THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHRISTMAS PUDDING

The last place Hercule Poirot wants to be for the holidays is a drafty manor house, yet he's been asked to "savor the joys" of an English Christmas as part of the hunt for a stolen ruby. John Moffatt's dual duties as actor and first-person narrator create a subtly accented portrait of the fussy yet dignified detective as he deals with a possible poisoning and a dead body at the holiday celebration. A strong supporting cast adds to the fun, emphasizing the humor in Agatha Christie's story. The piece might be a minor Christie mystery, but this BBC drama treats it well. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07]