DEATH IN THE CLOUDS

A French woman dies in mid-air on a plane crossing the English Channel. A poison dart indicates murder. That she was notably ugly provides a clue, albeit a cryptic one. Fortunately for justice, the famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot happens to be aboard. In fact, evidence points to him as the perpetrator. This short BBC Radio 4 dramatization is thoroughly professional and a lot of fun. Further, it has the welcome "house sound" of the Beeb's radio plays--pristine, lightly layered, and clear. Fussy listeners may grumble that the production is a bit bland compared to Dame Agatha's original, but overall this gets high marks for enjoyment. Y.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]