Agatha Christie

[floragord]

Apparently And Then There Were None has been voted the nation's favourite of her many stories, and the BBC is going to adapt it for television for the first time, starring Aidan Turner who recently appeared in the remake of Poldark...

But will they find an excuse for him to go scything again?

There's probably a bit of the island that needs the vegetation cut back - and reveal which of the 10 in the house party had come to grief...

[Anne Henriette]

To me, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is Agatha's masterpiece. This title came third in the poll.

As I wrote somewhere before, I'm a very good crime novels reader because I forget very easily who the murderer or criminal was. So I'd have to read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd again to be able to give you an adequate answer, Nigel...

[Francis]

Anne Henriette wrote

I forget very easily who the murderer or criminal was. So I'd have to read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd again to be able to give you an adequate answer, Nigel...

I also forget who 'did it' which is very useful when I see 'Midsomer Murders'.

[Courtenay]

Unfortunately I once heard somewhere who the murderer in Roger Ackroyd is, and it's such an unusual twist that I can't forget it. So now I feel like there's no point in reading that one, because the master-stroke is already spoiled.

[Eddie Muir]

Sadly, this was my experience too, Courtenay.

[Courtenay]

You'd think there would be some sort of universal pact among Christie fans never to reveal any of the culprits, just as there is with The Mousetrap...

[Anne Henriette]

Right, Courtenay. I could never understand why some people have to spoil a reader's or watcher's fun in disclosing endings of a book or a movie...

[Francis]

Now who was the murderer in 'the Mousetrap'!

[Courtenay]

I don't know, since I haven't seen it. My parents have, but being true Christie fans, they'll never reveal the secret.

[Francis]

I have seen it - but I cant remember!

[Courtenay]

Well, that would make it worth going to see again! (Or is that the ruse behind it — they somehow erase the audience's memory of the ending afterwards so no-one can ever tell... )

[Julie2owlsdene]

I've seen The Mousetrap 5 times over the years, but I'm not saying who the murderer is!

[Courtenay]

Was it the same person each time, though?

[floragord]

Loved THE MOUSETRAP, but they swore us to secrecy as to whoddunit

[Courtenay]

Well, that's the point (and one of the reasons why the play is still going after more than 60 years)... I mentioned it specifically because I've had another of Agatha Christie's all-time greats, Roger Ackroyd, permanently spoiled for me by some blabbing reviewer (I forget who or where) revealing who the murderer was. So I was just saying I wish all Christie readers could be held to the same vow of secrecy as The Mousetrap's audience!!