The Man in the Brown Suit

By: Agatha Christie

Narrated by: Gabrielle de Cuir, John Lee

When the recently orphaned Anne Beddingfield moves to London to live with her late father’s solicitor and his wife, she is ready for adventure to find her, and find her it most certainly does.

While waiting for the Tube after a failed job interview, Anne witnesses a man fall off the Underground platform onto the rails. The police determine the man’s death to be “accidental”. But the examining doctor fortuitously leaves behind a rather curious note on his way out of the station, and Anne makes the life-altering decision to investigate this “accidental” death on her own. Suddenly, Anne finds herself ensnared in a dangerous plot involving missing diamonds, a murdered ballerina, and even an attempt on her own life.

The Man in the Brown Suit also features the first appearance of Colonel Race, a friend of Agatha Christie’s famous Detective Hercule Poirot, and an excellent investigator in his own right. To save herself and solve this mystery, Anne must work with Colonel Race and journey all the way to Africa. Together, they are determined to crack the case and unmask the killer, an international criminal mastermind known only as “the Colonel”, once and for all.

Public Domain (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

The Man in the Brown Suit

Loved the story and Ms. Christie’s style of everything working out in the end. I would recommend this book.

Excellent Mystery, Even Though Rather Predictable

I love a good mystery, especially a good murder mystery, and this is one such book. It weaves and meanders its way through many false or misleading paths, all of which add to the intrigue. But in this particular story, Agatha introduces her antagonist early on and, throughout the tale, that person always appears to be the "least likely" suspect, which usually means that he or she is, in fact, the true antagonist. I will admit that there were many suggestions that others might be the ultimate mastermind behind the conspiracy, but the true conspirator in this book was always at the top of my list as "the bad guy". Listen and see if you don't agree with me.

Excellent performances by the narrators

Great characterizations by the narrators. I couldn’t wait to get back to it. And of course the plot kept me guessing to the end.

Excellent dual narration

Exquisite production with respect for Christie's work! This was such a fun listen. Not the usual body-in-the-library Christie; more thriller like. I enjoyed it throughly. Lovely treatment by female narrator, with fabulous John Lee popping in to do the featured bits. Nothing beats Christie's character development.

Great book -- I didn't want to stop listening

I've been an Agatha Christie fan for 50 years, but somehow missed this one. The two narrators keep the story line interesting by delivering the story from different points of view. Several characters have secrets to hide and change identities. Colonel Race is introduced, but he is not the main character. Descriptions of life on board a cruise ship to South Africa a century ago is interesting.