The Agatha Christie Reading Group discussion

I am looking for the old tv movie of this one (not the Miss Marple series), As I remember it was set in modern day London. Does anybody remember any details about it?

Malcolm wrote: "I am looking for the old tv movie of this one (not the Miss Marple series), As I remember it was set in modern day London. Does anybody remember any details about it?"

It's ok. I've found it. Can't stop, because I'm settling down to watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsNk1R...

Malcolm: Olivia DeHavilland, Helen Hayes and Bill Bixby in that version.

Neither version was particularly close to the book. By the way (and I hope this is not a spoiler) when you look at Christie books with the most murders, this one comes up pretty close to the top (not the very, top, of course...)

Yes, I was disappointed in the tv movie, not that I expected much. The murder count is high in the book but I have never felt it is "over murdered" I guess it is one of my top ten (well, top twenty) because of the nice little passages ... like the porter and the missed train, as the beginning. I think it is an amusing book. Pghfan, any christie tv movies (not main series) you'd suggest?

Malcolm, I assume by main series, you are not including the Joan Hickson or David Suchet versions. Well, very few of the others are recommended, as most were not at all close to the original book, though some where entertaining...

I'm really enjoying this book. I love the main character, (although I'm over halfway through and there is no superintendent Battle yet! This is the 4th book in a series? I love the interaction with the "cousin" and the main character, or rather the tension.

Candace wrote: "I'm really enjoying this book. I love the main character, (although I'm over halfway through and there is no superintendent Battle yet! This is the 4th book in a series? I love the interaction with..."
Pleased you're enjoying it

Although Battle was in a few books, they are really completely independent of one another, as I see it. So no problem reading them out of publication chronology.

I always wondered about Luke being "retired" from the police in Malaya. The descriptions of him and what he does seem to indicate someone not very old at all. Do people retire very early? Do people use the work "retire" when they just leave, at any age?

Lauren wrote: "The premise of this mystery was really intriguing. And after finishing it, I can say that it lived up to my expectations. It was my first Superintendent Battle mystery. I thought that he would c..."

Battle is never really a strongly drawn character and more than once has a walk on part. He is best in Cards on the Table, and there are some interesting family relationships in Towards Zero. What makes him a favourite is because he appears in some really top notch titles. Murder is Easy, Cards on the Table and Towards Zero. I think this is because his solid policeman character suits the pure detective story. (He is also in some much weaker early ones, saved to an extent by the comic presence of Bundle Brent.)
Sorry to prattle on