MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES

Macmillan Audio has a way with narrators, and here is a fine Christie presentation. Hugh Fraser captures the bombastic Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, with gleeful flair. Indeed, Fraser played Poirot's sidekick, Hastings, in various filmed versions of the stories. His approach, featuring a smooth British pronunciation, is expressive without indulging in changes of pace. The result is excellent. The story involves a murder at Styles mansion. D.R.W. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 04]