The Agatha Christie Hour: Complete Collection

Collecting ten tales of intrigue and romance from renowned mystery writer Agatha Christie, The Agatha Christie Hour: Complete Collection arrives on DVD on January 28, 2014 ($59.99, AcornOnline.com) from Acorn, an RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE) brand. In these suspenseful stories set in Art Deco-era England and broadcast on PBS’s Mystery! in the early 1980s, lesser-known Christie protagonists—including “happiness expert” Parker Pyne—find themselves embroiled in illicit love affairs, supernatural mysteries, false accusations, life-changing encounters, and murder. These classic adaptations are “an engrossing, mystery-lover’s treasure from beginning to end” (Library Bookwatch). Agatha Christie has delighted millions of fans with her deft plots, memorable characters, and keen insight into the darker motives of mankind. The star-studded ensemble casts include John Nettles (Midsomer Murders), Amanda Redman (New Tricks), Christopher Cazenove (The Duchess of Duke Street), Ralph Bates (Poldark), Cherie Lunghi (Secret Diary of a Call Girl), Maurice Denham (All Passion Spent), James Grout (Inspector Morse), Stephanie Cole (Doc Martin), and Rupert Everett (My Best Friend’s Wedding).

THE MYSTERIES: The Case of the Middle-Aged Wife; In a Glass Darkly; The Girl in the Train; The Fourth Man; The Case of the Discontented Soldier; Magnolia Blossom; The Mystery of the Blue Jar; The Red Signal; Jane in Search of a Job; The Manhood of Edward Robinson

Street: Jan. 28, 2014                                     SRP: $59.99                           UPC: 0-54961-2203-9-7

DVD 4-Disc Set: 10 episodes; Approx. 517 min.; 4:3 full screen; SDH subtitles

Bonus: Biography of Agatha Christie and Parker Pyne: Before Poirot

 My Thoughts

The Queen of Crime Collection brings together three of Agatha's Christie's best mysteries to one DVD set. Each one features a stellar staff and a delightful who-dun-it filled with intrigue and even a few laughs.

Sparking Cyanide - This the newest of the three shows, being filmed in 2003 as opposed to the eighties. In this story, poison is slipped into the cocktail of a businessman. A pair of MI5 agents come in to investigate. Was it his wife? A jealous business partner? Or could someone else be the culrpit.

Why Didn't They Just Ask Evans? - This story features a pair of amateur investigators but that makes the tale no less interesting. Bobby and Lady Frankie are on the trail of a possible murder suspect after the words of a man of on his deathbed lead them to believe his fall from a cliff may have involved foul play.

Seven Dials Mystery - It was supposed to be a fun weekend party but plans to make merry go down hill quickly when one of the guests winds up dead. This one has a lot of humor and a lady named Bundles takes the lead on the amateur  investigation.

I really enjoyed these three mysteries. Some were easier to guess the killer than others, but they were all entertaining. I especially love how Agatha Christie always had strong heroines who were the equal of their male counterparts in a time when it wasn't all that common. This is a excellent DVD set and any fan of Christie will want to add it to their collection.

If you want to take advantage a whole set of great mysteries, this is the series for you. You can order Agatha Christie- The Queen of Crime Collection on DVD for only $39.99 at Acorn Media.