A POCKET FULL OF RYE

The BBC generally excels at transforming Agatha Christie's full-length mystery books into short audio productions. This one is no exception; it is beautifully acted, well-produced, and a short one-and-a-half hours. It begins with an elderly businessman found dead in his office with grains of rye in his pocket. Soon, his very young widow dies while eating bread and honey. Thankfully, Miss Marple arrives to help the police identify a killer with a fondness for nursery rhymes, and all, so to speak, is well. The production consists of conversation with bridging sections in Miss Marple's voice. It will please everyone, including those of us who prefer Christie's actual writing. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 06]