eBook (December 5, 2019) of the BBC Radio Play first broadcast May 31, 1954.
FAY. It's Fay.
JAMES. (Startled) What did you say?
FAY. It's Fay, James. Don't you remember?
(There is a pause.)
JAMES. (Upset) Who are you? Where are you speaking from?
FAY. I'm at Newton Abbot station. Where you left me.
James Brent and his wife Pam are hosting a cocktail party when a personal call comes through for James. The voice on the other end sounds like that of his former wife Fay, who died in a railway accident at Newton Abbot station. The voice insists that James come to meet her. James says that it must be a prank call, but his wife demands that they go and investigate. When they arrive at Newton Abbot station, there is a fateful twist reveal.
This is my second review of one of Agatha Christie's shorter (usually 25-40 minute) plays written as originals or adapted from short stories for BBC Radio back in the day. These are probably the most obscure works of Christie. The usually thorough Wikipedia bibliography of Christie only lists 5 of them. Even the Agatha Christie official website only lists 6 of them. I can find at least 9 (see under Trivia and Links below), although one of those is not publicly available.
This short radio play counts against my Complete Agatha Christie binge read goal, so I have 17 novels (including 4 remaining Westmacotts), 4 short story collections, 10.5 full-length theatrical plays, 6 shorter radio plays) and 1 autobiography left to go.
Trivia and Links
As best as I can currently find there are at least 8 of the shorter radio plays which are available to read or to listen to as of April 2026. A 9th radio play, the original Three Blind Mice (1947), does not have a surviving radio recording or a publicly available script. The dates and timings are from various sources (Official Agatha Christie website, Wikipedia, publishers Concord Theatricals/Samuel French, Audible Audio) with some still to be confirmed. Not all of these plays or anthologies have a separate listing on Goodreads.
I have stroked through those that I have now read or listened to or which are not available. The stroke-throughs are not visible on all platforms, so I have also marked them with an X.
1. The Wasp's Nest (1937) adapted from the same-titled Hercule Poirot short story (1928), also available as part of A Poirot Double Bill- 25 minutes
2. The Yellow Iris (1937) adapted from the same-titled Hercule Poirot short story (1937), also available as part of Murder in the Studio and/or A Poirot Double Bill - ? minutes
6. Murder in the Mews (1955) an adaptation of the same-titled Hercule Poirot short story / novella (1936), there does not appear to be a printed version of this, but the original BBC audio recording is available as part of the audiobook Agatha Christie: The Lost Plays (2015) - 60 minutes [this adaptation is not by Christie herself and therefore may not be considered part of the canon, but it was made in her lifetime so presumably she had some right of approval.]
7. Afternoon At The Seaside (1962) also available as part of Rule of Three - 55 minutes
8. The Patient (year is presently unknown) also available as part of Rule of Three - 40 minutes
9. The Rats (year is presently unknown) also available as part of Rule of Three - 35 minutes
January 31, 2025
Written for the BBC and broadcast live in 1954, this radio play reads well, and is easy to hear the whole production in my imagination.
There is a straightforward element, a creepy element, a twist and a turn and ultimately — is it a ghost story? a mystery?
How many radio plays have I ever read? This one makes me think I should read more.
There is a straightforward element, a creepy element, a twist and a turn and ultimately — is it a ghost story? a mystery?
How many radio plays have I ever read? This one makes me think I should read more.
December 22, 2019
Wonderful! What a spooky short story! I wish I had read this on Halloween!
June 14, 2024
Frissons et c'est pas à cause de ma clim' dans le tapis.
October 3, 2019
From BBC Radio 4:
Personal Call was written specially for radio by Agatha Christie.
A disturbing telephone call from a woman named Fay has consequences for both Richard Brent and his wife Pam.
This 1960 production stars Ivan Brandt and Barbara Lott.
Vivienne Chatterton - Mrs. Lamb
Ivan Brandt - James Brent
Beatrice Bevan - Fay
Barbara Lott - Pamela Brent
George Hagan - Inspector Narracott
James Thomason - Mr. Enderby
William Eedle - Man/Porter
Charles Simon - 2nd Porter/Station Announcer
Michael Turner - Evan/Man
Eva Stuart - Mary/Woman
Penelope Lee - Operator/Woman
Produced by David H Godfrey
https://archive.org/details/PersonalC...
Personal Call was written specially for radio by Agatha Christie.
A disturbing telephone call from a woman named Fay has consequences for both Richard Brent and his wife Pam.
This 1960 production stars Ivan Brandt and Barbara Lott.
Vivienne Chatterton - Mrs. Lamb
Ivan Brandt - James Brent
Beatrice Bevan - Fay
Barbara Lott - Pamela Brent
George Hagan - Inspector Narracott
James Thomason - Mr. Enderby
William Eedle - Man/Porter
Charles Simon - 2nd Porter/Station Announcer
Michael Turner - Evan/Man
Eva Stuart - Mary/Woman
Penelope Lee - Operator/Woman
Produced by David H Godfrey
https://archive.org/details/PersonalC...
July 9, 2022
Radio play with a full cast. Creepy and atmospheric.
November 11, 2015
Creepy, ghostly, Agatha Christie tale of murdering husbands.
July 25, 2022
4.5⭐
"Written after a return from the Mallowans' annual archaeological trip, Agatha Christie was praised by the producer as having included all modern radio techniques in her new play. It is the story of a man plagued by his past, who keeps receiving mysterious phone calls from a lady called Fay. The plot has echoes of many of Christie's darker supernatural works, including Endless Night and the short story Philomel Cottage. It also reintroduces the character of Inspector Narracott, who featured in The Sittaford Mystery." https://www.agathachristie.com/storie...
"Written after a return from the Mallowans' annual archaeological trip, Agatha Christie was praised by the producer as having included all modern radio techniques in her new play. It is the story of a man plagued by his past, who keeps receiving mysterious phone calls from a lady called Fay. The plot has echoes of many of Christie's darker supernatural works, including Endless Night and the short story Philomel Cottage. It also reintroduces the character of Inspector Narracott, who featured in The Sittaford Mystery." https://www.agathachristie.com/storie...
September 22, 2021
My first introduction to this story was in the audio collection titled The Lost Plays. As much as I loved reliving this story, there's certainly a reason it was made for radio. You really need that fuzzy, static surrounding Fay's voice.
This is actually one of my favourite Christie works. That might be odd, but there's something about it that stuck with me. I think Christie performs her best in her shortest pieces. Part of me likes these characters so much that I wish they were expanded into a novel, but part of me knows it's perfect as it is.
This is actually one of my favourite Christie works. That might be odd, but there's something about it that stuck with me. I think Christie performs her best in her shortest pieces. Part of me likes these characters so much that I wish they were expanded into a novel, but part of me knows it's perfect as it is.
April 6, 2026
Agatha Christie wrote the play Personal Call especially for the radio. It was first broadcast live on BBC Radio Light Programme on Monday, 31 May 1954. I listened to the version on Spotify by the Kansas City Actors Radio Theatre. This was a well acted play in the style of an old fashioned radio broadcast. Showcasing Christie's darker side.
December 31, 2019
A play written for the radio, and one of her earlier works that included ghosts and the supernatural. Thank God she dropped this genre or else we wouldn't have been acquainted with the dear Hercule Poirot and sweet Miss Marple.
November 1, 2021
A very well put together short play, there’s a lot to work with since it was originally a radio play if adapted visually, really good for amateur directors and actors as well paced and relatively exciting plot!
January 10, 2025
Women protecting women. This radio play is included in the BBC's Agatha Christie: The Lost Plays.
May 11, 2021
The way this one just didn’t hit where it was supposed to. But I suppose short stories happen.
February 17, 2024
It is fun to listen to the BBC Dramas of Christie's plays that were written for the radio specifically.
June 7, 2024
I listened to it as a radio play from BBC radio from 1954 on YouTube, and I enjoy it so much.
It's a good short story.
It's a good short story.
November 8, 2024
I need to know what Agatha Christie was putting in these half-an-hour plays because they're so good ✋😭
February 8, 2025
A short radio play. I'll definitely be listening again around Halloween.
April 9, 2016
It's never been published but the radio drama has been and I just finished it. Very creepy and I didn't figure it out until very near the end just before the denouement. Very well done and, as usual, well-written. That great lady certainly knew how to plot, and her dialogue is always spot on.
Read
August 27, 2018This is a great short story by the queen of mystery, Agatha Christie. It is a murder mystery and a ghost story all rolled into one. I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews