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Title: Death in the Clouds
Author: Agatha Christie
Reader: Hugh Fraser
Unabridged
Length: 6 Hours

Ears: 4

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It’s 1935 and the aeroplane is a new and exciting mode of travel. Flying from Paris to London you can almost hear the roar of the propeller engines and this is the perfect setting for an Agatha Christie murder right under Poirot’s nose. And where is the famous detective when all this happens? Sound asleep several rows back.

Prepare for a smooth flight through 6 hours of excellent listening as Poirot puts the “little grey cells” to work solving the crime and redeeming his reputation as the world’s greatest detective!

This is certainly an enjoyable read although not the typical Poirot story in many ways. A limited cast of characters is successfully introduced and followed through the investigation. Keeping track of the players presents little problem and one by one they are eliminated until an almost certain outcome. The identity of the murderer is almost certain, but not quite. Turns and twists that are so typical of an Agatha Christie mystery will have you blaming all the wrong people by the end. I’m not sure that the reader could solve this one as many “newly discovered” facts are brought out at the very end.

Poirot fans will certainly want to read this one for its unusual characteristics. New Christie readers might be better off with other books in the series and come back to this one after you have a feel for what’s normal. I recommend “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” as the starting point for any new Poirot devotee.

Hugh Fraser provides wonderful narration and easy to follow character voices for this 12^th novel in the Poirot series. He is Captain Hastings on the A&E TV series and his knowledge of the series comes through loud and clear. Unfortunately, Hastings himself doesn’t actually appear in this story. Sit back, relax and enjoy the flight.

Reviewed on 3/10/06 by Ken Reiss