Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Sparkling Cyanide  By  cover art

Sparkling Cyanide

By: Agatha Christie
Narrated by: Hugh Fraser
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.79

Buy for $19.79

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Six people sit down to a sumptuous meal at a table laid for seven. In front of the empty place is a sprig of rosemary - "rosemary for remembrance." A strange sentiment considering no one is likely to forget the night, exactly a year ago, that Rosemary Barton died at exactly the same table, her beautiful face unrecognizable, convulsed with pain and horror.

But then Rosemary had always been memorable - she had the ability to arouse strong passions in most people she met. In one case, strong enough to kill....

This title was previously published as Remembered Death.

©1945 Agatha Christie Limited (P)2003 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about Sparkling Cyanide

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    385
  • 4 Stars
    105
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    390
  • 4 Stars
    48
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    330
  • 4 Stars
    97
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

poor resolution to an interesting mystery

This is a different type of Christie story for me, as almost half of it takes place in the past - remembered by characters and explained in exposition - rather than actively happening. That made for a different feel to the story, but it's a good story nonetheless: A year ago, a young socialite married to an older man dies of cyanide poisoning at a restaurant, and it is declared a suicide. Almost a year later, her husband gets a note stating that it was actually a murder, and at the birthday dinner at the same restaurant for the dead woman's sister, he ends up dying of cyanide poisoning himself. Was it suicide from grief? Was the note correct or a red herring? Was his death also a murder?

All good questions and a plot for a good mystery, but the resulting solution is weak and unworthy of the setup, IMO.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

What an enjoyable listen!

The ending is a little too improbable but in general, this was a very enjoyable and fun book! I absolutely love Agatha Christie's works. And High Fraser is the BEST narrator for her books!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This is one of Agatha Christie's finest works.

Hugh Fraser is excellent as always.

Sparkling Cyanide is riveting and hard to put down. There are several twists and turns, and the murderer is not easily identified. The clues are subtle.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

sooooo good!!

great performance! a mystery til the end! hope they make a movie some day soon

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Character changes

The characters and their changes made this a very fun listen while cleaning closets. After reading the reviews I was really looking forward to listening and comparing my reaction. I loved the whole book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Classic Christie

A bit unknown to me, and altogether classic Christie. Everyone's a suspect until the absolute last part of the last chapter.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Typical Agatha Christie

I figured out who before the end, but not why. Christie is a master at that

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Clever, but short.

I enjoyed this book, but once Ms.Marple enters the story, there is little exposition or character development. Ms. Marple just swoops in and explains everything.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sparkling Christie

A solid Christie tale, written with her characteristic flair, although naturally it falls short in comparison to her more beloved stories and characters such as Miss Marple (my favorite) & Poirot (whose name I am forever misspelling; blame it on my little grey cells misfiring).

Still, the characters are well-drawn & engaging, and her writing so skillful a reader has no trouble suspending disbelief during the far-fetched plot & lengthy unspooling of the mystery. I find the Race/Battles stories to be somewhat odd, as they seem to be minor characters who pop up here and there, rather than central anchoring characters like Miss Marple/Poirot.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Narration

Hugh Fraser has once again delivered a wonderful performance! I much prefer his interpretation of Colonel Race to David Suchet's.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!