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Towards Zero
Lady Tresselian invites several guests to stay at her seaside house at Gull’s Point. Against her better judgment she has allowed her late husband’s ward, handsome tennis ace Neville Strange, and his wife Kay to come at the same time as Neville’s ex-wife Audrey. Other guests include Mary, Lady Tresselian’s companion; Ted, Kay’s ever-present friend; Thomas, a family friend who has just returned from spending the war in Africa, and Lady Tresselian’s old friend Lord Justice Treves. When death visits Gull’s Point the house party is thrown into turmoil. It is left to Scotland Yard’s Detective Inspector Leach and Mr. MacWhirter, an ex-detective who is also a house guest, to solve the case.
2 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 10, 2010
Quite a few suicidal people in this one. And a gigolo. But otherwise a strong mystery and good dramatization. Supposedly one of Christie's 10 best novels.
April 7, 2016
Neither Poirot nor Miss Marple attending this novel's house party.
THe story opens with a young man being saved from attempted suicide. The purpose of a life saved becomes a saving theme to the novel for this full cast of mismatched characters. Involved in relational conflicts, under the eye of their monied hostess, the threat of losing out on the beneficiary's will is sure to keep someone in check.
A cleverly solved murder of the Superintendent Battle 's series #5.
THe story opens with a young man being saved from attempted suicide. The purpose of a life saved becomes a saving theme to the novel for this full cast of mismatched characters. Involved in relational conflicts, under the eye of their monied hostess, the threat of losing out on the beneficiary's will is sure to keep someone in check.
A cleverly solved murder of the Superintendent Battle 's series #5.
January 27, 2023
Can a murder be solved before the actual crime took place? That's the premise of this story with what is supposed to be one of Christies more complicated plots.
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July 6, 2011It has been at least a decade since I read an Agatha Christie novel. Towards Zero was a great re-introduction to her elaborate plots, multiple characters and hidden motives. Out of all her plots, it isn't the most complex one there is, which makes it a perfect candidate for audio.
Towards Zero is what you would expect from Dame Christie. The characters all have hidden agendas, blurring the true motives for the murder(s). None of the characters are truly likable, meaning that the reader can and does suspect every one of them, as Dame Christie intends. The characters themselves follow a similar formula - the gruff, know-it-all detective, the extremely wealthy matriarch, the put-upon companion/servant, the gold-digging wife, the unrequited lover. In essence, there are no surprises as to the characters or the plot itself, especially for long-time fans of Dame Christie.
The BBC audio production is amazing. It was very much like an old-fashioned radio production, complete with sound effects and scene changes. Each of the actors does a fantastic job embodying his or her character; the reader has no doubt behind each of the character's motivations and motives. The large ensemble adds to the complexity of the story without adding any confusion.
At one hour and 45 minutes, Towards Zero makes for an engaging afternoon auditory experience. It isn't the most difficult Agatha Christie novel, as I had a fairly good idea who the murderer was, which never happens in a mystery novel. Still, it was a great alternative to a normal audiobook, with its more stage-like performance. If audiobook fans are looking for something different without having to invest a lot of time, Towards Zero would be a great choice.
Towards Zero is what you would expect from Dame Christie. The characters all have hidden agendas, blurring the true motives for the murder(s). None of the characters are truly likable, meaning that the reader can and does suspect every one of them, as Dame Christie intends. The characters themselves follow a similar formula - the gruff, know-it-all detective, the extremely wealthy matriarch, the put-upon companion/servant, the gold-digging wife, the unrequited lover. In essence, there are no surprises as to the characters or the plot itself, especially for long-time fans of Dame Christie.
The BBC audio production is amazing. It was very much like an old-fashioned radio production, complete with sound effects and scene changes. Each of the actors does a fantastic job embodying his or her character; the reader has no doubt behind each of the character's motivations and motives. The large ensemble adds to the complexity of the story without adding any confusion.
At one hour and 45 minutes, Towards Zero makes for an engaging afternoon auditory experience. It isn't the most difficult Agatha Christie novel, as I had a fairly good idea who the murderer was, which never happens in a mystery novel. Still, it was a great alternative to a normal audiobook, with its more stage-like performance. If audiobook fans are looking for something different without having to invest a lot of time, Towards Zero would be a great choice.
October 28, 2021
It was ok, but not brilliant. I would really like to read the book now.
This was not an audiobook, as such, but rather a radio play adapted from the book. I did not know that when I got it out and I didn't really like it.
The narrators/actors all did good enough jobs, but I think a lot of the story was lost to the 'adaptation' only to be replaced with strange background sounds. Piano music at the beginning and end of each section, teacups rattling, crashes and bangs and various other sound effects, which to my mind contributed nothing but annoyance. The worst 'sound effect ' was that at the beginning of the recording I had to sit through random statements of different characters I had not yet met, often yelling, pre-shadowing the actual story. Then it happened again before one of the chapters.
I have no idea what this nonsense was about. Maybe these were made as advertisements for the radio play? Like previews? And someone thought it was a good idea to subject the listener to them multiple times because....
Not the best of audios by any means.
This was not an audiobook, as such, but rather a radio play adapted from the book. I did not know that when I got it out and I didn't really like it.
The narrators/actors all did good enough jobs, but I think a lot of the story was lost to the 'adaptation' only to be replaced with strange background sounds. Piano music at the beginning and end of each section, teacups rattling, crashes and bangs and various other sound effects, which to my mind contributed nothing but annoyance. The worst 'sound effect ' was that at the beginning of the recording I had to sit through random statements of different characters I had not yet met, often yelling, pre-shadowing the actual story. Then it happened again before one of the chapters.
I have no idea what this nonsense was about. Maybe these were made as advertisements for the radio play? Like previews? And someone thought it was a good idea to subject the listener to them multiple times because....
Not the best of audios by any means.
April 7, 2019
I love Agatha Christie's novel Towards Zero and I usually love the radio plays but I did not enjoy the radio play as much as the book so where I would give the novel 5 stars, I only gave the radio play 3. They made some changes in the radio play that having read the novel numerous times, I think take away from the story. Inspector Battle is not in the radio play and a minor, but important character, in the novel plays a major role taking Battle's place.
December 5, 2021
Still enoying these full-cast adaptations of Agatha Christie’s mysteries. This one wasn’t my favourite, however.
June 9, 2011
Not my favorite Agatha Christie, but interesting -- as the description says, the story begins long before the murder actually happens giving the reader a broader look at the events leading up to and causing the murder. Though the story was interesting, some of the characters were not all that well developed.
March 7, 2018
I listened to the BBC 2-CD adaptation and thoroughly enjoyed it - although There were times when I had trouble keeping the characters' voices straight. The mood conveyed by the actors was very evocative, and I enjoyed the plot. I did figure out the culprit but not the ultimate motive.
March 9, 2021
Moody dramatic adaptation with Hugh Bonneville and Marcia Warren. Dark and stormy nights on craggy Devon tors overlooking the sea are front and center; the plethora of personalities are clearly discernable thanks to some great voice acting. I was caught up from the first three minutes.
February 3, 2016
Radio dramatization.
November 15, 2016
They changed characters for the radio dramatization. No Superintendent Battle. Did not realize that Hugh Bonneville was one of the voice actors until they named the talent at the end.
May 7, 2019
She is a brilliantly devilish story-teller.
October 23, 2021
⭐️3.5⭐️
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews