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BBC Radio 4 Poirot
Mrs. McGinty's Dead
In this classic Hercule Poirot mystery from the Queen of Crime, a kindly widow is bludgeoned to death. Is her lodger guilty? Or is he being framed? Either way, the condemned man's time is running out.
1/5 With a man due to hang, Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot probes a savage murder.
2/5 Poirot believes a woman's brutal murder is linked to a lurid newspaper article.
3/5 In the respectable village of Broadhinny, Hercule Poirot has several murder suspects.
4/5 Poirot gets more clues after somebody tries to kill him, but he fears for another's life.
5/5 A final clue in Poirot's hunt for the murderer, with another surprise in store.
Ariadne Oliver....Julia Mckenzie
Deirdre Henderson....Teresa Gallagher
Dr Rendell....Gerard Mcdermott
James Bentley....Tom George
Major Summerhayes....Ian Masters
Maude Williams....Beth Chalmers
Michael....Kim Wall
Mr Carpenter....Dominic Colchester
Mr Scuttle....Geoffrey Beevers
Mrs Burch....Connie Walker
Mrs Carpenter....Angela Sims
Mrs Rendell....susannah corbett
Mrs Summerhayes....Molly Gaisford
Mrs Sweetman....Jillie Meers
Mrs Upward....Jill Balcon
Mrs Wetherby....Rosalind Knight
Poirot....John Moffatt
Robin Upward....Nick Waring
Superintendent Spence....George Baker
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell
Directed by Enyd Williams
This production was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 3 March 2006.
1/5 With a man due to hang, Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot probes a savage murder.
2/5 Poirot believes a woman's brutal murder is linked to a lurid newspaper article.
3/5 In the respectable village of Broadhinny, Hercule Poirot has several murder suspects.
4/5 Poirot gets more clues after somebody tries to kill him, but he fears for another's life.
5/5 A final clue in Poirot's hunt for the murderer, with another surprise in store.
Ariadne Oliver....Julia Mckenzie
Deirdre Henderson....Teresa Gallagher
Dr Rendell....Gerard Mcdermott
James Bentley....Tom George
Major Summerhayes....Ian Masters
Maude Williams....Beth Chalmers
Michael....Kim Wall
Mr Carpenter....Dominic Colchester
Mr Scuttle....Geoffrey Beevers
Mrs Burch....Connie Walker
Mrs Carpenter....Angela Sims
Mrs Rendell....susannah corbett
Mrs Summerhayes....Molly Gaisford
Mrs Sweetman....Jillie Meers
Mrs Upward....Jill Balcon
Mrs Wetherby....Rosalind Knight
Poirot....John Moffatt
Robin Upward....Nick Waring
Superintendent Spence....George Baker
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell
Directed by Enyd Williams
This production was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 3 March 2006.
3 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2006
1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Michael Bakewell
72 books6 followersMichael 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 26, 2026
Read Christie 2026 Challenge
Hosted by: @officialagathachristie
Every month focuses on a category and suggests a book choice or alternative title in case you have already read something on the main list. The category for February was Beloved Character(s) and the choice was Mrs. McGinty’s Dead. This is book #29 in the Hercule Poirot series.
Hercule Poirot will forever be my favorite Christie character. I love his gentle demeanor, his observations, his whit and his straight to the matter style of calling everyone out during the reveal. He’s incredibly smart, quirky in the best way possible, an utter gentleman and his comments just make me smile.
This was my first time being introduced to Ariadne Oliver and what a delight she was! I loved the interactions she had with Poirot and the amount of confidence paired with annoyance that grows as one ages. Her thoughts and comments made me giggle several times. I love the fact that she’s a mystery novelist. I’ve read that this character was a satirical depiction of Christie herself which makes me adore her that much more.
This was a fun, clever mystery since the suspect was already apprehended and convicted. Poirot, of course, set out to prove that theory absolutely wrong.
I listened the the BBC Radio adaption of this story and it was such a fun production. It truly was like listening to a play. I loved John Moffatt as Poirot.
Hosted by: @officialagathachristie
Every month focuses on a category and suggests a book choice or alternative title in case you have already read something on the main list. The category for February was Beloved Character(s) and the choice was Mrs. McGinty’s Dead. This is book #29 in the Hercule Poirot series.
Hercule Poirot will forever be my favorite Christie character. I love his gentle demeanor, his observations, his whit and his straight to the matter style of calling everyone out during the reveal. He’s incredibly smart, quirky in the best way possible, an utter gentleman and his comments just make me smile.
This was my first time being introduced to Ariadne Oliver and what a delight she was! I loved the interactions she had with Poirot and the amount of confidence paired with annoyance that grows as one ages. Her thoughts and comments made me giggle several times. I love the fact that she’s a mystery novelist. I’ve read that this character was a satirical depiction of Christie herself which makes me adore her that much more.
This was a fun, clever mystery since the suspect was already apprehended and convicted. Poirot, of course, set out to prove that theory absolutely wrong.
I listened the the BBC Radio adaption of this story and it was such a fun production. It truly was like listening to a play. I loved John Moffatt as Poirot.
March 13, 2021
An especially engaging BBC full cast production. John Moffat's Poirot is just that bit more grizzled, world-weary, and less pretentious than that of Suchet. This tale of murders long ago and their ramifications decades on is presented with gusto. Of special note is the appearance of Julia McKenzie as Ariadne Oliver - and my favourite George Baker as Spence. The story has just enough red herrings to be suspenseful without frustrating; and robust enough to withstand listens, reads and viewings in a variety of media.
January 6, 2025
Listened to the audiobook version. I've never read Agatha Christie before. It was fun to listen to and get to know her sleuth Hercule Poirot.
This mystery has a lot of details and characters to keep track of. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I read it in print or as an ebook. Would have been easier to keep track of everything. This was not a mystery that would be easy to figure out as a reader.
Published in 1952, this was definitely different than more modern mysteries solved by a private detective. There were a lot of twists and turns. Much less violence. Enjoyable listen.
This mystery has a lot of details and characters to keep track of. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I read it in print or as an ebook. Would have been easier to keep track of everything. This was not a mystery that would be easy to figure out as a reader.
Published in 1952, this was definitely different than more modern mysteries solved by a private detective. There were a lot of twists and turns. Much less violence. Enjoyable listen.
January 24, 2026
We listened to the audio book of this. Ours had Hugh Fraser (who played Captain Hastings in the TV series) narrating it and he does a great job. Though we’ve seen the TV version of this, we’d forgotten who did it so we were thoroughly entertained.
March 14, 2023
Able to follow along who the characters were better this 2nd time through. Classic whodunit.
March 4, 2025
I did enjoy this story especially how Poirotends up solving mysteries
February 17, 2026
I absolutely love this story. So clever. So amusing.
Poirot solving cold cases is one of my favorite themes. Such as this one, Five Little Pigs & Elephants Can Remember.
Poirot solving cold cases is one of my favorite themes. Such as this one, Five Little Pigs & Elephants Can Remember.
August 8, 2012
“mrs. McGinty’s dead..how did she die?
down on one knee..just like I
mrs. McGinty’s dead..how did she die?
holding her hand out..just like I
mrs. McGinty’s dead.. how did she die?
sticking her neck out..just like I”
Broadhinny 1952. Superintendent Spence, der den Mord an einer gewissen Mrs McGinty ermittelte, bittet Hercule Poirot um dessen Hilfe. Die Untersuchungen kamen zu dem Urteil, der Mrs McGintys Untermieter , James Bentley, sie wegen 30 GPB, die sie unter den Dielen versteckt hatte erschlagen haben soll. Für diesen Mord soll Bentley gehängt werden. Spence glaubt jedoch an die Unschuld des jungen Mannes. Poirot reist also nach Broafhinny , um den Mord noch einmal zu untersuchen.
Mrs McGinty arbeitete in mehreren Häusern der Ortschaft als Putzfrau. Hat sie etwas gesehen oder gefunden, das sie das Leben gekostet hat?
Dieses BBC Hörspiel aus dem Jahr 2006 basiert auf dem gleichnamigen, eher unbekannten, dreiundzwanzigsten Hercule Poirot Krimi. Poirot ermittelt diesmal in einem kleinen englischen Dorf, in dem jeder so seine Geheimnisse zu haben scheint. Erschwerend kommt hinzu, dass nach dem Krieg viele neue Bewohner nach Broadhinny gezogen sind, das Verbrechen aber seine Wurzeln in der Vergangenheit des Ortes, bzw. in einem lange zurückliegenden Mordfall, der in diesem Dorf passierte, zu haben scheint. Der Fall ist Spannend bis zum Schluss, was erneut daran liegt, dass wichtige Hinweise bis zum Schluss verschwiegen werden. Diesmal ist es nicht gar so schlimm, weil sie durch die exzellenten Sprecher durch ihre Sprech- und Spielweise bereits angedeutet werden, und das sogar recht auffällig, dennoch ist das einfach kein guter Stil. Ich will mit raten können und wenn man Haupteigenschaften des Täters einfach so bis zum Showdown verschweigt ist das wieder einmal eine typische Deus Ex Machina Lösung.
Die Sprecher sind wie immer ausgezeichnet, das erwartet man vom BBC aber auch nicht anders. Erneut spricht John Moffatt den belgischen Detektiv, unprätentiös, nicht so nervig, wie man das aus einigen Filmen kennt. Ja, Poirot beschwert sich über das Essen in seiner Pension, er erwähnt ab und an graue Zellen, das hält sich aber deutlich in Grenzen.
Das Besondere an diesen BBC Hörspielen ist, dass sie ganz ohne (nervigen) Soundtrack, oder zumindest fast ganz ohne Soundtrack auskommen. Es gibt die Erkennungsmelodie und gut, der Rest ist nur stimmige Geräuschkulisse und ich muss sagen, das finde ich sehr angenehm. Deutsche Hörspiele neigen dazu, einen Großteil der Handlung wie in einem Film Musik dudeln zu lassen, erst durch die BBC Hörspiele wird mir langsam klar, wie nervig und unnötig das tatsächlich ist.
Fazit: Auch wenn der Fall ein wenig überkonstruiert ist und Hinweise bis zum Schluss unterschlagen werden, ein wirklich gelungenes Kriminalhörspiel mit sehr guten Sprechern.
down on one knee..just like I
mrs. McGinty’s dead..how did she die?
holding her hand out..just like I
mrs. McGinty’s dead.. how did she die?
sticking her neck out..just like I”
Broadhinny 1952. Superintendent Spence, der den Mord an einer gewissen Mrs McGinty ermittelte, bittet Hercule Poirot um dessen Hilfe. Die Untersuchungen kamen zu dem Urteil, der Mrs McGintys Untermieter , James Bentley, sie wegen 30 GPB, die sie unter den Dielen versteckt hatte erschlagen haben soll. Für diesen Mord soll Bentley gehängt werden. Spence glaubt jedoch an die Unschuld des jungen Mannes. Poirot reist also nach Broafhinny , um den Mord noch einmal zu untersuchen.
Mrs McGinty arbeitete in mehreren Häusern der Ortschaft als Putzfrau. Hat sie etwas gesehen oder gefunden, das sie das Leben gekostet hat?
Dieses BBC Hörspiel aus dem Jahr 2006 basiert auf dem gleichnamigen, eher unbekannten, dreiundzwanzigsten Hercule Poirot Krimi. Poirot ermittelt diesmal in einem kleinen englischen Dorf, in dem jeder so seine Geheimnisse zu haben scheint. Erschwerend kommt hinzu, dass nach dem Krieg viele neue Bewohner nach Broadhinny gezogen sind, das Verbrechen aber seine Wurzeln in der Vergangenheit des Ortes, bzw. in einem lange zurückliegenden Mordfall, der in diesem Dorf passierte, zu haben scheint. Der Fall ist Spannend bis zum Schluss, was erneut daran liegt, dass wichtige Hinweise bis zum Schluss verschwiegen werden. Diesmal ist es nicht gar so schlimm, weil sie durch die exzellenten Sprecher durch ihre Sprech- und Spielweise bereits angedeutet werden, und das sogar recht auffällig, dennoch ist das einfach kein guter Stil. Ich will mit raten können und wenn man Haupteigenschaften des Täters einfach so bis zum Showdown verschweigt ist das wieder einmal eine typische Deus Ex Machina Lösung.
Die Sprecher sind wie immer ausgezeichnet, das erwartet man vom BBC aber auch nicht anders. Erneut spricht John Moffatt den belgischen Detektiv, unprätentiös, nicht so nervig, wie man das aus einigen Filmen kennt. Ja, Poirot beschwert sich über das Essen in seiner Pension, er erwähnt ab und an graue Zellen, das hält sich aber deutlich in Grenzen.
Das Besondere an diesen BBC Hörspielen ist, dass sie ganz ohne (nervigen) Soundtrack, oder zumindest fast ganz ohne Soundtrack auskommen. Es gibt die Erkennungsmelodie und gut, der Rest ist nur stimmige Geräuschkulisse und ich muss sagen, das finde ich sehr angenehm. Deutsche Hörspiele neigen dazu, einen Großteil der Handlung wie in einem Film Musik dudeln zu lassen, erst durch die BBC Hörspiele wird mir langsam klar, wie nervig und unnötig das tatsächlich ist.
Fazit: Auch wenn der Fall ein wenig überkonstruiert ist und Hinweise bis zum Schluss unterschlagen werden, ein wirklich gelungenes Kriminalhörspiel mit sehr guten Sprechern.
May 26, 2018
This dramatization wasn't as well done as some of the others. Or rather, I didn't enjoy it as much. There were so many characters that it was hard to keep them straight.
(Aside: did Christie have a "nursery rhymes" series? Mrs McGinty (which I'd never heard of before this); 10 little Indians used in And Then There Were None, One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, Three Blind Mice - any others?)
(Aside: did Christie have a "nursery rhymes" series? Mrs McGinty (which I'd never heard of before this); 10 little Indians used in And Then There Were None, One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, Three Blind Mice - any others?)
July 30, 2021
I do enjoy a good Agatha Christie mystery and I love these full-cast adaptations. It’s like stepping back in time and the audio version is perfect for a quiet evening at home. I’ll definitely be looking out for some more to enjoy.
December 20, 2020
I wish one of the libraries I had an account to had a couple of this full book because I loved the radio play. I think the cast of characters in this book is fantastic and I love where it is set! A classic cozy Hercule Poirot mystery.
March 30, 2022
I love the Full-Cast Dramatisations of Agatha Christie's books.
May 20, 2018
Yet another well-crafted Poirot mystery. I don't know how many of these the BBC cranked out, but I will happily listen to them all.
March 13, 2020
⭐️3.5⭐️
December 31, 2022
Very nice twists
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews