The Murder at the Vicarage & The Mysterious Affair at Styles

By: Agatha Christie

Narrated by: Richard E. Grant, Hugh Fraser

TWO BESTSELLING MYSTERIES IN ONE GREAT PACKAGE!

THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE

The Murder at the Vicarage is Agatha Christie’s first mystery to feature the beloved investigator Miss Marple—as a dead body in a clergyman’s study proves to the indomitable sleuth that no place, holy or otherwise, is a sanctuary from homicide.

Miss Marple encounters a compelling murder mystery in the sleepy little village of St. Mary Mead, where under the seemingly peaceful exterior of an English country village lurks intrigue, guilt, deception and death.

Colonel Protheroe, local magistrate and overbearing land-owner is the most detested man in the village. Everyone--even in the vicar--wishes he were dead. And very soon he is--shot in the head in the vicar's own study. Faced with a surfeit of suspects, only the inscrutable Miss Marple can unravel the tangled web of clues that will lead to the unmasking of the killer.

THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES

Hercule Poirot solves his first case in the Agatha Christie novel that started it all, now in a fully restored edition that features a “missing chapter” along with commentary from Christie expert John Curran.

Who poisoned the wealthy Emily Inglethorp and how did the murderer penetrate and escape from her locked bedroom? Suspects abound in the quaint village of Styles St. Mary—from the heiress's fawning new husband to her two stepsons, her volatile housekeeper, and a pretty nurse who works in a hospital dispensary.

With impeccable timing, and making his unforgettable debut, the brilliant Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is on the case.

Narrated by Hickson and Fraser

NB: the description is incorrect; Murder at the Vicarage, a Marple story, is narrated by Joan Hickson, not Richard Grant. Hickson’s performance is excellent, but I was expecting—and had wanted—Grant. Hugh Fraser is also excellent narrating Mysterious Affair at Styles, the first outing for Poirot and Hastings together, set in a country home during the Great War.

Great books by the Mistress of Mystery

I would've given these five stars, but for the skipping in the last few chapters of the Poirot story. I assume this was due to a defect in the medium from which the tale was transferred to digital format. The Poirot story written in 1920 and the Marple story written in 1930 bear a resemblance in their end results, but I don't want to give any spoilers. The most enjoyable part of the Marple story to me was that the vicar was initially put forward as the detective protagonist, but as the story progressed, it became clear even to the vicar that a more cunning mind, that of the unassuming Ms. Marple, was to be the one to solve the mystery. The strength of the Poirot story by comparison seems to me to have been in the interweaving of more subtle and intricate details that only the fastidious and brilliant Belgian detective could align in such a way as to solve the mystery. Both stories originate from the greatest author ever to write mysteries, Agatha Christie, and I look forward to listening to more of her works on Audible.

Love these stories!

The stories are fantastic, but the narrator on the first story was very difficult to understand.

Agatha Christie for the Win

The Murder at the Vicarage is a very good story. very interesring, and I think it was weel read. However, it should be noted that the reader (Joan) read this book like a bedtime story by Grandma. There were no voices, and sometimes I was a bit confused at which character was speaking or doing what. But the readers voice was perfect for Miss. Marple, and there was comfort in hearing it. I do not think her performance took away from the story.

The Mysterious Murder at Styles is a great story and the reader did a great job of reading it by breathing life into the characters through different voices. I enjoyed listening to both books. ♡

1st of each series

Each story in the volume is the 1st appearance of the well Miss Marple and M. Poirot. If the stories are new to you then get comfortable and listen. If old favorites they are well done voice actors already known for playing Miss Marple and Capt. Hastings for the BBC. I suddenly have to travel to outlying offices. It had been many years since I had read these particular stories and they kept me focused during the drive better than music would have. Mrs. Christie's stories are always a delite.